James Mason

/Liked young Judi Bowker in this one, too./
She was made to look older. It was amazing to realize that she was in Clash of the Titans only a couple of years before.

"Two more swords and I'll be Queen of the Monkey People." Roseanne

@Cmdr..

Couldn't agree more.Mason managed to tell you more with a sideways half glance and a subtle half raise of an eyebrow about what was going on, not only in his mind but he told us about the character of the person he was looking at or hearing.
A tour de force in understated acting and a joy to watch.

'Off the record, on the QT, very Hush,Hush!

Mason was marvellous (whenever I cast Squeeth - The Movie either he or Alan Arkin plays me) but Cheryl Campbell stole away my heart, as usual. ;O)

Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.

CmdrCody has it in one - this film is a metaphor for the end of the Victorian/Edwardian Age before the outbreak of the holocaust of the First World War. James Mason (Sir Randolph) represents the gentle and benign attitude of the late Victorian era with its structured society as represented by his household. The servants know their places, but he recognises talent in the gamekeeper's son whom he wishes to send to Grammar School.

Edward Fox represents an Englishman's standards of behaviour where competitive sport, at least, is concerned but this does not stop him keeping a mistress. Lady Hartlip enjoys gambling and other extravagances while denying bestowing her favours elsewhere.

Robert Hardy (Lord Lilburn) represents another sort of Englishman with foppish standards, but sense enough to realise he has a jewel of a wife. And Joris Stuyck (Count Tibor Bakossyl) represents the Germanic cousins in Europe with their vast estates on the Hungarian plains perhaps who all too soon are to be thrown into the turmoil of battle that is WW1.

Finally, we come to Gordon Jackson (Tom Harker) who has respect for his betters, but shows the independent spirit of the working man. Alas, he represents the "Poor Bloody Infantry" who are about to be thrown into battle uttering "God Bless the King," before facing annihilation under the German guns.

Thus, I see the calm disturbed by the little explosion in the fireplace at the dinner table. The younger generation have their heart in the right place by caring for a tame duck, but his elders are just as firmly set upon a course of destruction that all seem incapable of stopping.

Mason did steal the film. I was aware that he was a last minute addition to the cast when Paul Scofield had to drop out because of an injury. I also realise he must had been ill during filming as it was his last film role and in that sense he wanted to go our on a high.

Its that man again!!

I agree about James Mason. Always a gentleman.

The Victorian era ended in 1901. I believe that you meant to say the Edwardian era.

Judi Bowker was not naked in "Clash of the Titans". It was a quite bit more endowed body double.Sorry.

She was twenty-six when she made Titans and thirty when she made this film but was obviously the much younger bride of Robert Hardy and she looked it.



Rescue the damsel in distress, whip the bad guy, save the world.