Maggie Smith

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:26pm

is very good in Sister Act.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:27pm

So is Whoopi!

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:30pm

True and so are Mary Wickes and Kathy Nijimy but I tuned in right at the moment when Maggie asked Whoopie -- "Is Delores Van Cartier your real name?" and then when Delores said "Yes! I'm a singer" Maggie's reaction was funny and great acting.

[liotte]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:35pm

I love Maggie Smith! Sister Act (1 and 2) are a couple of my favorite movies! She's also fun to watch in Hook and of course, HP.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:36pm

Kathy Nijimy!

<3

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:37pm

Love Whoopie in Sister Act, but Ghost is her absolute best. She's incredible in that.

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:40pm

I heart maggie smith.

[Tenorific2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:41pm

I love Maggie Smith in "Murder By Death". I love her in anything!!

[Glebb]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:41pm

Loved Maggie in "Lettice and Lovage".

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:49pm

"I couldn't possibly!"

"I lied."

[pattifan2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 3:59pm

I've never seen her in anything I didn't enjoy. I love her scenes with Dame Judi in 'A Room With A View' and the mackintosh squares. One of my favourite performances is in 'A Private Function'. Does anyone else love that film. "Kill it, Gilbert" and "It's not just pork, it's status". Nobody could deliver those lines like Maggie.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:08pm

Oh my god. I'd forgotten that "A Private Function" even existed. It's a hilarious film. And so is she in it.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:17pm

"No pig, no pig"...."It's a big of scrag end!" ...."Are you wanting that banana, Mrs. Metcalfe?..I am, love - I'm planning a trifle"....and what about Doctory Swaby's priceless response about the girl who was a Sunday School teacher "The examination of her private parts told a different story". OMG - I have to watch this film again later.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:21pm

Me too. Is it Liz Smith playing her mother? Love her as well.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:23pm

Absolutely Liz Smith. "What's this banana? I could eat a banana." and "With us a pig - with anybody else, NO PIG!"

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:25pm

Her performance in "Lettice and Lottage" on stage was maybe the funniest I've ever seen.

One of the great actors on the planet, her two Oscar winning performances in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite are legendary, not to mention her amazing work in Hot Millions, Death on the Nile, The Lonely Passion of Judith Ahearne and Alan Bennett's "Talking Heads." Brilliant. I wished she'd come back to the New York stage sometime.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:31pm

What DID happen to the announced production of Breath Of Life with her and Dianne Wiest?

[pattifan2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:36pm

My favourite stage performances was Maggie in 'The Lady In The Van'. She can make the most straight-forward of lines hysterical. I did see her and Judi Dench in 'Breath Of Life'. The play was very disappointing but Maggie sizzled. I would love to have seen the two of them switch roles into the run. It's always great to hear of Maggie's cutting remarks, too. I cannot remember the exact quote but it was during a West End run of 'Importance Of Being Ernest' and she was disenchanted with the whole production, I think. When one of the cast commented backstage about the production transferring to Broadway, she hit the scenery with her umbrella and said "Broadway? I wouldn't take this to Basingstoke."

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:40pm

I saw Breath Of Life, I actually thought it was fine as a play but the roles were so uneven. Maggie Smith got ALL the good stuff, Judi Dench just had to cry for 2 hours. It's no wonder she bowed out when the Broadway transfer was announced.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:44pm

IMO, her best performance was her Oscar-winning turn in the film CALIFORNIA SUITE (in which, ironicaly, she played an acrress nominated for the Oscar).


Her scenes with Michael Caine sizzled with pathos AND comedy!

[Dre2387]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:53pm

Maggie Smith was also good in First Wives Club with Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diana Keaton.

But i love her and Whoopi in Sister Act 1 and 2.

I love her line in Sister Act 2, at the end when she is talking to Mr. Crisp and calls him "Crispie" can't remember the exact line and it's bugging me.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:54pm

I agree, Popcultureboy, about the roles being uneven. But I couldn't help but feel while I was watching the play that had these two not been on board, it wouldn't have gotten into the West End. I just could not engage with the story at all. Like I said, it would have been interesting to see the roles switched during the run - would confirm then whether the roles were balanced or if Maggie could have drawn something out other than tears.

[bta212]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:55pm

In my pantheon right next to Marian Seldes. The same ability of control an audience with the slightest arch of the eyebrow or tilt of the head. Her vocal control blows me away. Her "Talking Heads" monologue is an all-time classic. Run-don't-walk to the BBC shop online and buy the recording.

If you tell your TiVo to record any Maggie Smith vehicles that appear (as I have done) you will find yourself with a treasure trove of performances that span genres and years. You will quickly get a skit on the Carol Burnett show where she plays the tawdry girlfriend that Tim Conway brings to the launching of the ship by the Queen (Carol B., of course). Three geniuses of comic timing captured on tape. The comic equivalent of Barbra, Ethel and Judy singing "happy days".

God, I love TiVo.

(This post is not a paid endorsement.)

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:55pm

I believe the exact line was "Go with God, Crispy", Dre.

[cudramacat]

Posted: 9/18/05 at 4:55pm

I love Maggie Smith! She does a really good job in Divine Secrets of the Yaya Sisterhood too!