Britain is going to need far more people like Sir Michael Caine

telegraph.co.uk ^ | April 28, 2009 | Iain Martin

[Joe 6-pack]

I met him on his 75th Birthday when he came back to his hometown (Indiana, PA). A class act all the way...here's the statue of him in front of the present day county courthouse...

This is him after V-J Day in front of the old courthouse, which is still there and looks pretty much the same, although it's been converted to office space...

[Will88]

"We've got 3.5 million layabouts on benefits,

Layabouts, the Brits just have a way with coming up with that highly descriptive word.

[MoochPooch]

This reminds me of the Socialism 101 lesson I’m currently getting at home.

My roommate decided to quit her job. Spent past 3 months just hibernating in her room.

When I told her that her share of the rent was going up $25 (our lease was renewed), she exclaimed, “Well, YOU’RE the one working, so YOU should cover it!”

(She ain’t gonna be my roommate much longer.)

[AreaMan]

Yeah, Sir Michael c’mon over to the States, we’ll boil you up some food and make you feel at home.

[stylecouncilor]

I wish we had some Jimmy Stewart’s in Hollywood today.

[originalbuckeye]

Sorry, Sir Mikey. If you think your taxes will be lower here then I have a Bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell ya. The wealthiest in this country will soon be paying much more than that. We aren't wealthy but we already pay near 30% Federal and near 10% State, just in income taxes. Gosh, when I was working in Britain and making peanuts (around $3.00/hr in the mid 80’s) I was paying 50% even then.

[sonic109]

“Old Labour is again obsessing over how to level down, or iron out inequalities, rather than raise up.”

Good article...Sad but true..Same hold for the USA these days..

[CholeraJoe]

"Right! I want one squad of riflemen inside the redoubt as reserve. Rest of the company form ranks and fire at my command!"

[Joe 6-pack]

Apart from the failed marriage, I think Bruce Willis is about the closest thing we have. He can do comedy, action and drama with equal alacrity, and although it’s not widely publicized, he tried to enlist after 9/11 and was told he was too old.

[Into the Vortex]

“He even pulled off playing a Texan in Second Hand Lions, a really nice movie. The thought of he and Robert Duvall fishing in their pond with shotguns still cracks me up!”

One of my favorite movies right there. Anyone who hasn’t seen it, well.....should!

[colorado tanker]

I have so much respect for Stewart. Not only did he serve during WWII, (which many entertainers didn't), but he served in one of the most dangerous and demanding services. And he didn't just serve, he distinguished himself.

That Pennsylvania twang of his was so distinctive!

We watched our copy of The Philadelphia Story again not long ago, one of the best comedies ever IMHO.

Truly a great man.

[Sergio]

Bookmark.

[Joe 6-pack]

"That Pennsylvania twang of his was so distinctive!"

It's a decidedly Western PA thing. I grew up speaking exactly the same way, and when I went to Gettysburg College, 180 miles away, any number of fellow students commented on my accent and asked what country I was from!

I've lost much of it serving in the Army for 10 years and working with people from all over and living around the world and U.S. for the last 20 years, but sometimes it still surfaces.

[randomhero97]

bump

[colorado tanker]

[Hub and Garth are getting ready to shoot at a traveling salesman]
Walter: Why not see what he's sellin'?
Hub: What the hell for?
Walter: Well what's the good of having all that money if you're never gonna spend it?
Garth: Could be the kid has a point.
Hub: Well. We'll see what the man's sellin'. THEN we'll shoot him.
Garth: Good plan.

[Centurion2000]

bump

[Vor Lady]

One of the best family movies ever! That fishing scene is one of my favorites as well.

[colorado tanker]

It was a terrific movie. It never got the notice it should have IMHO. My cynical side thinks it's because of stuff like this that makes most Hollyweird types cringe:

Hub: Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in.

[RinaseaofDs]

General Jimmy Stewart, to boot. He served his country ably in the military.

[colorado tanker]

IIRC Stewart stayed active in the Air Force Reserve after the war. A fine man.