Dick Van Dyke, star of Mary Poppins, Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and unsurprisingly The Dick Van Dyke Show, is 99 today!
He also had a role as a card-winning private in Sgt Bilko aka The Phil Silvers Show, though a disgruntled later-in-life Silvers was disparaging about The Dick Van Dyke Show, and most modern comedy in general.
Happy 99th Birthday to the legendary Dick Van Dyke! I also loved him in an atypical role as a killer in Columbo in an episode called Negative Reaction (1974). Good to see that he's still looking and sounding great. Thanks for posting that video, @Barbel. I've not seen that before.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Yes, it was great to see him looking and sounding so well and chipper. He sounds just like he always did. His voice has lost none of its power. Nice to see him still dancing too. What a great man and inspiration he is.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,897MI6 Agent
Reminds me of the tale of Dustin Hoffman meeting Paul McCartney in France in 1973. Hoffman said how impressed he was that McCartney could compose a song in the time it took to play it, and asked if Paul could write a song about anything. Sure, said Paul, so Dustin handed him that day's newspaper and challenged him. Picasso's death was the headline so Paul took his guitar and instantly wrote the song "Picasso's Last Words" (it's on the "Band On The Run" album).
Hoffman was startled and ran about the bar they were in, yelling "He's doing it! Look, he's doing it right now!"
If you want to see McCartney actually doing this for a much better known song, there's a scene in Peter Jackson's "Get Back" film where Paul creates the song of that name out of thin air in no time at all.
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 28,075Chief of Staff
I recall Paul McCartney starting to write a song in an interview where the host suggested a subject for a song. I suppose it just comes naturally when you're a songwriter of such renown! 🙂
I know what you mean about Chris Martin. When Coldplay released their first few albums I wasn't very keen on them and didn't really get what all of the fuss was about. Then I liked some of their later songs such as Viva La Vida. They are a bit overrated and samey though, I'll give you that.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
The BBC's We Remember review of the year is on iPlayer but for some reason it's not being shown on the BBC News Channel, maybe they've only just done it given that a few tend to die in the run-up to Christmas, it's that time of year.
I had issues with Carter's presidency but nobody can argue with his stature in the years that followed. His work with Habitat for Humanity and other noble causes wasn't just exemplary, it was saintly.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,897MI6 Agent
edited January 8
Mr Bean has turned 70?! Man, I feel old! 🙃
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,897MI6 Agent
I was sad to hear of the death of the actor and comedian Tony Slattery yesterday, aged 65. Here he is interviewing Frank Sidebottom on TV back in 1985:
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 28,075Chief of Staff
I loved watching Tony Slattery, especially on Whose Line Is It Anyway? So anarchic…I genuinely believed HE had no idea what was going to come out of his mouth when he opened it…such as shame he’s died now, just as he was getting some semblance of his life back after his drink/drugs/bi-polar issues…RIP
And really nice to see him wary (and possibly a little scared) of the brilliant Frank Sidebottom 😁
YNWA 97
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 8,897MI6 Agent
Yes, it's very sad as he'd been through a lot in his life recovering from alcoholism, drugs, abuse and suffering from bipolar disorder. I saw a very good documentary about him on the BBC back in 2020 which delved into some of these personal issues. He seems to have been a genuinely nice guy in real life too. Sad he died as he was coming back to his old self again.
That clip is great and he handles it with aplomb with just the right amount of mock-sincerity and wry wit. I believe it was Frank Sidebottom's first appearance on TV too.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
here he is onscreen as FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole (left), alongside Kyle McLachlan;s Agent Cooper, about to reward themselves with a damned fine cup of coffee.
I watched Eraserhead repeatedly as a teenager and thought it was hilarious. some of the dialog is still etched in my brain, like "the doctors dont even know if it is a baby!!!", but mostly it was the surreal visuals
somehow missed Dune and Elephant Man were by the same guy, didnt see either til years later. but when Blue Velvet first came out everybody was talking about it, ("like no other film youve ever seen") so I had to see it, and it turned out its a new film by the Eraserhead guy, very nice coincidence. That was when I realised his films are at least as disturbing as they are funny and weird. the surrealism suddenly lurches into the feeling like I'm watching someone elses nightmare, a way creepier feeling than most straight horror movies.
Twin Peaks was a weekly ritual with my roommates and all my friends, more on the funny/weird side of the scale that I preferred. and highly quotable.
films after that were more hit and miss, always some weird bits but they didnt have the same cultural impact as his earliest films, and not so many moments that would permanently etch into the brain. Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks the Return being the major exceptions, and again they tipped more to the funny and weird side of the scale.
dude was a painting student who wanted to see his paintings move. I can think of several filmmakers that came out of animation, but who else started as a painter?
Comments
I was sad to hear of the death of Ian Fleming's nephew, James Fleming, aged 80. I have a copy of his book Bond Behind the Iron Curtain (2021).
James Fleming, Ian's nephew, has died aged 80 - James Bond 007 :: MI6 - The Home Of James Bond
Dame Judi Dench is 90 today.
She's been in 8 Bond films - more than most, including all the James Bond stars. Not as many as Lee, Llewellyn and Maxwell, of course
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Happy birthday, Dame Dench!
Happy 90th birthday to Dame Judi Dench! 🎂
Dick Van Dyke, star of Mary Poppins, Ian Fleming's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and unsurprisingly The Dick Van Dyke Show, is 99 today!
He also had a role as a card-winning private in Sgt Bilko aka The Phil Silvers Show, though a disgruntled later-in-life Silvers was disparaging about The Dick Van Dyke Show, and most modern comedy in general.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
On that subject, this may be of interest- https://youtu.be/o4OlL0OpbW8?feature=shared
Happy 99th Birthday to the legendary Dick Van Dyke! I also loved him in an atypical role as a killer in Columbo in an episode called Negative Reaction (1974). Good to see that he's still looking and sounding great. Thanks for posting that video, @Barbel. I've not seen that before.
