Evans’ stage fright

Robert Evans is one of Hollywood’s legendary producers. But in 1957, he was a young actor who was very nervous about his first big film role, in Man of a Thousand Faces, starring Jimmy Cagney. When it came time for their first scene, Evans froze, dumbstruck at playing opposite his idol. “I was so scared I couldn’t open my mouth,’’ he tells J.C. Gabel and James Hughes in Stop Smiling. “Not a word would come out. Jimmy Cagney, to me, is one of the great actors of all time. I remember going to see him in Angels With Dirty Faces as a kid.” Half a dozen takes later, Evans still couldn’t speak his lines. “They wanted to fire me. All the executives from Universal were there. But Cagney put his hand on my shoulder, looked at the director, and said, ‘The kid and I are taking a walk outside.’ Once outside, he stops, looks up, and says, ‘Let me tell ya something about me, kid. I’m only 5-foot-4. My first scene was with a guy who was 6-foot-3. When the scene was over—I’m 6-foot-3, he’s 5-foot-4. Don’t be scared of me. C’mon, let’s get it on.’” At that moment, Evans and Cagney became good friends. “It was the generosity and kindness, from one superstar to a virgin film actor, that gave me the courage not to be afraid. I got the scene done in one day—and it was a long scene, too.”

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