Ethan Hawke's journey through the world of cinema and theater is a captivating tale, one that has recently taken a fascinating turn with his role in the film "Blue Moon." But let's rewind a bit to the early days of musical theater, where it all began.
Nearly a century ago, the legendary duo Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart crafted some of the most iconic songs in American history. Their partnership, however, was short-lived due to Hart's struggles with alcoholism. Rodgers then joined forces with Oscar Hammerstein II, and together they created the groundbreaking musical "Oklahoma!" which opened to immediate acclaim in 1943.
The success of "Oklahoma!" led to a celebration at Sardi's, a legendary Broadway haunt. It was here that Lorenz Hart made an appearance, and the events that followed inspired the movie "Blue Moon." In this film, Ethan Hawke steps into Hart's shoes, portraying a man drowning his sorrows at the bar.
To bring this story to life, the production team recreated Sardi's on a soundstage. However, for a more authentic experience, "Sunday Morning" sat down with Hawke at the real Sardi's. Hawke shared his aspirations, expressing his hope that one day his caricature would grace the walls of this iconic establishment.
"My time's coming," he said with a hint of optimism. "I'm not done yet!"
And indeed, Hawke's performance in "Blue Moon" is a testament to his dedication. The real Lorenz Hart was of diminutive stature, standing at less than five feet tall. To capture this essence, director Richard Linklater, a frequent collaborator of Hawke's, employed camera tricks to make the 5'9" actor appear shorter. Hawke also shaved the top of his head to create a realistic combover and immersed himself in a mountain of dialogue.
"It's definitely the most text I've ever had in a movie," Hawke remarked. "I remember calling my wife after the first day - I think I had more lines than in my previous five films combined!"
Hawke's face is a canvas of emotion, yet in "Blue Moon," he had to convey his character's sorrow through words. This was a challenge for an actor who, in the 1989 film "Dead Poets Society," played a student and learned invaluable lessons from his co-star Robin Williams. Hawke recalls a scene where Williams taught him about the art of grading poetry, a moment that sustained him through negative criticism.
"There's not any rules about being a great actor," Hawke said. "Drop dead. So you don't like it? Suck an egg. You don't know what great acting is any more than I do."
As Hawke reflects on his early roles, he ponders the impact they had on his career. "It's a great question," he said, "because it's possibly both. If you let it be the high-water mark of your life, it will be. You don't want anything at 18 to be the high-water mark."
Between films, Hawke made his Broadway debut, a step he took with confidence, albeit perhaps prematurely. "That's the weird thing about being young," he admitted. "I had no business being confident at anything. I was a total moron."
His performance in Chekhov's "The Seagull" (1992) was described as "promising," a hint of the greatness that lay ahead. Hawke's talent was recognized with four Oscar nominations, the first for his role opposite Denzel Washington in the 2001 film "Training Day."
But success can be fleeting, and Hawke experienced a period where offers started drying up. "When you're young, you think it's everybody," he said. "You don't realize that this is a young person's game."
As Hawke's career progressed, he found himself navigating the challenges of aging in an industry that often favors youth. "Around the same time gray starts appearing in your beard," he quipped.
However, the gray in Hawke's beard now adds to his allure as a hard-nosed investigative reporter in the critically acclaimed FX series "The Lowdown." As fate would have it, during his interview at Sardi's, owner Max Klimavicius surprised Hawke with an offer to become part of their collection.
"Ethan, I would like your permission to make you part of our collection," Klimavicius said.
Hawke was taken aback, as were those present. But given Hawke's impressive career, it was a well-deserved honor.
"Wow!" he exclaimed. "I've finally arrived! My portrait at Sardi's! Things are looking up!"
With "Blue Moon" generating Oscar buzz, Hawke finds himself at a crossroads. Does he embrace the recognition or remain grounded?
"There's the obvious part of you that goes, 'Hey, I dedicated my life to this job, and this is seen as a barometer,'" he said. "But I would be dishonest if I didn't say that it would be amazing."
As Hawke reflects on his journey, he embraces the uncertainty of life with a touch of "Que Sera, Sera." He doesn't take any of his success for granted, a mindset that has served him well.
"That's the right answer," he concluded. "Any little bit of it."
To learn more about Ethan Hawke's journey, watch the extended interview on CBS News.
