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Richard Todd obituary

23 hours ago | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »

Actor best known for his role in the classic second world war film The Dam Busters

Richard Todd, who has died of cancer aged 90, will be best remembered for the films in which he played a wide assortment of clean-cut British heroes. His most famous performance was as Wing Commander Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters (1955), although he also played Robin Hood and Sir Walter Raleigh.

As dour and stiff upper-lipped as any of the characters he portrayed in his highly successful film career in the 1940s and 1950s, he was one of the first members of the Parachute Regiment to jump on D-day – a real-life role he later echoed, albeit at a higher rank, in The Longest Day (1962), the reconstruction of the invasion of Normandy 17 years after the event (another actor posed as Todd himself).

As Gibson, Todd starred as the leader of the daring airborne mission in May »

- Dennis Barker

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Dam Busters actor Richard Todd dies

4 December 2009 3:51 AM, PST | The Guardian - Film News | See recent The Guardian - Film News news »

The actor who played wing commander Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters, and was first choice to play James Bond, has died

The actor Richard Todd, best known for his role in the classic war film The Dam Busters, has died at the age of 90.

His spokeswoman said Todd, who had been suffering from cancer, died last night.

She said in a statement: "He had been suffering from cancer, an illness that he bore with his habitual courage and dignity. His family were with him throughout."

Richard Andrew Palethorpe Todd was born in Dublin on 11 June 1919, the son of a British officer. He grew up in Devon and attended Shrewsbury public school.

His interest in the theatre led him to small roles in stage productions in England and Scotland. In 1939 he was a co-founder of the Dundee Repertory Theatre.

After the war he gained fame in the London stage version of The Hasty Heart, »

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Toxic Birthday Suits

2 December 2009 7:00 AM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Your cinematic birthdays for 12/02. If it's your big day, let us know.

Steven, Lucy and Warren

1894 Warren William, charming snake, pre-code movie star who was often paired with formidable actresses like Claudette Colbert (Imitation of Life, Cleopatra), Joan Blondell (Gold Diggers of 1933, Stage Struck) and Bette Davis (Three on a Match, Satan Met a Lady)

1914 Ray Walston, the Damn Yankees! devil had a lengthy career on screens small and large

1914 Adolph Green, musical giant of 'Comden & Green' fame. I can't even begin to choose a favorite song by that duo. Plus they wrote the screenplay to Singin' in the Rain!

1923 Maria Callas, La Divina. Fanny Ardant recently played her in Callas Forever. The next actress who'll have a go at her is Eva Mendes in Greek Fire

1925 Julie Harris was Oscar nominated for her film debut (The Member of the Wedding), co-starred with James Dean (East of Eden) and »

- NATHANIEL R

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Streep: 'I'm past my sell-by date'

2 December 2009 12:41 AM, PST | digitalspy | See recent digitalspy news »

Meryl Streep has revealed that she thinks she's past her "sell-by date". The Mamma Mia star, who turned 60 this year, said that she can't believe she still gets great leading roles, as Hollywood discriminates against older women. Streep told Vanity Fair magazine: "It's incredible - I'm 60, and I'm playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies. Bette Davis is rolling over in her grave." (more) »

- By Rebecca Davies

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Bette Davis, Ronald Colman, Woody Allen at the Packard Campus

1 December 2009 10:27 AM, PST | Alternative Film Guide | See recent Alternative Film Guide news »

Ronald Colman, centenarian Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Madeleine Carroll, and Mary Astor (in the Ruritanian classic The Prisoner of Zenda); Fairbanks again, with Irene Dunne and Lucille Ball (in the not-so-classic comedy Joy of Living); Bette Davis, Monty Woolley and Ann Sheridan (in the comedy classic The Man Who Came to Dinner); John Gilbert and Renée Adorée (in the anti-war classic The Big Parade); Humphrey Bogart, Joan Bennett, and Peter Ustinov (in the demi-classic allegorical comedy We’re No Angels); Woody Allen and Diane Keaton (in the middle-age-crisis classic Manhattan); James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, and Gloria Grahame (in the horror classic It’s a Wonderful Life); Ingmar Bergman’s Oscar-winning classic Fanny and Alexander; and, inevitably, several Walt Disney classic shorts [...] »

- Andre Soares

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Meryl Streep Says She’s Past Her “sell by date”

1 December 2009 5:20 AM, PST | Gossipvita | See recent Gossipvita news »

The Oscar-winning actress can’t believe she’s still be offered roles in high-profile movies now she’s reached 60 as she knows Hollywood discriminates against older women.

