How I miss the days when such eloquence, class and sophistication were so readily on show!!!

@WinrichNaujoks

11 ай бұрын

In fairness, there has never been anyone like him either.

@b.deville3236

9 ай бұрын

@@krishanchoudhury Bullshit. The Charles Manson Generation ruined the culture. You only have to look at a monster like Howard Stern and know how he would have been received by the pre-Woodstock society to see the difference.

@TheShootist

9 ай бұрын

Stephen Fry. Douglas Murray.

@lesleyhogg2495

8 ай бұрын

You are not alone. Now it's clicks on tik tok!!! Who knew we'd disintegrate to mud so quickly? I Claidius for ever

@SeanRCope

8 ай бұрын

Lol, getting old. Sound like your grandparents. Funny how much we love change when young and dislike it when we grow old.

An evening with Peter Ustinof was a bargain at any price. We all miss him greatly.

@dennisesplin3285

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I wonder what Peter would think about events in Ukraine and Russia. Civilisation has a thin skin. Life is cheap.

@soeffingwhat

9 ай бұрын

@@dennisesplin3285 I think hed be appalled and would probably be on whatever boards of communication he could to try and end it asap.

@dennisesplin3285

9 ай бұрын

@@soeffingwhat Peter was in a film with Humphrey Bogart. I can't remember it's title. I loved him in Topakaki. A brilliant heist film filmed in Istanbul. The most fascinating city in the World.

@craigkdillon

2 ай бұрын

@@dennisesplin3285 We're No Angels. Humphrey Bogart, Alan Alda, and Peter Ustinov. Great film.

@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633

15 күн бұрын

@@soeffingwhat Have to stop Putin first. That will end it.

When Peter Ustinov passed away, the world became a poorer place. His interviews and acting roles put on display a man who was genuinely articulate, intelligent and talented with a presence of humility that is rarely seen in stars of his calibre. I wonder if it will ever be possible for our stars/role models of today to follow in the footsteps of such an incredible example of what human beings could be like if they put their minds to it.

@gordonely6911

9 ай бұрын

Stars/role models of today (?). John Sayles 🩵 eg. 2004 Silver City ; 1988 Eight Men Out etc etc Of course if you literally mean today (2023) I’m stumped ! !

@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633

2 ай бұрын

Would be nice.

@jessewolf7649

2 ай бұрын

There are no stars or role models today. At least in Hollywood.

Mr Ustinovs impressions of Olivier and Laughton are stellar 😀 Olivier calling everyone " dear boy"

@Raukura42

14 күн бұрын

Totally. And especially the Richard III-like “the future”

Ustinov could have given a talk on how paint dries, and it still would have been interesting!

@WhiteCamry

3 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/dJ1lqbqrfK-umtY.html

@budbutley532

2 жыл бұрын

In some remote cranny of my memory I seem to recall that Ustinov began his magistral lecture on this very subject in AD 74 with Pliny the Elder on saturnism

@guygrip9634

2 жыл бұрын

Allways like PETER GREAT ACTOR. DOES CHARLES LAUGHTON TO TEA. TWO BAD I WAS THERE I REMEMBER ALL MOVIES THEY DID. I LOVE TO SEE PETER TALK ABOUT TOPAKI. HOW WAS GREEK ACTRESS WAS IN REAL LIFE.

A brilliant, witty and wickedly talented actor. Thank you, England.

@mulokitanaka3642

10 ай бұрын

Russian, German, Polish, Ethiopian and Jewish descent

@jasonallen9144

9 ай бұрын

And English born and bred.

Hollywood studios spend $100 million making films that are less entertaining than the half hour I just spent listening to Peter Ustinov talk into a single fixed camera with no props or set dressing to speak of. How does someone get this good at storytelling?

@UWPower

2 жыл бұрын

This is the best comment possible about this video, you’re so right!

@ianbrewer4843

Жыл бұрын

Agree

@stevenbowen7674

Жыл бұрын

Spot on!

