Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schell
Maximilian Schellwas an Austrian and Swiss film and stage actor, who also wrote, directed and produced some of his own films. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the 1961 American film Judgment at Nuremberg, his second acting role in Hollywood. His parents were involved in the arts and he grew up surrounded by acting and literature. While he was a child, his family fled Vienna in 1938 when Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany, and they settled...
NationalitySwiss
ProfessionMovie Actor
Date of Birth8 December 1930
CityVienna, Austria
CountrySwitzerland
As an actor, I was a fantastic rebel. Then I became a directorial rebel and understood rebels from both sides. So now I am a friend who gives advice - not one who knows more, necessarily, but who shares ideas.
When you have the cast, the sets, the lights, an opera takes on its own life. I'm not one of those directors who marches in with a set of plans.
When I was a young actor, in my first apartment, the first thing I bought was a Steinway piano. There was no bed at first. I slept on the floor.
My mother was an actress and a director, as well. And my father was a playwright and poet.
Music in this film is a very important part.
I'll never forget Spencer Tracy. He only worked from nine to one - then from three to five again.
I played piano, I learned a lot about music.
I never played the right roles, or very rarely got the right roles offered, except on stage.
Everything you do has certain significance, a certain weight. I think there is a film in everyone.
Directing is like meeting a woman. You don't know her, but something strikes you, and then you just have to go into it.
We should never forget that Hollywood was built by Europeans, and the old Jewish boys from Eastern Europe.
I am America's number-one fan. I like your food. Especially corn flakes.
And it's interesting, but I'm always interested in the story behind the story.
I'm always happy when I'm left alone, but if somebody comes and is nice, then we talk.