In Landau, director Burton found Lugosi’s kindred spirit. A stage and film veteran, Landau was best remembered for his three seasons on TV’s “Mission: Impossible” in the 1960s – until meaty parts in “Tucker” (1988) and “Crimes and Misdemeanors” (1989) turned his career around and won him two Oscar nominations. “There was a long period when I was offered one-dimensional roles in meaningless films. I was lucky I didn’t have to drive a taxi; I was working as an actor. But it was terrible.” More than two hours in makeup each day helped transform Landau into Lugosi–an array of devices gave him a thinner upper lip, a deft in his chin and larger ears–and he worked hard on the tricky Hungarian accent. Most striking, however, is the humanity and dignity Landau brings to his portrayal of the aged, battered star. “I understand how it is to be at the top of your form and not be respected and still believe in yourself. I wanted to open people up to the tragedy. He was a character out of Chekhov or Shakespeare.” And a character Landau could really sink his teeth into.
