Category Archives: Interviews

Norman Lear told me, ‘I hate the word satire’

Posted on December 10, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American TV producer Norman Lear was heralded as a leading light in political satire but he did not believe it. ‘I hate the word satire,’ he told me, ‘because I don’t know that the level … Continue reading →

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Randy Newman at 80: Part Two – Film composer

Posted on November 28, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Randy Newman, who turns 80 today,  has Academy Awards, Grammy Awards and Emmy Awards and he is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He’s also a very funny man. He told me that … Continue reading →

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Veronica Hamel: When intelligence matches beauty

Posted on November 20, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – I had the tee-shirt in the photo above made and gave it to Veronica Hamel on the set of the hit American television cop series ‘Hill Street Blues’, in which she played attorney Joyce Davenport. … Continue reading →

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John Barry on his favourite directors and composers

Posted on November 3, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON — English film composer John Barry, who was born on this day in 1933, won five Academy Awards and created the definitive music for James Bond but he remained very fond of his early British films … Continue reading →

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At a country pub with Barnaby from ‘Midsomer Murders’

Posted on October 11, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘How on earth,’ asked John Nettles, ‘can Tom Barnaby be regarded as sexy? I haven’t the faintest notion.’ The British actor, who turns 80 today, played Detective Chief Inspector Barnarby on the internationally successful ‘Midsomer … Continue reading →

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How movie queen Merle Oberon hid her dark past

Posted on October 8, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Michael Korda, publisher, novelist and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of Simon & Schuster who turns 90 today, had a most colourful childhood with his uncle, film producer Alexander Korda who with a string of epic productions was … Continue reading →

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Why, oh, so serious Charlton Heston never ran for office

Posted on October 4, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Charlton Heston, who was born on this day in 1923, was as stiff in person as he invariably was onscreen. He had not yet become a shill for the National Rifle Association when we spoke … Continue reading →

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Trevor Howard on hellraising with Flynn and Mitchum

Posted on September 29, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘Nonsense,’ said English actor Trevor Howard. I had asked him if all the tales of him being a hellraiser were true. ‘Well, of course, one used to make noise when one was much younger but … Continue reading →

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How Jerry Bruckheimer landed Tom Cruise for ‘Top Gun’

Posted on September 21, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Several actors claimed to have been first choice to play hot-shot pilot ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in ‘Top Gun’ but producer Jerry Bruckheimer told me Tom Cruise always had the part.

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Laughing with Betsy Russell about screen nudity

Posted on September 6, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – A card arrived in the mail with the inscription ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’ Inside, in strong cursive were the words, ‘Dear Ray, Thank you so much for that wonderful interview. I’m … Continue reading →

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