One of my friends will be 80 next month and his family are planning a
rare old shindig.

He loves the theatre and has recently been given a DVD player but, as
I understand it, he has very few titles at present. (I don't know if
it's multi-region but most new ones are, here in the UK.)

He recently watched and enjoyed 'The Madness of King George'.

Suggestions please for DVD titles that will appeal to his theatrical
tastes, e.g. great plays, great actors, great playwrights.

He's no lover of opera or musicals.

Many thanks

Bryan

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 03 May 2006 00:10 PDT

Hi Bryan!

Are these the types that would interest him or I'm off track?

http://www.kultur.com/page/Kultur/CTGY/dvd_broadway

Thanks!

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 03 May 2006 01:21 PDT

Hiya There Winged One

Many thanks for your fast response.

Not a bad idea but I suspect that these may be Region 1 DVDs and that
they may not play on his DVD which may only be able to handle Region 2
DVDs.

Moreover, most of these titles are Broadway based whereas I am sure
that he would prefer stuff that was more decidedly English.

Sorry but I don't see any titles that I hope would give him a great thrill.

But I did see 'Kultur'?

Wow! That made me SQUIRM!

Back to the drawing board I am afraid!

Bryan

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 03 May 2006 01:25 PDT

Ok. I'll let go on this one so that another researcher more
knowledgeable with this topic get on the saddle!

Have a nice day Bryan. :)

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 03 May 2006 01:29 PDT

OK Winged One

But why use a saddle when you have wings?

Bryan

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 03 May 2006 03:54 PDT

I suspect that Rainbow may be on the right track, so please consider
this question closed, pending confirmation.

Very Many Thanks, Cockney Artist.

(RA in Bow ... Geddit?)

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Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 03 May 2006 06:00 PDT

Please consider this question to be open again.

Many thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by probonopublico-ga on 03 May 2006 09:03 PDT

Thank you, Myo, but Charlie Chaplin and Harry Lauder are hardly
'theatre'; more 'music hall'.

I can't imagine that my pal would be impressed by either.

Thanks anyway.

Bryo

Bryan,

I'm delighted to have been of assistance! Recommending movies is
something I enjoy immensely. I have seen all of these films, and they
are goodies. Just the thing for an octogenarian with a taste for the
theatre.

It should be noted that "Topsy-Turvy" is about Gilbert and Sullivan.
Although you said that your friend is no lover of opera or musicals,
this movie is really about the lives of theatre people; the
light-opera setting is just a backdrop. If your friend can stand a bit
of "The Mikado," I think he may find "Topsy-Turvy" to be a treat.

Gosford Park
http://imdb.com/title/tt0280707/

Topsy-Turvy
http://imdb.com/title/tt0151568/

Funny Bones
http://imdb.com/title/tt0113133/

The Dresser
http://imdb.com/title/tt0085461/

I hope your friend has a merry old time! I have it on good authority
that science has proven birthdays to be good for one's health: the
people who have the most birthdays invariably live the longest.

Best always,
Pink

Hi Pink

I am delighted with your suggestions and the fact that you enjoyed
seeing them says a lot.

I should add that he has insisted that he doesn't want anything but we
couldn't let him get away with that.

All the Best

Bryan

Ha ha ha! Sales ladies might freak out once they see winged ones! :)

Hi Bryan,

According to the New York Times, here are some similar movies to "The
Madness of King George", that your friend may like:

Dangerous Liaisons (1988, Stephen Frears)
Orlando (1992, Sally Potter)
Restoration (1994, Michael Hoffman)
Mrs. Brown (1997, John Madden)
Amadeus (1984, Milos Forman)
The Last King (2004, Joe Wright)
The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933, Alexander Korda)
The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970, John Glenister)
Valmont (1989, Milos Forman)

More similar movies:
http://www.starpulse.com/movie/The_Madness_of_King_George/V133560/0/4/


I hope that helps.

Best regards,
Rainbow

And some related movies:

A Question of Attribution (1992, John Schlesinger)
The Crucible (1996, Nicholas Hytner)
Biography: King George III - Mad or Maligned?

http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=133560

Rainbow

Bryan,
Some of the Merchant Ivory films may appeal. I certainly enjoyed them. Such as, 
Remains of the Day 
Howards End
http://www.merchantivory.com/filmography.html

Hi Bryan,

Do I assume that you would like me to post my comments as the answer
to your question?

Rainbow

Hi Rainbow ...

Not yet ready for an Answer ...

Still want to do some checking.

Ta!

I suspect that he has a slightly iconoclastic sense of humour.

Apart from films he might enjoy old TV serials :-

The Good Life (always good for a lust - or two)
House of Cards
Yes Minister et al

As an aside, I would be inclined to initiate a DVD library at your
mutual local, it could start life as a shoe box.

Hi Rainbow

Have checked through your list but nothing has jumped out.

Sorry!

Hi frde

Old tv serials were never much good when they were fresh; I can't
imagine that they have improved with age.

But thanks anyway.

Neither my friend nor I have 'a local' ... I HATE pubs: noisy, smelly,
disgusting places.

Probo 
- take a new look at some of the older ones
- if you did not find 'Yes Minister' fascinating then ... 

As for a 'Local' - where do you take Daisy ?
- wine bars are Ok

Perhaps Hove provides a different environment

I was thinking that your 80 year-old friend might enjoy something from
his youth and was looking for Harry Lauder on DVD, but there only
seems to be a short of him and Charly Chaplin from 1918, ie, probably
silent.  But that brought up Chaplin:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BB14ZS/002-4065185-2548867?v=glance&n=130

Certainly there must be DVDs of Shakespeare:  Hamlet with Olivier was a film.
Early Alec Guiness, perhaps:  The Man in the White Suit.  What about
cinema flames  from back then?

Bryan,

Has your friend seen "Gosford Park," "Topsy-Turvy," "Funny Bones," and
"The Dresser"? I dont know exactly why, but I would expect these films
to be pleasing to someone who enjoyed the titles that you have
mentioned.

Gosford Park
http://imdb.com/title/tt0280707/

Topsy-Turvy
http://imdb.com/title/tt0151568/

Funny Bones
http://imdb.com/title/tt0113133/

The Dresser
http://imdb.com/title/tt0085461/

Your humble servant,
Pink

Brilliant, Pink, Very Many Thanks!

A great selection and they're all available on Region 2.

I command thee, my most loyal servant, please post thee an Answer.

Bryan,

Thank you oodles and boodles for the five stars, the kind words, and the hefty tip!

Your Okie correspondent,
Pink

Saw this in the Telegraph this morning, People who live in Brighton
claim they live in Hove.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/03/nsnob03.xml

hello PBP,

if he liked The Madness of King George, perhaps he would enjoy a story
about our own mad king . . .

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:315709

ah, there I go, foot in mouth once again . . . sorry, couldn't resist . . .

but what about "Impromptu"?  starring Judy Davis.   All about another
George . . .  George Sand . . .  and her liason with Chopin.  It's
quite hysterical, especially the duel scenes . . .

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:24455

good luck, and I am watching with bated breath what Daisy's kennel
name will turn out to be!

ts

****