Cinematic legend Sam Elliott talks ‘I'll See You in My Dreams’

The veteran actor and Hollywood icon discusses his fifty-year career, working with younger filmmakers and playing the leading man again at seventy-one.

“After you've been in this business for almost fifty years, you are looking for something that still excites you on some level and this did”, explains actor Sam Elliott when discussing his latest role in the romantic drama, I’ll See You in My Dreams.

Having entertained fans and moviegoers for almost fifty years through his iconic performances in films such as Mask (1985), Road House (1989), Tombstone (1993) and The Big Lebowski (1998), Elliott stands as a veteran of cinema. Kicking off his career in the early 1970s as the archetypal cowboy thanks to his husky voice, distinctive moustache and towering physique, Elliott has since transcended as a true character-actor and one of the most recognizable faces (and voices) in Hollywood.

He now features in the role of retired widower Bill in Brett Haley’s praised drama I’ll See You in My Dreams. Elliott stars alongside fellow acting veteran, Blythe Danner, as retired teacher and former songstress Carol, who attempts to find the value of life following the death of her husband ten years prior. She soon meets Bill and the two pursue in an unusual liaison, savoring the moments that are often taken for granted.

Obtaining one of the most longstanding careers in the business, Elliott is no stranger to derivative content – although he ensures this was not the case with I’ll See You in My Dreams. “This script stood out to me amongst a lot of other material that has come my way – I was very intrigued with this human story, one that had come from a thirty-year-old kid [Haley].” He adds, “This film focuses on a road that we’re all going down; we’re all going to be dealing with love, loss, life, hopelessness and hope. These are things that may give people a lot of concern or worry but this is a hopeful look at it..”

I’ll See You in My Dreams marks Haley’s second directorial feature, following the 2010 comedy-drama The New Year. Having worked with some of the most gifted directors in the business – from Peter Bogdanovich to the Coen Brothers - at thirty-one years old, Haley marks one of the younger filmmakers to work with Elliott in recent years; a refreshing property for the actor. “Brett Haley’s enthusiasm is one of his greatest attributes; that and his intelligence. He's a very smart guy as you can imagine: he’s a film buff; he’s a smart guy; he knows the game and he knows how to make movies.” The actor admits his sceptics of working with filmmaker of such a young age, but the script was the defining factor. “I thought ‘he's only thirty-years-old how is this possible?’ but when I saw the material and how enthusiastic he was, there was no question that I wanted to do it.” He adds, “It's a wonderful thing to have somebody directing a film who has the ability to connect with you what it is that he wants. I’ve always looked at directors as the captain of the ship and I’m one of the crew hoisting the sails.”

Elliott and Danner are just two members of the stellar cast embraced in Haley’s independent project. Celebrated actors Rhea Perlman, Mary Kay Place and June Squibb star as Carol’s exuberant and unconventional friends whilst Martin Starr and Malin Åkerman offer supporting roles as Carol’s pool cleaner Lloyd and her distant daughter, Katherine. Elliott emphasizes the importance of working with a diverse and bestowed cast. “You're in the business for fifty years: you know these people onscreen; have great admiration for their work but you never cross paths with them. We all have mutual respect for each other and I think it shows in the work.” The actor particularly highlights the experience of playing Danner’s leading man. “It’s just a joy to work with someone who loves the game; she’s not there to be a movie star; she, like all of us, are there to do the work. I think all of us know how fortunate we are to still be working.”

Elliott has featured in over ninety film and television roles across his five-decade career, many of which have remained as iconic as the actor himself. Ranging from quintessential western roles in films like The Quick and the Dead (1987) to dramatic roles in The Contender (2000), Elliott has swiftly excelled as a definitive character-actor. On discussing his wide-ranging, eclectic performances, the actor discusses the techniques applied when carefully choosing his roles. “I've always said ‘if it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage’ because I love telling a story and the script is initially where its at.” He adds, “I like playing the bad guy but I particularly like playing the good guy – especially if it has some human element to it that I can identify with: I think audiences respond to that.”

I’ll See You in My Dreams premiered as part of the U.S. Dramatic competition at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival – one of three films that starred the actor: Grandma (2015) and Digging For Fire (2015). I’ll See You in My Dreams received critical acclaim as well as a standing ovation. “That was the great gift for all of us: getting to go to Sundance and see the film with these movie buffs”, he recounts. “Nobody sets out to make a bad movie, when you pull it off like I think we did, that's the reward – it's not about making money, it's about making good films and I think we often lose sight of that.”

Elliott remains an exemplary and respected character-actor that has continued to subvert and enhance with age; a rarity in the movie business. His suave persona and powerful stance continues to resonate with moviegoers, marking him as a timeless talent in the acting world. “To get this opportunity at 71-years-old to play a leading man again is incredible – it’s been a long time.”