Great Acting: Kenneth Tynan

[Andy]

Can anyone provide any details of this series which featured Kenneth Tynan interviewing leading actors from the british theatre, apart from Olivier and Gielgud who else appeared in this series and what is the survival rate. Thanks

[Mike Royden]

I have the BBC Hardback Book from 1967, and it includes interviews with Olivier, Thorndike, Richardson,Ashcroft, Redgrave, Evans, Gielgud and Coward. It says on the d/w that the book was based on 8 programmes on BBC 2 originally televised in 1965 and 1966.

[Mike Royden]

it includes interviews with Olivier, ThornLesbian, Richardson.

That should read Sybil Thornd*ke

[Andrew Doherty]

Thanks Mike, I think it's a great shame that Tynan did'nt consider Donald Wolfit worthy of inclusion. You may be interested to learn that the Olivier interview has been released on the new Richard III Criterion DVD available throught Amazon.

[Mike Royden]

Thanks Mike, I think it's a great shame that Tynan did'nt consider Donald Wolfit worthy of inclusion. You may be interested to learn that the Olivier interview has been released on the new Richard III Criterion DVD available throught Amazon.
I have never seen anY television by Wolfit or Tynan, but I did read Tynan's letters, did Tynan keep diaries in the 50's and 60's? They would be something worth publishing. I Don't like Olivier, give me Charles Laughton anyday.

[Andy]

Donald wolfit's appearance in Volpone from 1958 survives in the archives. I have seen a clip of this and very good it is too. Charles Laughton of course was always our greatest actor, and did'nt that upset Olivier.
When Laughton came to Stratford to play King Lear in the 50's he asked Olivier to direct him, of course Olivier refused. I've always maintained that if Laughton, Rathbone and Rains had'nt left for Hollywood in the 30's what a diffrent place the english theatre would have been. I think Wolfit's non appearance in the 'Great Acting' series can be put down to pure snobbery ,but it does seem bizarre that Coward was included and Wolfit was excised. Wolfit has gone down in theartical folk lore as selfish and arrogant, there are of course also stories of his generousity to young actors. I have heard actors recall knocking on Sir Donald's dressing room spouting admiration and being taken on as spear carriers how does this compare to Olivier's apparant tyranical approach to actors and Gielgud's rudeness and temper tantrums. Laughton and Wolfit paid homage to Shakespeare but they were not afraid to take on other roles. Whenever I see Laughton up against Abbott and Costello. I always think of Gielgud and Olivier and their contempt for anything non classical.

[andrew martin]

All 8 programmes still exist as 35mm telerecordings. All are listed as "Great Acting", except Noel Coward's programme which went out as "Noel Coward on Acting" a couple of weeks after "Great Acting" finished (there were 2 series, 10/8/65-31/8/65 and 12/2/66-26/2/66).

[Andy]

Many thanks for the excellent info.

[William Martin]

thornlesbian? ? ? , this softwares having a laugh

is greg dyke still "greg woman lover"

[William Martin]

yup

[Deleted]

I have contacted Ellen on the BBC Forum, she has asked if there are any others who would like the series rebroadcast. Please add your message to the BBC4 Forum, if you would like to see it. You never know.