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Post by janetcatbird on Sept 25, 2006 13:24:47 GMT -5
I mentioned this on the I, Claudius thread, but Masterpiece Theatre's website has a poll for people to vote on their favorites. "Responses will be featured on our March 2007 TV Special". I may have misunderstood originaly, sounds like a retrospective, but wouldn't it be wonderful if they did actually show the whole things? Anyways, website and options: www.zoomerang.com/recipient/thankyou.zgi?p=WEB225CG9MQL3WMale Performance in Period DramaKenneth Branaugh (Henry V) Henry VCharles Dance (Guy Perron) The Jewel in the CrownIan Holm (Lear) King LearDerek Jacobi (Claudius) I, ClaudiusGordon Jackson (Mr. Angus Hudson) Upstairs, DownstairsDamian Lewis (Soames Forsyte) The Forsyte SagaFemale Performance in a Period DramaGillian Anderson (Lady Dedlock) Bleak HouseJudi Dench (Queen Victoria) Mrs. BrownJemma Redgrave (Dr. Eleanor Bramwell) BramwellGlenda Jackson (Queen Elizabeth I) Elizabeth RAlex Kingston (Moll Flanders) Moll FlandersJean Marsh (Rose Buck) Upstairs, DownstairsMale in Contemporary DramaTrevor Eve (Duncan Matlock) The Politician's WifeRobson Green (Owen Springer) RecklessIan Richardson (Francis Urquhart) House of CardsEamonn Walker (John Othello) OthelloAlbert Finney (Reggie Conyngham-Jervis) A Rather English MarriageFemale in Contemporary DramaFrancesca Annis (Anna Fairley) RecklessKeeley Hawes (Dessie Brabant) OthelloHelen Mirren (DCI Jane Tennison) Prime SuspectJuliet Stevenson (Flora Matlock) The Politician's WifeJulia Ormand (Caroline Lithgow) TraffikFavorite Performance as a VillainChristopher Eccleston (Ben Jago) OthelloCharles Dance (Mr. Tulkinghorn) Bleak HouseSam Neill (Victor Komarovsky) Doctor ZhivagoSian Phillips (Livia) I, ClaudiusDiana Rigg (Mrs. Danvers) RebeccaFavorite Scene StealerPeggy Ashcroft (Barbie Batchelor) The Jewel in the CrownBurn Gorman (Guppy) Bleak HouseMichael Kitchen (Richard Crane) RecklessCharlotte Rampling (Miss Havisham) Great ExpectationsDenzel Washington (Don Pedro of Aragon) Much Ado About NothingYou Saw Them Here FirstKeira Knightley (Lara Antipova) Doctor ZhivagoHugh Laurie (Bertie Wooster) Jeeves and WoosterDaniel Radcliffe (young David Copperfield) David CopperfieldEmma Thompson (Beatrice) Fortunes of WarMira Sorvino (Conchita Closson) The BuccaneersWrite-Ins(Every category above has an "Other, please specify") All-Time Favorite Masterpiece Theatre series? So, since I've only caught a couple, reccomendations! Stuff you loved/hated? Jump on in! --Catbird
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Post by janetcatbird on Oct 8, 2006 23:19:23 GMT -5
Just saw the first part of Casanova and loved it. Peter O'Toole is great as a dirty old lech. And I have not seemed David Tennant in anything, normally I'm wary of asides to the camera but he pulled it off with just the right bit of shrug or eyebrow. I thought he and Henriette had good chemistry, my mother was sitting there calling out "She is no good honey, she's trouble!" but I can see why the characters would be drawn to each other--as well as all the difficulties. Bellino was an interesting bit, Victor/Victoria all over again but they actually made an effort. If anything the servant girl who old Casanova is relating to is a bit cliche in her awe of the stories, but exposition is tricky, and I love the bits of personality that sneak out.
And, CI writers take note, they didn't need graphic scenes! (Based on what I know of British programming I'm sure PBS trimmed it for the states, but it was good editing.) I couldn't figure out the MA boxes because I've seen TV-14 do much more. A wink, some unbuttoning, and then lying with the sheets pulled up, but you didn't need more! It was witty and fun and grown-up and effective without turning into a "Girls Gone Wild" commercial.
On a shallow note, Young Casanova is entirely too shaggy (hair) to look right in the costumes. What is up with Henriette's hair, was that the style? Eeeesh. Cinematographer must have been quite dizzy with all the spinning and circling. But I love the period costumes with the full skirts. And the colors! All the bright blues and reds swirling about looked like a watercolor.
--Catbird
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Post by janetcatbird on Oct 9, 2006 10:36:14 GMT -5
I'm sure I've seen Peter O'Toole in something, but off the top of my head I can't think of anything. What did he win his Oscar for? And what was the speech?
