Category Archives: Notes

Hayley Atwell one to watch in ‘Mansfield Park’

By Ray Bennett Hayley Atwell steals the show as Mary Crawford, the intruder who almost ruins the hopes of poor Fanny Price (Billie Piper), in ITV’s new adaptation of “Mansfield Park”, which airs tonight. Atwell’s sly sensuality and deftly suggestive … Continue reading

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Dishing with former US Vice-President Al Gore

By Ray Bennett Fresh from his triumphant appearance at the Oscars, Al Gore (left) was in London Monday for the U.K. launch of the interactive youth TV channel Current, of which he’s chairman. The new service launched the same day … Continue reading

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An Irish eye for Austen film ‘Becoming Jane’

By Ray Bennett Production notes provided by film companies to journalists are often full of bumpf and drivel but the press pack for “Becoming Jane” has lots of good stuff about the movie’s locations. Julian Jarrold’s film treats Jane Austen … Continue reading

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John Inman, who died today, an unlikely hit in Memphis

Among the more curious things I discovered living in Tennessee in the mid-1980s was that one of the most popular entertainment figures in Memphis was the English comedy actor John Inman, who died this morning aged 71. It was very … Continue reading

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David Hare honours playwright John Osborne

With the 50th anniversary production of John Osborne’s “The Entertainer” opening at London’s The Old Vic tonight, I am reminded of the passionate and illuminating address that fellow playwright David Hare made in Osborne’s defence at the Hay Literary Festival … Continue reading

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Abbey Road studios: a logical idea for a TV show

  By Ray Bennett LONDON (Hollywood Reporter) – Setting a television music series in the most famous recording studio in the world is such a logical idea that it’s a wonder no one’s done it before. But better late than … Continue reading

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Whistle stop at the Palace of Westminster

By Ray Bennett I can’t recall the last time someone holding a semi-automatic rifle smiled at me and said, “How’s it going?” It happened this morning at the Palace of Westminster, where I was covering my first parliamentary committee hearing … Continue reading

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Candid Clint Eastwood on being a conservative

Venerable British film critic Philip French has a fine interview with Clint Eastwood in today’s The Observer. With the two-time Oscar winning director once more in the Academy Awards spotlight, he speaks about filmmaking, great directors and being a conservative. … Continue reading

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Stanley Kubrick: on living the good life

By Ray Bennett Most celebrities say they want to be judged only by their work and they are happy to repeat that at length whenever “Entertainment Tonight,” Vanity Fair and Hello! magazine call. Stanley Kubrick apparently meant it and preferred … Continue reading

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