> Secondly, a story passed down, maybe as an urban legend. I believe the actors involved were an accomplished Sidney Poitier and a young Dustin Hoffman, filming a movie together (if you can't find the movie, i guess i got the names wrong). Hoffman shows up to film, having prepared to play some physically wracked man, with either an intense sickness or a horrible drug addiction. Hoffman had starved himself for at least a week, and it physically showed. Poitier asks what the problem is, and Hoffman explains his approach. Poitier replies disdainfully, "Try acting, son."

In my own theatre appreciation class, the professor told the exchange to us as having taken place with Sir Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman, filming Marathon Man. Hoffman was preparing for a torture scene, I believe.

-Cynth"likes that anecdote"ia