Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

---

Tony Dolan is a British actor and musician with experience in both film and theater. His musical career includes bass/vocalist with the band Atomkraft during the 1980s, and he joined the band Venom in 1988. The bands have recorded several albums and video concerts that will be released to DVD in 2004. Besides stage work in Britain, he had a featured role in "Judge Dredd," the sci-fi film starring Sylvester Stallone. Currently, he is finishing work on a new Atomkraft CD due next year. He's featured in the book "The Making of Master and Commander," now available for pre-order, and he'll be in a book on Metallica next year.

MAXIMUM CROWE: You play the ships carpenter, Mr. Lamb. Without giving too much away, describe him for us. What's his relationship like with Aubrey (Russell's character)?

TONY DOLAN: Mr. Lamb has a special relationship with Captain Aubrey. Unlike any other character, Jack relies on Mr. Lamb. After all, the Surprise is a wooden vessel and without Lamb it would sink!!

Mr. Lamb is in the service of the British Royal Navy as a warrant officer, which means that he is destined to stay with whichever ship the Naval board commission him to, whether Jack was there or not. However he was with Jack on the HMS Sophie as her master carpenter and followed Jack to the Surprise.

He loves his ship and his captain too and will let neither down whatever the cost. He is a strong and quite gentle man. Simple in his thoughts, he has no real friends onboard but an almost adopted son in the form of the carpenters mate, Jo Nagle. He's easy to approach, however. He does not suffer fools where the ship is concerned and expects every man to do his duty and serve the captain and the ship to all costs.

MRC: What kind of research or preparation was the cast required to do before filming?
TD: The cast did two weeks of boot camp once in Mexico. We did extensive training of the period in the art of sea warfare. We learnt how to sail a fully rigged sixth rate vessel. Fire its guns and reload in very short time. Fire muskets and small arms. [There was also] stunt and fight training, with all manner of weapons. We mixed and fed the ships animals, too. We rowed also.

I, as ships carpenter, asked to put my own tool chest together so that I could have my favorite tools handy. I used to be a theater carpenter, so it was pretty easy for me.

I spent a lot of time at the British Maritime Naval Museum in London and HMS Victory, which was Lord Nelson's flagship and fought at Trafalgar. I read, saw firsthand and watched as much as I could from the period. I tried to become Mr. Lamb before I reached the set in Mexico. We received a lot of research material when we arrived which was fantastic -- typical of Peter Weir's generosity to his cast.

MRC: Had you read the Patrick O'Brian books before being cast in the movie?
TD: I must be honest that I hadn't read any O'Brian novels prior to being cast. However, as soon as I had met the casting director and before meeting Peter or being cast, I went straight home and spoke to my father-in-law, who is an actor also and who, fortunately, not only had read the novels, but also had them all! I grabbed the first five or six and began my quest for Captain Jack, and Mr. Lamb also.

MRC: From the few articles on the film so far, it seems the filmmakers are very concerned with being true to the O'Brian series. Was that a big concern on the set?
TD: There was from Peter a definite sense of truth about the film. Not only did he want to stay as close to the novels as he could, but also as true to the period as possible. Even a particular shirt I wore in the movie was copied from material from convicts' shirts found in an old, late 18th-early 19th century prison in Australia, courtesy of Wendy Weir (Peter's wife).

I must say, though, it is a Hollywood film, and as such there are things that had to be adjusted in practical terms and in the way the books have been translated to screen. It will be quite an amazing adventure though, I'm sure.

MRC: Can you give us an example of things that had to be adjusted, without giving too much away about the movie?
TD: Peter felt that the storyline in "Far Side of the World" [the book] -- which involved the gunner's wife and the character that is called Mr. Hollom in the movie, where a murder or two takes place on a small island -- was too much of a distraction away from the storyline he was pursuing. Peter is about story, and he wanted it to reflect 197 men living, working and dying together on a small frigate at sea. He wanted to stay away, I think, from the obvious romantic Hollywood trend. That's my belief anyway!

MRC: What will Master and Commander offer movie-goers that we've never seen before?
TD: The film will offer the greatest sea epic that has ever been shot before. Where we could sail, we did. Where the cannons look and sound real, they are. Where the sailors look daring and real, they are. When it looks dangerous, it was. The effects are stunning and when we sail through that storm 'round the Horn, I swear you'll be there with us and you'll feel like you've been to hell and back! [The Horn is Cape Horn, the southern tip of South America where the Atlantic meets the Pacific.]

No film has ever been like this before. "Captain Blood," "Billy Bud," "Damn the Defiant," "The Bounty" and even "Perfect Storm" will seem like child's play when you see the Surprise go at it. Truly!

MRC: The movie looks to be mostly men, not many women. What's in the film to appeal to women?
TD: There are lots of things in this movie which will appeal to women -- Russell for a start!!!