@francessimmonds5784

Жыл бұрын

His interviews are legendary. Fascinating man, fascinating life. If you haven’t seen them watch his appearances on Parkinson, hilarious as always.

@bethocdunwitty6641

Жыл бұрын

Because the goal of the masters behind hollywood is to lower the morales and consciouness of the masses

Anyone who is interested in Charles Laughton, should watch Hobsons Choice , a true Classic. British actors, at their best , a Classic

@reasonrestored9116

2 жыл бұрын

He is absolutely amazing in that wonderful film

@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633

15 күн бұрын

@@reasonrestored9116 And in a lot of other films. My favorite is Rembrandt and Ruggles of Red Gap.

One never gets a gossipy slant from Ustinov, just the facts without judgement as well was all his accents and nationalities. THE greatest raconteur without doubt.

He was a brilliant humorist, impressionist, author, and actor. Shame one can't live forever, Ustinov would have been a candidate for this task. He was wonderful.

@lordyoehann1817

5 жыл бұрын

I know what you mean. If only we could live forever. It's sad when great celebrities pass away. Loved his voice.

@jimlaguardia8185

5 жыл бұрын

Rodney Morgan Brown Good he is not around today; he would be dismayed and disgusted.

@delenngm

5 жыл бұрын

Jim LaGuardia On what basis are you saying that? Did you know the man or somehow have an insight into Ustinov’s mind? Unless you did that rather ungracious and presumptuous.

@fireyflower6643

5 жыл бұрын

dont forget, diplomat, linguist, UN Ambassador, friend to some very powerful people etc, but still was able to be with the 'common man'

@robertalenrichter

4 жыл бұрын

@@delenngm I don't think that it's ungracious or presumptuous to note that he was an urbane, sophisticated man with a wonderful command of the English language, and that precisely these qualities are today in precipitous decline, and that this may well have dismayed him, not to mention the catastrophic state of world affairs. I'm beginning to presume that the act of thinking itself is the real target of political correctness, any speculation, any form of imagination to be neutralised as a purported affront to human dignity.

Absolutely fascinating to see how he paints a scene like Rembrandt, only that he does so with words. What an absolute treasure.

His like are few and far between..old school brilliance...

I never tire of listening to this man.. every word a delight. I was lucky enough once to get tickets to see him live at the Palladium in London, rarely has two hours passed so quickly. Absolutely without equal.

Peter Ustinov was a truly great man, there are too few people like him today. He is and will always be greatly missed.

@sarahdixon6011

2 жыл бұрын

There is nobody like him. There are many 'great' speakers, men, women and everything in between. Listen to BBC World Service or Radio 4 to find some of what you want for a good start. 😉

I once saw Peter Ustinov in his one-man show. 2 hours of wit, entertainment and holding the audience in the palm of his hand. He could have gone on for a further 2 hours and it would have been no less enjoyable.

His impressions of Charles Laughton had me laughing so hard I could hardly breathe. I could listen to Peter U talking all day. He is incredibly engaging. One has the feeling he is specifically conversing with you alone.

@johnosman3550

10 жыл бұрын

Very well put. He really had that gift.

The best ever raconteur - sorely missed by all of us who admired this giant of a personality.

@roquefortfiles

6 ай бұрын

His flat American accents are brilliant.

What a joy to listen to his vocabulary and syntax. How sadly rare. I never tire of him. Thank you for posting this.

@MrDaiseymay

3 жыл бұрын

Thank god for all the joy he had recorded, and his printed word.

@Excalion88

3 жыл бұрын

Not just in English. He was fluent in Russian, Spanish, French, German and Italian as well.

His mimicry of Olivier has me laughing still. I've saved the entire clip for the story of Huston and Olivier conspiring to rewrite the scene, with Laughton upsetting the whole thing!

@Raukura42

10 ай бұрын

Totally! Right toward the end of it when he said “The future!” Very Olivier like in a Richard III sense.

