Kenneth Quotes

He was a neighbor of Mel Brooks in New York and was set to play the role of Franz Liebkind in Brooks` first film, The Producers (1968). Just before production was to commence, Hoffman was offered the role of Ben Braddock in The Graduate (1967), co-starring Brooks` wife Anne Bancroft, and asked to be let out of his contract. The role of Liebkind eventually went to Kenneth Mars.

(On making You Can Count on Me (2000)) Kenneth Lonergan and I locked horns. It was about tiny things that would drive me crazy. He was very specific about his script being word perfect.

No one trusts me any more. I spent half the movie Maigret (1988) (TV) arguing with people and I was accused of causing big on-set rows. But what they won`t tell you is I fought for Simeneon. I fought for the maintenance of quality. I don`t believe in lying down on the job. I`ve seen these so-called `nice` actors. Very able fellows like Ian McKellen and Kenneth Branagh. But they`re like bank managers. So sweet and careful. Who needs them? We are suffering a plague of good taste. Give me Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke any day. They project danger. That`s what makes acting - and life - interesting.

I`ve always believed Americans have one huge, ready-made gift when it comes to acting in front of a camera - the ability to relax. Take the supreme relaxed authenticity of a James Stewart or a George Clooney compared with the brittle contrivances of a Laurence Olivier or a Kenneth Branagh, marvelous as they are.

They wanted Guy Middleton instead of Kenneth More, and even Kay Kendall wasn`t their first choice!

But if I have an obsession at all, it is with hands. I love hands and I love lips. I never cast lipless actors. So Kenneth Branagh, no thank you. It`s a weird thing but I do have these two obsessions.

Anyone who goes up against Kenneth Starr ought to be worried,

I must say I am not surprised that the report asks for President Clinton`s impeachment. I know Kenneth Starr and the man that I know wrote the conclusion on day one and spent the next five years filling it in.