My pleasure, SM. It brought a smile to my face, and I'm surely not the only one.
Yes, it was great to see him looking and sounding so well and chipper. He sounds just like he always did. His voice has lost none of its power. Nice to see him still dancing too. What a great man and inspiration he is.
Plus it's really impressive how Chris Martin can compose a decent sounding song off the top of his head! 😃
Reminds me of the tale of Dustin Hoffman meeting Paul McCartney in France in 1973. Hoffman said how impressed he was that McCartney could compose a song in the time it took to play it, and asked if Paul could write a song about anything. Sure, said Paul, so Dustin handed him that day's newspaper and challenged him. Picasso's death was the headline so Paul took his guitar and instantly wrote the song "Picasso's Last Words" (it's on the "Band On The Run" album).
Hoffman was startled and ran about the bar they were in, yelling "He's doing it! Look, he's doing it right now!"
If you want to see McCartney actually doing this for a much better known song, there's a scene in Peter Jackson's "Get Back" film where Paul creates the song of that name out of thin air in no time at all.
I remember Dustin telling that story 🤣
And watching McCartney create Get Back was a jaw dropping moment for me…and then all the various incarnations of it…
I don’t know what it is about Chris Martin…but he just annoys…plus I can’t stand Coldplay 😖
I recall Paul McCartney starting to write a song in an interview where the host suggested a subject for a song. I suppose it just comes naturally when you're a songwriter of such renown! 🙂
I know what you mean about Chris Martin. When Coldplay released their first few albums I wasn't very keen on them and didn't really get what all of the fuss was about. Then I liked some of their later songs such as Viva La Vida. They are a bit overrated and samey though, I'll give you that.
The BBC's We Remember review of the year is on iPlayer but for some reason it's not being shown on the BBC News Channel, maybe they've only just done it given that a few tend to die in the run-up to Christmas, it's that time of year.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0026gkj/review-2024-2-we-remember
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Not unexpected but nonetheless unwelcome, President Jimmy Carter has died aged 100.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpww85w5p30o
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Sad to hear of the death of former US president, Jimmy Carter, aged 100. In the end analysis, he didn't do too badly for a peanut farmer.
RIP Jimmy Carter. His politics wasn't liked by all, but I hope we can all agree his heart was in the right place.
RIP Jimmy Carter, not a memorable President but a principled man whose principles and statesmanship eventually saw some good on the world stage.
The longest living US president too! Carter should also be remembered for all the good work he did after he left office.
I had issues with Carter's presidency but nobody can argue with his stature in the years that followed. His work with Habitat for Humanity and other noble causes wasn't just exemplary, it was saintly.
It seems that over the Christmas period you an always expect a) A natural disaster or b) A terrorist attack or c) The death of somebody significant.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
What else would one expect in the season of "peace on earth and goodwill to all men"?!
Rowan Atkinson, who appeared as Nigel Small-Fawcett in Never Say Never Again, is 70 today.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
ROWAN ATKINSON...
...turned 70.
This is the tribute thread, dangit!
Mr Bean has turned 70?! Man, I feel old! 🙃
I was sad to hear of the death of the actor and comedian Tony Slattery yesterday, aged 65. Here he is interviewing Frank Sidebottom on TV back in 1985:
I loved watching Tony Slattery, especially on Whose Line Is It Anyway? So anarchic…I genuinely believed HE had no idea what was going to come out of his mouth when he opened it…such as shame he’s died now, just as he was getting some semblance of his life back after his drink/drugs/bi-polar issues…RIP
And really nice to see him wary (and possibly a little scared) of the brilliant Frank Sidebottom 😁
Yes, it's very sad as he'd been through a lot in his life recovering from alcoholism, drugs, abuse and suffering from bipolar disorder. I saw a very good documentary about him on the BBC back in 2020 which delved into some of these personal issues. He seems to have been a genuinely nice guy in real life too. Sad he died as he was coming back to his old self again.
That clip is great and he handles it with aplomb with just the right amount of mock-sincerity and wry wit. I believe it was Frank Sidebottom's first appearance on TV too.
David Lynch
January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025
here he is onscreen as FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole (left), alongside Kyle McLachlan;s Agent Cooper, about to reward themselves with a damned fine cup of coffee.
I watched Eraserhead repeatedly as a teenager and thought it was hilarious. some of the dialog is still etched in my brain, like "the doctors dont even know if it is a baby!!!", but mostly it was the surreal visuals
somehow missed Dune and Elephant Man were by the same guy, didnt see either til years later. but when Blue Velvet first came out everybody was talking about it, ("like no other film youve ever seen") so I had to see it, and it turned out its a new film by the Eraserhead guy, very nice coincidence. That was when I realised his films are at least as disturbing as they are funny and weird. the surrealism suddenly lurches into the feeling like I'm watching someone elses nightmare, a way creepier feeling than most straight horror movies.
Twin Peaks was a weekly ritual with my roommates and all my friends, more on the funny/weird side of the scale that I preferred. and highly quotable.
films after that were more hit and miss, always some weird bits but they didnt have the same cultural impact as his earliest films, and not so many moments that would permanently etch into the brain. Mulholland Drive and Twin Peaks the Return being the major exceptions, and again they tipped more to the funny and weird side of the scale.
dude was a painting student who wanted to see his paintings move. I can think of several filmmakers that came out of animation, but who else started as a painter?
I hope he is watching us from up above right now, enjoying a damn fine cup of coffee.