Playwright Simon Gray loses battle with cancer Aug 9, 2008
Butley, about a dyspeptic professor in meltdown, was turned into a movie starring Alan Bates and The Common Pursuit was a story of students on a literary mag. Although Gray sometimes went out of fashion, several of his plays had successful recent revivals. (Mirror.co.uk)
Simon Gray, at 71; was British novelist and playwright Aug 9, 2008
Universities provided the setting for several of his best-known plays, including "Butley," the story of a dyspeptic English professor in meltdown that was turned into a movie starring Alan Bates, and "The Common Pursuit," about the aspirations and disappointments of a group of students working on a literary magazine. In 1995, the West End run of Mr. Gray's play "Cell Mates" was famously curtailed when star Stephen Fry suffered a breakdown and disappeared, turning up days later in Belgium. (Boston Globe)
Smoked out Simon Gray dies Aug 8, 2008
Much to his own surprise he passed his three score years and ten and outlived many of his closest friends, including the actor Alan Bates, star of his first stage success, Butley. "We're all still reeling at the news," a spokeswoman said at Granta publications, which is due to publish Coda, a characteristically brutally frank account of his battle with cancer, in November. (guardian.co.uk)
New on DVD: 'Stop-Loss' is a gain for movie fans Jul 13, 2008
Despite some bombs, there are such highly regarded titles as Simon Gray's Butley (with Alan Bates), Harold Pinter's The Homecoming (Ian Holm), and John Frankenheimer's rendering of Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, with Lee Marvin, Jeff Bridges, Fredric March and Robert Ryan. Due Tuesday: Mr. Hulot is back in Jacques Tati's Trafic; political subtext makes The Bank Job above-average fun; Step Up 2: The Streets is 4 the undiscriminating. (USA Today -- Life)
Federal Report: Warming = More Harmful Climate Extremes Jun 20, 2008
I often compare today s news and comments [about climate change and global warming] with that scene in the movie King of Hearts when Alan Bates is trying to persuade the patients at the asylum to evacuate the town because the German army set expolosives in the town square and wired the detonation device to the nearby clock tower; when the clock strikes 12, the town will be destroyed. Instead of heeding the warning, the inmates gather up their costumes and parade out to the square to have a front... (Yahoo News -- Climate Change)
One false note for poignant Lloyd Webber musical Jan 6, 2008
The original novel was written by Mary Hayley Bell, the mother of then-teenager Hayley Mills who starred in the film along with Alan Bates in his first movie role. The story is a parable of sorts. (Globe and Mail)
10 great movies that need to be on DVD — now Jan 4, 2008
Both star Julie Christie and Alan Bates, and both resonate the way all the best star-crossed romances do. Johnny Guitar(1954) Even if there were a million feminist Westerns instead of a handful, the greatest Joan Crawford vehicle would rank No. 1 of its twisted ilk. (USA Today -- Life)
Every inch a king Nov 24, 2007
"I don't think it would have been good for me to have been discovered by films at the age Albert Finney was, or Tom Courtenay, or Alan Bates. I wasn't ready for it.". In 1995, he successfully portrayed Richard III onscreen as a snarling, 1930s fascist, but before that McKellen's biggest movie role to date had probably been as Death, in Last Action Hero. (Guardian Unlimited)
Hang on to your bonnets ... Nov 18, 2007
The scene where Henchard (Alan Bates) sells his wife was really well handled. Episodes like that stay with you. (Guardian Unlimited)
* Malcolm McDowell:gorgeousity made flesh Nov 8, 2007
He recalls Anderson's (and his own) friendships with Rachel Roberts, Jill Bennett, Alan Price and Ralph Richardson and reads from Anderson's monograph about John Ford, his cinematic idol, and, most memorably, from a lyrically aggressive letter to Alan Bates from Anderson, in which the director sort of apologizes for some ancient drunken insult, even as he dismisses the entire notion of apologizing. Never Apologize is a looser companion piece to the late Gavin Lambert's beautiful memoir Mainly... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
DVD watch: Check out the work of three 'twilight' directors Oct 30, 2007
Julian Fellowes' script won an Oscar; a dream cast included Clive Owen, Helen Mirren, Alan Bates, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith and another typical Altman ensemble. He had two theatrical features and a TV movie left. (USA Today -- Life)
Sandra Hall, reviewer Oct 27, 2007
