Steve Guttenberg: Interview

Review by Clint Morris

Interview with Steve Guttenberg
Actor in Police Academy and Cocoon series.

As far as the movie going public was concerned, 80’s superstar Steve Guttenberg disappeared without a trace on New Years Eve 1989. Guttenberg had made some 20 movies that decade, ultimately earning box office grosses of over $100 million dollars – but perceivably threw in the acting towel at the start of the new millennium.

But Guttenberg didn't go AWOL from mainstream cinema at all – he reassessed his future in film, instead deciding to tackle the directing game.

His latest film as Director is P.S Your Cat is Dead, a faithful re-telling of James Kirkwood’s novel/play and as Guttenberg tells Clint Morris, it's only the beginning of his ‘presumed’ second coming, which also includes a return to acting.

Guttenberg is now behind the camera

Despite acting in a couple of drama’s early on in his career, Guttenberg did a small comedy about bumbling cops and found himself slightly trapped in the comedy genre.

But all these years later, Guttenberg looks upon the decision to play Police Academy’s Mahoney as nothing but positive.

"They were great. I mean you have to be loyal. Everyone can pooh-pooh all those sequels, but what about all these other sequels at the moment: Men in Black 2, Indiana Jones, they’re all after money too.

"It's the way the business is," he says.

Guttenberg's last appearance as Officer Mahoney was in Police Academy 4. "I left at the ending in a balloon with Sharon Stone so that wasn't too bad." he laughs.

"I thought I had paid my dues, and returned the favour so it was time to move on."

Guttenberg did move on, and into some of the most successful movies of the decade, including Cocoon, Short Circuit and the remake of the French film Three Men and a Cradle. "You know I always knew Three Men and a Baby was going to make it. It was such a good story. We had a crazy time," he says of the 1987 hit.

"They've actually got the third film over in France at the moment, so I'm confident that we will be doing a Three Men and a Baby 3 here soon, too. I haven't heard of anything yet – but when we do, it will be tremendous," says Guttenberg.

In the late eighties and early nineties, Guttenberg disappeared from the screen for a while, instead starring in direct to video films or hiding in a support cast somewhere, but he admits he's not embarrassed or displeased with anything he has done.

"I'm not upset about any of them," he says, although Guttenberg says part of the reason he turned to directing is so he can make some of the stories that he no longer gets offered.

"It’s a great little gig. I’ve more control. I get to make the stories I want to tell," he says. Guttenberg, who cut his teeth as a director in television, says P.S Your Cat is Dead is his first taste of directing a major film. "The story has always been a favourite of mine, and I’ve always wanted to make great movies. Normal stuff, you know?"

The ever-smiling Officer Mahoney

Guttenberg says he's pleased about the current state of the film industry, especially when it allows him to make stories like this. "It’s very healthy. We’re always going to need movies. We’ve been busy making movies, we always will be. We’re in the business of fulfilling people’s fantasies."

Guttenberg says his fantasy has come to fruition in his directing gig. "It’s the story of two men who start out enemies and by the end are friends. But it’s all about the journey." Explains Guttenberg.

Guttenberg says he thinks he’s found the right mix of actors to pull it off too. "Lombardo Boyar who plays Eddie is just beautiful. He was terrific, and the first great one to be attached. Then we were lucky enough to get Cynthia Watros, who is in The Drew Carey Show.

"We had a chance to give Shirley Knight a role, Tom Wright was on Seinfeld, and A.J Benza too, and it turned out terrifically. Casting was superb."

And did Guttenberg suffer any hiccups behind the camera? "A few things. You know, just normal things, but it was just great. All great," he joyfully replies.

"I’ve only had good experiences with actors. Starring next to them and directing them, and for the most part they’re all inspiring, special people."

And although Guttenberg says he's "...looking at a couple of things" for his next directing gig, he isn’t ruling out a return to starring roles, or the resurrection of one of his most popular characters.

"There have been rumours of a Mahoney spin-off film for quite a while. I sure hope they do it. If the script’s right – I’m definitely in," says Guttenberg. "You never know, I may direct."

Guttenberg also says a new Police Academy film is almost certainly on the cards. "Definitely. It’s coming. I mean we have to. When it all comes down to it people will look down at the idea, but they're in the same business of making money too.

"And that’s what doing another one would all be about. I mean Godfather II and III were all about the money too - they were sequels. The Police Academy films gave me so much opportunity, and I’ve got nothing but a good attitude towards them. I’ll probably make it."

Whether it's in front of the camera or behind the camera, it sounds like we will once again be seeing a lot of Steve Guttenberg.

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