By Ray Bennett
I love the movies of Robert Altman, who was born 90 years ago today and died on Nov. 20, 2006, because some are masterpieces and the ones that are not invariably have moments of wonderment and magic that occupy the mind. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Jack Palance, who was born on this day in 1919 and died on Nov. 10 2006, had one of the scariest physiognomies in movies but my favourite memory of him is of a wink. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Rockabilly star Gene Vincent, who was born on this day 80 years ago and died on Oct. 12, 1971, had a huge influence on my musical tastes with ’50s tracks such as “Be-Bob-a-Lula” and “Right Here on Earth”.
I interviewed him in the early 1960s backstage at a music venue in Gravesend, Kent, called the Co-op Hall just a few years after the car crash in which Eddie Cochran (pictured below) died and Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were both seriously injured. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
“What the hell kind of question is that?” It’s 1985 and I’m sitting with Robert Wagner, who turns 85 today, in his luxury trailer on the Warner Bros. lot where he was making the shortlived TV series “Lime Street”. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
Things you might know about Andy McNab: He was a highly decorated SAS soldier; he wrote the bestselling “Bravo Two Zero” about his time in combat in the Gulf War; and he writes action thrillers, the latest of which is titled “The New Enemy”. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
With most movie stars it’s not very difficult to sort out a Top 10 of your favourite films but Gene Hackman’s exceptional 40-year career has included so many terrific performances in such a wide range of films that it’s impossible. As the retired actor turns 85 today, here’s an extended list of Hackman films from his 99 acting credits that are even more watchable than most. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
“Kingsman: The Secret Service” could put the nail in the coffin of secret agent movies just as “Blazing Saddles” put the kibosh on westerns in the 1970s.
It takes the increasingly absurd violent action of recent James Bond, Jason Bourne and “Expendables” films and cranks it up to 11 on the mayhem scale. It might be hard to take the next 007 film seriously. Continue reading
By Ray Bennett
To meet a movie actor you admire can sometimes be a disappointment but Maggie Smith, whose 80th birthday salute is coming to an end at the BFI, was exactly how I hoped she would be. She told me off and swept away.
It was at a black-tie Bafta party in London in 2001. I had invited former “Dallas” star Linda Gray as my guest. She was starring in the West End in “The Graduate” and I have known her since her earliest Southfork days but she had to cancel at the last minute.
So I took my old mucker Pete Cook – we went to the same school and were trainee newspapermen on the Gravesend Reporter in Kent in our youth – and he told everyone we met that he was Sue-Ellen. It being a showbiz affair, no one questioned that.
There were many big names there plus other assorted celebrities. Pete spotted Bob Holness, who hosted the British version of the game show “Blockbusters” for many years (and who would die in 2012). Pete said Holness was the most famous person to emerge from our school so we went up to introduce ourselves as old boys of Ashford Boys Grammar. He sniffed, said nothing, and turned his back on us.
Billy Connolly was a better bet. He recalled me from early Saturday mornings watching live English premier league football games at the Fox & Hounds Pub on Vineland in Studio City in the 1990s. The three of us strolled about as Connolly puffed on a big cigar and made effortlessly funny comments.
Then I spotted Maggie Smith. Pete and I went over and I introduced myself. I’d always loved her film performances (and I finally saw her onstage in Edward Albee’s “The Lady from Dubuque” at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in 2007). I said, as I usually do, “May I say hello?” and introduced myself.
Dame Maggie sipped on what possibly was not her first glass of champagne. “Ask your question!” she said. I explained that I was not working and had no question. I wished merely to thank her for all her great work over the years. “I know you have a question,” she said. “What is your question?”
I was completely unprepared so I said the first thing that came to mind: “Do you think you’ll be up for another Oscar for ‘Gosford Park’ this year?” Dame Maggie gifted me with her sternest Jean Brodie (or now Countess of Grantham) stare: “Really! Is that the best you can do?”
She swept away behind the ropes of a nearby VIP area and when she was asked if something were the matter, she said loudly: “Some horrible man from the Hollywood Reporter just asked me the most stupid question.”
She was right, of course, and I loved it. I like to think that perhaps it’s similar to the way Picasso used to scribble something on a napkin knowing that it would be valuable. Dame Maggie couldn’t give me something I could sell but she gave me a bit of her art that I can treasure. Magnificent woman!
My review of ‘The Lady from Dubuque’ is elsewhere on The Cliff Edge
There’s a good list of her top films at the BFI website
By Ray Bennett
Fringe and repertoire theatres triumphed at the London Critics’ Circle Theatre Awards today as prizes went to productions at the Almeida, Chichester Festival, the Young Vic, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court and the Bush Theatre.
Mark Strong (pictured above) was named best actor and Ivo van Hope won as best director for “A View From the Bridge’ at the Young Vic. It opens at Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End on Feb. 16 with previews from Feb. 10.
Helen McCroy was named best actress for “Medea” at the National Theatre. The Euripides play in a new version by Ben Power directed by Carrie Cracknell is available via National Theatre Live. Alison Goldfrapp did the music.
“King Charles III” by Mike Bartlett won the award as best new play. It opened at the Almeida theatre and then had a run at Wyndham’s that will end on Jan. 31. Music for the show was by Jocelyn Pook (“Eyes Wide Shut”, “Gangs of New York”).
The Peter Hepple Award for best musical, new or revival, went to the Chichester Festival Theatre’s production of the 1959 Broadway show “Gypsy”. Imelda Staunton stars as Mama Rose with Lara Pulver as Louise and Peter Davison as Herbie for director Jonathan Kent as the production moves to the Savoy Theatre in previews from March 28 and will run from April 15 to July 18.
Other winners were:
Best designer: Tie: Paul Barritt for “Golem”, 1927 at the Young Vic Theatre and Es Devlin for “The Nether” from the Headlong Theatre at the Royal Court followed by a transfer on Feb. 23 to the Duke of York’s Theatre with previews from Jan. 30.
Most promising playwright: Barney Norris for “Visitors” for its Up in Arms regional your and Arcola Theatre, London, production followed by a transfer to the Bush Theatre.
The Jack Tinker Award for most promising newcomer (other than a playwright): Patsy Ferran for her performances in “Blithe Spirit” with Angela Lansbury at the Gielgud Theatre and “Treasure Island” at the Olivier Theatre at the National.
Comedian Arthur Smith (below) was on hand for the event in the Bernard Delfont room at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Piccadilly Circus, as he has been for years, with comments and gags to ensure proceedings did not become too reverential.
Why Jon Stewart should listen to Johnny Carson
By Ray Bennett
Count me among those who will hate to see Jon Stewart walk away from “The Daily Show” and I wish he could have heard what Johnny Carson told me about his own temptations to quit “The Tonight Show”. Continue reading →