Not long ago, he played the first Doctor Who in the movie-length 50th anniversary show. It was even in the theaters here in the USA.
I’ve read a number of Hurt obituaries now, he is a great loss and they all agree on that. But none of them that I’ve seen, including this one, mentions The Naked Civil Servant. I find that bizarre – and questionable.
I always liked his acting in “1984.”
Really don’t know how, at this time in history, his role as Winston Smith in the grueling, terrifyingly faithful 1984 film adaption of “1984” from this enormously talented man’s obituary. I remember when a friend told me he’d been cast and we both said “oh yeah, perfect!”
And yes, though an obituary for a great actor is not the right place to note it, today, about a year too goddamned late, “1984” is now the number one bestseller at the Apple and Kindle stores and at Barnes & Noble–both print and electronic. It is on the print bestsellers list of print books at Amazon. On all of these lists, Hannah Arandt’s “The Origins of Totalitarianism” is in the middle of the top ten.
Now, just a bit late, a lot of people who had taken democracy for granted, hadn’t really noticed it was important and spent all their time griping about it are waking up to the reality. And maybe, just maybe, Eric Blair, who wrote the single most important book of the Twentieth Century, can save yet another generation, and another century, that had lost sight of his relevance.
Since he was a great artist with any number of outstanding credits in his long and honored career, it is sad that most will remember him for his death scene in Alien (and again in Spaceballs.) I have to admit the death scene in Alien was startling.
Winston Smith and Caligula, the two that first come to mind for me among so many truly brilliant performances. And as it happens, two roles that have particular resonance in this political moment.
A great, great actor. RIP.
It’s weird to remember what a lifeline PBS was back in the days when we only got four channels on TV. How many tweens today are addicted to “Masterpiece Theater?” (Or “Masterpiece” as they have, for some reason, felt the need to rebrand it for the Twitter generation.)
In hindsight, “I Claudius,” which I drank in like a sweet, fruity drink (the occaisional flashes of bare breast on TV were just a bonus) as a high school kid was an important part of my political education.
I"m a hard agnostic, but if I were a religious man I’d be wondering whether God is pulling out all of these people to spare them from whatever upcoming conflagration the Trump-Putin administration will be inflicting upon the US and the World.
RIP, John Hurt. You were a great actor and you will be sorely missed. Condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones.
The Guardian mentioned it, especially when he was warned not to do the role.
Hadn’t read The Guardian obituary, but that makes sense. Thanks.
Then he’s doing it quickly.
Not counting the athletes or the scientists, there are ten artists who passed this week.
Also not many know he narrated a great documentary called “Hidden Wars of Desert Storm” around 1999 or 2000. So he not only could play all kinds of roles (a true actor), he had a wonderful voice as well.
Only he and the director knew what was going to happen. The rest of the cast did not know and their reaction to that thing bursting out of his chest is genuine. Or so the story goes.
PBS re-ran the series in the early nineties. I had missed it the first time around and was obsessed with it. I have the DVD collection and even bought the books on which the series is based. His Caligula was so riveting and chilling. A democracy is supposed to prevent a mad man like that from rising to power.
My favorite were The Dresser and as Dr. Stephen Ward in Scandal, about the Profumo Affair in early sixties Britain. Joan Whalley is why I initially rented that movie, but his role is why I still remember it.
He will always be Caligula to me. “Some people really are despicable.”
I don’t believe John Hurt was in The Dresser. If my memory serves me right, it was Tom Courtenay (also a brilliant actor) in the earlier film and Ian McKellan in the later one.
Could be wrong though. And I love Scandal too.
All you need to do is look at “The Jewel In The Crown” and compare it to “Indian Summers”. That brilliant generation of British filmmakers is long gone, replaced by hacks who came up on “Eastenders”.
S.R. Hadden: First rule in government spending: why build one when you can have two at twice the price? Only, this one can be kept secret. Controlled by Americans, built by the Japanese subcontractors. Who, also, happen to be, recently acquired, wholly-owned subsidiaries…
S.R. Hadden: [speaks with Hadden] … of Hadden industries.
S.R. Hadden: They still want an American to go, Doctor. Wanna take a ride?