Ralph Macchio remembers Francis Ford Coppola's 'curve balls' on the set of 'Outsiders'

Ralph Macchio is remembering Francis Ford CoppolaThe intense direction on the set of The outsiders.

Macchio, 62, was part of a star-studded cast in the 1983 coming-of-age drama, which Coppola, 85, filmed after making the godfather and Apocalypse now.

“I was very professional, overly professional, overly excited about the opportunity, overly prepared, so to speak,” Macchio recalled exclusively. Us weekly while at the 2024 DGA Honors at the Director's Guild Theater in New York City on October 17. “He was always throwing me curveballs to get me out of my preparation, to create more organic moments.”

Macchio, who played Johnny Cade in the coming-of-age film, recalled a particularly “beautiful” scene that he had “planned” exactly how he wanted, before Coppola began challenging him in unique ways.

“[Coppola] He told me to do it again and stop thinking. Once he gave me a little stone and told me: 'Don't look at this stone.' Put it in your pocket and during the scene I want you to think about what color it is,'' he said. “And it really helped me because it got me out of overanalyzing.”

Macchio said he also “loved that rehearsal process.” The film was his great opportunity alongside other promising young people, including Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe and Emilio Estevez.

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“Listen, he has started so many careers,” he said. Us by Coppola. “The lesson I learned most from him is that films and art are defined over time. And I preach that all the time. You don't remember what won the Oscar two years ago, but you talk about where you saw it the godfather, eastern time, Apocalypse noweither On the seafront. You remember where, when and what you were doing.”

Coppola launched his labor of love, Megalopolisto mixed reviews in September. The big-budget sci-fi drama, starring adam driver as well as Coppola's nephew Jason SchwartzmanIt made $120 million and has grossed only $12 million at the global box office.

As for Macchio, he recently celebrated season 6 of Cobra Kaiwhere he plays Daniel LaRusso, a character he reprized The karate kid who now runs a martial arts studio. On the red carpet at the premiere in July, she reflected on her favorite moment filming the original film. karate kid next to the deceased Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi) after his experience in The outsiders.

“I always [go] return to the scene where [Morita as Miyagi] He gives me the car and I say, 'You're the best friend I've ever had,'” Macchio said. Us At the moment. “It is this pure, easy and genuine [scene]. Totally perfect. Realizing that all tasks add up to karate moves is a pretty big payoff scene. there are so many [memorable scenes]. Getting my ass kicked, those were never my favorite scenes, but in the end I managed to win.”

With reporting by Antonio Ferme