The candle on the cake

[Moor Larkin]

An occasional poster here seems to have found something that the
curious Larkin was never able to track down: a proper review of that
oft-quoted but hideously unknown 'McGoohan-breakthrough Play', 'The
Big Knife'. I hope he won't mind me stealing it, but it's too good to
miss (or have deleted!). Tomm has posted in his usual flambuoyant
style here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001526/board/flat/38321800?p=3#100746289
and I'm hoping he won't mind being colonised!

" Variety: January 21, 1959.
THE BIG KNIFE
With Patrick McGoohan, Louise Allbritton, Paul Carpenter, Maggie
Smith, James Clark, Mavis Villiers, Martin Miller, Eric Pohlman,
Alfred Burke, Daphne Anderson, Phil Brown
Writer Clifford Odets
TV adaptation: Ken Hoare
Director: John Moxey
90 Mins., Tues.,8:30 p.m.
Associated-Rediffusion, from London

Credit for a remarkably good television presentation of this powerful
play goes to Ken Hoare who did a stand out job adapting it for the
medium and to a first rate cast which brought the pieces vividly to
life.Under the guidance of director John Moxey, "The Big Knife" was a
fine production mounted expertly in a grand setting by John Clements.
The presentation can hardly be faulted on any count and must be ranked
as one of the gems of British tele-drama.

Acting was maintained at a high standard by the entire cast but
special mention must be made of the performances by Patrick McGoohan
as Charles Castle, the movie star with a load of problems, and Louise
Allbritton as his wife. Two other notables were Martin
Miller (Nat Danziger) and Maggie Smith (Dixie Evans). "


This is the sort of sharing that makes all this world-wide chattering
worthwhile.

[ingrid....@wienkav.at]

Indeed! Good to see that there are still hidden treasures out
there! :-)

[tommacfearsom]

Hello Folks

The following is from a New york Times article that mentions The Big
Knife that I found when researching tthe same. The article contained
references to other British film talent such as Terrance Stamp but
PMcG had his own section so I have copied out that portion here
verbatim. It seems a nice companion piece to The Variety article as it
puts the tele-play in historical context and gives perspective that
PMcG was an international presence. I hope you enjoy.

BCNU
Tommacfearsom

New York Times November, 11, 1962

British Film Scene

By Stephen Watts

On The Ascendant

The British made television series, "Danger Man", which has been sold
to America, has brought upon Patrick Mcgoohan the fame and the hazards
of being identified with one character for 39 consecutive stories. It
looks however, as though McGoohan will evade the danger of being
branded, for since finishing the television chore he has played a
number of diversified film roles.

In the not yet released category are Anthony Asquith's"Two Living One
Dead" in which McGoohan plays a post office clerk, Bendan Behan's "The
Quare Fellow" in which he is a prison warder, and Walt Disney's
current production here, "the Three Lives of Thomasina", (from the
Paul Gallico story)where McGoohan is a Scottish veterinary of
1910.Already he has been well received here as a somewhat neurotic
jazz drummer in "All Night Long" and a doctor in "A Life for Ruth".

McGoohan was born in New York, but his Irish immigrant parents came to
England while he was still a baby. He can, however, simulate a number
of credible American accents, and in "Danger Man", he used the sort of
mid-Atlantic voice which Americans think British and the British
accept as American. At the moment he is have a little difficulty
avoiding Irish in the brogue he has adopted for his Scottish accent.

Chafing Brits

His film career began with a one-line part in "The Dambusters" and he
recalls being financially grateful for the fact that five days' work
were involved. He had two frustrating years with the Rank Organization
when nothing of consequence came his way but he played in a television
version of Clifford Odet's "The Big Knife at a time when a hero was
being sought for the danger man series.