Scene with Ustinov & Laughton in Kubrick's Spartacus, a dialog, is one of the very best in motion-picture history; in my humble opinion... dialog-wise anyhow. The finest possible acting.

@arthursteven5601

Жыл бұрын

Total agree

He was scary as Nero in Quo Vadis . But, wow! What a performance . He was not scary in reality . And what a great story teller. No wonder Michael Parkinson had him as a guest so many time . A gentle man and a good entertainer as well .

@rogeredwarrddeshon5000

9 ай бұрын

I mention that Nero was seventeen in 54AD when he became Emperor and he suicided in 68. I thought the actor should have been younger.

Did a hell of a lot for UNICEF and worked as a mediator by the world governments . A great man with a quick wit and a brilliant brain. Great comedian as well

There is a distinct difference between ability learned from academic pursuit and that gained through experience of life. Ustinov possessed both in abundance but his facility as raconteur demonstrated how a life of varied experience can provide both a wealth of material and the confidence and erudition to share it with others. He was a unique and marvellous entertainer.

Always admired Mr. Ustinov. His education, eloquence, ability, humor, etc...RIP

This is hilarious in part and his Laughton impression is uncanny!

If you were to invite ten guests from history for a dinner party Ustinov would surely be on the list, could listen to his tales all day!

I had the great pleasure of seeing him live,in a one man show. Genius,genius,genius.

Brilliant man, brilliant wit. His impression of Laughton is brilliant

The greatest storyteller we miss you Peter Ustinov

What an extraordinary raconteur. I could listen to Ustinov for hours.

@bobbywimsy6741

5 жыл бұрын

Bobbnoxious yes yes me too, what vivid enunciation!!

@tarnopol

5 жыл бұрын

Check this out: kzread.info/dash/bejne/hZqs2qeflNDUj7w.html

@John_Fugazzi

3 жыл бұрын

He occasionally toured, just him on stage telling stories. I was fortunate enough to see him at one of these performances.

A consummate professional, witty, extremely funny, accent raconteur and multi linguist.. Sir Peter was and still is an absolutely magical actor to watch, either on stage or film..

A Charles Laughton film favourite for me is not the Hollywood blockbusters, but Hobson's Choice, the quintessentially English film.

@glennover6046

5 жыл бұрын

Barry Cross Featuring a very young Prunella Scales.

@tarnopol

5 жыл бұрын

My favorite Laughton film is the one he directed but wasn't in, Night and the Hunter. Genius.

@OldsVistaCruiser

4 жыл бұрын

I liked "Jamaica Inn," but it was universally panned by critics.

@wenglishsal

4 жыл бұрын

Indeed, I second your sentiments.. I watched 'yet again' Hobson's Choice' last evening.. An absolutely corking film, all the actors were splendidly cast too.. :D

@Concetta20

4 жыл бұрын

I LOVE “Hobson’s Choice”! All the actors are brilliant in it, but of course Laughton shines.

Apart from Michael, Kirk Douglas had another son who tried his hand at comedy, but he wasn't particularly good. He was playing in Britain and wasn't going down well and he shouted 'l'm Kirk Douglas's son!' so one bloke stood up and shouted 'No! l'm Kirk Douglas's son!' Apparently true.

@kennywowie

3 жыл бұрын

brilliant bloke

@YouzTube99

3 жыл бұрын

@Billy the dog I don't care if that's true or not -- I love it!

@NuNugirl

3 жыл бұрын

You made up that story. You Sir, are a lying dog faced pony soldier.

@reasonrestored9116

2 жыл бұрын

I suspect it’s apocryphal, but it was worth telling lol

love his facial transformation when he's doing Laughton

A man of many talents. I first saw him as Nero on a bed sheet in my church youth theater room. But I really loved “We’re NoAngels.” Such a touching Christmas movie.

If anyone hasn't seen Ustinov's performance in Quo Vadis I encourage you to do so. It's amazing.

