Christopher Plummer Is Proud to Be One of the Good Ones

“Just dont ask him about The Sound of Music.”

This was writer-director Shana Feste giving me a polite heads-up as we milled about the screening room of the Crosby Street Hotel in lower Manhattan. In a few moments I would speak with the 88-year-old Christopher Plummer, star of Festes Boundaries, which opens June 22.

“Oh, thats no joke—he really hates talking about it?” I asked. Its true: I was told that while “Chris” is a wonderful man, generous with his time, who shot many days of this indie road movie despite being sick with pneumonia, he really does hate discussing arguably his most famous role. When one comes up to him with questions about the Trapp Family Singers, “you can see it in his face.”

Boundaries co-stars Vera Farmiga as a walking emotional-disaster area trying to ignore her marijuana-dealing father (Plummer) who keeps getting thrown out of assisted-living facilities. (The role is a more debonair version of Festes actual outlaw father.) Naturally, Farmiga and Plummer (plus her kid, A Monster Callss Lewis MacDougall) are forced to take a cross-country drive, where they meet Peter Fonda, Christopher Lloyd, Bobby Cannavale, Kristen Schaal, and the real Papa Feste (who has since died), who buys weed off of Plummer at a rest stop.

Its a role that allows the Canadian-born actor to show off the same charm hes been displaying since he made his Broadway debut in 1953. Plummer has notched 213 film and television credits in the years since, as well as numerous theater roles, though he rose to prominence in a new way last November—when, after reports of Kevin Spaceys alleged sexual misconduct surfaced, Plummer swooped into Ridley Scotts Getty-kidnapping drama, All the Money in the World, and, in nine days, re-shot all of Spaceys scenes. He received an Academy Award nomination for the effort, but also became a viral sensation representing the “cancellation” of bad men. (After the allegations broke, Spacey issued a response in which he apologized to accuser Anthony Rapp but said that he did not remember the incident Rapp described. Later, he announced that he would “seek evaluation and treatment.”)

Sitting across from Plummer, I felt as though I needed one of those lead aprons you get at the dentists: I was bombarded by charisma. The twinkle in his eye and his crooked smile were overwhelming; when he chuckled at a babbling introductory remark, I needed to hold on to the table lest I keeled over. Things went swimmingly until, finally, I did mention The Sound of Music—and just like that, the interview was officially over. There was still a warm handshake with a concluding grin, but I blew it. If only Christopher Plummer could have come and filled in for me at the end.

I hope you are naturally a dog person. There are dogs all over you in this film.

Ive had many, many dogs throughout my long, endless life. I love them dearly. We had four dogs, including a golden retriever that lived to the age of 18. My poor wife had to look after them while I darted around the countryside. She was stuck with them because, while we have help, they are not dog people.

So you werent nervous to work with dogs when you read this script?

I am cagey enough to avoid scene-stealing dogs.

Is this the first time youve played a character based on someone that youve actually met?

I think so. I nearly did meet a chap called Eddie Chapman, who was a British spy during the war, and I played him in an easily forgotten movie called Triple Cross. He was a double spy. He spied for the British and the Germans, can you believe it? I was just about to meet him. But when he was about to come over, he couldnt arrive because the Moroccans had thrown him in jail for some other reason entirely. I love it!

Youve had such a lengthy career. Is this the first time youve worked with a woman director? And on a film thats from a womans autobiographical point of view?

I think its the first time that Ive worked with a woman director on a full-length feature. I adored working with Shana, and I did the film because she was the writer as well as director. Someone, a critic, made a remark that they didnt like the script, but they liked what we did with it. Well, thats bullshit. The script has to be there to begin with so that we can do it.

We all know these trip movies. Cars going across county with dysfunctional families. But she made it with no sentimentality. She tried very hard not to be cute, and she won. So I thought, yes, Id love to play this horrible geezer who insults everybody.

You play a pot dealer. Do you remember your first encounter with cannabis?

I was totally bored with it. I fell asleep immediately. I went gladly and thankfully back to booze. Its more gregarious. Everybodys a pal. And I needed love!

Last year you saved All the Money in the World, somehow shooting your part in just nine days. How much of that, do you think, was possible because of your stage training?

Eighty percent, easily. I thought, Christ, am I really going to hang on to these lines? At my age? It isnt the longest part Ive ever played, but in nine days, its a little outrageous. I was nervous. Ridley Scott was wonderful. He cleared the set. He knew how to help me; he is very confident. The cameras were ready at seven in the morning.

The first day was awful. But we made it. After that, it was fine. I knew my memory could handle it. It was scary, but, goddammit, its fun to take risks.

The Internet has since gone to town, using you as a meme to come in and replace people.

Yes, yes. The latest one is Roseanne. I dont know how they figure that one! But its hilarious.

Its got to make you feel good that you are considered one of the “good guys.”

Absolutely. But [laughing] I dont know how long thats going to last.

You have worked with so many amazing people. I want to name some names, and see what your first reaction is. One word.

Oof.

If you want to say “pass,” you can always say “pass.” I wont be offended.

All right.

William Shatner. He was your understudy in Henry V.

Funny. Hes a very funny man. And I loved playing the Klingon [in Star Trek VI] because my argument won. I refused to play it with the long, terrible makeup. It looks so phony. I wanted to look like Moshe Dayan. [Ed. note: Plummers General Chang has an eyepatch nailed to his face.] I had a ball. He was a good writer that little guy, Nicholas [Meyer].

Jack Nicholson.

Sinister.

Your director with Nicholson on Wolf was Mike Nichols.

Lovely. Lovely man. A bit of a genius, I think.

Spike Lee.

Everything gets in on time. Thats not one word, is it? But he always brings his films in under budget.

More recently, Vera Farmiga.

So warm. You could easily fall in love with her.

