Category Archives: Interviews

Why Michael Caine faced every film with dread

Posted on March 14, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Almost forty years ago, I created a weekly movie supplement in Canadian TV Guide called Bigscreen. I wanted a big name for the first edition and Hollywood publicist Jerry Pam facilitated a Q&A with his … Continue reading →

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When Topol stood me up to go off to war

Posted on March 9, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ star Chaim Topol cancelled my interview with him in June 1967 but he had a very good reason. He left his starring role of Tevye in the hit West End production … Continue reading →

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Kay Lenz on macho stars, nudity and her marriage

Posted on March 4, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American actress Kay Lenz, who turns 70 today, was one of my favourite people when I began visiting Hollywood in the late Seventies.  I first met her at midnight in a bowling alley on Ventura … Continue reading →

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That time when Stanley Baker needed a cigarette

Posted on February 28, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Stanley Baker needed a cigarette. The Welsh actor, who was born on this day 95 years ago, was at an after-party following a screening in 1967 of his action picture ‘Robbery’.  Pictured above left with … Continue reading →

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Why composer John Corigliano has been so choosy

Posted on February 16, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Prolific American composer John Corigiliano, who turns 85 today, scored just three feature films, earned two Academy Award nominations and won for ‘The Red Shoes’.  ‘For me, writing for film has everything to do with … Continue reading →

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John Williams said he never takes Spielberg for granted

Posted on January 24, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘My hope is that I can work with Steven for many years to come,’ composer John Williams told me. That was in 2000 by which time he had written the scores for sixteen Spielberg-directed movies … Continue reading →

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Recalling … Lloyd Bridges, famous star of famous sons

Posted on January 15, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘Oh, you shouldn’t bother with Lloyd,’ said Dorothy Bridges, the actor’s wife of nearly forty years. ‘You need to talk to my boys, Jeff and Beau.’ It was 1976 and she had every reason to … Continue reading →

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Don’t mistake Anthony Hopkins for roles he plays

Posted on December 31, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – No one expects Anthony Hopkins, who turns 85 today, to be anything like Hannibal Lecter but he told me people do often assume he’s like other roles he’s played.  ‘I get a lot of people … Continue reading →

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Ted Danson’s epiphany in the African desert

Posted on December 29, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Ted Danson, who turns 75 today, has had an astonishingly successful career on television but there was a time when he wanted something else. After his sitcom ’Cheers’ became a massive hit in the early … Continue reading →

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When Julie Taymor met Paul and Yoko

Posted on December 15, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Julie Taymor, who turns 70 today, is known best for creating ‘The Lion King’ among a long list of theatrical productionsi but her films are just as fascinating such as ‘Titus’, ‘Frida’, ‘The Tempest’,’ The … Continue reading →

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