John Hurt (1940-2017)

Started by vandermolen, January 28, 2017, 12:21:53 AM

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vandermolen

January 28, 2017, 12:21:53 AM
A Great Actor. So sad to wake up to this news this morning:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38778145
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

NikF

#1
January 28, 2017, 01:32:55 AM
Indeed.
The first role I noticed him in was when he voiced the rabbit named Hazel in 'Watership Down'.  And having read (and loved) the book beforehand, it was a pleasure to hear how he performed the character.
"You overestimate my power of attraction," he told her. "No, I don't," she replied sharply, "and neither do you".

vandermolen

#2
January 28, 2017, 01:47:48 AM
Quote from: NikF on January 28, 2017, 01:32:55 AM
Indeed.
The first role I noticed him in was when he voiced the rabbit named Hazel in 'Watership Down'.  And having read (and loved) the book beforehand, it was a pleasure to hear how he performed the character.
Thank you Nik - I'd forgotten about his wonderful contribution to 'Watership Down' a surprisingly dark animated film. Of course the author passed away at an advanced age recently too. I dread to think what the forthcoming watered-down (no pun intended) movie will be like. I think I first came across the young John Hurt as the unpleasant Richard Rich in that great film, based on a play 'A Man for All Seasons' in which he gave, as always, a wonderful performance. I'm surprised that he was never awarded an Oscar for either 'Midnight Express' or 'The Elephant Man'. RIP Sir John.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

NikF

#3
January 28, 2017, 02:14:31 AM Last Edit: January 28, 2017, 02:36:34 AM by NikF
Quote from: vandermolen on January 28, 2017, 01:47:48 AM
Thank you Nik - I'd forgotten about his wonderful contribution to 'Watership Down' a surprisingly dark animated film. Of course the author passed away at an advanced age recently too. I dread to think what the forthcoming watered-down (no pun intended) movie will be like. I think I first came across the young John Hurt as the unpleasant Richard Rich in that great film, based on a play 'A Man for All Seasons' in which he gave, as always, a wonderful performance. I'm surprised that he was never awarded an Oscar for either 'Midnight Express' or 'The Elephant Man'. RIP Sir John.

You're welcome.
Yeah, 'A Man for All Seasons' - I only saw that for the first time a few years ago.
I missed that Richard Adams passed away. How sad. But I looked just now to find he was 96 - and that's a fine innings. I must read Watership Down yet again. I'm not well read, but I did read a lot as child courtesy of the local library system (and encouraged by the fact we only had a television during the Winter, when we rented one ;D ) and I found it moving and even profound. It took a second reading for me to appreciate the chapter headings and monomyth stuff by Joseph Campbell. And I think that was one of the reasons the (otherwise disappointing?) production benefited from John Hurt managing to bring some gravitas to what was from the outside just a talking rabbit.


e: I just noticed that the keywords of this thread have resulted in one of the Amazon adverts I'm now seeing at the top of the page being for a stream of 'Whistle and I'll Come to You' from 2010 that John Hurt starred in. I'm only familiar with the 1960s production featuring a lovely performance by Michael Hordern. I'd no idea Hurt was in a remake. I might try and check it out.
"You overestimate my power of attraction," he told her. "No, I don't," she replied sharply, "and neither do you".

Marc

#4
January 28, 2017, 02:41:44 AM
I liked him (and his voice) in many movies and documentaries.

Rest In Peace.

Scion7

#5
January 28, 2017, 12:20:06 PM
first saw him in '66 in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS - then saw him in the movie about the Christie murders, and of course "The Ghoul" and "I, Claudius."   The long-term effects of that alien chest-buster-larva finally did him in ... R.I.P.
Saint-Saëns, who predicted to Charles Lecocq in 1901: 'That fellow Ravel seems to me to be destined for a serious future.'

Mirror Image

#6
January 28, 2017, 07:30:10 PM
Truly one of the greats. He will be missed for sure. A legend.

HIPster

#7
January 28, 2017, 07:48:58 PM
Wise words from Que:

Never waste a good reason for a purchase....  ;)

Karl Henning

#8
January 30, 2017, 09:02:59 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on January 28, 2017, 01:47:48 AM
Thank you Nik - I'd forgotten about his wonderful contribution to 'Watership Down' a surprisingly dark animated film. Of course the author passed away at an advanced age recently too. I dread to think what the forthcoming watered-down (no pun intended) movie will be like. I think I first came across the young John Hurt as the unpleasant Richard Rich in that great film, based on a play 'A Man for All Seasons' in which he gave, as always, a wonderful performance. I'm surprised that he was never awarded an Oscar for either 'Midnight Express' or 'The Elephant Man'. RIP Sir John.

It's decades since I saw Midnight Express, and it was before I really knew of Hurt . . . so I am surprised at this revelation.  I probably need to watch it again . . . .

