'Harry Potter' countdown: Michael Gambon sees 'no point' in reading Rowling's books

The end is near. Muggles everywhere have waited for months (and months ... and months ...) for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," and now it's so close they can feel it. Our own countdown to the film is finishing strong with Wednesday's interview with Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and today's strong feature on the headmaster himself, Michael Gambon, written by our "Potter" specialist Denise Martin:

Michael Gambon has played Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore for five years but he hasn't been setting a good example for his students when it comes to finishing their homework: The beloved old wizard hasn't cracked a single one of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" novels.

The choice not to read Rowling’s book series, he explains, is deliberate and he points out that costars Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman haven’t taken up the books either.

“You’d get upset about all the scenes it's missing from the book, wouldn‘t you?” Gambon said via phone from New York, where he was promoting the opening this Wednesday of the sixth "Potter" film. “No point in reading the books because you’re playing with [screenwriter] Steve Kloves’ words.”

And Kloves, along with director David Yates, have demanded an intense Dumbledore, who in the fourth film physically shook Harry when the boy wizard's name wound up in the "Goblet of Fire." It’s a characterization that isn’t as pronounced in the book -- Dumbledore doesn’t yank and jostle his star student, for starters -- and it upset many "Potter" fans.

In fact, many riled-up muggles also took to the Internet after the third film to complain that Gambon didn’t have the same kindly grandfather aura that they came to expect in the books and in the first two films when the role was portrayed by the late Richard Harris.

 Since joining the Potter cast in the third movie, “Harry Potter  and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” Gambon has fashioned Dumbledore into a tougher patriarch, an urgent and mysterious force in the midst of impending  war. Less cuddly, this Dumbledore is clearly presented as a formidable opponent to Potter’s snake-faced nemesis, Voldemort.

And though Harris (who died in London at age 72 in 2002) had a twinkling gentleness, Gambon’s Dumbledore is a wry observer with crackling wit when it comes to the misadventures of his pupils.

In “Half-Blood Prince,” for instance, Ron Weasley’s girlfriend Lavender Brown goes wailing past the headmaster after she loses her red-headed beau to Hermione Granger. The old wizard, with a smirking tone, muses, “Oh, to be young and to feel love’s keen sting.”

The 68-year-old Irish actor, with an illustrious 40-year stage career, is deeply respected by the young cast members. The franchise's title star, Daniel Radcliffe, for instance, said he was bringing his full powers to an especially emotional moment in the film. (WARNING: If you haven't read the books, you'll be wanting to skip this next paragraph due to a key revelation.)

“Dumbledore dies and I had to do a scene lamenting over his body,” Radcliffe explained to U.K. tabloid The Daily Mirror. “Michael is the most respected actor I have ever worked with so I had to really pull out the stops to convey the emotion.But after the fourth take, I looked down and saw that he had dozed off. I had to prod him to wake up. So much for impressing someone with your skills!”

The teacher may doze, but the students dare not drift off. That's the message both on-camera and off-camera, according to Gambon, who has made more than five dozen films, among them "The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover," "Gosford Park" and "Sleepy Hollow."

“He’s got to be a bit scary," Gambon said of his Dumbledore. "All headmasters should be a bit scary, shouldn’t they? A top wizard like him would be intimidating. And ultimately, he’s protecting Harry. Essentially, I play myself. A little Irish, a little scary. That’s what I’m like in real life.”

(WARNING: Here comes that same spoiler again, if you haven't read the books, skip the next three paragraphs.) 

Gambon said he wasn’t terribly emotional upon learning of Dumbledore’s death, and he viewed it a bit as an Obi-Wan Kenobi sorta-kinda death. “Wizards can’t die, can they? They’re always a bit there.”

Still, he said his demise is the film’s most powerful scene. Atop Hogwarts’ Astronomy Tower, Dumbledore is confronted by a determined Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), the Voldemort disciple who has been tasked with killing the headmaster. The youngster's confidence is shaken when it’s time to do the dark deed. “He goads Draco," Gambon said of his character. "He knows he isn‘t going to do it."

The faithfully rendered moment will be more potent to fans of the books who know that Dumbledore is, in fact, aware of the plot. Disarmed but calm, his beseeching eyes plead with his torn collaborator Severus Snape (Alan Rickman) not to save his life but to end it, unbeknown to Harry. Says Gambon: "He knows what’s what. He invites it. It’s quite good how he dies. I’ve died in quite a few plays and films, I’m always dying, and this one is good.” (In the film, there is one MAJOR departure from the book concerning the orchestration of this climactic scene, but we'll leave that surprise alone.)

The actor says the enormity of the "Potter" phenomenon hit him again recently at the London premiere of “Half-Blood Prince,” where more than 4,000 kids turned up to get a glimpse of the magical cast. Gambon called it both heartwarming and bittersweet.

