Category Archives: Books

Recalling … Jackie Collins, ‘me too’ before ‘me too’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Novelist Jackie Collins, who was born 85 years ago today, wrote about the problems women faced in Hollywood long before the ‘me too’ movement came along. Younger sister of Joan Collins, she was known for … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Recalling … Jackie Collins, ‘me too’ before ‘me too’

When Tom Clancy feared losing his mind

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Tom Clancy, who would have turned 75 today, wrote best-sellers adapted into hit films such as ‘The Hunt For Red October’, ‘Patriot Games’  and ‘Clear and Present Danger’ featuring CIA man Jack Ryan but he … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Film, Interviews | Tagged | Comments Off on When Tom Clancy feared losing his mind

Recalling John Gardner, a master of the spy novel

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 , , , , , | Comments Off on Recalling John Gardner, a master of the spy novel

Why Robert MacNeill stopped getting angry about poor English

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Canadian newsman Robert MacNeill, who turns 90 today, shared my fascination with how English was used on radio and television. In 1986, the urbane and articulate co-anchor of the news programme ‘The MacNeill-Lehrer Report’  on … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why Robert MacNeill stopped getting angry about poor English

Russell Baker: a gift ‘for fooling around with words’

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The great New York Times columnist Russell Baker, who has died aged 93, was one of my journalistic heroes and when I interviewed him in 1989 he turned out to be everything I’d hoped. He … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Interviews, News | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Russell Baker: a gift ‘for fooling around with words’

Ed McBain tops my 2018 reading list

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Evan Hunter was an American writer who wrote several novels that were made into movies including Richard Brooks’s ‘Blackboard Jungle’ (above) starring Glenn Ford and featuring Sidney Poitier and Vic Morrow but known best for … Continue reading

Posted in Books | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ed McBain tops my 2018 reading list

What Jackie Collins discovered about men in Hollywood

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Jackie Collins, who died on Sept. 19 of breast cancer aged 77, was a far more thoughtful person than her raunchy writing might suggest and not at all the diva that older sister Joan Collins … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Interviews | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

20 David Niven movies you should see

By Ray Bennett David Niven, who was born 105 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

Posted in Books, Comment, Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 20 David Niven movies you should see

Why vet and author James Herriot never got rich

By Ray Bennett The stories of veterinarean James Herriot, who wrote “All Creatures Great and Small” and died 20 years ago today aged 79, remain immensely popular and they attract many tourists to Yorkshire but they did not make him … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Warrior Andy McNab loves a good story like ‘Mamma Mia’

By Ray Bennett Things you might know about Andy McNab: He was a highly decorated SAS soldier; he wrote the bestselling “Bravo Two Zero” about his time in combat in the Gulf War; and he writes action thrillers, the latest … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Interviews, Television | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Warrior Andy McNab loves a good story like ‘Mamma Mia’