Bryan Forbes

[Steve Crook]

Great stuff, thanks Rennie, and many thanks to the man himself.

I finally got around to watching Seance on a Wet Afternoon. It was broadcast during the week but I only just found time to watch it, on this wet afternoon

A great piece of work all round. My eyes did keep being drawn to Lord Dickie's false nose though. It was often shown in profile and I couldn't see any reason for him wearing it.

My only other question is about Kim Stanley and is quite a simple question.
"Who?"

Looking up her details it seems that she was mainly a stage actress and was better known in the States than here. She tried to play it as English but the American accent kept breaking through in odd places. And she was a bit overly "stagey" in a few places, even allowing for the character she was playing here being a bit hysterical.

But despite those few points I still thought it was a great film

Steve

[batman]

Thanks again Rennie, more great answers from BF.

[Joenoir]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook My only other question is about Kim Stanley and is quite a simple question. "Who?" Steve

Obviously chosen in order to sell the film to American audiences, and a bigger name would have cost more. It would appear that the rumour that Margaret Lockwood was the first choice for the role were indeed false, quoshed by the great man himself.

[Windthrop]

Originally Posted by Steve Crook Great stuff, thanks Rennie, and many thanks to the man himself. I finally got around to watching Seance on a Wet Afternoon. It was broadcast during the week but I only just found time to watch it, on this wet afternoon A great piece of work all round. My eyes did keep being drawn to Lord Dickie's false nose though. It was often shown in profile and I couldn't see any reason for him wearing it. My only other question is about Kim Stanley and is quite a simple question. "Who?" Looking up her details it seems that she was mainly a stage actress and was better known in the States than here. She tried to play it as English but the American accent kept breaking through in odd places. And she was a bit overly "stagey" in a few places, even allowing for the character she was playing here being a bit hysterical. But despite those few points I still thought it was a great film Steve

Dickie's nose I thought was used so he didn't have that baby-faced look that he had at the time.

KS was fine I thought. The American accent helped, I thought, to give a sense of alienation from her surroundings.

Ps.

Though now have a couple of hefty gins (after a very good meal earlier on) inside me I wonder what the other britmoviers would feel about offering BF honorary Presidency of Britmovie. Just a thought to mull over.

[Wee Sonny MacGregor]

Originally Posted by Windthrop . Though now have a couple of hefty gins (after a very good meal earlier on) inside me I wonder what the other britmoviers would feel about offering BF honorary Presidency of Britmovie. Just a thought to mull over.

To my mind, an excellent idea

[Rennie]

Originally Posted by Wee Sonny MacGregor To my mind, an excellent idea

I was thinking it would be a good idea if we could send him some sort of en masse 'thank you'. I know he is appreciative of such things.

You may all be interested to know that Bryan Forbes gave me Roger Moore's personal contact address, and I have written asking him if he might consider a Q&A session. I was involved with RM some years ago whilst researching his army career for a book by an American author, and he was personally extremely helpful, even supplying me with a personal pic of him in his sub lieutenant's uniform c. 1946.

Finger's crossed, but I have a gut feeling I will not get any response. BF tells me he is rarely in this country now. I believe he lives in Switzerland

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Rennie I was thinking it would be a good idea if we could send him some sort of en masse 'thank you'. I know he is appreciative of such things. You may all be interested to know that Bryan Forbes gave me Roger Moore's personal contact address, and I have written asking him if he might consider a Q&A session. I was involved with RM some years ago whilst researching his army career for a book by an American author, and he was personally extremely helpful, even supplying me with a personal pic of him in his sub lieutenant's uniform c. 1946. Finger's crossed, but I have a gut feeling I will not get any response. BF tells me he is rarely in this country now. I believe he lives in Switzerland

A collective "Thank you" to Bryan is definitely in order.
And a similar session with Roger Moore would be very good if he's willing

Steve

[batman]

A collective thanks from all us would be excellent ..... perhaps DB7 could arrange this.

[stevie boy]

I like the answers to question 15 Good old Bryan a national treasure, thanks for taking the time to answer the questions...

[Freddy]

Came across this in the Telegraph obit of John Sandilands

John Francis Sandilands .....he then joined King magazine, a would-be British Playboy launched by the nightclub owner Paul Raymond. To save money, a 21-year-old editorial assistant, Jo Brooker, was drafted in as the magazine's first cover girl; she would later become the editor of Woman, programme director of Capital Radio and Mrs John Sandilands. Raymond baled out of King after the first issue, and Peter Sellers, Bryan Forbes, Bob Monkhouse, David Frost and others were persuaded to invest to keep it going; but in 1967 it finally submitted and sank.