“I was really moved by the number of children there. It was raining and everyone was drenched, some of them had been there for hours. You feel responsible for them in a way. All their books and pieces of paper for autographs were all wet, the pens wouldn’t work. It was so sad. It makes you realize how big this thing is.”

The filming of the final Harry Potter movies, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” is underway but Gambon's contributions aren't scheduled until February. He says that makes it feel as if the end is still far away for him, but he has already begun to reflect on the experience.

“It’s been," he said, "a real privilege." 

Watching stars Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint grow up has been especially fun. “They’ve become worldly, wise and strong actors. That’s been nice to see. You can say things to them now that you couldn’t say to them then.”

Like what? “Oh I don’t know. I dare not say,” he said, chuckling. Should we assume the worst? “Yes,” he answered with a cryptic bit of sass. How very Dumbledore.

-- Denise Martin

RECENT AND RELATED                              

Dan Radcliffe on the art of acting

Emma Watson talks about her e-mail pal, J.K. Rowling

Meet Neville! Matthew Lewis on being Mr. Longbottom

Getting to know the real-life Weasley boys

Arthur Weasley speaks! "Rowling has a musical brain"  

David Yates reveals where he will split "Deathly Hallows"

On the "Half Blood" set: A chat with Jim Broadbent 

Photos: Warner Brothers

Comments

[Celia]

I love Michael Gambon's portrayal of Dumbledore. I think he's awesome. It's kind of disappointing that he, Alan Rickman, and alot of the adult actors haven't read the books. But it's understandable. I mean he's really busy and I'm sure he only wants to focus on what's in the script. I can't wait to see HBP!! Only 1 Day left!!

[A Fan in the US]

Good article, but you need a proofreader!

[Bret]

"Gambon said he wasn’t terribly emotional upon learning of Dumbledore’s death"

WHAT THE EFF?!?!?!

You guys published the biggest spoiler of ALL TIME with NO WARNING! Not everyone has read the books. LAME.

Thanks for ruining the end of the movie I am seeing tomorrow.

Great job.

[John Davis]

OMG I just cant wait till Wednesday!

RT
www.privacy.cz.tc

[Bryan B.]

David Heyman's comments about Michael Gambon at the Apple Store tonight confirmed what a character this actor is. Hilarious.

But I don't necessarily believe reading the books would enhance their performances. They have to pretty much stick to Kloves' script anyway. Rickman (as Severus Snape) has impressed me very much and is, perhaps, my favorite character in the series---without having read the Jo's books. But, hey, I'm not an actor.

[prongsgal]

michael has been dumbledore for 4 yrs not 5-poa, gof, ootp,and now half blood prince.
neway he is quite funny.cant wait,in india its releasing on 16h not 15th :-(

[matthew Love]

honestly im extremely disappointed to hear this. the whole point of the movies is to capture the essence of the books and put it on screen. ive never been impressed with his dumbledore, i think he doesnt have the soft and fun side that the dumbledore in the books does, and thats the part that everyone likes. hes still wise and powerful, but that makes you respect him. voldemort is wise and powerful and you must respect him, but he isnt the likeable character in the books that dumbledore is, not by a long shot. i think in the movies the only reason dumbledore is liked so much is because he is on the good side with harry and the gang. gambon's dumbledore just doesn't have the gentlenees or the it factor that makes you like him so much, and in my opinion is one of the weaker book to movie portrayals. i liked the first dumbledore way better.

[Kate]

Bret,
well what the hell are you doing reading interviews right before the movie comes out. You know the people who are involved in its making have all read the books and are not shy to discuss it; It isn't their fault. Why don't you, instead of complaining about it all actually go and read the books. like the rest of the world already has.

[JK Rowling]

Gambon's potrayal is bollocks. His Dumbledore is cold and confused. Dumbledore is supposed to be to be warm and confident.

I guess its no surprise he would get the personality wrong, having never read the books. Sad because the nature of the characters is probably the best part of Rowling's outstanding work.

[Lindsey]

Now everything is explained. I never liked Michael Gambon as Dumbledore, never saw Dumbledore in him. He was too vicious, too dark, to almost mean to be Dumbledore. And the headmaster almost never gets like that in the series, except for the 6th book. That's when he gets more serious and less like a grandfather heartwarming fun figure. Richard Harris was so much better, and it's an awful shame he died because I feel not only he would've done the movie series justice, but he may have done it so well he would have gotten an Oscar nom eventually. Gambon yells too much, he's too vicious, and I know no matter what I won't like him in this film. Obviously the director, writers, etc are stupid to discourage reading the books, and they're excuses are a load of bull. That's why only one of the films has been decent since the first two.

[Jeremy]

I don't really care, but he was badass on Top Gear.

[Kenny]

Nice work reading the whole article, people. Spoiler alerts...and, do the math-Michael Gambon has played Dumbledore for five years...four MOVIES, five years. You proofreaders need proofreaders!

