R3 & R4 mark Rattigan centenary

[salymap]

Stanley, almost my favourite film, 'The Way to the Stars'. Also Renee Asherton, Stanley Holloway, Trevor Howard: who was it sang 'Let him go, let him tarry'? as her first film role I believe. And Bonar Colleano [sp?] I was about 15 when it was on at the cinemas and it typified the glamour of the RAF to one who lived through the London Blitz and near Biggin Hill, where a cousin served as a bomber pilot.

Erm, sorry off topic,should be talking about Rattigan.

[mercia]

who was it sang 'Let him go, let him tarry'? as her first film role I believe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdipXd3pdOs

[Stanley Stewart]

Thanks, saly. You're still on topic as "Way To The Stars" (1945) was written by Flt Lt Terence Rattigan - as shown on the films' credits. Indeed, it was a calling card for Jean Simmons as she swept on to a platform to sing, 'Let Him Go...' - I've just enjoyed a lunch sandwich as I mangled the lyrics. "...He can go and get another that I hope he will enjoy, I'm going to marry a far nicer boy." Let us not forget Nicholas Brodsky's stirring theme music. And Bonar Colleano (sic) with his sidekick Douglass (sic) Montgomery who sensitively handled the grieving process of widow Rosamund John. And Joyce Carey delicious as the snotty possessive mother of Renee Asherson (still married to Robert Donat at the time).

Some years ago, I drove up to Bedale which was used as the frontage for the hotel managed by Ms John. It's still there as is the cobbled sloped streets in the centre. Memories, too, of a 'detachment' to RAF Leeming, nearby, and cycling to Bedale to hear Isobel Baillie in what must have been one of her farewell recitals but she never sang louder than lovely! Ah, sweet mystery of life...

[Pianorak]

. . . Rattigan's piece de resistance, "Separate Tables" . . .

I saw that in Brighton with Miriam Karlin some years ago now. Only mention it because she is one of the few actresses with perfect diction and whose stage whisper can still be heard as clear as bell even up in the gods. The late Susanna York was another fine stage actress with the same clear diction.

[Angle]

ff: thank you very much for the Pointer to the Guardian Review. I have to say that reviewer doesn't show all that much conviction for the work, even now. However, I shall be listening.

[Mandryka]

Astonishingly, Renee Asherson (Mrs. Robert Donat) is still alive, though her last performance would seem to have been in 2001.

Bonar Colleano, of course, has been dead since 1958. He and Asherson were the original British Stanley and Stella in Streetcar Named Desire.

[Chris Newman]

Pianorak's story of almost running Peggy Ashcroft down in his car reminds me of another star who just missed being squashed. Years ago I was going towards the crossing by that large Post Office opposite the Chandos pub in St Martin's Lane. I noticed Pauline Tinsley (the wonderful soprano) hurrying towards me from the direction of the London Coliseum. Bless her, she is very short sighted (stage managers swear to leaping on stage and grabbing her before she would have plunged into the orchestra pit). She rushed across the road in front of a taxi which squealed to a halt and the driver pressed the klaxon whilst shouting in much deserved Anglo-Saxon (there should be a poem here). Not to be outdone Ms Tinsley replied with a few bars of her famous dramatic voice uttering what can only be compared to Tosca or Leonore suggesting that the gentleman should go forth and procreate.

[Russ]

With the plot of The Browning Version so well known, I guess we are left to judge the new R4 radio production by the nuances in the vocal performances, and I found Michael York's delivery of Crocker-Harris too flat, too monotonic and over-studied. The pacing of the production is a bit pedestrian, and could have done with some variation, Joanne Whalley becoming somewhat lost in the mix. Btw, like the excellent 1985 TV version (Ian Holme, Judy Dench), this radio version keeps to the original script - Rattigan wrote an additional final scene where C-H delivers his retirement speech for the 1951 Michael Redgrave film version, which was also included in the 1994 film version (with Albert Finney and a miscast Greta Scacchi).

Russ

[Russ]

I thought Cause Célèbre was a fantastic production. Maybe my enthusiasm is coloured by the fact that I've never heard it before (and it was written originally for radio), so I've got nothing to compare it with, but it worked wonderfully. The cast (from the recent Old Vic production) is excellent. A meaty 120 minutes as well!

