Greetings on a Not-so Happy Humpday, Acting Fans, we may have our latest Actor's Log up (& just in time, too) but there is still a sense of loss as this weekend we had to say goodbye to an acting hero.
Richard Attenborough
1923-2014
We here at H&H productions remember Lord Attenborough not just for the blighted counterfeiter from 'The Great Escape' on many a hazy Bank Holiday Monday and his grandfatherly take on John Hammond in 'Jurassic Park' but also a plethora of brilliant performances stretchng all the way back his breakout turn as the psychopathic Pinkie in 'Brighton Rock', his cowed and cowardly Billy Savage in 'Seance On A Wet Afternoon', his humourous and human take on RSM Lauderdale in 'Guns At Batasi' as well as his turn as the whippersnapper of the group in one of H&H Productions favourite features 'The League of Gentlemen'. No, not them! THIS one:
An apt demonstration of his ability to work with others that would serve him well as he took the director's chair behind the camera. The silver screen shines a little duller this week but we have these wonderful films to remember him by. Our condolences to his family and friends.
Goodnight, Dickie, don't forget to take your bow.
Welcome back, Acting Fans and fellow bloggers, yep, it's wednesday and blog time once again, but for today we will be turning our view from our ongoing production to wish a fellow actor and stage and screen legend to get better soon. We are talking about Tim Curry who it's recently come to our attention is currently recovering after substantial stroke.
Yes, the star of Legend, It and, of course, every misfit, outcast or sexually repressed, impressed or just underdressed drama students' favourite movie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
We would like wish him all the best and that his recovery soon and he can once again starts to lend his booming baritone voice and unique presence to more projects. I know this may be a bit of old news to some but, well, we are Retro, yep, even our news updates can be some times. He's apparently still in good voice and approaching recovery withe good cheer but, even if it's a bit late, - All the best, Tim!
Well, that's all for now folks, we do have some H&H news and so please stay tuned for the next blog post coming up soon.
This week see's a couple of historic milestones for us here at H&H Productions, one of them a little sad. So let's start with the bad (and now pretty old) news first, this week sees the anniversary of the death on 24th November, 1991 of (IOHM*) one of the 20th century's finest showmen, Farrokh Bulsara AKA Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen. As late 70s/early 80s kids Freddie and Queen were at the forefront of our formative Pop Cultural experience and, of course, besides great hit tunes as geeky 70s/80s kids he (& the rest of Queen) also provided the soundtrack to not one but TWO firm favourite cult films:
Forget Star Wars (remember it started off as Lucas' pitch for a Flash Gordon film) plus Max Von Sydow, Peter Wyngarde AND Brian Blessed in one film - no computer-controlled FX models can compete with that sort of cast. Anyone who disagrees gets the Bore Worms. And then the film that spawned a far-spanning franchise of infinitely reducing returns but it's so good we forgive it it's rubbish sequels:
A sad day but a great one to remember the talent of the man and as he himself once sang, the show must go on. So long, Freddie and thanks for all the tunes.
While we're talking about 'shows going on' that brings us to the happier news. This week also saw the anniversary of a groundbreaking television series that first hit the TV screen on 23 November, 1963. That day BBC 1 broadcast the first episode 'An Unearthly Child' and two unwitting schoolteachers and the British public were introduced to a certain mad man (who's not really a man) with a blue box.
Despite the hiccup of being laid low in the 90s (yeah, thanks a lot, Michael Grade, we don't think *shaking fists towards London*), thanks to Russell T. Davies and BBC Wales the Doctor has enjoyed a wildly successful revival these past few years. Here at H&H we are always ready to salute the sort of fiction that stops staring in the kitchen sink and gets you to look out the window at the stars above, so Happy 48th Birthday DOCTOR WHO, long may you transcend Time and Space!
(The only November broadcast Christmas advert that we support, plus it's for charity, innit?)
A Happy Whonniversary to you all!
Stay tuned for more Harcourt & Haigh-centric news next week,
TTFN
Vernon Harcourt
&
Chirstopher Haigh
* = In Our Humble Opinions but of course, you figured that out, didn't you? After all, You're not total n00bs are you? What, you ARE?!
