Actor John Rhys-Davies talks about LOTR, Hollywood, and real war

National Review Online ^ | March 5, 2004 | Andrew Leigh

[future tense]

It's a common perception that Hollywood is a liberal town, and rightly so. There are a few bold souls, however, who are willing to swim against the tide.

One of these starred in the film that won the most Oscars last Sunday night. He's John Rhys-Davies, who played Gimli in The Lord of the Rings (as well as Sallah in the Indiana Jones movies, in addition to many other roles). His comments over the past month or so regarding world affairs have ignited a firestorm of controversy in his home country of Great Britain.

Rather than taking up the banner of global warming, AIDS, world peace, or some other trendy cause, as most of his colleagues are prone to do, the Welsh-born actor has chosen as his particular hobbyhorse the growing demographic crisis in Europe.

He also regularly heaps praise on President George W. Bush and his war on terror, including the invasion of Iraq. "There are at least four or five [officials in the Bush administration] who could hold their own against the Founding Fathers," he says. This is blasphemous speech in Europe and Hollywood alike.

n a recent interview at a European-style café near Hollywood's Universal Studios, Rhys-Davies jokes about his candor, saying with a laugh that betrays a little nervousness, "Every time I open my mouth, I may be committing career suicide."

But he does not hold back, flatly stating, "I think that radical Islam has declared war on the West."...

[edeal]

I friend once told me a joke about the Welsh. What do you call a Welshman who owns both goats and sheep? A bisexual. But, he was from London.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

[John Rhys-Davies] fears that if [Islam] becomes the dominant culture in Europe, it will wipe out all that is good about Western culture.

And if THAT happens, there will be no more art, movies, music, etc. You can kiss all of the arts goodbye. Remember how they destroyed the Buddhist statues a few years ago? That's the future of Western art (if the Muslims gain control). Imagine all the cathedrals destroyed, museums decimated, statues blown up, paintings burned, etc. I'd better stop before I make myself sick. Those places had better beef up their security.

[Welsh Rabbit]

Good one. Here's another I heard (but suspect it has been used interchangeably with Scots, Kiwis, Irish, ect) What do you call a Welshman holding two sheep?

A pimp.

[future tense]

"Why aren't more Hollywood actors like this guy?" Well becasue most arent smart enough to think for themselves. Secondly, who cares if they are or arent?

Who cares? Film and television are the most significant influences on our culture. What the people in front of, and behind, the cameras think matters, as it ultimately pervades the product of their work.

[Grendelgrey]

...way down at the bottom of the article we finally see
"He says, "As a child, my father showed me a dhow in the harbor at Dar es Salaam and said, 'You see that dhow? Twice a year it comes down from Aden filled with boxes of goods. On the way back up it's got two or three black boys on it. Those boys are slaves. And the U.N. won't let me do a thing about it.'"...A nifty little quote that I am sure wont be shared with the UN -Hollywood-the Congressional Black Caucus or John Q Kerry. It wont fit in the "Agenda" old Bean ....

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

ping...

[ApplegateRanch]

I once met a homosexual shepherd. He only had rams in his flock.

[risk]

Cymru am Byth ping

[LibWhacker]

Okay, it looks like Mel's next movie is shaping up nicely: "Hollywood Reds," the story of how Hollywood betrayed America, with a starring role for Mr. Rhys-Davies. Lots of good material there, good for half-a-dozen award winning sequels at least.

[edeal]

We could start our own thread on this.

Whales, where the men are men and the sheep are nervous.

[boop]

I like this guy.... he's got guts.
P.S. Always get the widescreen version on DVD. Otherwise you're missing up to 20% of the picture.

[raloxk]

yes, that is right who cares? youll never win them over. As Rush Limbaugh has said too many conservatives feel they need to have their idealogy validated by the rich and famous and it is becasue they lack confidence.

You are assigning way to much influence to hollywood and need to give average people a little more credit for their intelligence and ability to separate fact from fiction when the yeatch TV and Movies

[marajade]

Actually it can be up to as much as 40-50 percent.

[ANDY72632]

Hey! I think he was also in the nifty Sci-Fi series called "SLIDERS". Good actor. Now I have even more reason to like him.

[Poundstone]

Rhys-Davies is talking such sense that it's hardly even debatable. He's absolutely right on.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I already told the only Welsh joke I know. We seem get overlooked a lot in the ribbing amongst former and current British colonies. Funny how each seems to think their neighbors are lovers of sheep... There's a Scottish joke I can't quite remember, but it involves a Rolling Stones hit and the punch line is, "Hey McLeod, get off of my ewe."

[McGavin999]

With a twinkle in his eye, Rhys-Davies confides that a friend whispered to him while watching Mortensen in The Return of the King, "Does he realize he's George Bush?"

LOL, I loved this part!

[AmishDude]

Yes, but the Welshies have that whole language problem...

[ApplegateRanch]

That's a language? I thought me granmither were just sputtering & spitting when she got mad!

[Tarantulas]

Sliders, yesssss...

CLICK