Posted on 10/09/2011 6:50:13 AM PDT by Perdogg
George Baker - who rose to fame in 'The Dam Busters', was adored by millions as Inspector Wexford, and even had a dalliance with Brigitte Bardot - had the luck of the Bulgarians, says Robbie Collin
It takes a great deal of talent, and no short supply of luck, for an actor to find a role for which he will not just be remembered, but celebrated. George Baker found himself two.
Its hard to imagine two characters more different from each other than the rumpled, kindly Chief Inspector Reg Wexford from The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, and the corrupt, embittered Tiberius from I, Claudius. And yet Baker who died of pneumonia last week aged 80, after a recent stroke immortalised both.
Bakers was a career that flourished on some extraordinary twists of fate. In 1954, long before his name was anywhere near top billing, he had a six-week affair with Brigitte Bardot. They met while making separate films at Pinewood Studios.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
ping
Martin Delambre (George Baker) is driving to Montreal one night when he sees a young girl running cald only in in her underwear (Carole Gray). They fall in love and are soon married. However, they both hold secrets: she has recently escaped from a mental asylum; he and his father Henri Delambre (Brian Donlevy) are engaged in radical experiments in teleportation, and they have already had horrific consequences. Martin also suffers recessive fly genes which cause him to age rapidly and he needs a serum to keep him young. Pictured with Bert Kwok (Closeau's houseman Cato in Pink Panther films).
RIP. He was great as Tiberius.
He was fabulous as Tiberius in I CLAUDIUS . Have the series on DVD . Time to watch again methinks . RIP Mr. Baker .
The Dambusters
One of my favorite movies. Made me a fan of the Lancaster.
Avro Lancaster modified to represent those used in the "Dam Busters" film, at Coventry airport 19 June 1954.
I remember his Tiberius, too. Have the DVD. He managed to be cruel, crazy and hilarious at the same time.
RIP, George Baker!
I loved the novels too. Robert Graves was a good author. By the way, your Freeper nickname is also the title of one of my favorite books from Umberto Eco from 20 years ago.
Boy, time goes by fast doesn’t it?
He was great. At least he got to live a long life. I always felt sorry for the other Baker - Stanely Baker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanley_Baker
I read them also. Livia was one of favorite villains. Another take on her was on the HBO series ROME. A young Octavian says he will beat her often.
I was always a big fan of Stanley Baker - died way too young.
Zulu is one of my favs. He starred and produced it.
Dam Busters is a superb film. Tidbit..in the movie, based on true facts, the squadcron commander has a dog, a black Lab, whose name is “Nigger”, and the name is uttered several times during the film. Later on, in the 60’s the name was scrubbed from the film prints..
The books ARE wonderful - I read them during the series and my paperbacks had the beautiful graphic from the show.
Derek Jacobi, Sian Phillips, John Hurt, George Baker. Wow! What a crowd. I’m forgetting the name of the actor who played Augustus. And I’ve seen him dozens of time on stage!
Stanley Baker was a Marxist who used movies to advance his views, partly by slandering others. The depictions of the preacher and others in Zulu were deliberate lies intended to undermine Western Civilization. He didn’t die soon enough.
Oh. Dear. God.
Why do they all write to me?! Answer me, Lord, why do they all write to me???????
Why do they all write to me?!”
Because you posted?
Because you’re charming? ;-)
Yeah, I seem to always had watched the edited version of the movie because when I bought the DVD a few years back, I heard the word “Nigger” a few times and said, “Hmmm, I don’t remember that!”
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