Michael Craig

[philips]

Thought some of you might appreciate reading this article (with photo) from today's Sydney Morning Herald about Michael Craig's theatrical swansong:



Plenty of grump for the last role - Arts - Entertainment - smh.com.au

[Moor Larkin]

That's great.......

[Dame Starry]

Thanks, philips. I took a shine to Michael Craig was I was a very young girl and used to watch everything he was in - most of which I've forgotten now!

The last time I saw him on TV over here in the UK, it was his 'This Is Your Life'. He's a lovely man - I must read his book.



Starry x.

[catflap]

Apparently, after that interview was published, there was a flurry of phone calls between the Englsih cricket team selectors.



"That Dame Peggy Ashcroft, is she still alive and if so would she be willing to captain the one-day team?"



Sadly, when they found out she had passed they were last heard trying to figure out whether Michael Craig's long residence in Australia made him ineligible to open the bowling for England next summer.



:

[Hackett]

He was great as Johnny Mellors the gang leader in "PAYROLL" 1961 gets a regular late night airing in our house.

[Moor Larkin]

they were last heard trying to figure out whether Michael Craig's long residence in Australia made him ineligible to open the bowling for England next summer.

Makes no odds to us Blue...... West Indians, Indians, South Africans, even the odd Anzac (I think).... we can lose with anyone playing for us.....



Has there ever been a movie/TV show about Cricket?



Apart from.......

[MrDrakesDuck]

Has there ever been a movie/TV show about Cricket?

There's an old thread about the cricket theme.

[batman]

He was great as Johnny Mellors the gang leader in "PAYROLL" 1961 gets a regular late night airing in our house.

These are my favourite Michael Craig films .... Sapphire gets a regular outing in the Batcave, as does Payroll. I haven't seen House of Secrets for ages .... hint.



Bats.

[David Brent]

I found Michael Craig to be a little bit "wooden" in his performances.

He never seemed to put himself out when it came to showing the expressions of the characters he played.

He seemed to play most of his parts in the same stiff manner.



Dave.

[Moor Larkin]

I found Michael Craig to be a little bit "wooden" in his performances. He never seemed to put himself out when it came to showing the expressions of the characters he played. He seemed to play most of his parts in the same stiff manner.

I've wondered if in Life for Ruth they cast Craig and McGoohan completely against type. McGoohan plays the doctor dead straight - fairly even-tempered and rational - ideal for Michael Craig you would have thought. Michael plays a religious zealot whose pride leads to the unecessary death of his daughter,an ideal role for a raving McGoohan you would have thought. In fact, Craig plays it very even-tempered and rational.......



It's out on DVD soon... we hope.....

[Harbottle]

Nice to read that Michael Craig is still going strong, thanks for the link. Despite my also finding him a tad wooden, he has made some good films especially those already mentioned.

[julian_craster]

Does anybody recall film actor Michael Craig ?



I see that he has published his autobiography.



Has any forum member read it ?

[batman]

The great Michael is still working well into his 80s. He now lives in Australia. The book was published in 2005. I read it and it's a pretty good book. I think it's OP now but copies are available on Amazon etc.

[julian_craster]

This should be a very good read !



It must have been difficult for Michael Craig when [under his Rank contract]

he was starring at Pinewood, knowing that he was only being offered the starring roles that Dirk Bogarde had turned down......



I see that this book was only published in Australia, so it is probably not available to UK bookstores or libraries (even British Library ? ) .



Some sellers are asking silly money for this book !



The Amazon UK link is :

[ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Smallest-Giant-Actors-Life/dp/1741145651/"]Amazon.co.uk: The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life: Michael Craig: Books[/ame]









Also, try



AbeBooks: New Books, Secondhand Books, Rare Books, Out-of-Print Books





which may be cheaper....





Synopsis

"I was happy enough in the circus appearing as the tallest midget in captivity, but when my employer decided I should also appear as the smallest giant, I decided to seek my fortune elsewhere..." Michael Craig went on to forge a successful career in film, theatre, and writing, appearing with Julie Andrews, Barbara Streisand, Judi Dench, and Peter O'Toole, to name a few In The Smallest Giant, Michael Craig is at his wittiest. Starting as a journeyman actor in English rep, he went on to have a brilliant international career as a film and theatre actor and writer. He has appeared in more than fifty films and countless TV productions, acted with the RSC, on Broadway, and in the West End in major productions such as Funny Girl with Barbara Streisand. With an easy charm, Michael proves himself a talented raconteur as he tells the story of a struggling young actor who went on to spend over fifty hugely successful years in the business.

[batman]

I bought mine in Waterstones .... our local library also had a copy. You can also buy it here ...

Amazon.com: The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life (9781741145656): Michael Craig: Books


The Smallest Giant by Michael Craig (2005) - eBay (item 370071217590 end time Aug-21-08 05:03:04 PDT)



The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life : Michael Craig : ISBN 9781741145656 - Buy.com



Books - Smallest Giant - 9781741145656



and as an e-book ....



eBooks.com - Smallest Giant: An actor's life eBook

[CaptainWaggett]

I saw him a few years ago as Lord Loam in an excellent production of The Admirable Crichton (with Hugh Quarshie as the butler and Janet McTeer as one of the daughters)

[batman]

[dpgmel]

Another underrated actor IMHO.



Enjoyed his perfomances in "Payroll" and "The Angry Silence "

[Stephen Griffiths]

Michael's now based in the UK. He left Austalia last year and can be contacted c/o his agents at MacFarlane Chard Associates:



MacFarlaneChard Associates

[batman]

Michael's now based in the UK. He left Australia last year and can be contacted c/o his agents at MacFarlane Chard Associates:



MacFarlaneChard Associates

Thanks Stephen ... does he have anything lined up?