I absolutely love this part of that story. Thank you for sharing it.
There was no such issue with Chevy Chase, now a free agent, and whom Universal was more than happy to cast. In fact, Landis was issued an edict from on high: hire Chase, or else.
Landis wasn’t about to be told what to do.
A lunch was arranged at a swanky Los Angeles restaurant. Producers Ivan Reitman and Matty Simmons were there, plus Universal vice president Sean Daniel. And in the middle, chomping on a big cigar and flanked on either side by an agent, sat Chevy Chase, waiting to be told why he should make this little movie and not Foul Play, a caper with Goldie Hawn that went on to make $44 million.
“There’s a marvelous Hollywood saying: ‘Do you know the difference between a brownnose and a shithead?’ ” says Landis. “The answer: ‘Depth perception.’ Chevy was just being impossible and they’re all kissing his ass. So when it comes to my turn to talk, I said, ‘Listen, Chevy, our picture is an ensemble, a collaborative group effort like Saturday Night Live. You’d fit right in, whereas in Foul Play, that’s like being Cary Grant or Paul Newman, a real movie-star part. Don’t you think you’d be better off surrounded by really gifted comedians?’ ”
It was a bit of reverse psychology worthy of Brer Rabbit. As Reitman furiously kicked Landis under the table, Chase sat back, puffed out cigar smoke, and considered. Then he took the bait. He announced that while he’d love to work with them someday, he had decided to make Foul Play.
That was pretty masterful.
I think everyone made the right decision.
Nitpick: it was D-Day that had all incomplete. Bluto had zero point zero. Meaning all F’s.
Q - Why did Belushi destroy the guitar?
A - Maybe he was possessed by Samurai Warrior.
He did it because he’s a Republican. You really think he’s going to be a Democrat?
Modhat: Please, let’s keep the politics out of threads like these. Plenty of room for political jabs elsewhere. (This is not a warning, just guidance)