But I loved him with the servant girl. Yeah, he's still got it!
"Keep it clean, please!" "That only leaves about 3 pages."
--Catbird
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Post by Patcat on Oct 9, 2006 11:39:23 GMT -5
O'Toole's OSCAR was one of those Lifetime Achievement thingies. He's been nominated 7 times for Best Actor, but never won. I think he and Richard Burton share the record for most nominations without a win.
Patcat
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Post by NikkiGreen on Oct 9, 2006 11:44:00 GMT -5
Catbird, perhaps you've seen him as Lawrence of Arabia? www.amug.org/~scrnsrc/oscars_03.htmlETA: If I remember correctly, he first declined the honourary award. He was really quite charming.
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Post by Patcat on Oct 9, 2006 13:46:30 GMT -5
O'Toole fortunately stopped drinking before it completely zapped his brain. He's a very eccentric man, but a brilliant actor, and in his early days almost unearthly beautiful. John Huston cast him as an angel in THE BIBLE, and it makes sense.
I recommend THE RULING CLASS, where O'Toole plays an English aristocrate who thinks, at various points, he is Jesus or Jack the Ripper; BECKET, where he plays Henry II opposite Richard Burton; THE LION IN WINTER, where he again plays Henry II opposite Katherine Hepburn as his queen; and MY FAVORITE YEAR, where plays an Errol Flynn/John Barrymore type. Mark Linn-Baker, who was so good as the insurance guy with Asperger's syndrom in PROBABILITY, is also in that last one, and he's also wonderful.
Patcat
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Post by janetcatbird on Oct 10, 2006 12:13:43 GMT -5
Wow, stuff to look for when I have a chance to breathe. Thanks for the reccomendations.
I am looking forward to Part II next week. Although my understanding is that PBS definitely hit the editing room and left out some more explicit scenes. While I'll try to track down a DVD of the full version, I kind of like "naughty" as opposed to "porno". Maybe I'm a sheltered baby, but generally I think it unnecessary.
--Catbird
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Post by janetcatbird on Oct 17, 2006 0:32:25 GMT -5
Last night I was working on something to turn in, but tonight I watched the tape of Part II. I thought they really got carried away with the anachronisms, but the colors were still gorgeous. (I loved the English snark at themselves.) Aww, Casanova...I wish they'd done more with Rocco, he got a couple lines, then gone, and they act as if it's a huge devastating loss. Maybe some of his scenes got snipped. Just not as much fun as Part I. Naples was disturbing, Jack, Jr. freaked me out. But I thought Grimani had potential, and wished we had seen a bit more.
While the thought of jumping in the sheets with older Casanova/Peter O'Toole leaves me, well, eewwww, dang if he doesn't still have the charisma to come close!
"I used to present my wound to ladies, ask them to kiss it and make it better." "Who would ever fall for that?!?!" twinkle
--Catbird
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Post by janetcatbird on Oct 17, 2006 13:38:02 GMT -5
Yep, Grimani shot him in the hand during their duel and we see some scarring on old Casanova. (So it was nowhere unseemly.) Even better was when Edith got a grin of her own and bent down to kiss it. Interesting role reversal he sets up. Plus, they tried to establish that Casanova was so succesful as a ladies' man because he would listen to them and really pay attention to who they were. A definite pull nowadays, so imagine back in those times!
I still think the writers never quite figured out how to write Exposition Edith, but the actress did good with what they gave her.
--Catbird
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Post by filmnoir5 on Oct 18, 2006 19:18:32 GMT -5
Prime Suspect returns in November on Masterpiece Theatre. This will be Helen Mirren's last series as Jane.
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Post by Sirenna on Oct 23, 2006 20:06:53 GMT -5
Now that's an Oscar speech! ;D Thanks for digging it up, Nikki! charming, dry and eloquent and heartfelt and very persipacious as Meryl Streep is in a class of her own.
Peter O'toole and Gregory Peck were two of the handsomest men I've ever seen.
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Post by filmnoir5 on Dec 2, 2006 19:01:31 GMT -5
I saw that too Filmnoir. Helen Mirren is one of my all time favourites. See her Midsummer Nights Dream if you can. Unfortunately Prime Suspect isnt available on Irish TV. Weep! The 4 hour final episode of Prime Suspect aired this past month. It is hard to believe she is the same actress who is playing the queens. I like the line where she says "don't call me maam, I am not the queen" Maybe she will revisit the role later own so we can see what happened to her after she moved on just like we were able to with Fitz on Cracker : New Terror.
