Here’s that 1990 Peter Ustinov interview for the Criterion Spartacus laser disc. Ustinov’s recollections of Charles Laughton (from 9:00 to 15:00) are priceless, particularly his mimicking of Laughton’s blinking and twitching. Ustinov’s description of Laughton — “An extremely vulnerable and sensitive soul who went through life just waiting to be offended” — strikes a chord. When I wake up and start my day I know that something appalling or offensive is just waiting around the corner, and that the only way to keep this encounter from happening is to stay indoors and just write. But if I do that I’ll eventually run out of material.