She said: “It’s incredible - I’m 60, and I’m playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies. Bette Davis is rolling over in her grave. “I’ve been given great, weird, interesting parts well past my ‘sell by date’. I remember saying to my husband Don when I was 38, ‘Well, it’s over.’ And then we kicked the can down the road a little further.” Meryl – who won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in ‘Sophie’s Choice’ and the Best Supporting Actress for ‘Kramer Vs Kramer’ – also says she’s given up worrying what people think of her. She told Vanity Fair magazine: “I can’t remember the last time I really worried about being appealing. I think it was a really long time ago. »

- Alice

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Gay Of The Dead #29 - Socket’s Alexandra Billings

1 December 2009 2:29 AM, PST | Fangoria | See recent Fangoria news »

December 1 is World AIDS Day, and I have the pleasure of knowing someone HIV+ who is both connected to the horror/sci-fi world and a huge fan, actress Alexandra Billings.

I met Alexandra ages and ages ago, right around when someone invented fire. We were both eyeballs deep in the Chicago theater community, doing show after show, sometimes two or even three different plays a night, with the energy only a 20-something possesses. We worked together, became friends, and eventually both moved to La around the same time. You can read a fairly detailed account of her Chicago days (through my eyes) including a lot of info about her transgender journey in my other blog here: http://zombietruckstop.livejournal.com/2006/12/01/ - and of course on her own website.

After so much theater, Alexandra now swims around the Los Angeles on-camera, TV and film pool, slowly but surely convincing forward-thinking casting »

- no-reply@fangoria.com (Sean Abley)

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Meryl Streep thinks she’s past it

1 December 2009 2:25 AM, PST | The Hollywood News | See recent The Hollywood News news »

Meryl Streep admits she’s past her “sell by date”. The Oscar-winning actress can’t believe she’s still be offered roles in high-profile movies now she’s reached 60 as she knows Hollywood discriminates against older women. She said: “It’s incredible – I’m 60, and I’m playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies. Bette Davis is rolling over in her [...] »

- Paul Heath

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Meryl Streep past her ''sell by date''

1 December 2009 2:14 AM, PST | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »

Meryl Streep admits she's past her "sell by date". The Oscar-winning actress can't believe she's still be offered roles in high-profile movies now she's reached 60 as she knows Hollywood discriminates against older women. She said: "It's incredible - I'm 60, and I'm playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies. Bette Davis is rolling over in her grave. "I've been given great, weird, interesting parts well past my 'sell by date'. I remember saying to my husband Don when I was 38, 'Well, it's over.' And then we kicked the can down the road a little further." Meryl - who won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in 'Sophie's Choice' and the Best Supporting Actress for 'Kramer Vs »

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Meryl Streep past her ''sell by date''

1 December 2009 1:45 AM, PST | Virgin Media - Movies | See recent Virgin Media - Movies news »

Meryl Streep admits she's past her ''sell by date''. The Oscar-winning actress can't believe she's still be offered roles in high-profile movies now she's reached 60 as she knows Hollywood discriminates against older women. She said: ''It's incredible - I'm 60, and I'm playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies. Bette Davis is rolling over in her grave. ''I've been given great, weird, interesting parts well past my 'sell by date'. I remember saying to my husband Don when I was 38, 'Well, it's over.' And then we kicked the can down the road a little further.'' Meryl - who won the Best Actress Oscar .. »

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Jose Gives Thanks.

26 November 2009 1:30 PM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Jose here.

Although we don't have anything resembling Thanksgiving in my culture (Penélope Cruz was talking about that on Letterman the other day) I have a special place in my heart (and stomach) for turkey, gravy and pumpkin pie.

I also feel very grateful for the following: Technicolor, Woody Allen banter, Judy Garland's smile, the millisecond of suspense between normal talking and spontaneous singing in the musicals, post-Volver Penélope, the Truffaut/Hitchcock book, still being thrilled by the sepia-to-color switch in The Wizard of Oz, Nino Rota and La Strada, Julia Roberts' laugh, Scarlett and Rhett, Bette Davis' eyes, Ingrid Bergman's Italian phase, Jett Rink, Jacques Tourneur horror flicks, The Blob, pre-supermom Gwyneth, Wall-e, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Anne Hathaway at award shows, Brando as Kowalski, Meryl!, Gene Kelly's butt, subtitles...

