Actor who played many major Shakespearean roles on the stage
Few actors played as many major Shakespearean roles as did Paul Rogers, a largely forgotten and seriously underrated performer, who has died aged 96. It was as though he was barnacled in those parts, undertaken at the Old Vic in the 1950s, by the time he played his most famous role, the vicious paterfamilias Max in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming at the Aldwych theatre in 1965 (and filmed in 1973).
Staunch, stolid and thuggish, with eyes that drilled through any opposition, Rogers's Max was a grumpy old block of granite, hewn on an epic scale, despite the flat cap and plimsolls – horribly real. Peter Hall's production for the Royal Shakespeare Company was monumental; everything was grey, chill and cheerless in John Bury's design, set off firstly by a piquant bowl of green apples and then by the savage acting.
The Homecoming...
Few actors played as many major Shakespearean roles as did Paul Rogers, a largely forgotten and seriously underrated performer, who has died aged 96. It was as though he was barnacled in those parts, undertaken at the Old Vic in the 1950s, by the time he played his most famous role, the vicious paterfamilias Max in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming at the Aldwych theatre in 1965 (and filmed in 1973).
Staunch, stolid and thuggish, with eyes that drilled through any opposition, Rogers's Max was a grumpy old block of granite, hewn on an epic scale, despite the flat cap and plimsolls – horribly real. Peter Hall's production for the Royal Shakespeare Company was monumental; everything was grey, chill and cheerless in John Bury's design, set off firstly by a piquant bowl of green apples and then by the savage acting.
The Homecoming...
- 10/15/2013
- by Michael Coveney
- The Guardian - Film News
With its sauna scene and romantic undercurrents, Hollywood's tale of the dandy and Prince Regent is intriguingly homoerotic, but it has little to do with the historical truth
Director: Curtis Bernhardt
Entertainment grade: B–
History grade: D–
George "Beau" Brummell was a dandy, bon viveur and friend of Britain's Prince Regent, later George IV.
Costume
Prince George (Peter Ustinov, brilliantly cast) is inspecting his 10th Light Dragoons when a dashing young captain, George Brummell (Stewart Granger), makes a snarky comment about their over-the-top uniform. The film has it more or less right: a dark blue coat with silver frogging and braided epaulettes, partnered with skintight white breeches. The dragoons were required to wear these without underwear. The immodest effect was supposed to recall the military nudity of classical marble statues. Sadly, the film's costume department appears to have imposed a 1950s sense of propriety on the actors. You really can't see a thing.
Director: Curtis Bernhardt
Entertainment grade: B–
History grade: D–
George "Beau" Brummell was a dandy, bon viveur and friend of Britain's Prince Regent, later George IV.
Costume
Prince George (Peter Ustinov, brilliantly cast) is inspecting his 10th Light Dragoons when a dashing young captain, George Brummell (Stewart Granger), makes a snarky comment about their over-the-top uniform. The film has it more or less right: a dark blue coat with silver frogging and braided epaulettes, partnered with skintight white breeches. The dragoons were required to wear these without underwear. The immodest effect was supposed to recall the military nudity of classical marble statues. Sadly, the film's costume department appears to have imposed a 1950s sense of propriety on the actors. You really can't see a thing.
- 10/5/2012
- by Alex von Tunzelmann
- The Guardian - Film News
The last film star and expert survivor – David Thomson celebrates the life of Elizabeth Taylor
She was her own montage: seven husbands, eight marriages, diamonds beyond the counting, scandals like forgotten promises, two Oscars for films that showed the immense creative journey she could take, soaring as if on a single breath from the ridiculous Butterfield 8 (playing a hopelessly old-fashioned Hollywood "whore") to Martha in Edward Albee's and Mike Nichols's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, a defiant wreck out of the true heartland of American tragedy. She had the range, nerve and instinct that only Bette Davis had had before – and like Davis, Taylor was monster and empress, sweetheart and scold, idiot and wise woman. We went in awe of her, but with one word or a knowing smile she assured us she was one of us. So beautiful, she could go crazy, too – and then move on.
She was her own montage: seven husbands, eight marriages, diamonds beyond the counting, scandals like forgotten promises, two Oscars for films that showed the immense creative journey she could take, soaring as if on a single breath from the ridiculous Butterfield 8 (playing a hopelessly old-fashioned Hollywood "whore") to Martha in Edward Albee's and Mike Nichols's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, a defiant wreck out of the true heartland of American tragedy. She had the range, nerve and instinct that only Bette Davis had had before – and like Davis, Taylor was monster and empress, sweetheart and scold, idiot and wise woman. We went in awe of her, but with one word or a knowing smile she assured us she was one of us. So beautiful, she could go crazy, too – and then move on.
- 3/25/2011
- by David Thomson
- The Guardian - Film News
The life and times of Elizabeth Taylor, who will be remembered for her imperious beauty and many marriages
I had my first and final glimpse of the late Elizabeth Taylor suddenly last summer at the concert given by Julie Andrews at London's O2 centre. I was standing with a knot of other journalists by a lift, 10 minutes before the show was due to start, when the doors opened and she emerged in a wheelchair, accompanied by a nurse and a Pa. For a moment, she was at rest in the middle of us, uncertain of where she was supposed to go. Taylor had been a wheelchair user for many years, the result of accumulating infirmities and spinal disorders which had their origin in her fall from a horse during the filming of National Velvet in 1944 when she was 12 years old.
After a microsecond, we leaned away in a kind of physical shock at the recognition,...
I had my first and final glimpse of the late Elizabeth Taylor suddenly last summer at the concert given by Julie Andrews at London's O2 centre. I was standing with a knot of other journalists by a lift, 10 minutes before the show was due to start, when the doors opened and she emerged in a wheelchair, accompanied by a nurse and a Pa. For a moment, she was at rest in the middle of us, uncertain of where she was supposed to go. Taylor had been a wheelchair user for many years, the result of accumulating infirmities and spinal disorders which had their origin in her fall from a horse during the filming of National Velvet in 1944 when she was 12 years old.
After a microsecond, we leaned away in a kind of physical shock at the recognition,...
- 3/24/2011
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
1942: There's One Born Every Minute - her first movie, aged nine.1943: Lassie Come Home - she played Priscilla.1943: Jane Eyre - minor role, film starring Orson Welles. 1944: The White Cliffs of Dover - with young Roddy McDowall1944: National Velvet - horseriding movie, starring Mickey Rooney.1946: Courage of Lassie - second dog film, aged 14.1951: A Place in the Sun - with Montgomery Clift.1951: Quo Vadis - with Peter Ustinov.1954: Beau Brummell - with Ustinov again.1958: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof - with Paul Newman.1959: Suddenly, Last Summer - with Katherine Hepburn.1960: Butterfield 8 - best actress Oscar.1963: ...
- 3/23/2011
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
In the early years of her reign, Queen Elizabeth II found the movies so dreadful that she complained to then prime minister Winston Churchill during an audience at Buckingham Palace, a media report said Sunday.For nearly 50 years the Queen graced the red carpet at Royal Film Performances. But newly discovered documents show that in the early years of her reign she found the movies dreadful, Daily Mail reported on its website.She may have once even considered boycotting the event. The 1954 Royal Performance of the film Beau Brummell - starring Stewart Granger and Elizabeth Taylor - was a particular ...
- 11/8/2010
- Hindustan Times - Celebrity
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