@elenavivi2662

4 жыл бұрын

Jack Thompson I watched it a couple of months ago and I enjoyed it immensely. 👍

@vashnanerada8757

3 жыл бұрын

I remember seeing that years ago

Wonderful man. A great credit to the British acting community.

Ustinov and Sellers were absolute geniuses.

Refreshing to not have an interviewer constantly jumping in.

I could listen to this magnificent, intelligent, funny, wonder of a man for the rest of my life. Thank you for the post.

His resume fills more volumes than are in the Library of Congress. A brilliant man of extremely rare quality. A complete joy…...

Thanks for posting this. Ustinov was one of the truly rare artists of our time who never took himself too seriously.

What an absolutely lovely, brilliant, charming man.

Incredible intellect, wit, and talent. Never a boring moment with PU. One of the most interesting characters ever. The stories he could have told.

I love his over-the-top American accents.

@jamesalexander5623

3 жыл бұрын

I'm an American and Many Americans sound just like that!

How lucky we are to have gems like this to visit

Crikey, the man was an absolute flaming *planetary treasure*.

@bobbywimsy6741

5 жыл бұрын

porcospino289 can't some private space contractor send Trump off to Mars or some other humor less life less domain?

@genedryer-bivins8314

5 жыл бұрын

@@bobbywimsy6741 Why in the world would you even mention that person on this page? No call for it, at all.

this man was incredibly witty and funny. one of the funniest imitators I've ever seen.

What a class act, could listen to him for hours!

One cannot help but to be enraptured by every new delivery of life's encounters by Peter. I could sit for hours listening to him expounding on his seemingly endless, episodic-like, enchanted life. His brilliant & worldly experiences are so refreshing & overwhelm me w/their scope.

Awesome actor doing an awesome impression of an awesome actor!

Shame that Laughton didn't direct more movies. He shrunk back after the criticism of Night Of The Hunter starring Robert Mitchum. An atmospheric and scary movie that didn't need monsters and great props. Only recognised as a terrific movie in much later years. I would love to have seen what else Charles might have provided for us.

@bobbywimsy6741

5 жыл бұрын

Kohl423 Reminds me of the anecdote about Laughton: He spoke at, of all things, a prayer breakfast. The lector read the Scripture, Psalm 23, after which Charles arose. He began surveying the assembled dignitaries; for some reason I think President Eisenhower was in the audience; must've been the annual Presidential Prayer breakfast. Anyway, Charles surveyed the audience, and said: I also could read this Psalm; some say I am an actor, and it is true I know the words of this Psalm.But the previous speaker knows the Author.

@andrewmcconnell4447

2 жыл бұрын

@@bobbywimsy6741.

@KennethNicholson1972

Жыл бұрын

@@bobbywimsy6741 Now that is quite the anecdote. Very good.

I’ve been a fan of Ustinov ever since I watched him play Blackbeard in “Blackbeard’s Ghost”, as a kid. He could broad comedy and he could do high drama, much like Laughton. His impressions are so fun! His Laughton voice and facial expression is so spot on.

He was a GREAT actor, wonderful raconteur, just a fabulous entertainer.

My parents drove away. Leaving me at A gas station. They traveled 45 minutes before noticing I wasn't there.

Ustinov was always enormously entertaining, and this was no exception. I laughed out loud.

Absolutely brilliant! One of my favorite actors of all times.....I don't get tired of watching one of the great minds in cinema, either in film or interviews like this one.

Great man. Class act. Old school. A pleasure to listen to him speak.

@goldskin1970

7 жыл бұрын

pantslizard

@pantslizard

7 жыл бұрын

Neil Davies

@bobbywimsy6741

5 жыл бұрын

pantslizard what an impression he could do of our Mr. Twitler! One of the most perfevrly gifted mimics since the late David Frye!

Brilliant perfomance Peter, one of your finest I dont know if you got an oscar . God bless

A brilliant, articulate and funny man.

Best story teller ever, and certainly a great actor ... thanks for sharing this

I can listen to this man all day.

