Category Archives: Interviews

When Ry Cooder discovered the blues

Posted on March 15, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Ry Cooder, who turns 75 today, told me that he knew  that he would be a musician when he discovered the blues as a kid. When I first heard his slide guitar, I imagined he … Continue reading →

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Shannon Tweed on being naked in films and magazines

Posted on March 10, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Many women I interviewed in Hollywood expressed disappointment or regret over appearing nude in movies or photo spreads. Shannon Tweed, who turns 65 today, was not one of them. ‘I can’t honestly say I wouldn’t … Continue reading →

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Why ‘Nashville’ star Cristina Raines hated to sing

Posted on February 28, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Like many a young man who saw Robert Altman’s classic ‘Nashville’ in 1975, I was a little bit in love with Cristina Raines, who turns 70 today, She played a singer in a folk trio … Continue reading →

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When John Williams asked for me …

Posted on February 8, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – In 2000, John Williams, who turns 90 today, was named ‘Maestro of the Year’ at ShoWest in Las Vegas. He agreed to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter tied to that with one proviso. He wanted … Continue reading →

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‘Windmills’ and ‘Fields’ in ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’

Posted on January 8, 2022 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Lyricists Marilyn Bergman, who died today aged 93, and her husband Alan Bergman won the best-song Oscar in 1969 with Michel Legrand for ‘Windmills of Your Mind’ from ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ but they owed … Continue reading →

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Betty White on her TV shows, love of animals and a good pun

Posted on December 7, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Betty White loves a good pun. At least, she did when I had lunch with her when she was on ‘The Golden Girls’ in the mid-Eighties. This was her favourite at the time: Why are protestors always … Continue reading →

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Recalling John Gardner, a master of the spy novel

Posted on November 20, 2021 by admin

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 →

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When Adrian Lyne fled from a screening of ‘9½ Weeks’

Posted on March 4, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – British director Adrian Lyne, who turns 80 today, is known for his provocative films about sexuality but a preview audience for ‘9½ Weeks’ made him run for his life.

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Nick Nolte on learning to work sober

Posted on February 8, 2021 by admin

By Ray Bennett LONDON – Nick Nolte, who turns 80 today, warned me of the dangers that lurked in Los Angeles. The Iowa-born actor had an explosive impact playing rebellious fighter Tom Jordache in the hit 1976 TV miniseries ‘Rich … Continue reading →

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Why Robert MacNeill stopped getting angry about poor English

Posted on January 19, 2021 by admin

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 →

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