Ron Perlman has revealed that while filming 1986 classic The Name Of The Roses, he had to spit in “hero” Sean Connery’s face 16 times.
Based on the historical mystery novel of the same name, The Name Of The Roses starred Sean Connery as friar William Of Baskerville, who’s trying to solve a series of bizarre deaths taking place within a medieval abbey.
During his investigation he encounters Ron Perlman’s Salvatore, a hunchback who speaks in a jumble of different languages. After someone tries to murder William, he confronts Salvatore who spits in his face.
In a new interview with The Guardian, Perlman said that he spent every moment he could with Connery, watching him act and listening to his stories. “He was my hero, the real deal. When it came to the scene where I had to spit in his eye, I just couldn’t do it.”
Connery then took Perlman aside and said if he didn’t spit in his face, they’d be there all day. “So I finally just let one fly,” Perlman explained.
“The problem was, you don’t film from just one angle, you have to recreate in profile, medium shot, closeup, over-the-shoulder. I must have spat in Sean Connery’s face 16 times that day.”
Speaking to the BBC in 2014 about the scene, Perlman said he was being “meek” about clashing with Connery. “Here I am, not only working with Sean Connery but being asked to spit in his eye. He said ‘Ron, if you don’t spit in my eye, I’ve got nothing to play.’ So I just reached back and there it was; a big loogie. He was one of the greatest men I’ve ever been in the presence of.“
Elsewhere in the Guardian feature, director Jean-Jacques Annaud revealed that he originally wanted an unknown actor to play William Of Baskerville until Connery turned up at his house and started reading lines from the movie. “I had goose bumps. The way he said the dialogue was exactly what I’d been hearing in my head while reading the book.”
Earlier this year, Perlman was confirmed to reunite with his Sons Of Anarchy co-stars Katey Sagal, Charlie Hunnam, Maggie Siff, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Kim Coates and Theo Rossi for a meta-themed series that will see them play fictional versions of themselves.
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