Dustin Hoffman makes debut as director on 'Quartet'

In this Oct. 15, 2012 file photo, from left, Sheridan Smith, Billy Connolly, Dame Maggie Smith, Pauline Collins, Tom Courtenay, Dustin Hoffman and Dame Gwyneth Jones pose at the London Film Festival American Airlines Gala for "Quartet" at the Odeon West End in London. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision, File)

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The Canadian Press
Published Thursday, January 24, 2013 10:52AM EST

TORONTO -- At least Dustin Hoffman is honest when asked why it took him so long to make his directing debut.

"I don't know," Hoffman said.

The 75-year-old Hoffman went behind the camera for "Quartet," starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly and Pauline Collins as aging British opera divas at a retirement home for musicians who put aside past differences for a reunion concert.

"Quartet," which premieredat last September's Toronto International Film Festival, opened in a handful of theatres Jan. 11 and expands to wider release Friday.

Hoffman always wanted to direct, optioning stories, working on scripts, developing projects. He even started out to direct the 1978 ex-convict drama "Straight Time," in which he also was starring. Hoffman cast the film, worked on the script with several writers and said he "even got myself secreted into San Quentin -- which is another story -- in a convict's outfit for about five hours before I got found out."

Clearly, it was Hoffman's passion project, but as he began watching dailies of the footage he had shot, he lost confidence and "fired myself" as director. Hoffman turned to old friend Ulu Grosbard, who had directed him in "Who