One of the absolute greats in the world of theatre and film

@plazpastic

5 жыл бұрын

Bob, I heard you on Gilbert Gottfried. You were one of his best guests. I mentioned you on Doug TenNapel's podcast. Top ten gorilla men. The other guys thought it was hilarious I had that sort of data stored.

I don’t recall a better impression of Charles Laughton and his story of Laughton being wrongly identified by two tourists was wonderful.

Such a brilliant and cultured gentleman.

A lesson in how to talk off the cuff for 30 minutes without once saying "You know" or "If you like" or, above all, "incredible".

@alantallentire5834

3 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

@grahamlyons8522

3 жыл бұрын

@@alantallentire5834 Oh yes, that's another one!

@allybally0021

3 жыл бұрын

That is a good point! An incredibly polished gentleman - and I cannot think of his equivalent now.

Amazing mimicry. Just perfect voice work.

Great, lovely, wonderful, funny, and no bad language. How unfashionable

Watching him as a young man in WW2 films, I think he also wrote a few, are fascinating to watch especially as you picture him in later ‘bigger films’ to follow. One I recall was ‘The Way Ahead’ and another was ‘The New Lot’ and a smaller part in ‘One of Our Aircraft is missing’….. I think they can be found here on KZread…. He had so much talent and his intellect was astounding…. Sorely missed…. Thank You for so much joy and wit….!

This man was a true genius......so very funny

I loved how he mentioned Charles Laughton and immediately did his facial characteristics. Peter was a giant intellect and such a lovely man.

All actors gave a fantastic performance, but for me in order of Impact 1-5 - K Douglas, Lawrence Olivier, Charles Laughton, P Ustinov, Jean Simmons

@ellisgoodson1185

2 жыл бұрын

Good ranking.

Peter was great. I saw a 70mm screening after Spartacus was restored, in '91, a limited run screening, at select US theaters, including here in Denver. I took my parents, I had free tickets via a radio station I still work at. I'm glad that I saw so many classics, on the big screen, in the 1980s-90s.

A pleasure to hear such an intelligent, articulate, man.

NAILS thatAmerican accent.

Wow, fascinating interview! I could listen to Peter Ustinov for days ... Thanks for posting this!

And Kirk Douglas is still here. Angela Lansbury was Ustinov's sister-in-law, family table talk must have been wonderful.

A classic timeless raconteur, of an age of "real" celebrities and personalities . Where are these people now ?

@lorrettacrowley5922

3 жыл бұрын

Peter McDonald's: Gone, along with so many other class actors and true gentlemen

@judywhiting4684

Жыл бұрын

The British have a very intelligent humorous way of speaking....and a great command of -simply put-.WORDS......they brilliantly know how to SPEAK...something that has escaped the American actors

Laughton was a superb actor and he stood out even in this one which was one of his last acting performances.He could and indeed did do so many different Characters and very few actors could do that and those that could could not do them as good as him.Les Miserables /The private life of henry the VIII/and Mutiny on the bounty (was was his greatest acting performance in my opinion )were 3 of his best .

@ellisgoodson1185

2 жыл бұрын

This is my other account. I posted this clip from this plazpastic acct. You're right about Laughton. His hunchback destroyed me. kzread.info/dash/bejne/emeftqOpfMu3oKQ.html Your mention of Mutiny makes me want to see it again. I remember how on a dime my sympathies switched to Bligh the way he played getting into the boat. Like he was just waiting for this new challenge. And of course Night of the Hunter. What he poured into that made it classic. I'd like to hear Mitchum talk about it.

@Lemonheart69

8 ай бұрын

Stellar artist, Charles Laughton!

Well thank you, Stonewall U., for those scenes you wrote. They've always been my favorite scenes in 'Spartacus.' "Yes that certainly sounds like a bad attack of dignity."

i really love these actors especially charles laughton..watch witness for the prosecution

It should be titled “Ustinov does imitations of Americans”. Which he does very well.

Modern day directors and actors: PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MAN! Especially about Mr. Ustinov's perspective about what REAL drama is.

