Bryan Forbes

[Marky B]

I once read a book by him:The Rewrite Man - is it still in print?
Ta Ta
Marky B

[batman]

Originally Posted by Marky B I once read a book by him:The Rewrite Man - is it still in print? Ta Ta Marky B

Yep ...

Amazon.co.uk: the rewrite man: Books

Bats.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by stevie boy It is good to sea another Powell on here, you, me and Steve Crook's favourite Director.

Ah, but Powell is such a common name
It does make searching for things to do with Michael Powell so much harder.

Do they mean Michael Powell the son of Colin Powell & American politician?
Do they mean Michael Powell the American musician and music producer?
Or Michael Powell the basketball player?
Or Michael Powell the Warwickshire and England cricketer?
Or Michael Powell the Glamorgan cricketer?
Or Michael Powell the cross-stitch patter designer?
Or Michael Powell of Powell's Books in Portland, OR?
Or Michael Powell the lacrosse player?
Or any of the many other people called Michael Powell?

It's much easier to find things about Emeric Pressburger, or Powell & Pressburger. But so many people do neglect Emeric (& the others) and think that their films are only the work of Michael Powell.

Still, at least he wasn't called John Smith

Steve

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Rennie Thanks for the questions. Closing date will be Tuesday, 22 January 2008. It may take a few days for me to precis some of the questions. Before BF agreed to answer queries, I noted some discussion on BF's health. He has told me he is open to questions on any aspect of his life. Do members think it wise for me to put in a question about his health. I gather from a couple of postings that he has some form of MS. Is this speculation, or fact? Further questions welcome.

He looked OK to my untrained eye when he went up on stage to accept his BAFTA tribute last year
I think it would just be safest to say we wish him well

Steve

[Dame Starry]

The entry on IMDb says that he was diagnosed in 1975 with MS but has been in remission since. Some forms, apparently, attack once and never return - he was lucky.
Mind you, it was over 30 years ago and the tests may not have been as good as they are now - maybe the diagnosis was inaccurate.

YDSL x.

[Maralyn]

Originally Posted by Rennie Thanks for the questions. Closing date will be Tuesday, 22 January 2008. It may take a few days for me to precis some of the questions. Before BF agreed to answer queries, I noted some discussion on BF's health. He has told me he is open to questions on any aspect of his life. Do members think it wise for me to put in a question about his health. I gather from a couple of postings that he has some form of MS. Is this speculation, or fact? Further questions welcome.

My father- in- law has suffered from MS for many years and still manages to live on his own with little help. He sometimes needs a wheelchair as he cannot really walk easily now but this has only happened to him quite recently. His main problem is in one of his legs which is permanently stiffened by the disease. He gets very tired quickly but still manages to go out with his friends and have,albiet curtailed by the disease, some sort of social life. There are varying degrees of MS with some people suffering more intensely than others. Perhaps with Nannette's help with the diet along with Bryan's own rate of deterioration from the disease he is still,like my father- in- law, able to enjoy some sort of normality.
Perhaps this is why people are not sure whether Bryan has it or not ? Some don't show it as others would and any fraility at Bryan's age, would just be put down to that and not MS.

Please wish him the best of health whatever his circumstances and tell him that he is not forgotten as one of the very best directors and screenwriters we have had in this country. He was a jolly good actor as well! And like many others, I would love to know his thoughts on Eric Portman.

Maralyn

[Marky B]

Cheers,Bats for that.
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.
Mark S Bradshaw

[Dame Starry]

Originally Posted by Maralyn My father- in- law has suffered from MS for many years and still manages to live on his own with little help. He sometimes needs a wheelchair as he cannot really walk easily now but this has only happened to him quite recently. His main problem is in one of his legs which is permanently stiffened by the disease. He gets very tired quickly but still manages to go out with his friends and have,albiet curtailed by the disease, some sort of social life. There are varying degrees of MS with some people suffering more intensely than others. Perhaps with Nannette's help with the diet along with Bryan's own rate of deterioration from the disease he is still,like my father- in- law, able to enjoy some sort of normality. Perhaps this is why people are not sure whether Bryan has it or not ? Some don't show it as others would and any fraility at Bryan's age, would just be put down to that and not MS. Please wish him the best of health whatever his circumstances and tell him that he is not forgotten as one of the very best directors and screenwriters we have had in this country. He was a jolly good actor as well! And like many others, I would love to know his thoughts on Eric Portman. Maralyn

I do wish your father-in-law well, Maralyn.

IMDb does say that Bryan has been in remission for 30 years.
I believe that it is possible to have an isolated 'attack' which seems to be the case with Bryan - who I also wish well.

YDSL x.

[alan gowdy]

I'd like to add my best wishes and thanks to Mr Forbes for his contributions to British cinema. I never tire of listening to the sparkling and witty dialogue in League Of Gentlemen, even after many viewings.

[Wee Sonny MacGregor]

Originally Posted by alan gowdy I'd like to add my best wishes and thanks to Mr Forbes for his contributions to British cinema. I never tire of listening to the sparkling and witty dialogue in League Of Gentlemen, even after many viewings.

I go along with that - 100%.

I'm puzzled why Bryan Forbes has never been knighted

[Dame Starry]

Originally Posted by Wee Sonny MacGregor I go along with that - 100%. I'm puzzled why Bryan Forbes has never been knighted

Join the club, WSM! I'm puzzled why a LOT of people haven't been knighted and even MORE puzzled as to why some other people WERE!

YDSL x.

[stevie boy]

Originally Posted by alan gowdy I'd like to add my best wishes and thanks to Mr Forbes for his contributions to British cinema. I never tire of listening to the sparkling and witty dialogue in League Of Gentlemen, even after many viewings.

agreed, 100%

[Windthrop]

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 ?

[Wee Sonny MacGregor]

Originally Posted by Starry-Eyed Join the club, WSM! I'm puzzled why a LOT of people haven't been knighted and even MORE puzzled as to why some other people WERE! YDSL x.

Anyone can nominate anyone else. There is, of cource, a form which can be obtained from the Honours Unit at the Cabinet Office, 70 Whitehall, London SW1. The form asks for a couple of referees which should not, in Forbesy's case, be that difficult.

But, I should add that I once nominated a man who had raised £1.5m for a medical charity which had increased survival rates for a particular illness from 30% to over 70%. And I had two excellent, top line referees to back up the nomination. Just the sort of person they are looking for you might have thought - forget it. Despite all the crap about looking for unsung heroes, the lists are always chock full of timeservers.

[Steve Crook]

Originally Posted by Wee Sonny MacGregor Despite all the crap about looking for unsung heroes, the lists are always chock full of timeservers.

Which is cheaper? Paying civil servants a lot more or to promise them a gong when they retire?

Steve