A few I’ve not seen yet. Oliver Reed is one of those actors that seems to have died out now. Impossible to tell if he was going to kiss you or punch you. For me, my six would be the 2 musketeer films, Burnt offerings, Curse of the werewolf, Oliver and The Devils. Always found him so captivating onscreen. A few I’ll check out from the comments and your six too 👌
Thanks sir. Burnt offerings is such an odd little film that sticks in the mind. The musketeers could have easily made it but I went with one of the forgotten Richard Lester films. Thanks again.
Thanks for this reappraisal of Oliver Reed . I remember liking his films when I was growing up in the 70s. Loved the Musketeers at the pictures. Hannibal Brooks always seemed to be on Tv. I loved his performances in Tommy and Debussy for Ken Russell - Agree with you he was a under appreciated talent. Regards Glynn
recently watched The System (1964) I thought he was good in that. Apparantly most of the actors drank a lot during the making of that film. :P Underrated little British gem imo.
Thanks martijn. You're right about the system. Another forgotten film that indicator digs up. The triple echo with Reed and Glenda Jackson is another one.
Good video and picks. Thanks for the shout-out for Revolver video. From Lester is would have gone for Four Musketeers as its essentially his film. Other gems are his very different brief turns in Baron Munchausen and Gladiator and generally being interesting even with the worst material.
One of Reed's most unusual film appearances was probably also his briefest. He is seen in a miss-it-if-you-blink scene in Ken Russell's delirious 1975 glam-rock fantasia 'Lisztomania', where he modestly plays a valet ushering Franz Liszt (played by Roger Daltrey) through a grotesquely fumigated chamber of the palace belonging to the overbearing Princess Caroline (played by Sara Kestelman), whose patronage Liszt hopes to secure.
Good video and choices. You are right those TV talk show appearances were pretty sad and a shame really that it seemed to be almost encouraged….Revolver is still on my watchlist. Agree on Curse of the Werewolf and The Assassination Bureau. I know there’s a lot of demand for the Devils but I don’t particularly enjoy it, although get its cult status. For me, I find his minor role and goofy dancing in Beat Girl fun but a fond favorite overall (and I can’t believe I’m saying this about a Michael Winner film) is Hannibal Brooks, which I have seen several times and continue to enjoy. I also have a nostalgic fondness for Condorman and I would like to see Castaway again, which I saw on release and liked but haven’t seen it since. Royal Flash is one I saw as a kid as my dad was very into George MacDonald Fraser books, i only really remember Malcolm McDowell so need to rewatch.
I’m astonished that you didn’t include Women in Love! The (in)famous nude wrestling scene (a first) with Alan Bates alone makes its inclusion here vital. I’m also a bit surprised that Triple Echo missed out, too. Assassination Bureau and Royal Flash were inevitable, as the Musketeers films would be for me. The Devils is perhaps his greatest role as the film revolves around his character. (As I understand it, the lack of a blu ray is down to some religious doubts from the film’s owners - Warner Bros is it?). He had many smaller roles that became famous, once his drinking became more well known and he was avoided like the plague by productions. Imagine what he could have done if he’d not been pissed all the time? I wonder what drove him to it? He often played brutal roles, typecasting or did he enjoy them more? Whatever, he was a sad loss to British filmmaking at the very least.
Thanks Richard. I haven’t seen women in love so that’s why it’s not included. For shame. I don’t know but I think he had the self destructive gene. He was quite shy,apparently, when sober so he maybe thought he needed the booze. Triple echo is wonderful too. Thanks again.
