Elizabeth Baird, Christopher Plummer & More

Description

In this captivating 1996 interview, Dini Petty welcomes Christopher Plummer, one of Canada’s greatest acting exports and international film legend. Best known worldwide for his role as Captain Von Trapp in the iconic 1965 musical The Sound of Music, Plummer discusses his remarkable career resurgence in 1990s cinema following decades of distinguished stage and screen work. Despite famously calling The Sound of Music “so awful and sentimental and gooey,” the film cemented his place in popular culture and introduced him to generations of moviegoers. By 1996, Plummer had re-emerged in more refined character roles perfectly suited to his patrician bearing and Shakespearean training. Fresh off his villainous turn as Klingon Chancellor Gorkon in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), his supporting role in Mike Nichols’ supernatural thriller Wolf (1994) with Jack Nicholson, and his appearance in Spike Lee’s acclaimed Malcolm X (1992) with Denzel Washington, Plummer discusses how his career evolved from leading man to character actor. In 1993, he won his second Primetime Emmy Award for his voice-over performance in the Children’s animated series Madeline, demonstrating his versatility across Dr.amatic and family entertainment. Plummer’s career would later culminate in becoming the oldest actor ever to win an Academy Award at age 82 for Beginners (2010), joining the elite group of performers who have won the “Triple Crown of Acting” (Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Awards). This episode captures a pivotal moment in the legendary Canadian actor’s seven-decade career, offering insights into classical theater training, Hollywood evolution, and maintaining artistic integrity while achieving commercial success.

Additional information

Air Date

September 17, 1996

Episode

1381

Year

1996

Guests

Elizabeth Baird, Christopher Plummer, Pat Buie, Peter Greenberg, Harvey Helms

Original Format

Betacam SP

Available As

ProRes, H.264, DVD, Blu-ray

Resolution

SD 720×480

Aspect Ratio

4:3

Audio

Stereo

Archive Reference

York University Archives

Archive LinkView in York University Archives
Digitization StatusIn Archive