Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,316MI6 Agent
I was sad to hear of the death of the director Lee Tamahori. While DAD is my least favourite entry in the series there are still things to enjoy in it just like in any other Bond film. Tamahori was certainly a very unique personality and talent and that comes through in DAD.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no questions, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,316MI6 Agent
Remembering all those who laid down their lives in the cause of freedom and justice in two World Wars and in all the conflicts around the world since then. For the first time I had the great honour of laying a wreath on behalf of my political party at a local Remembrance Day event on Sunday past. We will remember them.
"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: 9,316MI6 Agent
edited December 2025
I was sad to hear that the actor Jack Shepherd, who played the detective Wycliffe among many other roles, had died recently aged 85. I remember watching Wycliffe on ITV as a teenager and loving the dramatic theme tune. Jack Shepherd as Wycliffe was also the spit of my History teacher at secondary school. It was uncanny how much he looked like him!
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who played Kwang from Hong Kong narcotics police in LTK, died yesterday aged 75. He was also in Showdown in Little Tokyo, Rising Sun (with Sean Connery), , Planet of the apes and Memoirs of a geisha and many more movies, but I'll mainly remember him for his role in LRK. Rest in peace.
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 30,869Chief of Staff
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 30,869Chief of Staff
RIP Stanley Baxter…I loved watching his shows on tv when I was younger….the man was a giant of tv variety specials…his film parodies were stunning, unfortunately his attention to detail made his shows too expensive…
This is from his tv show On The Bright Side…Parliamo Glasgow…spoofing foreign language programs 🤣
Not massively familiar with his show - save one superb night of ITV telly in the early 1980s when we enjoyed the very first episode of Game For A Laugh, The Stanley Baxter Show - all sketches - and to top it off, the TV premiere of The Wild Geese.
He made it to 99 - scant mention of his passing on the telly, compared to that of novelists Sophie Kinsella and Joanne Trollope, but today's Times had a double-page spread obit.
One must say something about Chris Rea who died yesterday. Gravelly voiced soft blues guitar maestro extraordinaire. Back in the late eighties his rerecorded hits album New Light Through Old Windows was a huge seller at my shop and drew people's attention to an artist who had been making records since the early seventies and whose debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini brought him a first Grammy nomination. He never took to the US and never toured there, content to stick to a very Euro-centric view of the rock industry. His music in many ways reflected this. When The Road to Hell LP was released in 1989 it was number one for 3 weeks which was a stupendous achievement given artists such as Tina Turner, Euythmics, Tears For Fears, Kate Bush and Kylie were all vying for the top spot; it was only deposed by the juggernaut that was Phil Collins and ...But Seriously. I am harping on a bit. There is something melodically melancholically memorable in the very best of his music and that's a talent money can't buy you. A great musician and songwriter who had his few years in the sun and earned the right to earn his money off the royalties. RIP.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,316MI6 Agent
edited December 2025
I was sad to hear of the death of Chris Rea. It's his last drive home for Christmas, sadly.
Did you once own a record shop, @chrisno1? If so, that would explain your encyclopedic knowledge of music.
"The tough man of the world. The Secret Agent. The man who was only a silhouette." - Ian Fleming, Moonraker (1955).
Birgitte Bardot has passed away aged 91. She was one of the great beauties of 1950's and 60's cinemateket. In later years she was an activist for animal rights and far right empolitics. I mainly remember her for her acting and incredible beauty. RIP.
The late Mlle Bardot with a fellow actor who might be recognisable round these parts. She chose to make a movie with him called "Shalako" at the time Broccoli & co were chasing her to play Tracy in OHMSS.
Bridget Bardot RIP - forever famous as the first actress to perform nude in a mainstream UK cinema release [discreetly behind a shower curtain in Doctor at Sea] As written above, very beautiful, wonderfully enigmatic.
Silhouette ManThe last refuge of a scoundrelPosts: 9,316MI6 Agent
I was sad to hear of the death of the actor Derek Martin (aged 92) who played Charlie Slater in EastEnders, among other roles. I'll never forget his memorable guest appearance on Little Britain:
Just a reminder that UK BBC license fee payers can still access We Remember - its tribute to luminaries who died in 2025 - on iPlayer.
It's very well done - the way in which it segues from one celebrity to another is very clever, in particular you wonder why Michael Madsden is represented by a clip from Kill Bill Vol 2, brandishing a sword - then you see the movie clip of the next person who passed away and you see why. There is another blinder played in with bass player Mani from the Stone Roses and the next person. Quite a lot of people died last year so they seem to be able to allocate only a half minute to some, and it's not really done according to merit, some get more than their allotted time.
As ever there were some deaths over the Christmas-New Year period - Brigitte Bardot, for instance, so I don't now if they get represented next year instead.
It's impossible not to be moved by this annual half-hour programme but while it used to be shown quite a lot on the BBC News channel over Christmas, I never stumbled upon during my yuletide channel hopping and of course the 24 News channel doesn't have TV schedules, you have to find it by accident, or hunt it down on iPlayer.
All those great actors who became stars in the 1970s despite average or below-average looks--Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland--all leaving us now. RIP.
Comments
I was sad to hear of the death of the director Lee Tamahori. While DAD is my least favourite entry in the series there are still things to enjoy in it just like in any other Bond film. Tamahori was certainly a very unique personality and talent and that comes through in DAD.
RIP Lee Tamahori: I prefer to remember the director because of Once Were Warriors, a very good film.
The moment in Tamahori's Die Another Day when Brosnan's Bond strolls through a cigar factory in Havana is pure Ian Fleming.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no questions, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.
