Werner Herzog names his dream cast unburdened by the concepts of time or death
Through the course of his brilliant career, German directing legend Werner Herzog has been afforded the opportunity to work with some of the greatest actors of all time, but if the concepts of death and time had no limits on Herzog’s casting process, who might he pick to star in his dream movie?
Looking back over Herzog’s filmography, we find many instances of acting brilliance. Herzog’s frequent collaborations with the enigmatic yet sometimes dangerous Klaus Kinski, in the likes of Aguirre, Wrath of God and Fitzcarraldo, led to some of the most incredible pieces of cinema ever made.
Elsewhere, Herzog has employed the endless talents of a wide range of actors, including Bruno S, Christian Bale, Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes and Tim Roth. With a list of such notable actors in mind, in clear to see that anyone with an ounce of knowledge about cinema would do well to sign up for a Herzog movie.
But thinking about the stars of days gone by, we wonder whether some of the historic all-time greats might have been so keen to feature for Herzog and bring his stories to light. Speaking with Filmmaker, Herzog once named his dream cast, going way back into the old ages of cinema’s excellence.
“I would cast Humphrey Bogart, the young Marlon Brando,” Herzog explained. “I don’t know what film I would make – I wouldn’t want to repeat any film that was already made. I would love to venture out with some of the finest: Lillian Gish, Edward G Robinson. They are so great that I would find it the most exciting challenge to work with them and engage them. Fred Astaire.”
Well, that sure would be one hell of a movie. Starting at the beginning, Herzog seems to be casting Humphrey Bogart in the lead role, which makes perfect sense seeing as the New York City-born actor gave some truly memorable efforts throughout his career, including those in The Big Sleep, Casablancaand The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.
However, Bogart might have to contend with the talents of Marlon Brando, who would likely be vying for the top spot on the calling sheet. After all, Brando is widely considered one of the best actors to ever stand in front of the camera, so the On the Waterfront, The Godfather and Apocalypse Now star might be ruffling Bogart’s feathers somewhat.
Elsewhere, Lilian Gish, the legend of the silent film era, would occupy a place in Herzog’s dream movie, tapping into her status as the ‘First Lady of American Cinema’ and her collaborations with DW Griffith. Going on a handful of decades, Edward G Robinson was an icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood, known for his tough guy roles in movies like Little Caesar, so Herzog’s dream movie would be brimming with variety.
And to add a little bit of surrealism, whatever kind of film Herzog decided to make with this strange quintet would be rounded off with the all-dancing, all-singing threat of Fred Astaire, a genuine icon of the big screen. Sure, this dream of Herzog’s would sadly never come true, but at the very least, it goes to show just how far his tastes go, particularly in the realm of American cinema, where he has personally made his own unique splash of creativity.
