So here goes.
Sir Charlie Chapline - 1889-1977
Starting in 1903 he toured with H.A.Saintsbury - 1869
in Charles Frohmans' 1903 production of -
'Sherlock Holmes' -
(This is a poster of Cecil Barth production with H.A.Saintsbury in it.)
Where Charlie Chaplin played Billy the page boy -
Which lead to Charlie again playing Billy with the famous William Gillette
Chaplin would tour in the roll of Billy the pageboy for almost two and a half years.
Now this is a pretty easy connection for one of the greatest actors of anyone's time.
But it doesn't stop here. (Although maybe it should)
In 1943 Charlie married Oona O'Neill
In 1944 they had a daughter, Geraldine Chaplin -
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who went on to star in the 1973 (one of my all time favorite films) adaption of 'The Three Musketeers'
Which also starred Charlton Heston
Who's Sherlock Holmes connection we made in Seven Degrees of Sherlock Holmes number 8
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But we could really skip the Charlton Heston connection because she is related to Billy the page boy.
(But that wouldn't be any fun.)
But the Three Musketeers connection also allows me to post pictures of one on my childhood favorites, and her connection to Sherlock Holmes.
Raquel Welch
(I like her for her acting, really!)
Who also starred in the 1973 film (with, once again, Charlton Heston)
as Constance Bonacieux -
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(If there is demand, I may have to do the Raquel Welch connection again down the road.)
It seems, so far, we just can't get very far away from Sherlock Holmes.
Have a great day.
I, too, am a huge fan of Richard Lester's "The Three/Four Musketeers". One of the many things I like about it is that Lester puts his own visual and comedic spin on the story while reaming very faithful to a long book. I only wish he had done a treatment of the Brigadier Gerard stories.
ReplyDeleteWho would you have play Gerard?
DeleteAt the time Lester would have been filming it--say the late 1970's to early 1980's? I'm not sure. There was a rummer a few years ago that Steve Carell was going to play Gerard. He would have been very good. A young-at-the-time actor with verbal and physical comedy chops would be needed. Lester cast Malcolm McDowell as Flashman in "Royal Flash" in 1975, but I think you would want someone who would be more sympathetic.
ReplyDeleteBenedict Cumberbatch?
DeleteHe would have been a bit young to be Gerard in a Richard Lester directed film. Let's say at 4 Cumberbatch would be able to memorized his dialogue. That would be around 1981. Of course, there would be a lot of horse riding and sword fighting. Lester unofficially retired from film making in 1988 and died in1991. While at 11, Cumberbatch could do the stunt work, but what about that wonderful voice? Might it then be cracking due to puberty? If it was filmed today, Cumberbatch would not be right. Gerard *thinks* he's dashing: Cumberbatch is dashing. By the way, have you seen "The Return of the Musketeers"? Lester directed the sequel with the original cast in 1988? Until a couple of years ago, I didn't even know it existed. I wonder how it is?
ReplyDeleteYes I have. That was the film that made him retire.
DeleteAccording to Wikipedia: "During filming in Spain, actor Roy Kinnear, a close friend of Lester, died after falling from a horse. Lester finished the film, then unofficially retired from directing." Judging by your response I'm guessing that it is not very good. That would be too bad.
DeleteWell, I meant that the reason he stopped making films was the death of his friend.
DeleteAlthough reuniting most of the original cast, it was not up to the others, although still fun.