The Joe Spinell Story2001

Robert Forster:
I heard stories about how this guy would rank up thousands of dollars in hotel and restaurant bills, yet during working on Vigilante and Walking the Edge he would complain to me about how everybody pays him not enough. Joe privately told me: "Everyone robs me. They use me on these movies for a couple of days and pay me short dough." Yet, this is a guy who spends money like there is no tomorrow. However in 1984, I flew Joe out here to Los Angeles where I told him about this little independent movie I was directing called 'Hollywood Harry' and I invited him to appear as my co-star saying, "Joe, nobody's ever used you as a good guy. How would you like to co-star as a good guy?" Joe agreed. I made 'Hollywood Harry' for a low-budget of $120,000, not much. Everyone was getting ad-SAG low-budget minnium wages, including me. Yet, I finished the movie one week ahead of schedule and under budget. After filming wrapped up, I privately told Joe that I had something like $11,400 left of the budget and I said: "Joe, as a token to my appreciation to your hard work and our friendship, I'm gonna give all of the rest of the money to you." Joe said, "I'll take it." And he did... and to his credit, he never demanded an extra penny that he hadden't agreed on. Joe was a professional straight shooter. A little nuts, but a straight shooter.