Category Archives: Recalling …

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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Stuart Margolin and James Garner: ‘a perfect friendship’

Posted on January 31, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett Stuart Margolin, born on this day in 1940, was one of the great screen sidekicks working regularly with James Garner. Traditionally, in film and on TV, there have been two kinds of heroes – loners and those … Continue reading →

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The astonishing range of Gene Hackman

Posted on January 30, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett With most movie stars it’s not very difficult to sort out a Top 10 of your favourite films but Gene Hackman’s exceptional 40-year career has included so many terrific performances in such a wide range of films … Continue reading →

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John Hurt on the importance to acting of imagination

Posted on January 22, 2025 by admin

By Ray Bennett At his elegant home in Chiswick in west London, John Hurt, who was born 85 years ago today, smoked cigarettes contentedly and over a long, relaxed conversation, spoke candidly to me about  many things including the art … Continue reading →

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Thinking of my Dad on New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 31, 2024 by admin

By Ray Bennett My late older brother Roland phoned from England on New Year’s Eve to tell me that our Dad, Alexander Bennett, had died. I thought it was 35 years ago but another year has slipped by and I … Continue reading →

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Larry King on his love of smoking and ‘lucky’ heart attack

Posted on November 19, 2024 by admin

By Ray Bennett Longtime TV interviewer Larry King, who was born  90 years ago today, almost didn’t make it to 60. He told me: “I got a lucky break. I had a heart attack.” One dark February morning in 1987, … Continue reading →

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How a love of sports made Garry Marshall a comedy legend

Posted on November 13, 2024 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Garry Marshall, who was born 90 years ago today, said one of the reasons he became one of the most prolific and successful producers of TV sitcoms was because he was a sports nut. “I’m … Continue reading →

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