Marky B

The Daily Express on a Saturday afternoon usedto run a feature called National Treasures,which was about famous people who were beyond criticism (or rarely criticsed!). I think the British film industry has had its fair share of national treasures. Here are my suggestions.
Dame Judi Dench;
Dame Joan Plowright;
Timothy Spall;
Jim Broadbent;
Alistair Sim;
Joyce Grenfell;
Dame Margaret Rutherford;
Robert Donat;
Kenneth More;
Sir John Mills;
Sir Alec Guinness;
Eric Sykes;
Morecambe & Wise (I know their films were not up to par).
Can anyone suggest anymore?
Ta Ta
MArky B thumbs_u

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

sanndevil

From a few years ago I'd add:
Googie Withers
Dame Peggy Ashcroft
John Le Mesurier


On TV I guess there is David Jason and John Thaw

Cheers
Nigel

Allen Dace

Dame Maggie Smith really should be on that list.

Hell_driver

Will Hay
Norman Wisdom
George Cole
David Niven
Ronald Coleman


and to follow Sanndevil with a couple from TV (from a purely personal perspective)

James Bolam
Warren Clarke
Jean Heywood

anthony chubb

kathleen harrison
peter ustinov
david suchet <about time he was sir>
sir david jason

anton

deckard

Well I'd certainly add:

Dame Celia Johnson
Jack Warner(Wasn't Dixon a national institution)
The Monty Python Team
The Carry On Team
Carol Reed
Powell and Pressburger

regards, Decks.

"and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock"

Steve Crook

I hadn't mentioned them before because they certainly got a lot of criticism while they were working.

Even before Peeping Tom they were often criticised for their films. There was Churchill's illegal attempt to ban The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp and the attack on them by The Sydneyan Society, a couple of right wing, Presbyterian Scots, very strange people. But they were also often hit by the critics. Either with complaints or just a lack of comprehension.

But luckily the people generally loved their work.


However, I don't see Victoria Wood's name on the list. Is the list just for cinema or do TV films count. Pat and Margaret (1994) was wonderful, as is most of her other work.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

David Challinor

Surely David Lean

smudge

In a similar vein, Noel Coward ?

He had his triumphs and disasters, but came back in the end and is, of course, a cult icon for his portrayal of Mr. Bridger in the PROPER Italian Job.

Quintessentially English !

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

plasticjock

National treasures eh?
Parameters? Boundaries?, if any?

Min: "Henreeee...."
Henry: "Mm..mn..yes, yes Min?"
Min: "What...what about Spike Milligna?"
Henry: "Mm..mn..precisely Min. What about him?"

A National Treasure in film, tv, radio, poetry,books etc. In all respects, a true one-off...and well-known typing error! neener

smudge

LOL

Lovely parody Jock !

And all three Goons certainly treasures ; evn Mr. Sellers (in spite of himself, sometimes...)

SMUDGE

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Steve Crook

A National Treasure, even though he relinquished any British citizenship he had.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Bob M.

Stanley Holloway and the entire Ealing outfit.
John Gregson.
Gordon Jackson.
Hattie Jaques.
Tommy Cooper in The Plank.
Reg Varney.
Noel Coward.

"How about dat, a? How about dat?

deckard

Too true Steve! But as is oft the way of true genius...they are so advanced in their art that it takes a few years for the rest to catch up. Decks.

"and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock"

deckard

Yep! I have to agree...."There's a song that I recall, my Mother sang to me, she sang it as she tucked me in, when I was 93!! Oh, ying-tong, ying-tong......." Regards, Decks.

"and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock"