I mean, I like the guy, like many of his films, but people seriously get knighted for being....actors? I'd think you'd have to save a bus load of kids on a burning school bus or something, or prevent a plot to blow up thousands of people, or come up with a cure for a disease for that honor.
sharepeople get knighted for what they are good at,so painters or diplomats get knighted.
Mr Hurt was a great actor don't you think?
Some people get knighted automatically due to holding certain senior positions,that seems more wrong than giving an award to an outstanding actor.
Mr Hurt was a great actor don't you think?
Did you even read my post? Let me remind you in case you missed it:
I mean, I like the guy, like many of his films,
and I will stand by what I initially said, no, I do not think actors should get knighted, nor was knighthood historically just about "being good" at something.
You can be knighted for services to the arts of which he certainly qualified, you can be knighted for other things too such as services to charity, another area he worked hard at, the man was an exemplary actor and an exemplary human being, for purely selfish reasons I wish he could have lived much, much longer.
shareIn what universe do people get knighted for thwarting 9/11-style terrorist attacks or saving a crowded school-bus from exploding in flames?
This is the 21st Century. In modern England a knighthood will generally cost you a £500.000 dotation to the ruling political party. If you are too cheap to fork out that much, then an OBE usually costs only half that amount. Of course, a real high-roller can write a cheque for a cool million. That buys a Life Peerage, which means a seat in the House of Lords and a possible post in the Cabinet someday.
Former Prime Ministers such as Tony Blair and David Cameron were notorious for their 'cash for honours' policy, and I doubt if things will improve under the current administration.
John Hurt earned his knighthood, and is most unseemly of anyone to begrudge him of it.
Owen I get your point but you are talking about bravery awards,people still get George medals and Victoria crosses and so on.
I assume that these awards are not always made public due to undercover agents and so on?
I strongly doubt that I would even be in the frame for any sort of award but would I take one if offered? I think I would and most people would.
No, it was the OP who was talking about knighthoods for bravery.
If you read his post he claimed that John should not have knighted for services to the arts, but only for some heroic act straight out of 'Die Hard' or 'Speed'. There are various medals reserved for military and law-enforcement staff in such circumstances, but these are dished out in separate ceremonies from the New Year and Queen's Birthday honours.
The New Year honours are 'political' and are usually given to people who have licked the incumbent Prime Minister's arse loyally enough to qualify for a gong. A trade union baron who has swung his members behind the Labour Party leadership or a captain of industry who has convinced shareholders to bail the Conservative Party out of debt would be a good example.
The Queen's Birthday honours are 'national' and are generally awarded to those who have served their country in the field of charity work, medicine, sport or the arts. A winner of an Olympic gold medal or a distinguished actor would fit that particular bill.
You and I were in accord that John's award was merited by his body of work over the last half-century in the theatrical profession.
It was the OP who disputed this.
and I will stand by what I initially said, no, I do not think actors should get knighted, nor was knighthood historically just about "being good" at something.
So in today's world someone needs to save a princess from a dungeon in a hostile country to be knighted? A little common sense here as to the way citizens are honored by the Queen for their contributions in many fields vs the way it was done say in the 18th century.
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Oh gee, well let's see: How about a doctor that worked at a hospital for 30yrs and saved countless people's lives, maybe that might just be a tad more important than acting in a film?
How about power line operators - sound silly - do you know that's one of the most dangerous jobs? People can die if their power is not on, no heat in the winter, no A/C in the summer, heatstroke, or exposure to cold will kill people, but when does anyone thank them?
My goodness, I like movies, and I like actors, but some of you place waaaaay too much importance on these celebrities.