Dustin Hoffman prepares for new role

Press, 20 July 1984, Page 11

Dustin Hoffman prepares for new role

NZPA-AAP St Girons France What was Dustin Hoffman doing in the village square of Langon in south-western France at 10 in the morning staring incredulously as a drum and bagpipe band accompanied eight Basque dancers while a cowboy marching band from Idaho and a German oompah band waited their turn? Like thousands of others this month, Hoffman was waiting for the Tour de France, the world’s longest, richest, most prestigious and sometimes tackiest bicycle road race. He was also soaking up atmosphere for his role in a movie, which, after a delay of five years, may go into production during next year’s Tour de France. Hoffman, with Michael Cimino, director, and Colin Welland, screenwriter, joined the Tour de France in Bordeaux and travelled with it for two days. The setting of the race will be combined in a movie with the plot from the novel, “The Yellow Jersey,” by Ralph Hurne, which tells of a British cycling veteran in his late 30s and retired who is lured back to racing to help his protege win the Tour de France. “The first thing I’ve got to do is to get a cycling coach,” said Hoffman. At 47,

he is about a decade older than most senior professional riders, but he dismissed this. “The book is about the last moment of your youth,” he said, "and I think that’s the way I feel now about myself. “Actors say, ‘lf I’m going to die, let it be on stage.’ This guy says, ‘lf I’m going to die, let it be while trying to make this curve.’ I think I can relate to that.” Race officials have cooperated with the movie makers because they hope the film will create a surge of interest for the Tour de France in the United States, “a consecration of cycling,” as one official put it. Welland, a 50-year-old Briton, wrote the script for “Chariots of Fire.” Cimino directed “Deer Hunter” and “Heaven’s Gate.”