Regards

Freddy

[Rennie]

Here's the last part. Can't believe his answer to 22 c)

BRYAN FORBES Q&A

PART 4 (OF 4)

Dear Barry, Whew! I did not know that I was to be faced by so many intelligent questions from your members, but I will have a go at answering them all, listing them in the numbers you have given.

Bryan Forbes.


19.

One question strikes me - Has BF ever been tempted to direct a production of a Rattigan play, in partic The Deep Blue Sea, given that he was nearly 'Hester' himself?

19. I don't think that i was ever "Hester" and think you must be thinking of another Rattigan play called Love in Idleness which I was once going to play in, but then got called up into the Army and the war. I was asked to direct Rattigan's play about Emma Hamilton the year Ieft EMI but this was for Hal Wallis a notable skinflint and the deal was so lousy that I said no.


20.

"He directed the infamous Peter O'Toole Macbeth at the Old Vic which again didn't help him."

I've keep hearing rumours about this apparently notorious production. Can BF tell me more or point me in the right direction?

20. If you want to know the story about Macbeth read my autobiography "A Divided Life" (secondhand copies on Amazon)

21.

My favourite Forbes film has to be King Rat; still a hugely underrated war film IMO.
I'd be interested to know what Mr Forbes (you're right, it should be 'Sir') thinks of the re-make of The Stepford Wives if he's seen it

21. I steadfastly refused to see the remake of Stepford, although Nanette my wife did go to see it and pronounced it (tactfully) as 'different.'


22.

a). Having worked with Cubby Briccolli, and being good friends with Roger Moore, did you ever wish to write a screen play for a James Bond film?

b) Is there one film you have been involved with in any capacity, including head of studio, which has the fondest memories for you?

c)You have mainly written for cinema and not television. Is this by accident, or design?


d) Both you and Nanette are prolific writers. Do you bounce ideas off each other, and when working, is it in the same room, and do you comment on each others writing before finalisation?

Best wishes Paul F Worrall


22a). I actually turned down the first Bond movie which Cubby Broccoli offered - if I hadn't i would be a very rich man indeed.

b) I loved making The Slipper and the Rose - my first and only musical, which was magic time.



c) Accident, I guess, and nobody asks me to write for television or films any more.


d) Don;t actually bounce ideas off each other, but we certainly read each other's work and pass comment. Nanette is a very good editor of my work.


23.

a) Did you turn down the chance to direct Dr No?

b) I am in the embryonic stages of researching a book on Maxwell Reed and would like to know if BF had any remembrances of working with him on Sea Devils?

Dave


23. Yes, see my answer in #22a)


b) When Maxwell made Sea Devils he had just married Joan Collins and in fact the time in Jersey on location was their honemoon. He wasn't somebody I ever got to know.


24.

Which particular acting role, rather than film, gave you the most pleasure?24.


24. I was thrilled to play a part, albeit small, in The Key for Sir Carol Reed who I greatly admired, and as a result I became great friends with Biull Holden who was a lovely man.


----------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally a message from one member, a sentiment I am sure shared by all the 5000 members of the Britmovie web forum, if not the entire film loving world.


I haven't a question for Bryan, but if you can, will you forward my gratitude for his long service to the film industry and being a pillar to British films, which would have been poorer without his contribution. A tribute from his peers, if not done, is long overdue and a knighthood should be conferred upon him.


Dear Barry, hope this answers are acceptable and that they reach you and your friends safely. Let me know. Regards Bryan Forbes

THATS ALL FOLKS!!

[batman]

Many thanks again Rennie for setting this up. Really interesting, thank you Mr Forbes.

[Brooksey13]

Yep, hearty thanks from me as well.
Don't know how others feel about this, but should we ask the family (daughters?) of Derren Nesbitt and Ron Pember for a similar Q&A? I think Derren's daughter posts on here occasionally. We know Ron is not in the best of health, but could be worth a try.Nothing ventured and all that.

[Freddy]

Hello Rennie,

Much thanks for all of this. Memorable.

Freddy

[stevie boy]

Thanks Rennie, Thanks Bryan