Remembering all those who laid down their lives in the cause of freedom and justice in two World Wars and in all the conflicts around the world since then. For the first time I had the great honour of laying a wreath on behalf of my political party at a local Remembrance Day event on Sunday past. We will remember them.
To those who suffered and died in WWI.
RIP Sir Tom Stoppard
I was sad to hear that the actor Jack Shepherd, who played the detective Wycliffe among many other roles, had died recently aged 85. I remember watching Wycliffe on ITV as a teenager and loving the dramatic theme tune. Jack Shepherd as Wycliffe was also the spit of my History teacher at secondary school. It was uncanny how much he looked like him!
Robin Smith, Hampshire and England cricketer has died. I remember watching him at the Oval. Brilliant batsman.
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who played Kwang from Hong Kong narcotics police in LTK, died yesterday aged 75. He was also in Showdown in Little Tokyo, Rising Sun (with Sean Connery), , Planet of the apes and Memoirs of a geisha and many more movies, but I'll mainly remember him for his role in LRK. Rest in peace.
John Lennon ❤️ 45 years 😞
For me, his best solo song.
RIP Stanley Baxter…I loved watching his shows on tv when I was younger….the man was a giant of tv variety specials…his film parodies were stunning, unfortunately his attention to detail made his shows too expensive…
This is from his tv show On The Bright Side…Parliamo Glasgow…spoofing foreign language programs 🤣
Not massively familiar with his show - save one superb night of ITV telly in the early 1980s when we enjoyed the very first episode of Game For A Laugh, The Stanley Baxter Show - all sketches - and to top it off, the TV premiere of The Wild Geese.
He made it to 99 - scant mention of his passing on the telly, compared to that of novelists Sophie Kinsella and Joanne Trollope, but today's Times had a double-page spread obit.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Director Rob Reiner and his wife have been murdered at their home. Tragic news. Stand By Me and Misery are two of my favourite films that he directed.
Tragic news. RIP to both of them.
Shocked to hear that. Reiner was a great talent.
Rob Reiner OMG 😯
One must say something about Chris Rea who died yesterday. Gravelly voiced soft blues guitar maestro extraordinaire. Back in the late eighties his rerecorded hits album New Light Through Old Windows was a huge seller at my shop and drew people's attention to an artist who had been making records since the early seventies and whose debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini brought him a first Grammy nomination. He never took to the US and never toured there, content to stick to a very Euro-centric view of the rock industry. His music in many ways reflected this. When The Road to Hell LP was released in 1989 it was number one for 3 weeks which was a stupendous achievement given artists such as Tina Turner, Euythmics, Tears For Fears, Kate Bush and Kylie were all vying for the top spot; it was only deposed by the juggernaut that was Phil Collins and ...But Seriously. I am harping on a bit. There is something melodically melancholically memorable in the very best of his music and that's a talent money can't buy you. A great musician and songwriter who had his few years in the sun and earned the right to earn his money off the royalties. RIP.
I was sad to hear of the death of Chris Rea. It's his last drive home for Christmas, sadly.
Did you once own a record shop, @chrisno1? If so, that would explain your encyclopedic knowledge of music.
I wish Chris Rea a nice final drive home for Christmas. Rest in peace.
Birgitte Bardot has passed away aged 91. She was one of the great beauties of 1950's and 60's cinemateket. In later years she was an activist for animal rights and far right empolitics. I mainly remember her for her acting and incredible beauty. RIP.
The late Mlle Bardot with a fellow actor who might be recognisable round these parts. She chose to make a movie with him called "Shalako" at the time Broccoli & co were chasing her to play Tracy in OHMSS.
Bridget Bardot RIP - forever famous as the first actress to perform nude in a mainstream UK cinema release [discreetly behind a shower curtain in Doctor at Sea] As written above, very beautiful, wonderfully enigmatic.
I was sad to hear of the death of the actor Derek Martin (aged 92) who played Charlie Slater in EastEnders, among other roles. I'll never forget his memorable guest appearance on Little Britain:
Just a reminder that UK BBC license fee payers can still access We Remember - its tribute to luminaries who died in 2025 - on iPlayer.
It's very well done - the way in which it segues from one celebrity to another is very clever, in particular you wonder why Michael Madsden is represented by a clip from Kill Bill Vol 2, brandishing a sword - then you see the movie clip of the next person who passed away and you see why. There is another blinder played in with bass player Mani from the Stone Roses and the next person. Quite a lot of people died last year so they seem to be able to allocate only a half minute to some, and it's not really done according to merit, some get more than their allotted time.
As ever there were some deaths over the Christmas-New Year period - Brigitte Bardot, for instance, so I don't now if they get represented next year instead.
It's impossible not to be moved by this annual half-hour programme but while it used to be shown quite a lot on the BBC News channel over Christmas, I never stumbled upon during my yuletide channel hopping and of course the 24 News channel doesn't have TV schedules, you have to find it by accident, or hunt it down on iPlayer.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
RIP Catherine O' Hara.
A brilliant actress and screenwriter.
Godfather star Robert Duvall has died aged 95.
I liked him in Falling Down with Michael Douglas.
Roger Moore 1927-2017
Robert Duvall past away today at age of 95. What a career! Godfather I & II, Apocalypse Now, Network and "Falling down" to name a few. RIP
Rest In Peace
The Great Santini...Robert Duvall.
Legendary actor.
All those great actors who became stars in the 1970s despite average or below-average looks--Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall, Donald Sutherland--all leaving us now. RIP.