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Subject: Coincidences Author: Susan [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 15:56:56 12/14/01 Fri It seems like a real coincidence to me that two of Robert Newton's more notable vehicles have been recently revived on the stage ... with my other two favorite actors in starring (but different) roles! This past August I was fortunate to have seen David Warner on Broadway in Major Barbara, in the role of Undershaft. (In fact, the play was in its final week of performances when the September 11 attacks took place.) Warner's performance really stood out and made the character of Undershaft much more real for me than the film did. Of course, the poor actor who tried to fill Robert Newton's shoes didn't stand a chance with me ;-), although I did try to be objective. I couldn't help wishing throughout the play that I were seeing RN live in the role ... on the same stage with David Warner! (I had a really good seat too!) BTW, the other owner of a major site about DW (besides our friend Cinephilia) asked for and posted my review of the play on her site (and I couldn't resist making comparisons to the film) ... if you're interested in reading it, it's on this page: <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://picpal.com/warner/warnerm.html">http://picpal.com/warner/warnerm.html</a> The other production currently being revived on stage in London (Albery Theatre, St. Martin's Lane) is Noël Coward's Private Lives, starring Alan Rickman. Rickman plays Elyot, whereas Robert Newton played Victor in the 1931 stage version. Alas, I probably won't get the opportunity to see it, but in case anyone else is interested, there's more info at this site: <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.rickmanistareview.com/privatelives/privatelives.html">http://www.rickmanistareview.com/privatelives/privatelives.html</a> Anyway, that got me thinking ... Going back to that question someone posed a while back about who should play Robert Newton in a biopic (I've been pondering it ever since) ... What do you think about Alan Rickman? OK, I know they don't *look* much alike, but, having recently re-watched him in Robin Hood for about the tenth time (which I only enjoy for his performance), it suddenly dawned on me that he's got that same charisma and magical ability to go over the top without leaving the audience behind that Bobby had. Yet he can also be subtle, poignant, malevolent, funny ... I'm curious what you all think! And I was also thinking it was about time for a new poll, so I've made that the new question at the voting booth on the site, including the other suggestions people have made. (I've only listed living actors among the candidates.) Please cast your vote, either here or in the booth--or *both*! And if you have any other casting suggestions to offer, please note them here. I've got two more slots available on the ballot, so if you're among the first, I can add yours to the list. <a rel=nofollow target=_blank href="http://www.rit.edu/~sxd6221/newton/vote.htm">http://www.rit.edu/~sxd6221/newton/vote.htm</a> [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

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[> Subject: Re: Coincidences Author: Susan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 16:14:12 12/14/01 Fri P.S.: It couldn't be mere coincidence that Alan Rickman's initials are, well ... you know! Could it? :-) [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Milo O'Shea or Michael Richards??? Author: Cinephilia [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 20:43:50 12/14/01 Fri Robert Downey??? Alan Rickman??? I just can't imagine any of them portraying RN in a biopic... I'd much rather see a good documentary about Mr. Newton. Anyway, here's another suggestion: Gary Oldman. :-) And what about that rascal, Tim Curry? Of course, if the biopic had been made in the Seventies, Tòmas Milian would have been the perfect choice (he would have needed to add several pounds to his wiry body though). Of course, you know perfectly well who *I* would have cast, French accent be damned! ARR! ;-) Mmm... What about Gérard Depardieu or Jean Reno? Hee! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: Milo O'Shea or Michael Richards??? Author: Susan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 23:17:10 12/14/01 Fri Wow, you sure came up with a lot of suggestions! Now we have too many; there's only room for six on the ballot. Should I remove somebody? Michael Richards was suggested by Jab, the person who first brought up the question. And I mentioned that Milo O'Shea reminded me a lot of RN in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. Nobody argued with me then! But, if we're being realistic, he is too old for the role at this point, so I guess I could take him off the list. I hadn't thought of Robert Downey, Jr., myself, but I hear if you watch him in <i>Chaplin</i>, you'll see a resemblance. Gerard Depardieu? That's one I can't imagine at all. Wish I could see Tomas Milian in a movie. (But does he have the right accent?) Hard to imagine Gary Oldman in the role, but he's already convincingly portrayed real people like Sid Vicious and Lee Harvey Oswald, so maybe he could become RN as well. And Tim Curry ... He's a great ham! And he did play Long John Silver in the Muppets' Treasure Island! There's a possibility! Unfortunately, neither of them has the right look. Ultimately, I have to agree with you, though. I think I'd be too critical of anyone who tried to play Robert Newton; he was one of a kind. I'd rather see a good documentary-type bio! