Quad scripsi, scripsi

The recent kerfuffle about the Roald Dahl Estate deciding to release cleaned-up versions of his children's books so they cause less "offence", as well as the estate of Ian Fleming deciding to publish less racist versions of his James Bond books, besides smacking of Orwellian Thought Police in this increasingly 'sanitised' age, but it also brings to mind an occasion when Peter Cushing's likeness was used in Rogue One - with the consent of his estate. 

There were those who objected to the idea of bringing back a deceased actor's face from the grave (although it does have precedents, such as Laurence Oliver in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and goodness knows how many newer versions of Humphrey Bogart), or indeed that the voice  did not resemble the beloved Mr. Cushing. I suspect in his case, he would have been overjoyed at the idea of a Frankenstein-style resuscitation, and would be glad that it gave some work to his fellow British actor Guy Henry, as well as serving as a continuing memento of Cushing's career extending into the 21st century.

At any rate, he would not have minded anywhere near as much as Mr. Dahl or Mr. Fleming. 

Scariest final moments in films

In alphabetical order, I leave viewers unfamiliar with these chilling moments to savour them for themselves, except for the individually illustrated examples: 

Brazil (1985)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)

Carrie (1976)

Freaks (1932)

The Great Train Robbery (1903)

The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

The Night of the Living Dead (1968)

The Omen (1976)

Planet of the Apes (1967)

Psycho (1960)

Some of them are too downright scary for me to want to show them on this page anyway!

Greavsie

Now that he has finally passed away after a long personal struggle since his stroke in 2015, I find I'm going back to the old video archives of Jimmy Greaves - less of him as a star player for Spurs, Chelsea and West Ham (and also AC Milan, Barnet - right - and even Chelmsford City and Brentwood Town), but of his charisma and often cheeky no-nonsense humour as a TV pundit.

As with Sean Connery, it is intriguing to gauge when exactly the 60s pin-up became a balding veteran. In Jimmy's case the moment of transition was signposted when he dissolved into alcoholism. In his own words, he woke up in the Warley sanatorium and found that 5 years of his life had disappeared.

One of this most moving interviews was a video special with his admirer and co-commentator Brian Moore. It showed not only the Greavsie of the present but also of the reflective past, and displayed what a dynamic competitive sporting brain he had.

One the genuine British blokes. Rest in peace, mate.

Darth Diego

It seems a little distasteful that FIFA should decree that the whole globe should pay tribute to a cheat: Diego Maradona's portentous "Hand of God" scored an illegal goal against England, not spotted by the officials at the time, and certainly disallowed in this more modern era of VAR. (Admittedly, the incident rankles for England fans as much as for West German fans in 1966 when Geoff Hurst's "goal" bounced on the goalline in 1966.) Maybe I'm not such a fan of football to be commemorating Maradona's other achievements. 

That infamous handball was followed minutes later by a flash of brilliance minutes later to win the game 2-1 for Argentina. That was Maradona in essence: the light and the dark.

By contrast, one of the most evil of film villains was actually the most gentle of giants, who also sadly passed away as 2020 continues its cull: like most Star Wars followers, David Prowse was the first of those closely involved with the saga that I first met. He was always generous and outgoing with fans at the many conventions and SW celebrations he attended. The Prowse I saw was a diminished shadow of his former 6 foot 4 self (arthritis took hold of him from the early 1990s), and he liked to spin a yarn or two about the origin of Darth's distinctive rasping voice (an "on-set" artificial respirator), and was also reluctant to disclose that his own quaint Bristol voice had been replaced by another actor (James Earl Jones of course). His physique and his sense of agile menace were key to the success of Darth Vader, however, and like his fellow Star Wars (and Hammer) actors, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, Prowse was the most meek and delightful of persons, belying the rogue characters they were famous for playing.

Angel's Advocate: Parliament

John F. Kennedy once said in 1962 that Freedom has many difficulties, and that Democracy is not perfect. Never more has the democratic process been exposed and laid bare than at this moment with the "Brexit" debate - but one rash referendum conceived by a Conservative party at war with itself has led to nationwide disagreement; literally, a divided nation.

Through all of this, in spite of the many impassioned views on either side, have been the many votes inside the House of Commons - presided over by the current Speaker of the House (and Chancellor of Essex University), John Bercow -  which on this occasion have, at least, represented the people in a fair manner. For those who would barely give any second glance to Parliament and how it functions, they are truly seeing their own democracy in action.

This harsh but imaginative depiction by Banksy sums up the general disillusion of an uncaring nation towards its Parliament.

Romeo-ld

(Headgate Theatre, Colchester)
Romeo and Juliet
Priory Players. Act I 55m. Act II 50m.

Generational role reversal of Shakespeare's play set in an old people's home (in rival Montague and Capulet wards) with disapproving children instead of parents for the aged lovers. Ingenuously a lot of it comes off, in better fashion than Priory's similarly experimental punk Richard III (qv), although the feudal aspect amongst grumpy old people seems a little odd when taken out of context, but a fine cast of veterans show the unexpected charm and humour of the play, making winsome romantic lines sound rather charming and witty when coming out of the mouths of septuagenarians, some of whom are on the top of their game.

d: Lorraine Haworth
s: Sara Green, Tony Winn, Paul T. Davies (as the Nurse), James Potter, Ivy Dillon, Helen Bridge, Donna Potter, Nigel Walford, Sara Carr
piano: Izzy Liddamore

#MenToo

At this interesting time of insecurity for the male sex, the picture of Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant in Monkey Business (from 1952), sums up the whole dilemma quite neatly: Marilyn at the time was the emerging hot property, cast by the male-run Hollywood studios as a stereotypical "dumb blonde" sexy secretary. It was also one of her major breakthrough roles on the road to superstardom, and a glittering opportunity to work alongside one of Hollywood's most eligible of leading men.

Not all leading men were as debonair or as gentlemanly as Cary Grant. In such a provocative situation as this, many in Hollywood (especially producers) overstepped the mark, with actresses eager for further their careers on the notorious "casting couch".

Therein hangs the tale. It has come back to hit men hard in recent years; with certainly more harm and detriment to their careers than women. One such offender, actor Kevin Spacey, found himself completely removed from a film that had been finished because of his alleged misdemeanours off camera, that were next to nothing to do with his performance on screen. Should we now remove other famous leading men from films for fathering illegitimate children? For raping young wannabes (male or female) who were also big fans? Or for having illicit sex with other famous women who were possibly thrilled and secretly flattered that they were having an affair with such a big star.

In the present climate, women are rightly striking back, but the general state is a perilous one, as it has generally been for some time, little by little - so well emphasised in The Full Monty, the quintessence of male insecurity; losing it all, literally and metaphorically. It is likely that, regardless of who is really winning the Battle of the Sexes, the Men were always destined to lose it.

It is also a sphere of global impeachment and world scandal that has unfortunately also produced its victims: Guilty until proven Innocent, and immediately tarnished by the mere allegation in the eyes of a reactionary Media in the instant access culture. Even some noted female actresses have expressed their concern at how the whole thing has snowballed too far, and how the whole art of flirtation and courtship and seduction may be destroyed as a result. So redress has to be made, both for the Men as well as the Women.

So here's to the male species, in its flawed and imperfect and self-confident way - still essential to sustain life on this planet. Ultimately they all aspire to be like Cary Grant.