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still earnest about acting WRITTEN BY Lori Myers
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cover story ) ) ) ernest borgnine
ERNEST BORGNINE’S ROBUST LAUGH ECHOES THROUGH THE STERILE HALLWAYS OF THE FORMER HARRISBURG State Hospital, where his latest movie, Another Harvest Moon, is being filmed. He’s shaking hands, chatting with the crew, greeting visitors, still in his character’s pajamas (see pictures above). He’s comfortable, relaxed, and very much at home on this movie set. The laugh, the gap-toothed smile, the “I’m-one-of-the-guys” attitude. That was Borgnine years ago, and it’s Borgnine now at the age of 91. Borgnine’s latest movie relates the story of four friends coping with life in a nursing home. The film is star-studded with the likes of Anne Meara, Doris Roberts, Richard Schiff, Piper Laurie, and Cybill Shepherd rounding out the cast. In this heartfelt drama, Borgnine’s character, Frank, a World War II veteran, is forced to come to terms with his own mortality. role,” Borgnine says in typical
actor in 1956 for the film Marty and, at
stroke,” Borgnine says. “I said to myself,
complimentary fashion. “In the story,
the age of 91, is presently the oldest
‘This is going to be interesting.’ I took the
everybody wants to help each other and
living Best Actor award winner. Other
words of the author who wrote this thing
yet we’re getting in each other’s way by
memorable films include 1953’s From
and I played that, plus the ideas I had in
being too good and doing too much. At
Here to Eternity opposite Montgomery
my mind as to how a man would play a
the end you wonder how it’s going to turn
Clift and Frank Sinatra, 1967’s The Dirty
stroke. I don’t do research. It comes from
out. These are characters who, through
Dozen, and 1969’s The Wild Bunch.
inside.”
their own associations, find themselves.
The connection between him and his
I have a feeling that this will be a good
fans has remained strong and steadfast
little film.”
during Borgnine’s more than 50 years in
“I’ve never played a fellow that had a
Borgnine describes his character as a down-to-earth guy who has feelings for the people around him, and who takes pity on one lonely woman, played by Laurie. “She does a wonderful job with her
Borgnine’s uncluttered and natural
the spotlight, and has allowed him to
acting style has served him well. He was
make smooth transitions from stage, to
the winner of the Academy Award for best
movies, to television, and back to movies.
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Photograph credit MPTV. net
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McHale’s Navy cast in 1962. Shown are (back row) Yoshio Yoda, Tim Conway, Edson Stroll, John Wright; (seated) Billy Sands, Gary Vinson, Ernest Borgnine, Carl Ballantine, Gavin MacLeod.
It’s the rare star who can accomplish a feat
taking off.’ They called me in to the Pentagon
like that in a very fickle business.
to see the Secretary of the Navy, and he told
Boomers will especially remember Borgnine
had. He said everybody wants to join McHale’s
Quinton McHale in the black-and-white
navy.”
television sitcom McHale’s Navy, which ran from 1962 to 1966. “The first thing that pops in my mind about
“
”
Borgnine, in fact, has a special personal tie with the United States Navy. He had joined the fleet in 1935 and was discharged in 1941. But
that series is that we had a great cast,”
when the world went to war, Borgnine re-
Borgnine muses. “You don’t find anybody like
enlisted and served until 1945, reaching the
Tim Conway and Joe Flynn, who passed away,
rank of Gunner’s Mate 1st Class. It was his
unfortunately, at a very early age. And Carl
mother who suggested he give acting a try.
Ballantine, who was the fellow that was always
Borgnine dove into it with his usual gusto.
after something. It was all those fellows
They called me in to the Pentagon to see the Secretary of the Navy, and he told me that I was the greatest recruiter they ever had. He said everybody wants to join McHale’s navy.
me that I was the greatest recruiter they ever
as the irrepressible Lieutenant Commander
Borgnine and his fifth wife, Tova, have been
working together that created such a wonderful
married since 1972 and live in Beverly Hills
bunch of characters.”
whenever a movie contract doesn’t whisk them
But not everyone took kindly to the show’s
away to places like Harrisburg, Pa. One of the
plot, which presented the antics of the
actor’s goals was to star in 200 movies, a
conniving and fun-loving crew of PT-73, who
landmark he just attained in October 2007
turned out to be a constant source of comedic
when he got back in the saddle filming a
exasperation for Captain Binghamton (Flynn). “Of course, we did everything in the show
western entitled Death Keeps Coming. “It’s about this girl who’s had a curse laid
that we couldn’t do in a regular navy—the
upon her, and she becomes part of the devil and
British navy especially,” Borgnine recalls.
everything else,” Borgnine explains. “I tell you
“Britain didn’t show the series for a long time,
it’s rough, because having played the devil one
if ever, because of the fact that the admiralty
time, I know. That will be my 200th film, and I
was much against us. And the Navy here in this
don’t intend to stop there.”
country was against it for a while and suddenly they said, ‘Oh, wait a minute. This thing is
When he’s in between film and television roles, Borgnine also doesn’t stop being active
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cover story
) ) ) ernest borgnine
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Above left: Borgnine applauds after a performance by the U.S. Navy Band at a special concert celebrating the 231st birthday of the U.S. Navy at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C., October 14, 2006; Above center: Borgnine’s autobiography Ernie; Above right: A Mercedes Benz Smart Car similar to the one owned by Borgnine.
and enthralled with life. His self-written
With the writing done and some down
autobiography was just released in July of
time between pictures, Borgnine, even at 91,
this year and its simple title—Ernie—speaks
doesn’t allow moss to grow under his feet.
volumes about this down-to-earth man and
“At the present time I’m driving my little
actor. In it, he muses about his life, his loves,
Smart Car,” Borgnine says. “It’s for two
and his passion for acting. It’s a virtual
people and is built by Mercedes Benz. I tool
who’s-who of show business, with Borgnine
around the town in that thing and it gives me
telling tales of Bette Davis, with whom he
about 50-55 miles to the gallon, and I’m
starred in the film A Catered Affair, and
having a ball. It was a gift from my wife.”
personal insights about such legendary
And our gift? Why, it’s the fact that
Hollywood idols like Spencer Tracy, Raquel
Borgnine continues to share his talents and,
Welch, and James Stewart.
yes, that robust laugh. ) ) )
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