Russ

[Mobson7]

I agree with Russ...it was very enterprising of Radio 4 to get the cast from the recent Old Vic production, which had such stellar reviews that I kept meaning to see it, but other plays by Wesker, Goldoni and Eldridge just got in the way! It follows on from
the previous Saturday's production "In Praise of Love" which I have now listened to a couple of times, and admire more with each listen. All the more because I'm not particularly a fan of Martin Jarvis's voice...his playing of Sebastian, husband of terminally
ill wife, Lydia, is near to perfection, as are all the cast in their roles. Not recommended for those on the wagon!

As for Cause Celebre, which I've recorded for keeps, it really was tip top and lusciously long!

[mercia]

documentary on Rattigan BBC4 telly tonight 9pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012tnt0

(or shall I watch Nicholas Crane walking round Ludlow? )

[french frank]

documentary on Rattigan BBC4 telly tonight 9pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012tnt0

(or shall I watch Nicholas Crane walking round Ludlow? )

Let us know!

As for the Rattigan plays, yes, I know we keep bringing up this subject, but I really don't understand the rights or the economics of not archiving such plays and making them available to the public. They could put them on Listen Again and pay performers on the basis of the number of demands (I know people could record from that, but they can record from the original broadcast too - and performers would get more in rights fees than if the recordings were just buried).

[Norfolk Born]

documentary on Rattigan BBC4 telly tonight 9pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012tnt0

(or shall I watch Nicholas Crane walking round Ludlow? )

...followed by a 1992 production of 'After the Dance'.

[Stanley Stewart]

I'm now wending my way through the BBC, Terence Rattigan Collection; a 5 DVD boxset, neatly enclosed to represent a hardback novel. Many of the productions are from the well-remembered Play of the Month, BBC Sunday Night Theatre and, in the 1990s, a first rate recording of Penelope Wilton in the Almedia Th production of "The Deep Blue Sea" which transferred to the West End. And the productions are mainly represented by quality directors; Karel Reisz, Alvin Rakoff, David Giles, Stuart Burge and Michael Simspon.. The earliest production is "Adventure Story" (1961) with Sean Connery (in the role played on stage by Paul Scofield - the production flopped at the old St James's Theatre). However, we are talking of actors (or actresses if you insist!) such as Eric Porter, Geraldine McEwan, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Jameson, Cathleen Nesbitt, Ian Holm, John Woodvine, Judi Dench (my, how she scores as the resentful Millie in "The Browning Version and Ian Holm is totally diminished by a reference to the "Himmler of the lower fifth", unaware of the likeness when he wears his specs. And how Eric Porter sustains the stubborn stance as Arthur Winslow in "The Winslow Boy" (1977) and you watch the consequences to his deteriorating health, as well as his bank balance. And Alan Badel - praise his memory - shrewdly went under the text as the silky QC, although I am confident that director David Giles also contributed his tuppenceworth here. Good to see the full text, too

Other productions are "Heart to Heart" with Kenneth More (1962), "French Without Tears" (1976), "After the Dance" (1992) and the bonus material includes excerpts from "Cause Celebre" with Glynis Johns at Her Majesty's Th and John Mills and Jill Bennett in an Act 2 scene from "Separate Tables", both productions in 1977, with the latter at the Apollo, Shaftesbury Avenue. A novel touch, too, is "All On Her Own - A Touch of Venus" with Margaret Leighton (1968) in one of the monologues for famous actresses. Star quality in abundance throughout.

I don't know whether they are also intended for screening on BBC 4 in due course but the set retails at £39 99 but is available for ten pounds less at Amazon and Moviemail. I'm inclined to favour the latter and they have been a reliable supplier for more than 10 years with free postage and they also issue a free monthly catalogue. Enquiries;

info@moviemail-online.co.uk

[Pianorak]

. . . John Woodvine . . .

Stanley – sorry, this is off-topic but I hope you'll be able to put my mind at rest. I seem to remember an English/British actress Maud Adam/s who starred with John Woodvine in some feature film/tv film/tv production, the name of which I have forgotten. Wikipedia only has some Scandinavian actress and an American actress by that name. "My" Maud Adam/s died of cancer at a fairly young age.