Mensch tracht, un Gott lacht

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Hollywood Screamers

Cathy Seipp has a wonderful piece up at National Review Online about Hollywood prima donnas who revel in verbal abuse. The last bit is worth filing away for future use:

Screaming actors, it seems, can be easier to deal with, perhaps because they are not always famous for their brains. Many years ago, I read a story about how Roger Moore (a nonscreamer) took a younger actor aside and suggested he stop attacking everyone on the set. “I'm not in this business to win a popularity contest,” the screamer fumed. “I just want to be a good actor.”

“Well, you've failed at being a good actor,” Moore replied reasonably. “Why not try for the popularity contest?”

I always liked Roger Moore. My father and I used to watch him play The Saint on late night reruns.

10 comments:

James F. Elliott said...

Wow, another article about nothing. You guys are usually better than this, but you're batting 0 for 3 today.

Hunter Baker said...

I didn't realize you'd been hired on as editor. I'll be sure to run the next few postings by you. Thanks for the useful input.

James F. Elliott said...

Just pointing out that, of all the useful, truly important issues that intelligent people could talk about, these ain't one of 'em.

Anonymous said...

From Cathy Seipp: This IS one of them! And thanks...

Tom Van Dyke said...

BBC America, Friday nights. Be there.

(The Prisoner is, sadly, on hiatus. Unimportant, perhaps, but essential.)

James F. Elliott said...

(The Prisoner is, sadly, on hiatus. Unimportant, perhaps, but essential.)

This from the man who has given tacit approval to the Kafkaesque land of Gitmo and has avowed a personal preference for security and a police state over liberty?

Hunter Baker said...

Oh, baby, The Prisoner is AWESOME!!!

James F. Elliott said...

Oh, no disagreement there. The Prisoner rocks. Just noting that it's an odd preference for a man who has professed a preference for security over liberty.

Tom Van Dyke said...

To know what I mean, James, you would have to be familiar with Hobbes. (That's Thomas, not Calvin's stuffed tiger, although they have quite a bit in common philosophically.)

That man routinely subordinates his freedom to survival and security is the story of political philosophy. The two are in constant tension.

For instance, gun laws impinge on my freedom, and so does Social Security. The examples are endless.

And thanks for the buzzkill on The Prisoner. Last night, I dreamed I was being chased by a giant white beachball with the letters JE on it.

Lighten up, Francis.

Hunter Baker said...

Amen to that.