Audrey Hepburn's weird morning eating habits circa '61, Nathaniel letting me write all of this, »

- Jose

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Son of Birthday Suits

24 November 2009 4:27 AM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Celebrating the cinematic personalities born on 11/24. Even if you're not cinematic, you're probably a personality. Wish yourself a happy one in the comments. There's no way there's been no Scorpios (or now) Saggitarians reading. Speak up when it's your big day!

Garret, Shirley and 'Izzy'

1913 Geraldine Fitzgerald actress (Wuthering Heights, The Mango Tree, Rachel Rachel)

1942 Billy Connolly, comedian, actor, 'Mr. Brown' (he who was beloved by Judi Dench) and 'Barry' (he who was poisoned by Michelle Pfeiffer)

1949 Manuel De Sica composer (The Garden of the Fitzi Continis), Son of Vittorio

1954 Emir Kusturica two-time Cannes winning Serbian filmmaker behind Underground & When Father Was Away on Business (Oscar nominee)

1964 Garret Dillahunt, terrific actor who has lately specialized in the skin-crawlingly creepy (The Road, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and the endearingly pathetic (No Country For Old Men and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford) but a »

- NATHANIEL R

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Birthday Suits: Deserve's Got Nothin' To Do With it

22 November 2009 10:47 AM, PST | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

Celebrating the birthdays of the cinematic peoples daily. If you were born on 11/22 shout it out in the comments. How will you celebrate these fine folks, listed below?

Scarlett, Mark and Mads

1920 Anne Crawford Israeli born British actress of the 40s. Died when she was only 35.

1923 Arthur Hiller Canadian director. Oscar nominated for mega-hit Love Story (1970). Also known for comedies like The Out-of-Towners, Silver Streak and Outrageous Fortune and some erratically interesting choices like The Americanization of Emily, Man of La Mancha and Hollywood's first mainstream gay film Making Love (1982).

1932 Robert Vaughn The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and one of The Magnificent Seven

1940 Terry Gilliam crazy indispensible auteur. He doesn't deserve all the funding / filmmaking problems he's had of late. But, sadly, I can't really recommend The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus which is messy in dozens of ways

1956 Richard Kind character actor (A Serious Man)

1959 Jamie Lee Curtis actress of the Perfect bod, »

- NATHANIEL R

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Chicago Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 2009

7 November 2009 12:32 AM, PST | Alternative Film Guide | See recent Alternative Film Guide news »

Baby Jane by Billy Clift (top); Shirley Knight, Liz Jahren in Not Fade Away (middle); Homewrecker by Paul Hart (bottom) Reeling 2009, this year’s edition of the Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, kicked off on Thu., Nov. 5, with a screening of Casper Andreas‘ The Big Gay Musical. Upcoming feature films include: Billy Clift’s Baby Jane, a recreation of What Ever Happened with Baby Jane? starring real drag queens playing the two female leads — as opposed to Joan Crawford and Bette Davis playing drag queens playing the two female leads. Florencia Manovil’s romantic drama Fiona’s Script, about an insecure bisexual woman who reluctantly enters into a relationship with a ladies’ tomboy. Rob Williams‘ Make the Yuletide Gay, a family Christmas [...] »

- Andre Soares

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AFI's 100 Years ...100 Movie Quotes

4 November 2009 4:45 AM, PST | Extra | See recent Extra news »

"Extra" brings you AFI's 100 Best Movie Quotes of all time! From "The Wizard of Oz" to "Taxi Driver," see if your favorites made the list!

AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie QuotesGone with the Wind (1939)

“Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.” —Said by Clark Gable as Rhett Butler to Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara.

The Godfather (1972)

“I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.” —Marlon Brando as Don Corleone.

On the Waterfront (1954)

“You don’t understand! »

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Quiz: Can you spot the Oscars' nominee for best actor?

31 October 2009 5:13 PM, PDT | Gold Derby | See recent Gold Derby news »

Only one of these performances received a nomination for best actor at the Oscars. See the answer here! Answer: James Stewart, "It's a Wonderful Life."

