Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-21
Fonda on Acting Style
Hank Denies He UnderpIoys Those Hit Roles
Merely Tries to Conceal Fact He Is Aetna

they say I underplay. What I
try to do is to be so real in a
part that the audience doesn't.
know I'm acting. If they knew
that. I'd consider myself a
failure"
Then he breaks into that
famous Fonda grin:
But I really don't care what
they mean, even if ! don't I'M
derstand it. because I know
they aren't criticizing."
But skills. call them what
you will, are not enough, Fonda
conf1des, to get him through
the final "Caine" scene. It's
a sort of supreme test-Fonda
calls it the toughest scene he's
ever played-for it has to fol-
low the plays shattering CHI
max. wherein a mans person.
ality is utterly destroyed be-
fore the spectators eyes.
A Second Attock
Fonda's assignment at this
point is to pile on a spirit
stirring second layer.
'TechniqueS aren't enough,
then" says Fonda. II have
to become emotionally involved.
know I'm able to do it most
of the time. I can feel it and
so can the audience. It's the
difference between them say
ing. Well. Fonda was good, all
right and the performances
when they cheer and yell
bravo for the whole COM
pany."
1t sticks in Fonda's memory
that one of his rare satisfy
ing" moments in movies was
lost forever when a perfect
take was lost by some one
opening a darkroom door just
as the film was being proc
essed. spelling the reel He
was unable to recapture that
electric perfection in the re-
takes. and he's still sorry.
Which brings up that mat
ter of movies versus living
theater.
Having a live audience has
nothing to do with it," says
Fonda, at the same time con-
ceding he prefers the stage.
II can get just as much per-
sonal satisfaction in an empty
house or before 20 people if
I feel it's a good perform
ance.
But what is important is
that in a play you can still
be building a scene. improving
it after three years. In the
movies, there's never a chance
to improve after that first
morning. when the scene is
shot and put in the can for
ever"
He Would Do Film
Nevertheless. Fonda will
probably make more movies
and would go for IAN excit-
ing part with an exciting di-
rector" at any time.
He's sticking to legit for the
present. however.
He will be in Game" only
until June 1-"they knew it
when / took the part"-but
he's leaving to start work on
another show for Broadway
next season.
What it's about he wouldn't
say, but the trade press re-
ports it will be a musical by
Rodgers and Hammerstein,
based on a John Steinbeck
script.
The man with the trium-
plant success story on Broad
way says that his long journey
in sock and buskin accidental
~ began in 1925. when at 81
81 was pushed on the stage"
back in Omaha.
Fresh out of college and
looking for work. Fonda un-
expectedly was involved in a
bustling community theater
project was so shy that
I'd been cast and weeks had
gone by before l tried to say
you can't do this to me-"
BY then it was too late, and
stage enchantment did the
rest.
Three years later, I'd heaIo
you could. get money for this.
So I came to New York with
500 in my pocket. The folks
back home thought I was so
daring.
But it had nothing to do
with CUTS. I didn't know what
I was getting into. I don't
know yet what I'd have done
If I had known"