Steven Spielberg
π€ SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
I turned away, and my dad was half in the street with his window rolled down, gesturing frantically for me to come over.
And I ran over to the car, and he just looked like the Grim Reaper, and he just handed me this letter from Selective Service.
And I opened it up, and it just basically was the letter from the draft board asking me to report for my first physical.
And I was shocked.
It was a death sentence.
I couldn't believe what was happening.
My dad opened the door, assuming I was going to leave the line and drive home with him.
And I said, no, I want to see the movie.
And I took the letter, though, with me, and I went back in line.
And all I could think about was going to Vietnam.
And then the movie, I got my seat.
Lights went down.
Dr. Strangelove began.
And about five minutes into Strangelove, I forgot my dad had ever pulled up in the car.
And the movie completely swarmed all of my five senses.
I didn't even think about the letter that was in my pocket until I was halfway home on a bus.
The way that that movie overwhelmed you, made you forget for however long it was that what was going on in the outside world, I think it's fair to say that that is something that you have tried to recreate as a filmmaker, if I'm not mistaken.
And I want to talk about you as a filmmaker more broadly.
When we were preparing here at The Daily to talk to you, we got into a very spirited debate about what makes a Spielberg film a Spielberg film.
Is it awe and wonder?