Tom Hiddleston & Benedict Cumberbatch Interview For ‘War Horse’

‘War Horse,’ director Steven Spielberg’s epic adventure, is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. ‘War Horse’ begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets – British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter – before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land. The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse – an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. ‘War Horse’ is one of the great stories of friendship and war – a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is arriving on Broadway next year. ‘War Horse’ is set for release December 28th in the US, and January 13th 2012 in the UK. The film stars Jeremy Irvine, Tom Hiddleston, Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Kennedy, Emily Watson, Toby Kebbell, David Thewlis, Eddie Marsan, and Peter Mullan.

Throughout the movie I was full engrossed in the story, and this epic journey. Then afterwards I kept wondering, how was it working with these horses?

Tom Hiddleston: (Laughs) It was fascinating. In training and all the way through the film, I noticed that whatever I was feeling, the horses would reflect back to me. When I was truly calm, then they were completely relaxed. And then when you’re slightly nervous, and there’s an adrenaline in you about doing something like the cavalry charge, and you’re thinking, “This is a big moment, we’re going to be galloping very fast.” They can sense that, and they get excited too. They picked up on whatever you’re feeling. So when Benedict’s character Maj. Stewart says, “Fearless men on fearless horses,” he’s inspiring his men to transfer real self-belief to those animals. It was fascinating.

There’s so much explored in this film, seeing the First World War through the eyes of a Joey, this brutal War.

Tom Hiddleston: Yeah. Joey the horse meets British soldiers, and German soldiers, and French families. He meets all these different people and he touches them in a way that binds them all together. The stories about family, courage, loss, strength, forbearance…and action as well, lets not forget, it’s a big movie (laughs). Part of what cinemas about is that we love the power and grace of action on screen. So I think this really has everything in it that we all love about going to the cinema in a way.

It’s such an extraordinary story, at the centre of it, it has such heart and soul. I think it really appeals to the best in us. It appeals to the sensitive side of us, our courage, our forbearance – it’s a story about stamina and love. I think Albert’s love for Joey is his gift, and in a way the gift of that love is what carries him through the War, it’s part of his character that helps him survive. So I think in a way it doesn’t matter what the medium is, there’s something so moving about Joey’s strength in the face of the horrors of the First World War that is accessible on any level.

It’s extremely universal…

Benedict Cumberbatch: Oh yeah. You have a story that is immensely moving and powerful in its sentiment, and comic….and also very informative, it gives you a view into the universal suffering of a World War. Because this animal journeys not just from the family that rears it, and gives it all the qualities of courage and endurance that both him and Albert, his friend and mentor I guess, inspire with at the beginning. And then those things carry him through and help him survive the War, and touch so many different people. .

How did you find working with Steven Spielberg on ‘War Horse’?

Benedict Cumberbatch: Steven was an extraordinary director to work with, he’s so suited to this material. In a way, yes, it is a War film, but you wouldn’t necessarily term it as such. But he knows how to portray a story of War, so it’s not something that’s abstract, it’s something that is very real because of your engagement with the characters. He’s worked with animals and the interaction between young people and animals all the way through his career, whether it’s Indy and his horse, or ET and Elliot, there’s a bond that he understands. He’s very very good at placing those characters in jeopardy and adversity, and through their strengths and their friendships and loyalties to each other, they get through.

Tom Hiddleston: Steven Spielberg himself is so unbelievably confident in his actors, he trusts you so much. And he said to me on the first day of shooting ‘War Horse,’ “When you’re hiring actors, you’re also hiring directors, because they make the choices for you, and their instincts are truer than what you can intellectually construct in your own mind.” So actually on set, he’s just like, “Lets just shoot it, Tom, what do you think? Should we just do it and you show me what you think?” And then you refine it, maybe you get it in one, you never know. I found him enormously generous, very very gracious and warm. That confidence in me really helps me believe in my own instincts really.