FTV 189 Dustin Hoffman
This week on From The Vault we take a trip back to 1970 and listen to a conversation with the actor Dustin Hoffman. Most people have a sense of who Dustin Hoffman is both on film and as an advocate for the acting profession.
In 1970, when this conversation was recorded, He was receiving accolades for his work, including his 1967 breakthrough performance in Mike Nichols’ The Graduate, John and Mary with Mia Farrow (1969), and his iconic role as “Ratso Rizzo” in Midnight Cowboy. His film Little Big Man was in theaters and he had already signed on to be the lead in Sam Peckinpah’s current project Straw Dogs.
What we love about this recording is its informality. It isn’t about selling a film… it’s not part of a film press junket… but simple conversation about the craft and experience of acting. In addition to talking about the cinematic art form, being a Pacifica station, the conversation always includes the politics of times… which in 1970 included the Vietnam War, the Kent State killings, the youth movement in general and the role of social/political movements such as the Young Lords and The Black Panthers. Hoffman also comments on the Black Panther Party and Young Lords, who designed breakfast programs and education and health centers to help their community.
Dustin Hoffman and his wife survived living next door to a Weather Underground stronghold in Greenwich Village. On March 6, 1970, just before this interview, The Weather Underground members were assembling bombs when they accidentally set them off killing 4 and completely destroying the townhouse.
From the Vault is presented as part of the Pacifica Radio Archives Preservation and Access Project.
PURCHASE a copy of this program or purchase copies of the archival recordings used within this episode. To purchase a CD copy of this program by phone, please call Pacifica Radio Archives at 800.735.0230 x 262.
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