Looking back into the annals of cinematic history can sometimes be a debilitating thing for a director or filmmaker looking to create a new movie. Firstly, we like our creators to always be progressive, moving forward and challenging the art form. But, perhaps most importantly, to look back is to be overshadowed by the ginormous icons who came before you. However, for Ron Howard, craning his neck towards cinema’s golden age provided inspiration for one of his pictures.
In The Heart of the Sea isn’t the biggest success of Howard’s career. The 2015 movie, inspired by historical events, features a stellar cast of Chris Hemsworth, Tom Holland, Ben Whishaw, Cillian Murphy, and Brendan Gleeson battle the high seas in a thrilling adventure movie. It was a movie blessed with all the modern advantages of the day, but for Howard, it was essential to pay attention to some icons of Hollywood.
During an interview with USA Today, Howard shared his vision for the characters of Owen Chase and Captain Pollard. The role is a demanding one as it deals with both the more obvious adventure at hand, but also delivers a more subtle sub-text. The cover theme was simple for Howard: “The pride and hubris that can go in the face of the truth. And the enlightenment that comes from looking at oneself in as true a light as possible. I thought that this is what happened to Owen Chase in the film, it’s what happens much later to Captain Pollard.”
Chase, played by Hemsworth, with whom Howard had worked on Rush, had some very keen connections with James Hunt, whom Hemsworth had played in the previous movie. “Obviously, both are driven by ego at the beginning of the movie,” but things were more subtle than that, as Howard continued: “The thing is, Chris is Australian. And a thing I wanted him to understand is that there was a new kind of American sensibility at this time, and Chase, by all accounts, reflected that.”
So, with that in mind, Howard set Hemsworth some tasks in trying to understand how to carry himself as Owen Chase, firstly some historical figures such as Andrew Jackson, Andrew Boone and Davey Crockett were suggested as they reflected, “the birth of that American persona of Manifest Destiny and self-actualization and individualism as a goal.”
However, it would be the legend of Hollywood who would really sell the idea to Hemsworth: “I told Chris, ‘Watch some John Wayne movies. Watch Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry. Watch Gary Cooper. Watch the way those guys carried themselves, and that was a real reflection of that idea.’ And he got it.”
Looking back at the icons of cinema certainly isn’t a surefire way to make a great movie. For most, it is a daunting perusal best saved for pastimes rather than professional capacity. But, if you’re looking to understand exactly what it means to be a swaggering American, then taking a gander at Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and Gary Cooper is a good way to go.