David Challinor

The older members of this site will, I'm sure, recall what an excellent programme Parkinson used to be in the 1970s, when he seemed to have Hollywood's finest queing up to appear on the show - and not to just plug their latest release...I feel so strongly about this, it really goes without saying.
Anyway, my dear mum who remembered how I loved the show as a boy - mostly for the revered people telling their unusual stories about other famous people - videoed several repeats while I was in my high-wide-and-handsome 20s and 30s...tonight, being in my more settled 40s, I snatched a brief glimpse of Alec Guiness being interviewed, probably from the late 1970s ,on one of those tapes. Doubtless some of you more trivia minded will have heard this five minute story I'm about to recount Guiness telling on the show, but it's worth repeating for the others who do not know.
It is the 1950s and Guiness is in Hollywood for the very first time. On his first night there, he and his female companion fail to get into most LA restaurants, basically because she is wearing trousers (well it was the 50s!) ...when they finally get to a downtown Italian place his host feels sure they'll get in. No dress code there, but the place is full. Giving up, and heading for a hamburger stand, Guiness hears footsteps running towards them - it is James Dean, the new Big Star who begs them to join him at his table in the Italian. They return but not before Dean shows off his new sports car to them in the forecourt of the restaurant. Brand new, it is wrapped in crinoline, and still has a boquet of flowers pinned on the bonnent. 'How fast can it go?' Alec recalled asking, '150' Jimmy beamed. 'Been in it yet?' ...'no' James Dean replied....
Then - in Alec Guiness' words to Parkinson - 'a strange voice came over me', and, looking at his watch (it was 10pm), the British actor told Dean, 'please do not get in that car - if you get in that car you'll be dead by 10 o'clock within the week'. Dean laughed it off, and the two actors soon parted. A week to the day Dean famously died in the same car.
Maybe some might make this sort of thing up to garner fame, but Guiness? I think not.
Younger members - BEG, steal or borrow your mum and dads old Parkie tapes - you'll learn a lot!

Allen Dace

I've never seen that Parky interview but Guinness certainly thought this story was worth repeating in his autobiography.

David Brent

Yes Parky's has had some fine interviews in the past. Morcambe & Wise comes to mind as well as all his encounters with Billy Connolly.
Now that Parky has switched to ITV though i find a lot of canned laughter & applause has entered the show - even though he appears to have a large live audience.
Parky also appears to mumble a lot more with old age. He also seems to reinterview the same old trusty guests over & over i.e. Micheal Palin.
Still a watchable series but it seems to have lost a little bit of class since leaving the Beeb.
By the way David I recall the Guinness story very well - it was spooky :unhappy:
and so was Joanna Lumley's 'ghost story' recorded last year on Parky.

Dave.