2014 (Production)

2014-12-16 (Production)

English (Original)

Interviewee: Norman Lloyd
Interviewer: Mae Woods

Professional production

United States

Producer, director and actor Norman Lloyd is interviewed by Mae Woods at his Brentwood home in 2014. Lloyd recounts his upbringing in Jersey City, NJ, and memories as a child theatrical actor. He describes his association with the Mercury Theater, collaborating with Alfred Hitchcock and Charlie Chaplin, and directing/producing for television. He discusses films from SABOTEUR (1942) to TRAINWRECK (2015).

Producer, director and actor Norman Lloyd is interviewed by Mae Woods at his home in Brentwood, CA on December 16, 2014. Reminiscing on his childhood in Jersey City, NJ, Lloyd shares stories about growing up during the Great Depression. He recalls his early love of baseball and witnessing Babe Ruth play in the 1926 World Series. He began his involvement in the theater as a child actor, developing his performance skills with the Stage Children’s Fund in the 1920s. Following his graduation from Boys High School in Brooklyn, Lloyd attended New York University but dropped out after a brief term, admitting that college was not his forte. He discusses his apprenticeship with the Civic Repertory Theater and his 1935 Broadway debut in Noah. Lloyd recounts his participation in the WPA’s Federal Theatre Project, where he would meet Orson Welles and John Houseman. Lloyd details his working relationship with Welles/Houseman and subsequent association with their Mercury Theater troupe. He recalls moving into television acting with MISSOURI LEGEND (1939), his work in theater and radio, and his first film role in Alfred Hitchock’s SABOTEUR (1942). He speaks at length about the film’s iconic Statue of Liberty scene, admitting his initial apprehension about performing a dangerous stunt. Lloyd recalls his films roles with directors Jean Renoir (THE SOUTHERNER, 1945), Lewis Milestone (A WALK IN THE SUN, 1945), and a second Hitchcock collaboration (SPELLBOUND, 1945). He recounts being cast by Charlie Chaplin in LIMELIGHT (1952), revealing how his association with the director led to accusations of pro-Communist activities. He describes his role as television director and associate producer on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (1957-1962) and THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR (1963-1965), acknowledging Hitchcock as a mentor and close friend. Lloyd candidly reveals their association ended abruptly when he said he did not want to write “The Short Night,” a project the director was trying to revive despite expressing misgivings about the material. Lloyd briefly covers his subsequent work in television, producing or acting in over forty programs from the 1970s into the 1990s. Speaking on changes in the film and television industry, he speaks about adapting to new business models and technological advancements, though admitting his initial resistance to do so. Reflecting on acting in theater versus film, Lloyd regards his stage performances as having greater merit than those on screen, with SABOTEUR being a notable exception. Lloyd closes with thoughts on WHO IS NORMAN LLOYD? (2007) and expresses amusement at being a documentary subject.

Norman Lloyd (1914-2021) was an actor, producer, and director, with a prolific career spanning over seven decades. A former child actor, Lloyd honed his acting skills in the Mercury Theatre, working under luminaries Orson Welles and John Houseman. He began his film career with Alfred Hitchcock’s SABOTEUR (1942), the first of numerous collaborations that include an acting role in SPELLBOUND (1945), associate producing ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (1957-1962) and executive producing THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK HOUR (1963-1965). During the run of the anthologies, he also directed 22 episodes. As an actor, Lloyd worked with Jean Renoir (THE SOUTHERNER, 1945), Lewis Milestone (A WALK IN THE SUN, 1945) and Charlie Chaplin (LIMELIGHT, 1952). From 1968 through 1979, Lloyd produced thirty TV movies and episodes, including a slate of theatrical adaptations for HOLLYWOOD TELEVISION THEATER. He continued to work as an actor on the small and big screens, with regular series appearances on ST. ELSEWHERE (1982-1988) and WISEGUY (1989), as well as film roles in Peter Weir’s DEAD POET’S SOCIETY (1989) and Martin Scorsese’s THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (1993). Lloyd was the subject of the documentary WHO IS NORMAN LLOYD? (2007) which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival to critical acclaim.

W1282235