Robert De Niro prepared for his role as a terrorist plumber in Terry Gilliam’s dark sci-fi comedy Brazil by shadowing a brain surgeon
Robert De Niro prepared for his role as a terrorist plumber in the dark science fiction comedy Brazil (1985) by shadowing a brain surgeon, the film’s director has revealed.
Terry Gilliam spoke The guard about the making of the film, and he was joined by its star, Jonathan Pryce, who played Sam Lowry.
Robert, 80, originally wanted to play the role of antagonist Jack Lint, but Terry, 83, had already promised it to a friend, Michael Palin.
Undeterred by his love of Monty Python, of which Terry was famously a member, Robert accepted the role of criminal Archibald ‘Harry’ Tuttle.
Terry said, “I said to him, ‘You’re a plumber, but I want you to treat plumbing like it’s brain surgery.’ He even found a neurosurgeon from New York and underwent surgery as part of his preparation.”
Robert De Niro prepared for his role as a terrorist plumber in the dark sci-fi comedy Brazil (1985) by shadowing a brain surgeon, the film’s director revealed (pictured in May)
The actor, 80, played Archibald (pictured) in the film which became a cult classic despite bombing at the box office
He continued, “But when you see Tuttle handling equipment up close, those hands are mine.”
“Although his character, Tuttle, plays a relatively small role, he is actually the hero, as he is the only person who accomplishes anything.”
The film centers on Sam Lowry (Jonathan), a low-level bureaucrat who tries to find a woman who appears in his dreams while working a mind-numbing job and living in a small apartment.
Sam lives in a dystopian world where there is an over-reliance on poorly maintained (and rather erratic) machines.
He and Archibald meet when a misprint in an arrest warrant leads to the death of another Archibald.
Tom Cruise was also considered for the role of Sam, who gives up his government role for the life of a fugitive with new girlfriend Jill (Kim Greist).
Jonathan, 76, admitted that he and Terry ‘don’t agree’ on the ending as he sees it as a ‘terrible nightmare’, while the latter sees it as ‘optimistic’.
Despite bombing at the box office, falling $5 million under budget, the British Film Institute named Brazil the 54th greatest British film of all time in 1999.
Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam (pictured this month) spoke to The Guardian about the making of the film, and he was joined by its star, Jonathan Pryce, who played Sam Lowry.
In November, Robert was at the Gotham Independent Film Awards in New York City to give a speech in honor of his critically acclaimed Western crime epic Killers Of The Flower Moon.
The film was directed by his longtime friend and collaborator Martin Scorsese, and also starred Leonardo DiCaprio.
During the speech, the Taxi Driver star appeared to become confused and paused for a moment, before returning and trying to explain what had thrown him off.
He later accused Apple of editing and cutting the beginning of his speech.
The film revolved around Sam (left, pictured with Archibald), who works a low-level, mind-numbing bureaucrat job and tries to find the woman who keeps appearing in his dreams.