They embodied him in young working-class characters so energised by their frustrations that actors such as Alan Bates and Albert Finney were able to ride all the way to stardom on the strength of them. Curtis, frontman for the cult band Joy Division, was too young for all that. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Lifting the curtain Oct 24, 2007
Kenneth Haigh expresses Jimmy Porter's rage in the company of (left to right) Mary Ure, Alan Bates and Helena Hughes, during the first night's performance of Look Back in Anger at the Royal Court. Napoleon once described Beaumarchais' The Marriage of Figaro as "the French Revolution in action". (Guardian Unlimited)
Viggo Mortensen gets nude for 'Eastern Promises' fight scene Sep 23, 2007
" Women in Love " (1970) Based on the novel by D.H. Lawrence, the film won an Academy Award for Glenda Jackson, but it is the controversial nude wrestling scene between Oliver Reed and Alan Bates that is still talked about - and quite a shocker when shown on television. Directed by Ken Russell, who thrived on overdoing things. (The Virginian-Pilot)
DUDES GET NUDE ON FILM Sep 12, 2007
Pioneers: Oliver Reed and Alan Bates classic nude wrestling scene in Women in Love; Richard Gere, becoming the first major male movie star to show everything in 1980s American Gigolo. . (New York Post -- Entertainment)
Lynn Redgrave on Albert Finney Sep 3, 2007
You ve worked with so many people including, Albert Finney, Alan bates, Tom Courtney, Rex Harrison, even Timothy Dalton ... Wasn t Alan Bates lovely in it ... Comments on Albert Finney and Alan Bates. (Suite101.com)
The week's best films Aug 16, 2007
A delightful Keith Waterhouse/Willis Hall adaptation of Mary Hayley Bell's novel about three farm kids who find a fugitive from justice (Alan Bates) in their barn. They assume he is Jesus Christ and try to help him by offering him Dad's liquor. (Guardian Unlimited -- Film)
The butt-ends of his days Jul 28, 2007
Like so many of his plays, it starred Alan Bates, was directed by Harold Pinter and focused on an emotionally stunted man seeking refuge in sarcasm, male friendship and senior common room japes. Today, he looks like a slightly effete version of Bates, who went on to play Gray in the autobiographical film Unnatural Pursuits. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
Oregon to oversee mixed martial art events Jul 19, 2007
Alan Bates, D-Ashland, who co-sponsored the bill. "I've never been to an event, but I've watched some on TV to see what's going on and I am not impressed. Something needed to be done.". (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR -- Sports)
Bloom not to strip off in London stage debut Jul 12, 2007
It was made into a 1975 film directed by Lindsay Anderson and starring Alan Bates. The debut will be Bloom's first stage role as a professional actor. (Xinhuanet, China)
If only Anderson were here ... May 19, 2007
Then there was the sudden discovery of Anderson's "letter of apology" to Alan Bates at the Anderson Archives at the University of Stirling, in which the apology turns into a diatribe of how Anderson viewed his career and the state of society. We'd both been guests at that inebriated afternoon when Anderson needled the ordinarily mellow Bates into an explosive confrontation. (Guardian Unlimited -- Film)
PAPER: Blair tipped to be World Bank president as disgraced Wolfowitz resigns... May 19, 2007
Stars of the silver screen, including Jude Law are in Cannes for the 60th film festival. Blair tipped to be World Bank president as disgraced Wolfowitz resigns. (The Drudge Report)
CHEMO-FREE CANCER CURE... May 19, 2007
Stars of the silver screen, including Jude Law are in Cannes for the 60th film festival. Chemo-free cancer cure 'will save thousands. (The Drudge Report)
Baldness breakthrough: Stem cells coaxed into growing hair May 19, 2007
Stars of the silver screen, including Jude Law are in Cannes for the 60th film festival. Fiona MacRae - Last updated at 08:36am on 18th May 2007. (Daily Mail)
Democrats share goal, differ on approach to health care reform Apr 16, 2007
Ben Westlund, D-Bend and Alan Bates, D-Ashland, the chairs of the Senate Special Committee on Health Care Reform, who've been crisscrossing the state over the last few weeks to gather feedback on health care reform from Oregonians at town hall meetings. Their plan sidesteps Kitzhaber's earlier proposal for a congressional waiver to reclaim the federal dollars spent in Oregon on Medicare, the program that guarantees health care coverage for all Americans older than 65. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR)
Kulongoski gives Legislature grade of "incomplete" Apr 7, 2007
Alan Bates of Ashland and Ben Westlund of Bend, who have also been working on health care proposals. In Friday's speech, Kulongoski also urged lawmakers to come to consensus on Oregon's property rights law, passed by voters in 2004 and perhaps the most divisive issue in the current session. (KGW Northwest NewsChannel 8, OR)
