... you can learn from:
Butley (1974)
Ben Butley: I'm a one-woman man,and I've had mine, thank God.
The great and gay Alan Bates would have turned 89 today if he hadn't passed in 2003 -- I only just saw Butley during the past couple of years and this movie is a hoot. A hoot, I tell you. Just Bates sneering out clever and mean-spirited gay insinuations for ninety-ish minutes -- what else does cinema need? And it was directed by Harold Pinter, of all people. The only theatrical film Pinter ever directed. It really actually doesn't feel very cinematic -- it's all staged play-like, but that's fine by me. It's great entertainment as far as I'm concerned. I could watch Alan Bates be a bitch for days, and if you couldn't we can't be friends. Click here for lots more of Alan Bates if you're so inclined. He really was the dream.
What is your favorite Alan Bates perfomance?
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4 comments:
King of Hearts
The Fixer
I liked Butley too. Glad to know I can still drop into the blog and not feel shame!!
Alan is one of my all-time faves as well and that glamour shot of him is breathtaking.
As far as my favorite performance that's a tough one to narrow down. I'd say the deepest, most moving performance I've seen him give was in the great criminally underknown "The Return of the Soldier" with Julie Christie, Glenda Jackson and Ann-Margret.
But if I want swoony Alan Bates (still giving his expected quality performance) I'd say either "Far from the Madding Crowd" with Julie again or "The Running Man" where he's in a competition with Lee Remick and the scenery for most beautiful thing on screen!
I also like the other two picks of "King of Hearts" and "The Fixer".
He was a real heart-breaker in Georgy Girl.
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