A Schwarz-directed Christmas movie? It exists, but he doesn’t remember it either

It’s not exactly a discovery. Filmmaking, in front of and/or behind the camera, isn’t always a smooth ride. The experience can even be taken to extremes, as was the case with Apocalypse Now, whose Homeric setting is recounted in the haunting Heart of Darkness. Or Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo and his conflicted relationship with Klaus Kinski.

If some film talent doesn’t particularly express a desire to one day wear the director’s hat, there are just as many who eventually succumb to the sirens of directing, out of desire and/or challenge. It is a fact that some attempts will not be repeated. For what ? Painful and exhausting experience, financial reasons… there is no shortage of explanations.

After mentioning famous cases like Gary Oldman He came out of a crushing experience on the film “Don’t Swallow”. Or Marlon Brando, who has signed on for one film, in this case a Western, this is an opportunity to take a closer look at a rather unexpected talent on the shortlist: Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Arnie and Christmas Candy

In September 1968, at the age of 21, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean with very little money in his pocket and a rather poor level of English. L’The American way of life And its traditions fascinate him, first of all, he wants to accept this culture, which is spreading towards him. After not getting his parents’ support in this new field he was trying to plow, Arnie became real self made man In the most American sense of the term, by force of will and self-sacrifice. America loves a success story like that.

We can barely present his filmography, which still includes works such as the first two Terminators, Predator, Conan the Barbarian, True Lies, Total Recall, Last Action Hero, Commando… works that elevated him to the world of action film icons. 80-90 years. He waited until 1990 to get behind the camera for the first time, directing an episode of the cult TV series Tales from the Crypt.

Just a year later, it was once again implemented in the T-800 Unstoppable Terminator 2Our favorite Arnie this time takes it a step further and tackles his only film to date; In this case, a live TV Christmas movie: Christmas in Connecticut. As a sort of horizon to the toy race that will hit theaters four years later.

Arnie is in very marked territory. In the United States, the Christmas movie is a true institution, a necessary annual and family ritual that has its totems, such as Miracle on 34th Street or Frank Capra’s Life is Wonderful. A remake of the 1945 film directed by Peter Godfrey, Christmas in Connecticut Starring Diane Cannon, Kris Kristofferson and Tony Curtis.

the pitch Elizabeth (Dyan Cannon) is a cooking show star and author of several cookbooks. Alexander (Tony Curtis), his manager, discovers a forest hero named Jefferson (Kris Kristofferson) on the news. Having lost his home in a fire, he calls for generosity and wants to enjoy a homemade Christmas dinner.

From there, a small idea arose: why not Elizabeth cook him a memorable Christmas dinner? The problem is that he actually doesn’t know how to cook at all. And trying to keep Jefferson and the public from finding out, especially live…

What does it look like ? See below!

Honeyed and ultra-polite scenes, knowing and loving glances between two characters who, of course, are completely opposite, but eventually become close; Systematically trying hard, good morals and even a little cameo from Arnie as a bonus…

Christmas in Connecticut Ticks every box by Feel Good – a Christmas cuddly toy to watch with a mug of hot chocolate and under a blanket. Minus the director’s talent… in fact, this TV movie seems to have become an embarrassment for Schwarzenegger, to the point that the Netflix documentary series doesn’t even mention the actor, a sober Arnold.

Nor in his autobiography, published in 2013, Full Recall: The Story of My Incredibly True Life. The experience seems to have cooled him down quite a bit in any case, as this TV movie remains his only contribution to this day. And at 76, we imagine he has other priorities now. Even if we should never insult the future.