More Gold Derby Awards Quizzes Can you spot the Oscar nominee for best picture? Who turned down Kevin Spacey's Oscar-winning role in 'American Beauty'? Which actor had the most Oscar nominations in a row? Which Bette Davis flick suffered the worst Oscars shut-out? Quiz: Who turned down Jodie Foster's Oscar-winning role in 'The Silence of the Lambs'? Who won an Oscar on her birthday? Which Oscar-winning role was not gay? How much does it cost to manufacture an Oscar statuette? Oscars quiz: Which movies won for writing, directing and acting but failed to win best picture? Easiest Oscars quiz ever: What two films suffered the worst shutout? What film was the first grand slam winner of the guilds' awards? »

- tomoneil

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Gossip Girl 3.05 "Enough About Eve" Recap

20 October 2009 8:53 AM, PDT | TVovermind.com | See recent TVovermind.com news »

So Gossip Girl confused the hell out of your boy last night, but a part of me is torn between my love of the show and the duty as a fan to call out its ‘flaws’. Character motivations and plot points were going all over the place last night, which is one of the flaws out of a slew of other ones. What were the other ones? Let me explain in recap mode.

The Freshman Toast Heard Around The World

Can I get a show of hands of those who are tired of Blair’s quest for sealing the position of Queen B?

So Blair’s latest quest for the Holy Grail of Status this week is to give the freshman toast at the annual Parent’s Weekend. But, as always, she has to crush someone to get it. The unlucky victim this week? Vanessa.  But is Blair clairvoyant? Because she had a dream, »

- Mark O. Estes

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Votd: 1937 Warner Bros Blooper Reel

29 September 2009 1:00 AM, PDT | Slash Film | See recent Slash Film news »

Almost every DVD features a blooper reel, containing all the outtakes from a particular film. Before DVD. Recently, Tropic Thunder released three full 10-minute mags of outtakes on DVD. But it wasn't always this way. I remember that in the age of VHS, ABC would host television specials a couple times a year featuring all the Hollywood bloopers. Back in the 1930's, Warner Bros would release a yearly collection of "Breakdowns," which would air between double features. A while ago, Go Into The Story posted a Warner Bros Blooper Reel from 1937. It's amazing how different bloopers were back in the earlier days of Hollywood. The "Breakdowns of 1936" features Humphrey Bogart, George Brent, Bette Davis, Glenda Farrell, Errol Flynn, Dick Foran, Kay Francis, Hugh Herbert, Allen Jenkins, Boris Karloff, Barton MacLane, Pat O'Brien, Dick Powell, and Claude Rains. Watch the clip after the jump. »

- Peter Sciretta

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A Single Actress (Julianne Moore and Oscar)

27 September 2009 10:49 AM, PDT | FilmExperience | See recent FilmExperience news »

There can be only one ...winner, that is.

This year's supporting actress contest (new predictions!), if you believe early hype, is down to Mo'Nique vs. ummmm? She's way out front for her abusive mother role in Precious. But with Julianne Moore's supposedly vivid contribution to Tom Ford's A Single Man newly exciting festival auds, we could see the redhead goddess nab her 5th career nomination. That's quite an honor, even if she never wins that elusive statue.

The Man That Got Away Keeps Getting Away

A couple of years ago I asked readers who the next Deborah Kerr would be. Which modern important actress will be forever appreciated but never fully embraced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences? Back then Kate Winslet was sort of gunning for the honor. Now that the English Rose has noisily moved into the winner's circle, the imaginary competition is back on. »

- NATHANIEL R

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retro trailer: ‘The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex’

27 September 2009 12:53 AM, PDT | www.flickfilosopher.com | See recent FlickFilosopher news »

Man, people worked more in the 1930s. Michael Curtiz has five other titles credited to him as director for 1939 besides this one. A movie like this today would consume a filmmaker for years, and he tossed it off between golf games. I love how the trailer makes it seem like the story is all about Elizabeth as a capricious and dangerous ruler because she wasn’t getting laid enough (and maybe that’s an accurate representation of the film -- I’ve never seen it). By the time Errol Flynn tells Bette Davis “I will love you always,” you have to wonder what else he could possibly respond to her “Do you love me?” if he doesn’t want to have to lead an army into war with the Portuguese or the Italians or whomever she might choose to open a can of lonely-lady whup-ass on out of sexual frustration. »

- MaryAnn Johanson

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