Virtuoso: BBC Biographical Film about John Ogdon

[ChandlersFord]

I’d wanted to see this for a long time, having missed it in 1989. It’s finally turned up on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/eACUqy-OFUo

Alfred Molina plays the fragile keyboard titan and Alison Steadman plays his wife (and occasional collaborator).

The most remarkable thing about this film is the largely unsympathetic portrayal of Brenda Ogdon, who is shown as viewing JO as a cash cow to be mercilessly milked - with dire consequences for both of them. The film was based on her own memoir, so presumably she was OK with it!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The most remarkable thing about this film is the largely unsympathetic portrayal of Brenda Ogdon, who is shown as viewing JO as a cash cow to be mercilessly milked - with dire consequences for both of them. The film was based on her own memoir, so presumably she was OK with it!

Brenda Lucas was interviewed shortly after the broadcast, and she sounded most unhappy about it, as I recall.

[Barbirollians]

Brenda Lucas was interviewed shortly after the broadcast, and she sounded most unhappy about it, as I recall.

Yes - Alison Steadman 's portrayal was not at all flattering as I recall .

[ChandlersFord]

Yes - Alison Steadman 's portrayal was not at all flattering as I recall .

But pretty accurate in terms of replicating mannerisms, etc.

Brenda is still going and has just released a charity CD.