Category Archives: Film

How Tina Turner dealt with her troubled past

Posted on May 24, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘As crazy as it was,’ said Tina Turner, ‘I laugh about it. ’ The queen of rock’n’roll, who has died aged 83, was talking about her difficult childhood in Tennessee and her abusive marriage to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When Joan Collins kicked me off the set of ‘Dynasty’

Posted on May 23, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Joan Collins was pointing at me. I was on the set of the hit primetime soap opera ’Dynasty’. It’s important to make yourself as invisible as possible on a busy TV soundstage so I stood … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Television | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on When Joan Collins kicked me off the set of ‘Dynasty’

Why British comic Eric Sykes didn’t become a movie star

Posted on May 4, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Eric Sykes, who was born on May 4 one hundred years ago, was one of Britain’s most treasured comedians on radio and television but he might have become a leading actor in movies too as … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ..., Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why British comic Eric Sykes didn’t become a movie star

That time Michelle Pfeiffer thought she’d sworn on live TV

Posted on April 29, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Michelle Pfeiffer was worried that she’d dropped an f-bomb on live television. The actress, who turns 65 today, came to meet me right after she appeared on CNN to talk about the John Landis black … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on That time Michelle Pfeiffer thought she’d sworn on live TV

Composer Patrick Doyle on his triumph over cancer

Posted on April 6, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Anyone who has spent time with film composer Patrick Doyle (above with wife Lesley and me) knows that he is one of the funniest men alive. Not so many know that his sense of humour … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Composer Patrick Doyle on his triumph over cancer

When Dar Robinson leapt from Toronto’s CN Tower

Posted on March 26, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – The perfect word to describe legendary movie stuntman Dar Robinson, who was born on this day in 1947: unfuckwithable. It allowed him to create thrilling stunts in films such as ‘Stick’, ‘Sharkey’s Machine” (below)), ‘Papillon’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on When Dar Robinson leapt from Toronto’s CN Tower

Seven Michael Caine guilty favourites …

Posted on March 19, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Michael Caine, who is still making films in his 90s with ‘The Great Escaper’ due out this year, has made so many movies that some tend to get lost. Here are seven I’ve always found … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Seven Michael Caine guilty favourites …

Why Michael Caine faced every film with dread

Posted on March 14, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Almost forty years ago, I created a weekly movie supplement in Canadian TV Guide called Bigscreen. I wanted a big name for the first edition and Hollywood publicist Jerry Pam facilitated a Q&A with his … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Why Michael Caine faced every film with dread

When watching the Oscars used to be fun

Posted on March 12, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Maverick banshees all at once, Elvis sadness, women on water, Fabelmans on the western front. Tár but no thanks. There was a time when I really cared about movies and found the competition for Academy Awards … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment, Film, Memory Lane, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on When watching the Oscars used to be fun

When Topol stood me up to go off to war

Posted on March 9, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ star Chaim Topol cancelled my interview with him in June 1967 but he had a very good reason. He left his starring role of Tevye in the hit West End production … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Interviews, Memory Lane, Music, Recalling ... | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments