The tragic death of Gene Hackman at 95 On February 26, 2025, shocked Le Monde, while also reminding many cinema aficionados that he was one of the best actors of his generation. In fact, an argument could be advanced Hackman was the best actor of all timeAnd his two Oscar victories for “The French Connection” (1971) and “Unforgiven” (1991) – among its three other nominations for “Bonnie and Clyde” (1968), “I never sang for my father” (1970), and “Mississippi Burning” (1988) – certainly by safeguarding this type of conversation. But what thought Hackman himself of his work, and what considered his favorite role? The answer may not be what you think.

In an interview of 1988 with Movie howHackman was asked what his favorite work of his own work is. Based on the strength of his own performance, the actor’s choice was curious: “Scarecrow” by Jerry Shatzberg (1973), a road road where Hackman and Al Pacino play Max and Lion, a particular pair of troubled friends who decide to travel from California to Detroit together. The reason for the choice of Hackman was linked to the process of making this film in particular:

“Yes, ‘Scarecrow’. This is the only film that I have never made in absolute continuity, and it allowed me to take all kinds of chances and to really build my character. “”

While Hackman was happy to name “Scarecrow” as a personal favorite, he is also well aware of his more famous roles and their more respected role in his filmography. In an interview of 1989 with The New York TimesHe considered that his best global role as the insecure electronic listening expert Harry Caul in “The Conversation” by Francis Ford Coppola (1974), who is probably The best Hackman gene film Never. He appreciates the character because of the minimalist approach that his role required:

“It was the ultimate in my acting career in terms of character development. It was somewhat constipated. The character did not break out. There was no satisfactory cathartic moment in the film. »»

Although this admission confirms that Hackman has clearly kept his roles of large successful and nuanced profile near the heart, there is a reason why he occupied truly surprising roles and scenes in a superior estimate that the average filmmaker would never suspect. In the interview of film’s comments, the actor listed some of his favorite Gene Hackman film moments – which differ considerably from the average list of hackman fans, simply because he knows what it took to make them and how they got out of his point of view:

“The actors have moments in less successful films that they like. I had a scene with Candice Bergen in ‘Bite the ball ‘ which is one of my favorites. I told him about my ex-wife, while standing around a water hole in the middle of the desert. I played it on horseback. I think some of my best work was in ‘The French connection, Part II ‘ – The withdrawal scene. I saw a lot of films on drug addiction and withdrawal, and I chose specific pain for me. “”