Laurence Olivier

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/7/10 at 9:07pm

Don't know just why it is that I need to share this, but I was just watching a special about Vivien Leigh on TCM and it shows these two clips of home movies of Laurence Olivier taken around 1939.

And he is so gorgeous in them that it, literally, took my breath away.

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/7/10 at 9:09pm

He had a sex appeal to him that you didn't associate with English Actors at that time.

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/7/10 at 9:43pm

Although WUTHERING HEIGHTS is a piss poor adaptation of Bronte's masterpiece, I watch the film every once in a while because of Olivier. (What did he ever see in Danny Kaye?)

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/7/10 at 11:31pm

I especially enjoy little chats about some of the 'greatest' actors of yesterday!

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/7/10 at 11:58pm

Dollypop, I feel the same way about Pride and Prejudice. Worst adaptation of the book, but he's amazing as Darcy.

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/8/10 at 9:32am

I remember in college after a screening of Olivier's HENRY V, one of my fellow students said, "That was Laurence Olivier? He's gorgeous!!"

And who can disagree?

My favorite Olivier performance is in LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, which is on DVD and is well worth seeking out. He's absolutely brilliant as James Tyrone. It is the performance to show folks who think Olivier's performances lack emotion. He's heartbreaking.

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/8/10 at 6:36pm

His performances in Spartacus & Deathtrap were standouts.

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Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:21am

Which DEATHTRAP was that?

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:24am

Laurence Olivier and Omar Sharif make me hyperventilate. I got Doctor Zhivago on Blu Ray and there is a possibility it may never leave my PS3.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

Updated On: 9/9/10 at 10:24 AM

#10

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:27am

I believe Roxy is thinking of "Sleuth."

#11

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:27am

What's up, doc?

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#12

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:28am

Past his hyperventilation-inspiring days, but I love him with Hepburn in "Love Among the Ruins."

#13

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:34am

My first exposure to Lord Larry was the movie of Langella's DRACULA and THE JAZZ SINGER. I really wondered how he had the reputation he did. Then VHS came out, and I started to see some of the earlier work, and I began to understand. His LEAR for television is one of my favorite things.

#14

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:39am

He was a hoot in "Dracula": "She vill become a foul tink off ze night!"

#15

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:46am

Yes, Reginald, that's probably it. Love me some SLEUTH.

He's a lot of fun to watch in THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE, as General Burgoyne. He's got all the best lines, and he tosses them off effortlessly -- a real joy to watch.

I always wish that THE ENTERTAINER had been made into a better movie, somehow. As good as a lot of it is, it just never works all the way.

Glad to see so much Larry love round here.

#16

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 6:30pm

I stand corrected. It was Sleuth . Deathtrap was Michael Caine I believe.

Poster Emeritus

#17

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 9:23pm

It certainly was.

I connect the two in my mind as well; they're a great double bill.

#18

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 9:58pm

I have been awating the release of Slueth on DVD forever. There are some used copies on amazon, but the cheapest one is $40.00.

And just for the record Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine were both in Slueth.

Then there is the ****ty remake where Caine plays the opposite role and Jude Law plays his original role, but I have no desire to see that. It's supposed to be painfully bad.

....but the world goes 'round

#19

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/9/10 at 10:33pm

Well, yes. But I was assuming Roxy was conflating the older gentlemen in the two films.

Happily, my local video store has "Sleuth." It has occurred to me to steal it and pay the fee. But I'm a bigger man than that.

#20

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/10/10 at 2:20pm

Yeah, the remake of SLEUTH, with Caine and Jude Law, is just a horror. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, from a screenplay adaptation by Harold Pinter, no less. Ghastly. Based on the unspeakable half hour or so I was able to endure, it takes itself terribly seriously indeed, and raises the stakes to a rather unbelievable level, in that it becomes hard to believe that Law's character goes along with certain schemes in the story. There's a lot of nonsense with security cameras, it is just excruciating. I dare you to make it to the end.

#21

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 9/10/10 at 2:29pm

Already tried. Couldn't do it.

#22

Laurence Olivier

Posted: 10/15/10 at 6:00pm

Dollypop,

I know if I beleive the Laurence Olivier/Danny Kaye rumors, but here's why he might have wanted to do something with Danny Kaye:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Huilifoj#p/a/7EB6490EBC60B176/1/RWlk2Og40Qc

Given the time period, not a bad body!

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