Author Archives: admin

Shannon Tweed on being naked in films and magazines

Posted on March 10, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Many women I interviewed in Hollywood expressed disappointment or regret over appearing nude in movies or photo spreads. Shannon Tweed, who turns 65 today, was not one of them. ‘I can’t honestly say I wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Media, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television | Comments Off

Why ‘Nashville’ star Cristina Raines hated to sing

Posted on February 28, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Like many a young man who saw Robert Altman’s classic ‘Nashville’ in 1975, I was a little bit in love with Cristina Raines, who turns 70 today, She played a singer in a folk trio … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged 'Flamingo Road', 'Nashville', 'Sunshine', Ava Gardner, Cristina Raines, Howard Duff, Keith Carradine, Mark Harmon, Michael Filerman, Robert Altman | Comments Off

Me and the Bengals and a man named Benny

Posted on February 13, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Two years after arriving in Canada in the late Sixties, I joined The Windsor Star newspaper just across the river from Detroit and discovered American football. In the office, aside from the sportswriters, the most … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Memory Lane | Tagged Anson Mount, Benny Grant, Cincinnati Bengals, Playboy Magazine, Super Bowl, The Windsor Star | Comments Off

When John Williams asked for me …

Posted on February 8, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In 2000, John Williams, who turns 90 today, was named ‘Maestro of the Year’ at ShoWest in Las Vegas. He agreed to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter tied to that with one proviso. He wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Music | Tagged John Williams, Jon Burlingame, ShoWest, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety | Comments Off

On music and human suffering …

Posted on February 2, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett After I posted on Facebook the image above, which I took on a visit to Auschwitz, Argentinian composer Daniel Tarrab, a friend of mine, sent me a note that read, ‘I’ve seen your post today. It really … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged 'Broken Silence', 'Some Who Lived (Algunos Que Vivieron)', Andres Goldstein, Chandos Records, Daniel Tarrab, Holocaust Memorial, Luis Puenzo, Shoah Visual History Foundation, Steven Spielberg | Comments Off

‘Windmills’ and ‘Fields’ in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’

Posted on January 8, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Lyricists Marilyn Bergman, who died today aged 93, and her husband Alan Bergman won the best-song Oscar in 1969 with Michel Legrand for ‘Windmills of Your Mind’ from ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ but they owed … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged 'Strawberry Fields', 'The Thomas Crown Affair', 'Windmills of Your Mind', Alan Bergman, Beatles, Faye Dunawaye, Gent, Marian Ponnet, Marilyn Bergman, Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand, Norman Jewison, Steve McQueen, World Soundtrack Awards | Comments Off

Betty White on her TV shows, love of animals and a good pun

Posted on December 7, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Betty White loves a good pun. At least, she did when I had lunch with her when she was on ‘The Golden Girls’ in the mid-Eighties. This was her favourite at the time: Why are protestors always … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television | Tagged 'The Golden Girls', 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', Bea Arthur, Betty White, Estelle Getty, Ray Richmond, Rue McClanahan | Comments Off

Recalling John Gardner, a master of the spy novel

Posted on November 20, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – John Gardner, who would have been 95 today, should rank with Eric Ambler, John le Carré, Len Deighton and Philip Kerr as a virtuoso of the serious British spy novel. He is known best now … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged 'The Liquidator', Boysie Oakes, Eric Sykes, Herbie Kruger, John Gardner, Rod Taylor | Comments Off

Memory Lane: The time before everything was streamed

Posted on October 19, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Living, as I do, in turn-of-the-century London, it’s easy to become nostalgic for the long-ago 1900s. I know we’re just a few weeks into 2000 but it seems like forever. I recall the first single … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, Memory Lane, Music | Tagged 'Long Tall Sally', 'Love Me or Leave Me', cyberspace, Doris Day, Internet, Little Richard | Comments Off

MEMORY LANE: On being British

Posted on September 19, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett (November 1999) LONDON: We British cherish our loonies and it it’s no surprise that the House of Lords has lasted so long. Only last week, a bill was passed in the House of Lords than deprives hereditary … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Memory Lane | Tagged BBC, House of Lords | Comments Off