Category Archives: Interviews

How Linwood G. Dunn blew up the Eiffel Tower

Posted on December 27, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Linwood G. Dunn blew up the Eiffel Tower for $64, bombed Moscow and shot up ships and planes in both world wars, and got away with it. Dunn, whose birthday was 110 years ago today, was one … Continue reading →

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How I helped keep Bill Murray subversive

Posted on December 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett I had a bone to pick with Bill Murray. It was 1990, and all the rebellious early comedians on “Saturday Night Live” appeared to have lost their way. From radical satire they’d moved to mainstream comedy and … Continue reading →

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When Ricardo Montalbán killed off Frito Bandito

Posted on December 4, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Chris Rock’s question “Is Hollywood Mexican enough?” in his essay about race in the current edition of The Hollywood Reporter reminded me of what the late Ricardo Montalbán told me a long time ago about the image … Continue reading →

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When Hans Zimmer worried about a gladiator’s kiss

Posted on September 27, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Hans Zimmer will relax tonight at the Krakow Film Music Festival where a live orchestra will play his and Lisa Gerrard’s score at a screening of “Gladiator” but I recall a winter’s day in London almost 15 … Continue reading →

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TIFF 2014: A tale of three Equalizers

Posted on September 7, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett File under “it’s a small world”: I’m at my old pal Ron Base’s place in Milton for a Sunday brunch chatting with another guest, Hans Gerhardt, who ran the Sutton Place Hotel in Toronto when it was … Continue reading →

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Here’s the original ‘Equalizer’, Edward Woodward

Posted on September 7, 2014 by admin

As Denzel Washington steps into the shoes of Robert McCall in “The Equalizer”, here’s what the original TV Equalizer told me about it in 1986. Edward Woodward died in 2009 aged 79. Hey, instigator! Hypnotizer! Extricator! No matter what you call him, … Continue reading →

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So long, Gentleman Jim Garner …

Posted on July 20, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Three times I interviewed James Garner, who has died aged 86, once in a long phone call and twice on set in Hollywood, and each time it was because he agreed to talk about someone else.

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When Knowlton Nash became Superman at CBC News

Posted on May 26, 2014 by admin

Very sad to see that Knowlton Nash, who had a long career with the CBC and was the face of CBC News for more than a decade, died on May 24. He was 86. As the TV writer for the … Continue reading →

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Royal Opera House is ready for its close-up

Posted on February 7, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett When the BBC’s new Director General, Tony Hall, takes up the job in April, the broadcaster will get not only a former BBC News Chief Executive but also the man who has brought financial stability to one … Continue reading →

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Gregory Peck on finally landing his dream role: Abraham Lincoln

Posted on January 27, 2013 by admin

By Ray Bennett In 1982, Gregory Peck achieved a lifetime ambition to portray his idol Abraham Lincoln onscreen. It was a cameo appearance in the CBS miniseries “The Blue and the Gray”, which became the subject of a special issue … Continue reading →

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