Category Archives: Interviews

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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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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 →

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Kay Lenz on macho stars, nudity and her marriage

Posted on March 4, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – American actress Kay Lenz, who turns 70 today, was one of my favourite people when I began visiting Hollywood in the late Seventies.  I first met her at midnight in a bowling alley on Ventura … Continue reading →

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That time when Stanley Baker needed a cigarette

Posted on February 28, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Stanley Baker needed a cigarette. The Welsh actor, who was born on this day 95 years ago, was at an after-party following a screening in 1967 of his action picture ‘Robbery’.  Pictured above left with … Continue reading →

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Why composer John Corigliano has been so choosy

Posted on February 16, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Prolific American composer John Corigiliano, who turns 85 today, scored just three feature films, earned two Academy Award nominations and won for ‘The Red Shoes’.  ‘For me, writing for film has everything to do with … Continue reading →

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John Williams said he never takes Spielberg for granted

Posted on January 24, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘My hope is that I can work with Steven for many years to come,’ composer John Williams told me. That was in 2000 by which time he had written the scores for sixteen Spielberg-directed movies … Continue reading →

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Recalling … Lloyd Bridges, famous star with famous sons

Posted on January 15, 2023 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – ‘Oh, you shouldn’t bother with Lloyd,’ said Dorothy Bridges, the actor’s wife of nearly forty years. ‘You need to talk to my boys, Jeff and Beau.’ It was 1976 and she had every reason to … Continue reading →

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