Thursday, March 20, 2008

Drink your coffee.

Today, sadly, marked the passing of two fine actors, very different in style and the roles that they chose. One of them was the outstanding acting talent of his generation, and so none of you will have heard of him, the other was less elevated, but nevertheless a great professional.

Paul Scofield was most famous for his role as Foggy in “Last of the Summer Wine”, the world’s longest running sittrag. Alongside John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson he was part of a trio of aging single men faced with the bleak prospect of retirement and being sidelined by society. His catch phrase “Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks”, usually uttered while staring balefully in the direction of Huddersfield, will stay with all of us who saw it. Even in the company of such great thespians as Dame Judi Dench as Nora Batty and Antony Sher as Eli, his talent stood out.

The highlight of Brian Wilde’s career came in his role as Thomas More in “A Man for All Seasons”, where he starred alongside Bill Owen as Henry VIII and Peter Sallis as Wolsey. Who can forget the scene in which they rowed off down the Thames in the carved out corpse of Ann Boleyn and sank at Isleworth, or the episode where they all made fun of Thomas Cromwell’s wrinkled tights.

15 comments:

Chris said...

Ere, Norah Batty was played by Kathy Staff.

I, Like The View said...

that's sad. . .

:-(

. . .now, tell us about some good actors who are still alive

:-)

Vicus Scurra said...

Chris, you weren't brought up to know actress's names.
ISLTV - there's that chap Fox son of another Fox who plays the great flouncing queen Hathaway in Lewis. What a star. I may have mentioned that programme elsewhere.

KAZ said...

No it was Vanessa Redgrave as Norah - Kathy Staff was Anne Boleyn.
I think she was nominated darling.

Zig said...

Did they scoop her out before or after the beheading? The order may have something to do with the sinking I'm thinking.

Geoff said...

I'll never forget Scofield's leer.

Dirty old sod.

Carmenzta said...

I'm enjoying my coffee, here!

Unknown said...

I thought Paul Scofield was particularly good as Mr. Barraclough in Porridge!

Richard said...

Fern Britton's going to look lost without him.

Betty said...

A tribute should be paid to the recently deceased bloke who played the original Captain Birdseye. The best Henry IV I've ever seen in regional theatre. A tour de force. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, and all that.

Dave said...

Despite misfortune placed upon tragedy, I'm still here.

Pat said...

I knew about Paul RIP but not the other. Must tell himself - he'll be sad.
I'm fascinated by the new young Fox. He's so odd looking and his voice is like that lovely stuff you get in the green triangles.

I, Like The View said...

I think I prefer the older one. . .

seasonal greetings

Romeo Morningwood said...

Apparently Scofield refused a Knighthood three times? He's lucky that he didn't have his head stuck on Traitor's Gate like his More..bloody do-gooder.

dinahmow said...

john g. beat me to it.