Six good choices among the many that the man made. My favorite of your six is "The Devils," and notwithstanding any revisionist ideas about the historical factual basis for the story, I was intrigued by the tale of an entire convent of nuns, upon mistakenly eating a healthy (?) dose of ergot of rye, all went on LSD trips, sending the Church into apoplexy. The book's author, Aldous Huxley, was a favorite of my youth--"The Doors of Perception" was my first book about mescaline. "Brave New World" included the same subtle affection for psychedelics. After his death (his obituary was at the bottom of the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, dated 23 November 1963--the headline went to the assassinated President Kennedy--who died the same, previous, day), his legacy grew to amazing proportions as more and more of his private life was revealed. His wife Laura wrote of the night he died and the preparations for the event, in her 1971 memorial "This Timeless Moment." I won't rattle on further; this was just a great opportunity to expound on one of my favorite authors. Sorry. Back to the movies.... The six that I would add to your list would include "The System" aka in the USA, "Girl-getters," I bought the Indicator BluRay; it's great. I'm starting to suspect that you're not a fan of musicals...but I am, and I'd have to include 1968's "Oliver." He was one bad Bill Sikes! Add 1968's "Adventures of Baron Munchausen," from Terry Gilliam, where Reed played Vulcan and was he ever HOT. "Three..." and "Four Musketeers" from 1973 and 1974, would be my next two. And, following the rules as set forth herein (only 6 choices, damnit!), the final choice would be...Uh Oh, there's a tie, in the voting. The final choice is a tie between 1967's "I'll Never Forget What's'isname," 1967's "The Jokers," and 1995's "Funny Bones." I've tried to follow the rules so that my comments won't be thrown out again. I pray that I have succeeded. Thanks, Solitaire!
Thanks Stephen and I assure you I don't control the deletion of comments haha. Reed certainly made some films. The musketeers were close especially as I have to pick up the 4ks. I didn't realize Huxley died on the same day as JFK. Thanks for that nugget. Always appreciate your comments sir.
Another good subject for this series. I probably enjoyed Reed most in the Musketeer movies. I have never seen Royal Flash. My first memory of him was in Michael Winner’s I’ll Never Forget What ‘is Name. I saw it when it first came out and I remember it as a thoroughly discombobulating experience. Haven’t seen it since and after thinking about it I’m going to hunt it down. I generally avoid Winner’s films. Women in Love was the performance that most impressed me but there are many others.
A few I’ve not seen yet. Oliver Reed is one of those actors that seems to have died out now. Impossible to tell if he was going to kiss you or punch you. For me, my six would be the 2 musketeer films, Burnt offerings, Curse of the werewolf, Oliver and The Devils. Always found him so captivating onscreen. A few I’ll check out from the comments and your six too 👌
Thanks sir. Burnt offerings is such an odd little film that sticks in the mind. The musketeers could have easily made it but I went with one of the forgotten Richard Lester films. Thanks again.
Thanks for this reappraisal of Oliver Reed . I remember liking his films when I was growing up in the 70s. Loved the Musketeers at the pictures. Hannibal Brooks always seemed to be on Tv. I loved his performances in Tommy and Debussy for Ken Russell - Agree with you he was a under appreciated talent. Regards Glynn
Thanks Glynn. He was a tremendous talent that is sadly remembered more for his reputation off stage.
Hi Ronin- I liked him in Women in Love (Russell), Oliver! (Reed) and Castaway (Roeg) but your picks are just as good. Thanks for the vid.
Yes of course. I forgot he has a wonderfully threatening turn in Oliver! , Ben. Thanks for jogging the memory.
recently watched The System (1964) I thought he was good in that. Apparantly most of the actors drank a lot during the making of that film. :P Underrated little British gem imo.
Thanks martijn. You're right about the system. Another forgotten film that indicator digs up. The triple echo with Reed and Glenda Jackson is another one.
Good video and picks. Thanks for the shout-out for Revolver video. From Lester is would have gone for Four Musketeers as its essentially his film. Other gems are his very different brief turns in Baron Munchausen and Gladiator and generally being interesting even with the worst material.
Absolutely. Thanks. It's a shame he's not better remembered.
One of Reed's most unusual film appearances was probably also his briefest. He is seen in a miss-it-if-you-blink scene in Ken Russell's delirious 1975 glam-rock fantasia 'Lisztomania', where he modestly plays a valet ushering Franz Liszt (played by Roger Daltrey) through a grotesquely fumigated chamber of the palace belonging to the overbearing Princess Caroline (played by Sara Kestelman), whose patronage Liszt hopes to secure.
Thanks Barry. Haven't seen lisztomania but obviously Russell and Reed were quite the pair. Thanks for the info sir.