Well written article. Looking forward to seeing this at 12:01!

[Snape Fan]

Actually Michael Gambon is messing with you. If you do a little bit of research you will find that Alan Rickman has actually read the books. He has been asked in interviews and answered that he has read them, a more recent interview stated he did read them just before they were due to film each one, but he was taken over by the hype and actually started reading them as they came out. Michael Gambon is well known for teasing journalists, it just amuses me that you and the other fans of the series have fallen for his joke and taken it as gospel. People who claim to be fans of Snape and Alan Rickman try looking up his interviews on Google and you will find the truth. Read before you believe this one interview and make lame comments about how disappointed you are.

[margie]

I can no longer watch the films since Michael Gambon joined the cast. I would think an actor of his reputation would be able to cope with the differences between the book and the film, and would recognize the need to research Dumbledore's character. I don't think these movies were a place for Mr. Gambon to impart his understanding of a head master, but rather that of the author J.K. Rowling.

[CBA]

a great article though i'm worried about the 'departure from the plot'
It's kind of shocking they portray the characters so well wthout havng read the books buti guess that's just a testament to their acting, though i'd hate to not know what was going to happen to my character until I'd read the script...

To Brett- there was a warning about the spoiler...

Byeee!
(4hrs 16mins to go!!!)

[Alex]

Grumpledore is the worst thing to happen to the "Potter" movie franchise. I couldn't be more irritated by his performances. Maybe reading the books he would realize that it is possible to create an intense and also caring and kind character. Dumbledore is one of the largest reasons that HP is so popular, and to do what Gambon has done is such a dark mark on the tale. RTFB Gambon.

[Expelliarmus]

I just finished reading HBP for the first time at 5 am this morning and have been crying my eyes out all night and a big part of the day. Even though I pretty much knew before I read the book what's gonna happen to Dumbledore, the shock and the sadness I've felt have been pretty overwhelming. I guess you could say I feel almost like Harry does, during and after The Cave and The Lightning-Stuck Tower chapters.

Judging by the trailer, Gambon may just be nailing his portrayal of Dumbledore in HBP. Regardless of whether he's read the books or not. I don't think it is absolutely necessary for the him to have read the books to really get Dumbledore, but on the other hand, I'm sure it wouldn't do him any harm either.

[Me, Myself, & I]

There's more to the books than just people talking: You get more insight into all the characters, not just Harry. No wonder why he does such a poor portrayal of Dumbledore.

[colleen]

i'm not a fan of michael gambdon as Dumbledore...
too harsh, too mean, and too loud.
Dumbledore always had this quiet, silent strength that Gambdon doesn't portray appropriately. It's unfortunate, but it doesn't keep me away from the movies... it just changes things a bit.

[Liam Geoghegan]

yh, you can't let michael Gambon playing Dumbledore stop u from watching the films. all the other actors are originals, thats the main thing..Dumbledores like a coin. like every other person. he has a soft, kind and gentle side about him but can also be a firm, all powerful, loud, ruff kind of character. I liked Richard Harris but Gambon also has good astributes. he has a great sense of humor and he does talk low wand calm throughout parts of the half blood prince which is dumbledore...and yeh! there was spoiler alerts. who ever read and didnt notice should have read it thotoughly or just read the books. i love the films but I got alot more from the books. wht u see throughout yours eyes change when you read it. you feel your in another world. thats alll I have to say..cheers

[David Flores]

Hopefully gonna go watch the midnight screening.....l GONNA BE OFF THE HOOK

[laurie]

Hey, where is the Rickman interview? Snape is brilliant.

[Ken]

I thought the half blood prince was nasty, go vote!! tinyurl.com/pottervote

[May]

From this article, it sounds like David Yates is more responsible for Michael Gambon's harsher Dumbledore than Gambon himself. As far as not having read the book, it doesn't matter. The performances are only going to be as good as the writing, directing an editing allow. Having said that, I'm not a huge fan of Gambon's Dumbledore either, but put the blame where blame is due.

[Garry]

Just a quick comment to make people weary of Gambon's portrayal feel better - his performance, and the script involving Dumbledore, are much, much better in HBP than the previous outings with Gambon as Dumbledore, so don't fret.

That gentler side is there now, and he does a really great job of balancing the firm yet kind persona of the character; honestly, in HBP he really feels like Dumbledore. When I look back on his previous portrayals I really do think it was more down to the script/screenplay than Gambon; he simply didn't get enough time on screen in most of the films, and in the majority of those appearences there was little genuine interaction with Harry that wasn't purely plot related ie. he'd talk to Harry about missions, goals, tasks etc. but there's be little to no chit-chat.

This is something that has changed in HBP and the actual development of Dumbledore and Harry's relationship helps carve out a portrayal closer to the original character.