|
|
| Ten Thousand Motels |
BURTON LEFT OFF BRITAIN'S FINEST ACTORS LIST
Movie legend RICHARD BURTON has missed being named as one of Britain's ten finest actors - even though PETER SELLERS and CARY GRANT both made the list.
The omission of the late former husband of DAME ELIZABETH TAYLOR from the nominations assembled by a panel of experts has angered film fans.
Welsh-born Burton, whose classic movies include CLEOPATRA and WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, died in 1984 following a cerebral haemorrhage.
Burton's biographer PAUL FERRIS says, "If these two jokers (Grant and Sellers) are included, then why not Burton? Nobody would notice if Cary Grant or Peter Sellers were not in the top ten.
"Who would look at this list and wonder why they were not on it? But one does think that about Burton. Without a doubt, he would genuinely think he should be entitled to a place, though he'd probably make a joke about it."
However, British film critic BARRY NORMAN defends the panel's choice, and comments, "The quality all the top ten share, apart from talent, is staying power. Anyone can be brilliant once - very few people can be brilliant nearly all the time.
"All the nominations are versatile and gifted - not just personalities but real actors, capable of submerging themselves into any role."
The full results of the poll will be broadcast on British TV on 11 July (05).
The Official List Of Britain's Ten Finest Actor Nominees in alphabetical order is:
1. KENNETH BRANAGH
2. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS
3. SIR JOHN GIELGUD
4. CARY GRANT
5. SIR ALEC GUINNESS
6. SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS
7. CHARLES LAUGHTON
8. SIR IAN McKELLEN
9. SIR LAURENCE OLIVIER
10. PETER SELLERS.
contactmusic.com
04/07/2005 09:09
|
|
|
| glencar |
I don't know enough about Laughton but Branagh shouldn't be on there. |
|
|
| Gazza |
More meaningless polls
Burton was undoubtedly left off because he was resented in his home country for living abroad, because his heyday was the 60's, because young film fans cant relate to him because his output was few and far between and because it always cost too much to see him perform. |
|
|
| MrPleasant |
quote:
Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
Burton's biographer PAUL FERRIS says, "If these two jokers (Grant and Sellers)
What a charmer.
He's got a point, though. (Inadvertently.) British actors are LOONY.
Piper (Peter O'Toole - uncredited): Are you Richard Burton?
Evelyn Tremble (Peter Sellers): No, I'm Peter O'Toole!
Piper: Then you're the greatest man that ever BREATHED.
(Casino Royale, 1967.) |
|
|
| MrPleasant |
Another thing: I think it's somewhat interesting that a number of british musicians or rockers were able to display acting chops, and be moderately successful at it. For instance:
Sting (Quadrophenia; The Bride; Stormy Monday)
Phil Collins (Buster; Fraud - no pun intended)
Ringo Starr (A Hard Day's Night; Candy; Caveman)
Roger Daltrey (Tommy; Lisztomania)
John Lennon (A Hard Day's Night; How I Won The War)
Mick Jagger (Performance; Freejack)
David Bowie (The Man Who Fell To Earth; The Hunger; Basquiat)
Some from the U.S.A.:
The Ramones (Rock 'n' Roll High School)
Bob Dylan (Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid; Hearts Of Fire)
Vanilla Ice (Cool As Ice)
Prince (Purple Rain; Under The Cherry Moon)
Jon Bon Jovi (Moonlight And Valentino; Pay It Forward)
Neil Diamond (The Jazz Singer)
Madonna (Desperately Seeking Susan was O.K., but 90 or 85% of the stuff that came afterwards...)
I could mention Frank Sinatra or Diana Ross, on behalf of America, but they were first and foremost singers; and The Monkees, but two of their members were originally actors (one of them from the U.K.). And no OFFENCE, but most of Elvis's movies... 
Still, there's Tom Waits (Down By Law; Short Cuts; Mystery Men), Kris Kristofferson (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore; Heaven's Gate; Lone Star), Meat Loaf (Fight Club; Crazy In Alabama) and possibly a bunch of black unpretentious rappers. So it's not so bleak for the U.S.A. after all.
[Edited by MrPleasant] |
|