Seriously though, I'd have to give too much away I'm afraid if I told you. But believe me, women will find many depths in this film. It has such delicate moments that will move one to tears! It's not just a boys war adventure. There's more than meets the eye!

MRC: What was it like working with Russell?
TD: I could never completely express what it was like to work with Russell. That will always only be felt in my heart.

I will say that I personally found him as a man, intuitive, directed, dedicated, generous to a fault! Gentle, kind, observant, diligent and intelligent. As an actor, all of the above and more. I saw him do things on set to help people that mostly went unnoticed by others!

MRC: Can you give us some examples?
TD: One example I can disclose was this: During one scene when we ran the rehearsal for camera a couple of times, a fellow cast member was a little concerned that by the time he arrived on the deck from below, the camera and Russell [would be] gone. We were discussing this and I noticed Russell, whilst [he was] talking to someone else, listening. I tried to reassure the cast member that it'd be OK and I'd try to help him into camera shot earlier. However, as the camera went for the take, Russell slowed as he got to us and stopped for longer than he had been. And as the cast member reached the deck, and thus camera shot, [Russell] moved away.

He had done this on purpose, in my view, and thus allowed this cast member to share in his camera shot! Not something he had to do, and he never spoke of it to that cast member or anyone else. Very gracious. But I spotted it!

MRC: What's your favorite Russell film (besides this one of course!)?
TD: L.A. Confidential, then Romper Stomper!

MRC: What's Paul Bettany like on set?
TD: Paul was and is one of the most wonderful beings ever! He was such great fun to be around and I love him! He was incredible as Maturin also. He's my mate, I'm proud to say!

MRC: In the films he's done with largely male casts, Russell seems to go out of his way to build relationships with his co-stars off-screen to help make the onscreen camaraderie more believable. What kinds of things did the crew of the HMS Surprise do together in your off-hours?
TD: We ate together, drank together, played rugby together, watched the World Cup and Australian rugby and football together. We went to water parks together and played music together, watched movies together, too. So much stuff I can't remember [it] all I'm sure. We acted like a crew and he the captain.

MRC: Did you personally form any lasting friendships while filming?
TD: Yes, yes I did! I will always class Russell as my friend also. I thank him for that!

MRC: What's it like working with Peter Weir?
TD: Peter Weir is a genius. He is a visionary. He brilliantly allows you to work and bring your character to life for him to then gently nudge where he needs you. A true artist. He sees life in pictures and music, and that is close to my own heart!

MRC: What kind of atmosphere was there on the set?
TD: Mostly the atmosphere was silly! We all made fun of each other and generally spent most of our time together laughing. It was such great fun! There were those times, however -- as you'll see in the movie -- where the mood got the better of us and we all felt more reflective.

MRC: You're also a musician. How would you describe the type of music you play?
TD: The type of music I play? Well noisy I guess. I play all sorts now, but the music I am known for is rather heavy.

MRC: While filming in Mexico, you put on a radio play with other cast members. Who took part, and where can our readers hear it?
TD: Yes, we performed a radio play and now it has even more parts, but "The Mexican," which we recorded in Roserito at Fox [studios] was a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Twenty minutes of fun and laughter! It features Robert Pugh (Mr. Allen) as Sherlock Holmes, myself as Dr. Watson, George Innes (Joe Plaice) as Mrs. Hudson and Stacy Perskie (one of the ADs on the movie) as the Mexican. We are hopefully going to release the complete set next year.

MRC: What's up next for you? More CDs? More films?
TD: Currently I am working on a new album called "Atomkraft," set for release in January 2004. There is also an "Atomkraft" anthology record being put out next year, and it's the 25th anniversary of Venom. So there are some big things planned -- DVDs, books, etc. Keep an eye out! I will also be touring the U.S., U.K. and Europe with the band Mantas, playing bass guitar. I've recorded the album and we are shooting the first video single [in September].

I will be attending the premieres of Master and Commander in New York and L.A. and of course the royal premiere here in London.

MRC: Do you have dates for the premieres yet?
TD: I think, though it's not set in stone, that the 10th of November is the L.A. slot and the New York premiere will be days before. Then the royal premiere here in the U.K., in London, will be around the 17th of November.

MRC: Is there anything you'd like to add?
TD: I would just like to finally say that we all worked very hard on this movie and tried to be as close to reality and Mr. O'Brian's work as we possibly could, given that there are certain guidelines. I hope you enjoy our work and I hope to see you out there again sometime. Keep on believing, and let's just enjoy life together!

All my very best to you all, and thanks for the opportunity [that] Max Crowe and you have given me to speak my heart!

Tony's band Mantas plans to play New York in December. A video single is due in November. Check out his official site for more information.