His Alien-echoing cameo in Spaceballs is a riot, of course.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

SimonNZ

#9
January 31, 2017, 12:07:02 AM
Adding Rob Roy, The Hit and Love And Death In Long Island to the list of great John Hurt performances.

RIP

vandermolen

#10
January 31, 2017, 01:10:05 AM Last Edit: January 31, 2017, 01:24:07 AM by vandermolen
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on January 30, 2017, 09:02:59 AM
It's decades since I saw Midnight Express, and it was before I really knew of Hurt . . . so I am surprised at this revelation.  I probably need to watch it again . . . .

His Alien-echoing cameo in Spaceballs is a riot, of course.
Must see 'Spaceballs'!

Here's the relevant scene - very funny. Thanks Karl for alerting me to it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxlbLVcpqI
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

#11
January 31, 2017, 01:10:54 AM
Quote from: NikF on January 28, 2017, 01:32:55 AM
Indeed.
The first role I noticed him in was when he voiced the rabbit named Hazel in 'Watership Down'.  And having read (and loved) the book beforehand, it was a pleasure to hear how he performed the character.
Great to see Hazel as your Avatar NikF.  :)
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

vandermolen

#12
January 31, 2017, 01:15:20 AM Last Edit: January 31, 2017, 01:17:06 AM by vandermolen
Quote from: Scion7 on January 28, 2017, 12:20:06 PM
first saw him in '66 in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS - then saw him in the movie about the Christie murders, and of course "The Ghoul" and "I, Claudius."   The long-term effects of that alien chest-buster-larva finally did him in ... R.I.P.

Oh yes, he was wonderfully tragically pathetic as the illiterate Timothy Evans in 'Ten Rillington Place' - Richard Attenborough as the murderer Christie produced one of the most insidiously chilling performances I have seen in a film. Evans's wife who was murdered by Christie (blamed on Evans - who was hanged for it - one of the reasons why capital punishment was banned in the UK) was apparently a distant relative of ours. I've ordered the DVD of 'Midnight Express' which I last saw in the cinema when it first came out. I recall then how terrific John Hurt was in the movie.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

NikF

#13
January 31, 2017, 01:24:54 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on January 31, 2017, 01:10:54 AM
Great to see Hazel as your Avatar NikF.  :)

Hazel is a cool dude who knows where it's at.  8)
"You overestimate my power of attraction," he told her. "No, I don't," she replied sharply, "and neither do you".

vandermolen

#14
January 31, 2017, 04:42:49 AM
Quote from: NikF on January 31, 2017, 01:24:54 AM
Hazel is a cool dude who knows where it's at.  8)
He and Fiver made a great team!
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

NikF

#15
January 31, 2017, 06:34:28 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on January 31, 2017, 04:42:49 AM
He and Fiver made a great team!

A great team indeed! And despite the fact I'm currently rereading the book, it's only now I've remembered that Fiver was voiced by another fine actor, Richard Briers. How could I have forgotten that?  :o ;D
"You overestimate my power of attraction," he told her. "No, I don't," she replied sharply, "and neither do you".

vandermolen

#16
February 01, 2017, 03:20:22 AM
Quote from: NikF on January 31, 2017, 06:34:28 AM
A great team indeed! And despite the fact I'm currently rereading the book, it's only now I've remembered that Fiver was voiced by another fine actor, Richard Briers. How could I have forgotten that?  :o ;D

I loved Fiver - wise and nervous. I am not even sure if I ever read the book. We have a copy do maybe I will read it again (or for the first time  ::)). I loved the film. There was a separate drama over Malcolm Williamson not completing the musical score on time but the memorable main theme is his I'm sure.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

NikF

#17
February 01, 2017, 04:21:38 AM
Quote from: vandermolen on February 01, 2017, 03:20:22 AM
I loved Fiver - wise and nervous. I am not even sure if I ever read the book. We have a copy do maybe I will read it again (or for the first time  ::)). I loved the film. There was a separate drama over Malcolm Williamson not completing the musical score on time but the memorable main theme is his I'm sure.

Sure, why not read it for the first time,/again? :) It's an easy read. And while it doesn't set out to be, I find it's ultimately a heartwarming one. And that's not a bad thing.
"You overestimate my power of attraction," he told her. "No, I don't," she replied sharply, "and neither do you".

vandermolen

#18
February 01, 2017, 02:22:10 PM Last Edit: February 01, 2017, 02:24:53 PM by vandermolen
Quote from: NikF on February 01, 2017, 04:21:38 AM
Sure, why not read it for the first time,/again? :) It's an easy read. And while it doesn't set out to be, I find it's ultimately a heartwarming one. And that's not a bad thing.
Well the film is heartwarming and memorable despite an underling sadness. Some good comic moments too, especially with the large white bird.

The TV played '10 Rillington Place' in tribute to John Hurt last night. I only watched for a little while as the subject matter is so bleak but the central performances by Richard Attenborough and John Hurt were extraordinary.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).
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