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Post by filmnoir5 on Jan 13, 2007 19:45:26 GMT -5
One of the February episodes of Masterpiece Theatre has Billie Piper of Dr. Who fame.
The Sally Lockhart Mysteries: The Ruby in the Smoke Sunday, February 4, 2007 Sally Lockhart is a feisty sixteen-year-old on a mission to discover the truth behind her father's death and unravel the secret behind the deadly phrase 'the seven blessings.' A gripping tale of mystery, danger, puzzling letters and a jewel soaked in blood, the story is set in the heart of Victorian London. Whitbread Award-winning author Philip Pullman's novel has been adapted by BAFTA winner Adrian Hodges. In addition to Billie Piper (Doctor Who) as Sally, the cast includes the Oscar-nominated Julie Walters, as well as David Harewood, Hayley Atwell, JJ Feild and Ramon Tikaram.
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Post by janetcatbird on Jan 14, 2007 15:49:25 GMT -5
My station will be airing Part 2 of "The Virgin Queen" tonight. I had the first part on as background when unpacking last week, and thought it alright. But is there any proof of her and Dudley having a thing? The soundtrack was somewhat anachronistic, going back and forth from a children's choir mass to electric guitar. (Yeah, huh?) But I'm a sucker for historical costume dramas, even if I do get all history-major snarky.
And to tie to page 1 of the thread, Peter O'Toole was a guest on "The Daily Show" this past Thursday, technically he was supposed to be promoting Venus, but after a slow, awkward start he told stories about Katharine Hepburn on The Lion in Winter. Apparently at the end of each day's shooting she would say to him "It's 5:00, pig, let's have a white wine and cigarette." I'll admit that it was a bad set-up for the interview--five minutes at a quick pace?!?!--but Jon Stewart was definitely a fan. I can see what you mean about living hard, the first couple minutes we weren't sure he knew where he was! But fun none-the-less. (And TCM showed a couple of his flicks; I thought Goodbye, Mr. Chips was a decent film--see Sian "Livia" Phillips as a promiscuous flapper actress, cooing at her then-husband "Oh you can call me madam all night!" I haven't seen My Favorite Year yet but taped it.)
And Jane Eyre comes next week! I'm so excited!
--Catbird
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Post by janetcatbird on Jan 15, 2007 16:04:24 GMT -5
Unfortunately I can't take you directly into the video, but here's the index page for "Daily Show" interviews. O'Toole should stay near the top for a few days at least. www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/videos/celebrity_interviews/index.jhtmlAnd Twilight Zone strikes again--Turner Classic movies is airing "Lawrence of Arabia" at 8:00 tonight! I don't know if I can catch it this time--I'll certainly try--but even if I don't our video library has the film. Probably I'd get the DVD for the computer, because my dinky little 13-inch dorm room TV is bad enough for TV shows, much less grand epic-scale art. OK, topic, "Elizabeth" last night. Not bad, just a little darker than the first part and I had trouble keeping the rebellious lords and earls and whatnot straight. Although the music was jarring in the anachronisms distracting from the screen, it was definitely pretty and intriguing sounds. Methinks I need to look into a soundtrack. And while I can certainly pass on the corsets, man I want those hoop skirts. Masterpiece Theatre lineup for the next couple weeks--at least, according to my station, check your local listings: Jane Eyre 2 part Jan 21/28 I'm squealing and clapping in excitement. And it looks like a full four hours, is that about what y'all had in the UK? Hard to think of anything the censors would freak out about. The Sally Lockhart Mysteries: The Ruby in the Smoke Feb 4 If this is part of an ongoing series/character I know nothing about her. Dracula Feb 11 The novel is definitely fun, but I'm wondering just how much they can do in a one-part installment. Promo blurb says a "stylish, sexy, new adaptation", which could be either good and exciting or "Oh God they've butchered it". Wonder who David Suchet plays. Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness Feb 18/25 Haven't seen any of the others, know this is the final, I've heard that Helen Mirren is fantastic. The Best of Masterpiece Theatre Sunday, March 4, 2007"Think back -- what's your favorite Masterpiece Theatre drama ever? Who are your favorite villains and stars, male and female? Who stands out as a memorable scene stealer? And who is your all-time, number one performer first seen on a Masterpiece Theatre series? This anniversary special -- put together according to the results of our survey -- will answer those and many more questions!" (Yes, I lifted this directly from the website; www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/index.html I'm excited for this!) Hmm, gap for a couple weeks, but that may be to allow for the annual March beg-a-thon--Stephen Colbert managed to get in some snark about the Doo-Wop festival with Judy Woodruff the other day, hee! After that it's Kidnapped and Wind in the Willows, but I'm sure we'll write between then and now. --Catbird
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