Rooney Mara.

A phantom.

I mention her because of Dragon Tattoo, which you worked on with David Fincher. Some say he can be a little cruel to his actors, making them do a million takes.

He does do a lot of takes, but always for a good reason. Ive worked with a lot of directors who do a lot of takes for absolutely no reason whatsoever. They just dont know what they want. So they panic and say “take 50!” and you just want to go home. Its so embarrassing.

Al Pacino.

A love, Al.

I can see you guys being pals. I can see you two out to dinner.

You paying the check? No, we are total opposites—but for that reason it is a good friendship. Hes loyal to me. If I get some sort of prize, hes the one to give it to me.

And on The Insider, it was Michael Mann directing you two.

When I first met him, I said he has the bedside manner of Nosferatu. But he turned out to be a marvelous director. But enormously shy. Hence, not looking at you. But I loved working with him, and that was an important movie. Those godawful cigarette people

You made a low-budget movie in the 1970s in Italy that has since gone on to be something of a cult classic, called Starcrash. A Star Wars rip-off.

Thats become a cult classic? Youre joking!

And you play the Emperor—

The Emperor of the Universe!

And your son is David Hasselhoff.

[Laughs] Yes, thats right.

And also Caroline Munro is in there.

She was something to look at.

Youve only got a few scenes, but its quite a thing.

The only nice thing was Rome. Shooting at Cinecittà. And Caroline. I took her out to dinner a few times. She was lovely. But lovely with a Scuttish accent you could coot with a fookin knife. I couldnt believe this beauty was talking like that!

I love The New World, but I know you arent too thrilled with Terrence Malick.

I dont like what he does to actors. Its perhaps without any intention, because hes off in his own little . . . [makes hand gestures]. I liked him, we got on well, but when I went to see the film, not only was my part cut and put into other situations, the same for the lead, Colin Farrell. His story didnt finish. The story is about John Smith, and it got cut right off and another actor, Christian Bale, shows up.

The opening is wonderful. The entrance of the ships is so poetic. So I wrote him and congratulated him on that, but said, what happened to the rest of the fucking movie, you prick? Theres a pretension that is so enormous. I said, youve got to get yourself a writer!

Theres also a movie I wont ask you about. But I am curious if you met Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.

Well, Oscar Hammerstein I knew because I was dating his step-daughter, Susan Blanchard. So I would go to the Hammerstein house in New York with Susan, and thats how I met him.

I met Richard Rodgers after the film was over. I couldnt say anything.

Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:The 15 Wildest Conspiracy Theories About Taylor Swift

Shes planning to drop a surprise album.

October marks two years since Taylor Swift released 1989, which means its about time for the artist to drop new music based on the two-year-cycle shes followed since her first album in 2006. Swifties have been holding their breath, convinced that the singer will surprise us, Beyoncé style, with new music before the end of 2016. Fans have also wondered if her choker-wearing sartorial choices are the artists way of teasing her new albums image. Top it off with squad members hinting at Swift being back in the studio, several breakups to provide fodder for new music, and an alleged music leak from the artist and this theory seems fated to come true. The icing on the conspiracy cake: The president of Swifts music label allegedly tweeted “no” when someone asked if wed get new Swift music anytime soon—and then the tweet disappeared.Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic

She is the reincarnated leader of a Satanic cult.

This one is by far the most bizarre conspiracy theory to surface in the singers career. Around 2011, fans began to notice a striking resemblance between Swift and a woman named Zeena Schreck, who just happened to be the High Priestess of the Church of Satan from 1985 to 1990. Naturally, that led people to wonder if Swift was actually a reincarnated Schreck. This is highly unlikely, given that Schreck is still alive. Shes reportedly working in Berlin as an artist and magician—or, take your pick, living life as the traded-her-soul-to-the devil international pop star we all adore.Photo: Trae Patton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Her open letter to Apple was planned in advance with the company.

On June 21, 2015, Taylor Swift single-handedly transformed the music industry with a casual 4 a.m. letter to Apple, in the form of a Tumblr post. By the next day, Apple had changed its tune about paying artists for its streaming service. Naysayers immediately noticed how uncharacteristically simple it was to get a huge tech company to make a 180-turn in mere hours, and thus a conspiracy theory was born. Many suspect that the Swift-Apple partnership was forged back in 2014, when Swift had a falling out with Spotify (coincidentally an Apple Music competitor) over artist wages. Considering that the star was already highly influential with fans and media, it would make sense for Apple to team up with her. Not long after the Apple letter, Taylor starred in ads for Apple Music. Conspiracy theory or perfectly executed PR move?Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty Images for TAS

She only carries empty purses.

The only thing more recognizable than a Taylor Swift hook is her signature purse-carrying technique. Many have speculated that the effortless way she drapes her handbags over her forearm must mean they are empty. After all, if they contained the four months worth of receipts, pens, gum wrappers, makeup, and small animals that normal peoples bags do, they would be too heavy to rest comfortably on her arm.Photo: Josiah Kamau/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic

Shes an active member of 4Chan.

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Shes bisexual or gay.

Taylor is no stranger to dating rumors, but a December 2014 video that allegedly showed Swift in a lip-lock with her best friend Karlie Kloss at a 1975 concert threw conspiracy theorists into a tizzy that the singer is secretly dating the model. What hasnt helped: the mounds of Kaylor fanfic on Tumblr, written by fans who believe Swift uses her famous relationships as beards for her sexuality. The theory dates back several years, with many believing Swift once dated Glee star Dianna Agron. Swift has tried to put an end to the speculation with a sassy tweet calling out the media for accusing her of false romances, but it only added fuel to the Kaylor fire.Photo: Kevin Mazur/AMA2014/WireImage

Her feud with Kanye West was orchestrated for mutually-benefiting fame.

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