John Travolta was too obsessed with 'fame and glamor' to learn his lines, claims 'Get Shorty' director

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: John Travolta's former director, Barry Sonnenfeld, who directed the 1995 film 'Get Shorty', revealed that the actor was so obsessed with "fame" rather than acting that he showed up to the movie set without preparing his lines.

Sonnenfeld recalled how challenging it was to film the movie because Travolta was too focused on his stardom to memorize his lines, which eventually left co-star Gene Hackman fuming.

John Travolta's 'Get Shorty' director reflects on his partnership with the actor

The 1995 release of the gangster comedy was an immediate hit. However, viewers of the popular movie might not be aware that there was as much drama off-screen because of John Travolta's demeanor.

In his memoir, 'Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time', director Barry Sonnenfeld, 71, recently disclosed that Travolta, 70, was more preoccupied with "fame" and being a "movie star" than he was with acting.

"I have never worked with anyone who loved being a movie star as much as John Travolta," Sonnenfeld wrote in his book.

He stated that the 'Grease' star arrived late to the set, did not read the script before production began, and had no idea how his behavior affected the other actors.

"I'm not saying he didn't also love acting, but he truly loved the fame and glamour and all the things that Gene Hackman hated," the director remarked of Travolta.

He added, "John is charming and not self-aware. He arrived on set with no sense that he had kept everyone waiting," per OK! Magazine.

Gene Hackman was irritated by 'Get Shorty' co-star John Travolta's lack of hard work

Barry Sonnenfeld found it very challenging to direct the movie as a result of John Travolta frequently "fumbling his lines" or "forgetting them entirely."

To make matters worse, Hackman, 94, was extremely irritated by Travolta's errors and would sometimes vent his emotions on Sonnenfeld during outbursts.

Sonnenfeld claimed that the 'Superman' actor found it especially challenging to handle Travolta's diva tendencies. 

In response to the 'Grease' alum's question about his weekend, Hackman said, "'Well, with eight f***king pages of dialogue, I pretty much spent the whole weekend memorizing today's work.'"

Travolta told Hackman, "'That's a waste of a weekend'," Sonnenfeld recounted. "When they started filming, his lack of preparations were immediately obvious."

The director recalled, "Gene was a professional, memorizing his lines before showing up on the set. Gene was off-book knowing every line of dialogue. John, on the other hand, probably hadn't read the script since his agent made his very lucrative deal."

"Fumbling his lines, or forgetting them entirely, I could tell John had no idea how angry Gene was getting. I knew we were in for a very, very long day," Sonnenfeld added.

The absence of commitment on Travolta's part to be ready for shots only preceded everyone's time on set. Sonnenfeld claimed that both he and Hackman were "getting more and more frustrated with John's delayed responses and lack of pace."

Sonnenfeld wrote, "Playing a scene... requires both actors to know their lines. Unfortunately, while Gene spent his weekend learning his, who knows what John was doing."

Production devised a remedy because the 'Hairspray' actor was unable to memorize his lines. The assistance being employed for Travolta, however, did not amuse other actors on the set.

 "At one point, John asked me where we were starting from, and before I could answer, Gene, pointing to the cue cards, said, 'Right here, John. Right at the top of your cue card'," Sonnenfeld said. "John didn't realize Gene was making fun of him."