Category Archives: Recalling …

The look on Anne Murray’s face was one of sheer terror

Posted on June 20, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – One of Canada’s most successful singers, Anne Murray, who turns 80 today, became a huge international entertainer but she told me two things had made her nervous – performing in Las Vegas and at the … Continue reading →

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Frederick Forsyth did more than write great thrillers

Posted on June 9, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – English writer Frederick Forsyth, who died today aged 86, not only wri0te  clever and exciting thrillers such as ‘Day of the Jackal’ (starring Edward Fox, above)  and ‘The Odessa file’, he also was prescient about … Continue reading →

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When US TV censored hip-swinging Tom Jones

Posted on June 7, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Fans of “The Voice” might not suspect that the venerable Sir Tom Jones, who turns  85  today, was censored on American television when he was younger. His show “This is Tom Jones” aired on the … Continue reading →

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Tony Curtis on Cary Grant, Kirk Douglas and more

Posted on June 3, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Nobody loved being a movie star more than Tony Curtis, who was born on this day 100 years ago and who died in 2010, and as he got older he liked nothing more than to … Continue reading →

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Life wasn’t always easy for Loretta Swit on ‘M*A*S*H’

Posted on May 30, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Loretta Swit, who has died aged 87, is remembered fondly for playing ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan in ‘M*A*S*H’ on TV for eleven years but life on that show wasn’t always easy for her. It was a … Continue reading →

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Bernard Slade: From ‘Bewitched’ to Broadway

Posted on May 2, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Bernard Slade, who was born on this day in 1930, created TV shows such as “The Flying Nun” and “The Partridge Family” but he had his greatest success with the smash hit Broadway play “Same … Continue reading →

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Stephen Sondheim was grateful for London’s ‘fresh eye’

Posted on March 22, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett It wasn’t only Broadway that Stephen Sondheim loved. In London in 2011 to mark his 80th birthday, the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist who was born on this day in 1930, accepted a Special Laurence Olivier Award … Continue reading →

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20 David Niven movies you should see

Posted on March 1, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett David Niven, who was born 115 years ago today and died aged 73 in 1983, gave Ron Base and me the best quote of all time. The Oscar-winning British actor was on a book tour to promote … Continue reading →

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Director Robert Altman on building sandcastles

Posted on February 20, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett I love the movies of Robert Altman, who was born 100 years ago today and died on Nov. 20, 2006, because some are masterpieces and the ones that are not invariably have moments of wonderment and magic … Continue reading →

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The time I asked Robert Wagner about mortality

Posted on February 10, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett “What the hell kind of question is that?” It’s 1985 and I’m sitting with Robert Wagner, who turns 95 today, in his luxury trailer on the Warner Bros. lot where he was making the shortlived TV series … Continue reading →

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