tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post5610063346993063655..comments2024-03-24T13:26:57.317-07:00Comments on Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule: ALL HAIL ROBERT MORLEY!Dennis Cozzaliohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-2959322808580854082009-11-11T18:23:18.183-08:002009-11-11T18:23:18.183-08:00The Robert Morley performance that comes to mind i...The Robert Morley performance that comes to mind is in "The Battle of the Sexes" -- but it's been so long now, I don't really remember why! I'll have to watch that again.<br /><br />British character actors -- hmm, I suppose Peter Sellers and Alec Guinness don't count. Maybe Trevor Howard.Weigardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10356550248302531786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-88985664892204612542009-11-10T12:18:09.985-08:002009-11-10T12:18:09.985-08:00I've always loved Morley's turn as Sir Amb...I've always loved Morley's turn as Sir Ambrose Abercrombie, head of the "British Community in Hollywood," especially he's reading Robert Morse's doggerel funeral speech. His pomposity clashing with his growing horror that's reading something entirely inappropriate is comedy pinnacle.<br /><br />Incidentally, he was great combining evil and comedy in The Human Factor as the murderous doctor who poisons Derek Jacobi. I remember a scene of RM peering at a urine sample and declaring, "I once had a Michel Equeym 1963 that was exactly this color. Fortunately for you, the resemblance ends there."Brian Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14201433872006992023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-32236727151235329002009-11-10T11:58:41.055-08:002009-11-10T11:58:41.055-08:00I'm afraid my favorite Morley role is in Beat ...I'm afraid my favorite Morley role is in <i>Beat the Devil</i> - not really fair, since he is clearly doing Sidney Greenstreet as Casper Gutman.Beveridge D. Spenserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12236771609113409521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-26221411380930556992009-11-09T05:48:40.615-08:002009-11-09T05:48:40.615-08:00Not the best Morley performance, but perhaps the b...Not the best Morley performance, but perhaps the bizarrest - his turn as a pompous old-school-tie spymaster in Alistair Maclean adaptation 'When Eight Bells Toll', popping up in the second half to partner Anthony Hopkins' ruthless anti-hero and turning a hitherto humourless lone-wolf thriller into a mismatched buddy movie.<br /><br />Best British character actor? I'm with Tony on Michael Gambon.Neil Fulwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14686296295535235988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-70653053808646463072009-11-08T13:59:29.612-08:002009-11-08T13:59:29.612-08:00Believe it or not, the first thing that comes to m...Believe it or not, the first thing that comes to my mind for Robert Morley would be those British Airways commercials he did in the 80's.greg6363https://www.blogger.com/profile/01333310434804458515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-78494744663620900352009-11-08T12:14:28.341-08:002009-11-08T12:14:28.341-08:00"Where are my babies, anyway?"
Um...Cla..."Where are my babies, anyway?"<br /><br />Um...Claude Rains?blaaaghnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-87740960695954963312009-11-08T10:46:59.836-08:002009-11-08T10:46:59.836-08:00Favorite British character actor?
