‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ does right by LAMDA

Posted on July 8, 2015 by admin

The Play that Goes Wrong, Duchess theatre London

By Ray Bennett

LONDON – A fund-raiser for LAMDA, the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art, attracted a packed house to a performance of hit West End show “The Play That Goes Wrong” on Tuesday. Continue reading →

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How James Horner came to write the ‘Titanic’ song

Posted on June 23, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

LONDON – American composer James Horner, who has died in a plane crash aged 61, won an Academy Award along with lyricist Will Jennings for “My Heart Will Go On” sung by Celine Dion in “Titanic”, and it sold millions, but the song was a complete afterthought.

James Cameron’s movie has grossed almost $2.2 billion worldwide and won 11 Oscars including best picture and best score for Horner. The soundtrack album has reported sales of around 28 million and the single was No. 1 around the world.

It almost didn’t happen. Continue reading →

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The look on Anne Murray’s face was one of sheer terror

Posted on June 20, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

LONDON – One of Canada’s most successful singers, Anne Murray, who turns 70 today, became a huge international entertainer but she told me two things had made her nervous – performing in Las Vegas and at the Quebec Winter Carnival. Continue reading →

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Ready with a zippo for Elizabeth Hurley

Posted on June 10, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Happy birthday to Elizabeth Hurley, who turns 50 today.

I met her at a party during the Festival de Cannes several years ago. I turned on the terrace and there she was in a white dress lit up suddenly from behind by a bright light and to all intents and purposes she appeared to be naked. Continue reading →

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When US TV censored hip-swinging Tom Jones

Posted on June 7, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Fans of “The Voice” might not suspect that the venerable Sir Tom Jones, who turns 75 today, was censored on American television when he was younger.

His show “This is Tom Jones” aired on the ABC network for three seasons until 1971 and his electrifying performances made him a huge sex symbol that terrified his network TV bosses. Continue reading →

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Tony Curtis on Cary Grant, Kirk Douglas and more

Posted on June 3, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

LONDON – Nobody loved being a movie star more than Tony Curtis, who was born on this day 90 years ago and who died in 2010, and as he got older he liked nothing more than to talk about it. “Don’t I have great stories?” he said to me. “Don’t you fucking love it?”

Curtis did an hilarious impression of Cary Grant to seduce Marilyn Monroe (pictured below) in “Some Like it Hot” (1959) but he told me that when director Billy Wilder screened the film for him, Grant said, “I don’t talk like that”,  and Curtis said it just as Grant would have. They had starred together in the Blake Edwards war comedy “Operation Petticoat”. Continue reading →

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KFMF: International TV series music gala rocks

Posted on May 31, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

KRAKOW – Themes from some of the most popular television shows in the world rocked the impressive new Tauron Arena here on Saturday as the Krakow Film Music Festival celebrated the exciting vibrancy of music for TV series.

An enthusiastic crowd of around 15,000 greeted familiar themes from shows such as “Downton Abbey”, “The Borgias”, “House of Cards”, “Vikings” and “Game of Thrones”. Continue reading →

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KFMF: Enthralling film music at Shakespeare in Concert

Posted on May 30, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

KRAKOW – Powerful, melodic and mischievous, Elliot Goldenthal’s music for the productions of his partner Julie Taymor was given full rein at an exhilarating Shakespeare in Concert performance as part of the Krakow Film Music Festival on May 29. Continue reading →

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KFMF: Andrzej Wajda’s film scores hit the mark

Posted on May 29, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

KRAKOW – Andrzej Wajda’s devastating images from his 2007 film “Katyń” and the haunting music of Krzysztof Penderecki formed the emotional heart of the Polish Music Gala: Scoring4Wadja here last night. Continue reading →

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KFMF: Elliot Goldenthal receives first Wojciech Kilar Award

Posted on May 29, 2015 by admin

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By Ray Bennett

KRAKOW – Wojciech Kilar advised artists to fight the sin of pride, Elliot Goldenthal said as he received the first Kilar Award at the Krakow Film Music Festival on Thursday: “You are looking at a sinner tonight.” Continue reading →

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