"LIVING IN PERIL"
InterviewsWith The Stars:
ROB LOWE - JAMES BELUSHI - DEAN STOCKWELL
Interview with ROB LOWE
About "LIVING IN PERIL" With Walter Woods
"It's not a horror movie, but its incredibly scary. It's not a comedy, but it's surprisingly funny. It's not a romance, but there is sexual tension. This movie could be described as a 'cousin' to 'After Hours' and 'Barton Fink'," says Rob Lowe of 'LIVING IN PERIL.' "On another level, he continues, "I see it as a double feature with 'Bad Influence', a previous movie of mine, in that they both represent finely drawn portrayals of Los Angeles, albeit very different ones. In 'Bad Influence', the malevolence was under the surface, and the surface was the flashy, sexy, fast paced side of L.A. that everybody knows malevolence is right at your front door. It isn't disguised or concealed in anything other than paranoia."
Recalling that after 'Bad Influence' he was offered a number of film noir thrillers, but that none compared to that acclaimed movie until 'LIVING IN PERIL' came along, Lowe observes: "It's a rich and interesting genre and when it's done well, it's fabulous, but it can be done badly. Of the many scripts that have come my way, 'LIVING IN PERIL' stood out. It is really taut and logical; there's nothing gratuitous about it. It is very smart and funny."
Expanding the point, Lowe adds, "There are elements to Walter's predicament that I can relate to. Now I haven't woken up with rats in my bed or a guy in a S&M mask breaking my toe, but I can empathize with the underlying themes of being unable to get satisfaction from the establishment that is supposed to protect you. The feeling that here's a guy who has always paid his taxes; he's not a jay-walker, he's the squarest guy around, but people are just running rough shod all over him without being held accountable."
'LIVING IN PERIL' reunites Rob Lowe with James Belushi for the first time since their successful teaming in the hit film 'About Last Night'. Belushi has this to say about Lowe in the part of Walter Woods, "Rob is ideal for this role. He has an innocence about him, yet he is extremely smart. Harrison, the character I play, likes to make Walter squirm, but then he does that to anyone - he's that kind of guy! As an actor, I love working with Rob, I think we have a natural chemistry."
Echoing the sentiment, Lowe adds, "Jim and I have always had a great rapport, on and off the screen. What was fun was that after 10 years we pretty much picked up where we left off, knowing each others rhythms and idiosyncrasies."
"I like the tradition of ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances and how they react to events which force them to be heroic in a way that is not in their natures. Those are the kind of action screen heroes I find interesting and I think audiences can relate to them too", says Lowe of his role of Walter Woods. He continues, "I love the 'Terminator' movies, but you tend to sit back and observe them. In the case of a film like 'The Fugitive,' you are more emotionally invested because it's about a regular guy - it could be you."
Agreeing that the character of Walter is the embodiment of Mr. Everyman, director Jack Ersgard believes that Rob Lowe is perfect for the part, following in the tradition of Hitchcock's most popular heroes. "They were always people you could identify with in some way and yet they were a little larger than life to make them interesting. Rob has a touch of the classic Hitchcock leading men such as Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart."
Interview With JAMES BELUSHI
James Belushi plays Harrison in "LIVING IN PERIL", a film he describes as "...a dark, quirky movie that combines great story-telling and interesting characters with a dash of black humor."
"LIVING IN PERIL" Director Jack Ersgard agrees, "He's a typical business man who started with nothing and created his own fortune. He's a little rough around the edges, but he drives a nice car and wears an Armani suit. He's got enough money to get what he wants and his philosophy is: 'I pay for it, so you had better deliver!" 
"Harrison has bought his way into Beverly Hills. He has made good money and wants a splashy house built," observes James Belushi of his character."He drives a Mercedes and dresses in California style designer clothes.Being a tough professional, he has little patience with what he considers unprofessionalism in others and does not appreciate Walter being late for appointments. Consequently, Harrison makes an instant judgment of the architect and places a lot of pressure on him because he doesn't trust him. After all, he's paying a lot of money for the work and expects a spectacular home in return for it."
In Rob Lowe's assessment: "Harrison is a brash, nouveau riche man, a Beverly Hills bully! He enjoys making Walter sweat and since the guy is desperate to hang onto his job, he will do whatever it takes to please him."
Interview With DEAN STOCKWELL
About "LIVING IN PERIL" With William
"I was attracted to the piece for the intelligence and cohesiveness of the writing," says Dean Stockwell about 'LIVING IN PERIL', "it was different, a bit off-beat. 'LIVING IN PERIL' is a Film Noir with humor. There is an eccentricity to it that I really enjoy, especially as I tend to lean towards humor more than anything else."
Director Jack Ersgard describes William as: "a man who has lived in Los Angeles forever, never having really made it. Perhaps he had had hopes of becoming an actor and didn't get the chance. I have met many aging apartment managers in this town who are frustrated actors".
Adds Ersgard, "When Dean and I first discussed the character, he suggested that he is really closed and I thought, what does that mean? But Dean is right. He's closed in; fed up with circumstances and with people." 
"The character is a lout, an L.A. lout. A guy who has nothing but complaints and is irritated by everyone and everything," reflects Stockwell on his role of William, the cranky apartment manager who resents having to provide a service of any kind to his unfortunate tenants. And when Walter Woods, a smart looking architect, arrives on the scene and proves to be more troublesome than most, it is more than William can stand. "He's abrasive and uses foul language to everyone," continues Stockwell, "but he hates people who bring him problems. He's a man with a permanent thistle up his pants!"
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This page was last modified on October 10, 1997