No psych hospital for county Mar 1, 2007
Alan Bates, D-Ashland, supported building a hospital in Jackson County, but said the reality is that most of the population of the state lives up north. "It's tough, but I'm accepting it," said Bates, a doctor. (Mail Tribune, OR)
O'Toole Time Will it be eighth time lucky? Feb 23, 2007
" In 1952 he won a scholarship to London's famed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where he studied alongside some of the era's greats including Alan Bates, Albert Finney and Richard Harris. The actor's love hate relationship with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences began ten years later when he received his first Academy award nomination for his remarkable portrait as Lawrence of Arabia.He went on to receive further nominations for Becket, The Lion In Winter, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, The... (Sky News)
Penn writes career on TV, B'way Feb 15, 2007
Penn directed live TV in the 1950s, from "Playhouse 90" to "Philco Television Playhouse," and he enjoyed a Broadway career that began with "Two for the Seesaw" in 1958 and, as recently as 2002, brought Tony Awards to Alan Bates and Frank Langella for their turns in "Fortune's Fool.". "It was extremely gratifying," Penn says of that most recent double-thesp honor. (Variety)
'A Spanish Play' opens Off Broadway Feb 3, 2007
After "Art" hit Broadway in 1998, audiences began to expect terrific actors (Alan Bates, John Turturro, Eileen Atkins, Alan Alda) to be drawn to her upscale, educated characters. Fans with short attention spans also knew that Reza would provide brief evenings (90 minutes or less) that let us all feel smart without taxing too much energy before dinner. (Newsday -- Entertainment)
The 79th Academy Awards: Can O'Toole win at last? Jan 24, 2007
He originally trained as a journalist, but after National Service was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in the same year as Albert Finney, Alan Bates and Richard Harris. He won early acclaim as a stage actor, notably at the Bristol Old Vic and Royal Court, before he was chosen by David Lean to play TE Lawrence in his 1962 masterpiece, Lawrence of Arabia. (Independent)
O'Toole vs. Oscar Jan 18, 2007
" In part, what makes Venus so moving is how Maurice's situation holds a mirror up to O'Toole's own ups and downs, despite the discrepancy in their levels of fame and acclaim. (Maurice is forced to play soap-opera cadavers and ancient royals to support his still-fond-though-not-totally-forgiving ex-wife, played by Vanessa Redgrave, and afford treats for Jessie.) At one point, a caf? waitress spies a photo of the young Maurice, which is actually an old portrait of O'Toole. "God, he was gorgeous,"... (USA Today -- Life)
Ken Russell quits Big Brother Jan 9, 2007
The film, which saw Oliver Reed and Alan Bates wrestle naked by the fire, brought Russell an Oscar nomination for best director and Glenda Jackson an Oscar for best actress. The 1970s pop star Leo Sayer is the favourite to win the fifth series of the TV reality show. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Veteran director and 'old fuddy duddy' Russell quits Big Brother Jan 8, 2007
The film, which saw Oliver Reed and Alan Bates wrestle naked by a fire, brought Russell an Oscar nomination for best director and Glenda Jackson an Oscar for best actress. Housemates were told of Russell's decision to leave the show earlier yesterday, when journalist Carole Malone was handed a laminate card revealing the news. (Scotsman)
The secret is out: 'Chick flicks' make guys look good Jan 7, 2007
She also loves those '70s films in which hurt or angry women find comfort with individualistic and attractive fellows such as Kris Kristofferson in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Blume in Love," or Alan Bates in "An Unmarried Woman.". When guys get dragged to a Meyers chick flick - even one as slack and erratic as "The Holiday" - they know their gender group will receive a fair shake. (Buffalo News -- Entertainment)
Ken Russell: The film-maker laid bare Jan 6, 2007
The notorious naked wrestling match, with Alan Bates and Oliver Reed, neatly fits the mood of that part of the novel. Thanks in part to that grunting pair, and to Glenda Jackson and Jennie Linden, Women in Love proved not just a scandalous smash but a cultural landmark. (Independent)
Old devil enters Big Brother Jan 4, 2007
It is 38 years since Ken Russell created one of the most eye-poppingly odd scenes in British cinema: directing the naked wrestling bout between Alan Bates and Oliver Reed in Women in Love, their sweaty bodies entwined in the fireglow. Last night, Russell gave that cinematic peculiarity a televisual twin. (Guardian Unlimited -- UK)