Good video and choices. You are right those TV talk show appearances were pretty sad and a shame really that it seemed to be almost encouraged….Revolver is still on my watchlist. Agree on Curse of the Werewolf and The Assassination Bureau. I know there’s a lot of demand for the Devils but I don’t particularly enjoy it, although get its cult status. For me, I find his minor role and goofy dancing in Beat Girl fun but a fond favorite overall (and I can’t believe I’m saying this about a Michael Winner film) is Hannibal Brooks, which I have seen several times and continue to enjoy. I also have a nostalgic fondness for Condorman and I would like to see Castaway again, which I saw on release and liked but haven’t seen it since. Royal Flash is one I saw as a kid as my dad was very into George MacDonald Fraser books, i only really remember Malcolm McDowell so need to rewatch.
Thanks Neil. Royal flash is so underrated and underseen. Haven’t seen castaway or condorman but no doubt I will catch up at some point.
I’m astonished that you didn’t include Women in Love! The (in)famous nude wrestling scene (a first) with Alan Bates alone makes its inclusion here vital. I’m also a bit surprised that Triple Echo missed out, too. Assassination Bureau and Royal Flash were inevitable, as the Musketeers films would be for me. The Devils is perhaps his greatest role as the film revolves around his character. (As I understand it, the lack of a blu ray is down to some religious doubts from the film’s owners - Warner Bros is it?). He had many smaller roles that became famous, once his drinking became more well known and he was avoided like the plague by productions. Imagine what he could have done if he’d not been pissed all the time? I wonder what drove him to it? He often played brutal roles, typecasting or did he enjoy them more? Whatever, he was a sad loss to British filmmaking at the very least.
Thanks Richard. I haven’t seen women in love so that’s why it’s not included. For shame. I don’t know but I think he had the self destructive gene. He was quite shy,apparently, when sober so he maybe thought he needed the booze. Triple echo is wonderful too. Thanks again.
Six good choices among the many that the man made. My favorite of your six is "The Devils," and notwithstanding any revisionist ideas about the historical factual basis for the story, I was intrigued by the tale of an entire convent of nuns, upon mistakenly eating a healthy (?) dose of ergot of rye, all went on LSD trips, sending the Church into apoplexy. The book's author, Aldous Huxley, was a favorite of my youth--"The Doors of Perception" was my first book about mescaline. "Brave New World" included the same subtle affection for psychedelics. After his death (his obituary was at the bottom of the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle, dated 23 November 1963--the headline went to the assassinated President Kennedy--who died the same, previous, day), his legacy grew to amazing proportions as more and more of his private life was revealed. His wife Laura wrote of the night he died and the preparations for the event, in her 1971 memorial "This Timeless Moment." I won't rattle on further; this was just a great opportunity to expound on one of my favorite authors. Sorry. Back to the movies....
The six that I would add to your list would include "The System" aka in the USA, "Girl-getters," I bought the Indicator BluRay; it's great. I'm starting to suspect that you're not a fan of musicals...but I am, and I'd have to include 1968's "Oliver." He was one bad Bill Sikes!
Add 1968's "Adventures of Baron Munchausen," from Terry Gilliam, where Reed played Vulcan and was he ever HOT.
"Three..." and "Four Musketeers" from 1973 and 1974, would be my next two.
And, following the rules as set forth herein (only 6 choices, damnit!), the final choice would be...Uh Oh, there's a tie, in the voting.
The final choice is a tie between 1967's "I'll Never Forget What's'isname," 1967's "The Jokers," and 1995's "Funny Bones."
I've tried to follow the rules so that my comments won't be thrown out again. I pray that I have succeeded. Thanks, Solitaire!
Thanks Stephen and I assure you I don't control the deletion of comments haha. Reed certainly made some films. The musketeers were close especially as I have to pick up the 4ks. I didn't realize Huxley died on the same day as JFK. Thanks for that nugget. Always appreciate your comments sir.
Another good subject for this series. I probably enjoyed Reed most in the Musketeer movies. I have never seen Royal Flash. My first memory of him was in Michael Winner’s I’ll Never Forget What ‘is Name. I saw it when it first came out and I remember it as a thoroughly discombobulating experience. Haven’t seen it since and after thinking about it I’m going to hunt it down. I generally avoid Winner’s films. Women in Love was the performance that most impressed me but there are many others.
Thanks Roger. There are so many performances to choose from. Always interesting always intense.