Can I pick Rob...Favorite British character actor? <br /><br />Can I pick Robert Shaw or is he just a little too close to being an actual movie star? If that's the case, I'll have to go with Ian Holm. <br /><br />I just recently watched <i>Beat the Devil</i> for the first time and was delighted by Robert Morley's great comic performance. He really sparked off Lorre and Bogart in a way that brought out these wonderful, wholly unexpected colors from both of those great actors.CZRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01263502600698929311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-31346297565353464222009-11-08T06:06:02.153-08:002009-11-08T06:06:02.153-08:00Favorite British actor? I can't choose just on...Favorite British actor? I can't choose just one. Impossible.<br /><br />As for Morley, the only thing I've seen him in is <i>African Queen</i>, but that's one of my favorites and he's great in it.<br /><br />Coincidentally (for anyone who is interested), Amazon just sent me a notice this week that they are finally, FINALLY releasing <i>African Queen</i> on DVD. Rejoice!Alonzo Mosley (FBI)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01518458463986396352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-48224673870288136722009-11-07T10:58:59.118-08:002009-11-07T10:58:59.118-08:00His performance as Rose's brother in The Afric...His performance as Rose's brother in <i>The African Queen</i> is my favorite. I was used to seeing the man playing confident (and sometimes overconfident) fellows in many films. But the mentally devastated individual he plays in <i>Queen</i> truly disturbed me.<br /><br />Favorite British character actor? Michael Gambon, who has easily engaged as the lead in Jon Amiel and Dennis Potter's <i>The Singing Detective</i> (1986).Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-61722163466113872212009-11-07T04:59:11.191-08:002009-11-07T04:59:11.191-08:00Terry-Thomas could play straight parts rather well...Terry-Thomas could play straight parts rather well, i.e., the go-between nervously placating both union and management in <i>I'm All Right, Jack</i> (1959).<br /><br />Just recently I revisited <i>Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River</i> (1968), Terry-Thomas and Jerry Lewis competing for the straight-man part. It didn't work. There's only one thing worse than bad goofy Jerry or bad maudlin Jerry, and that's bad boring Jerry.<br /><br />Another favorite of mine is Leslie Phillips, terrific in door-slamming comedy, and excellent as Peter O'Toole's friend in <i>Venus</i> (2006). (O'Toole called him "one of the great brass-boweled actors," whatever that means.) He was also nicely balanced with Paul Douglas in <i>The Gamma People</i> (1956).Uncle Gustavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08501032829800803300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-35717551729752793352009-11-07T04:57:00.276-08:002009-11-07T04:57:00.276-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Uncle Gustavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08501032829800803300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-87943467439136055422009-11-07T04:48:59.451-08:002009-11-07T04:48:59.451-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Uncle Gustavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08501032829800803300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-63780871031018831532009-11-07T01:03:11.318-08:002009-11-07T01:03:11.318-08:00Peter, it's funny you should mention Terry-Tho...Peter, it's funny you should mention Terry-Thomas, because I was thinking about him in the same terms as Morley earlier in the week. I'd just seen him in <i>The Abominable Dr. Phibes</i>, and then again in that awful '60s spoof <i>The Perils of Pauline</i> with Pat Boone. I would agree with you that seeing Terry-Thomas in anything is a welcome sight, though <i>The Perils of Pauline</i> was a real test of just how well that theory could hold water!Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-81927715874649109562009-11-06T20:53:16.400-08:002009-11-06T20:53:16.400-08:00I enjoyed Morley in The Young Ones although he har...I enjoyed Morley in <b>The Young Ones</b> although he hardly looks like he could have been Cliff Richards' father.<br /><br />I am thinking I should be seeing more films starring the person who can almost always make me laugh just thinking about him, Terry-Thomas.Peter Nellhaushttp://www.coffeecoffeeandmorecoffee.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-5723436404874360492009-11-06T18:15:24.051-08:002009-11-06T18:15:24.051-08:00I can't choose a favorite British character ac...I can't choose a favorite British character actor but I'll watch anything with Sydney Greenstreet.Thomhttp://filmyear.typepad.com/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-72698242143737165912009-11-06T17:04:15.424-08:002009-11-06T17:04:15.424-08:00Oh, where have his little doggies gone? What did y...Oh, where <i>have</i> his little doggies gone? What did you do with his <i>doggies?!</i>Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-58356559473100586492009-11-06T17:01:20.534-08:002009-11-06T17:01:20.534-08:00Meredith Merridew, Theatre of Blood.
Denholm Elli...Meredith Merridew, Theatre of Blood.<br /><br />Denholm Elliott.le0pard13https://www.blogger.com/profile/09421175808461787862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-62722134536060396802009-11-06T14:26:32.500-08:002009-11-06T14:26:32.500-08:00Veddy good! Dennis Price has been stirring in the ...Veddy good! Dennis Price has been stirring in the old brain-pan of late as well.Dennis Cozzaliohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01954848938471883431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795280.post-29834264014793134422009-11-06T14:25:09.994-08:002009-11-06T14:25:09.994-08:00"Your favorite British character actor?"...<i>"Your favorite British character actor?"</i><br /><br />Kenneth Williams, what?Uncle Gustavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08501032829800803300noreply@blogger.com