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: Milo O'Shea or Michael Richards??? Author: Cinéphilia [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 09:37:07 12/15/01 Sat This is hard for me to think of any actor portraying RN without giggling. I usually don't find biopics very convincing or impressive. Downey Jr. was excellent in "Chaplin" (a movie that I didn't like much), but I didn't find him completely convincing in the role. Of course, 20 years ago, Alan Bates or Albert Finney could have portrayed Newton convincingly enough. They had the talent required and the right looks. A fact: getting their first big break starring in a biopic won't do much for the typical actor/actress if the character is too famous. Remember the guy who played John Lennon in the TV movie "John and Yoko" back in the early 1980s? You don't... :-) Well, I didn't see him again after that until he played one of the officers in "Titanic" (he's the one who screams "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" just before Murdoch shoots himself. An anecdote: Back in 1982, director Claude Lelouch cast Patrick Dewaere as Marcel Cerdan in "Edith and Marcel", a film about the passionate love affair between the boxing champ and singer Edith Piaf. Unfortunately, a few weeks before filming was to begin, Dewaere committed suicide... In desperation, Lelouch then asked Marcel Cerdan Jr. to play his father. Marcel Jr. was a boxer too but he was no actor... Nonetheless, he gave a very good performance. Alas! After "Edith and Marcel", Marcel Jr. was never heard of again. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Biopics Author: Susan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 10:48:43 12/17/01 Mon Alan Bates?? Hmm, *there's* a possibility! In that same vein, you just reminded me of another one (as long as we're including actors of the past)--what about Oliver Reed? OK ... which one or two of all those choices should I put on the ballot?! (Quick, before somebody actually votes!) Or maybe it's just a bad question and I should remove it. >Remember the guy who played John Lennon in the TV movie >"John and Yoko" back in the early 1980s? You don't... :-) You're right! But that's cuz I never saw that movie. I do remember the guy who played him in *two* biopics--the <i>Hours and Times</i> and <i>Backbeat</i> (Ian Hart). He's a very good actor (he's in Harry Potter, BTW), but it's hard not to associate him with that role because he did it so perfectly. (And it doesn't help that he looks just like Julian Lennon.) However, he's one of those chameleon-like actors who's so good at what he does, you don't recognize him from one film to the next! >I usually don't find biopics very convincing or impressive. Same here. From what I've seen on the commercials, it's hard to believe that they're talking about an Oscar for Will Smith in the Muhammed Ali movie! So far, the only biographical performance that's really impressed me to the point where I don't have to keep reminding myself who the actor is supposed to be is Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi in <i>Ed Wood</i>. I would never have thought it possible having mainly known him as Commander Koenig on Space: 1999, but that was a well deserved Oscar! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Private Lives Author: Susan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 10:52:40 12/17/01 Mon Good news for American fans who can't make it to London by February ... I just read that there's a good chance Private Lives will be coming to Broadway in the spring! I'll keep you updated if I hear more. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> Subject: Re: Coincidences Author: Erin [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 17:56:19 12/26/01 Wed I always thought that Judd Nelson looked like RN. I did enjoy him in The Breakfast Club, but can't comment on anything he's done recently. And for a moment the name Gary Oldman popped into my head only because he's so versatile, but looks nothing like RN. Who was the actor in the movie "The Matchmaker"....the one with that Garafalo woman about the matchmaking festival in Ireland. He was interesting. Sean Kelly was his name. He had nice hair and eyes. Anyway, there are some for you to think about! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: Coincidences Author: Susan [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 11:48:29 12/28/01 Fri Thanks for all the ideas. I've never seen The Matchmaker, but I'll be on the lookout for Sean Kelly. I hadn't thought of him, but I have to agree with you about Judd Nelson! He was great in the Breakfast Club. Thanks to both of your suggestions, I've added Judd Nelson and Tomas Milian to the choices. I'm glad to see that three people have voted already ... So far Alan Rickman is winning, with Robert Downey, Jr., a close second! [ Post a Reply to This Message ]