I've really enjoyed the work of this great gentleman for well over half-a-century now, initially via hearing his audio recordings from the underrated "The Grand Prix of Gibraltar" to the appropriate narration of "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant". But the actual close connection stems from when my Auntie Gloria worked together w/ Sir Peter on the Christmas comedy "We're No Angels" in 1954. One day she invited my father (her elder brother) to the set for filming (the mock trial/kangaroo court scene), and on this particular occasion she and my father had a personal audience w/ this eloquent speaker and mimic whereby he proceeded to regale just the two of them w/ an impeccable, spot-on comic rendition of the then Republican senator from Wisconsin, Joseph McCarthy, when the politician was in the very midst of his Communist "Red-scare" allegations. I remember how Ustinov uttered the line "Oh, to be a painter" in the film. But for me it would have to be "Oh, to have been a fly on the wall @ that most opportune time". A definite lasting memory for both my dad and auntie.

Imagine having Ustinov as your dinner guest.

Thank you so much for putting this up. What a genial genius! No more like him, alas!

I still use “the sun’s over there” and “I tingle” to this day.

My parents saw Charles Laughton perform readings from Shakespeare in Philadelphia about 1954 or so. It remains unforgettable to them even in their 80s.

@mercian7

7 жыл бұрын

God bless them for Charles was one one the best ever..I envy them

@alexhayden2303

7 жыл бұрын

As good as it gets: The Hunchback of Notre Dame!

@bobbywimsy6741

5 жыл бұрын

Hacklebernie Grundsau What a blessing! Are you related to Sarah Huckleberry, Hair Furor's preusse secretary by any chance? I'm from Philadelphia, and I'd love to hear their original voices, and their opinion of Trumpius. Wasn't Benedict Arnold a NYer, too, or was that Major André?

Bless him, fond memories :) x

It was a brief but great pleasure of my life to once meet this man, and to experience his wit, wisdom, warmth and charm first hand.

I could listen to this man read the back of a cereal box and it would be just as interesting. Amazing story teller!

A pale aside, but still so true …… they don’t make’em like that anymore. One of my favorite aviation collections is “Wings of the Red Star,” brilliantly narrated by “Mr Houstinov”

wow. i listened to the whole thing. It went by like a flash.

As teenager use to watch Dick Cavett... and Peter Ustinov appeared on his show. I loved his conversation skills, a true raconteur. Discovered he spoke 7 languages, most of them fluently. Well... that stuck in my head, and I'm must admit that lead to having studied 7 languages. However not fluent in any of the languages XD

Ustinov as ALWAYS is GLORIOUSLY funny! i especially remember him as the slave buyer being, wonderfully sardonic. he would address his buyers as: "your MAGNIFICENCESS: and,, d 'd love it! i have always enjoyed his BRILLIANCE above all the other things within him! damned near genius he was.

So well spoken! I wish he were still with us.

👏👏👏 Brilliant. Well told and fascinating BTS revelations. Video ended on the perfect anecdote. Thanks for uploading.

I loved him in Spartacus; when I watch it, I look forward to scenes that include him. Even as a child I loved him. As an adult raising my sons, watching the animated movie Robin Hood with them, I loved his voice acting as the spoiled prince John; we laughed together, it was so funny. Now, hearing him speak as himself, I see how articulate he was and what presence he had; no wonder he was such a pleasing, funny, formidable, astonishing actor.

**NEWS FLASH** When great people die, society changes forever, usually for the worse. We may not miss them immediately, but we ALWAYS do eventually, because there are no replacements. We have to "make do" with the 2nd tier, 3rd tier, even 4th tier, with woefully predictable results...

@waynej2608

4 жыл бұрын

That's it. You nailed it. Well said. We've pretty much lost all of the great originals. The irreplaceable ones. I'm fairly confident that we know who they are.

@michaelpieretti8707

4 жыл бұрын

Well written, I concur completely.

@MrDaiseymay

3 жыл бұрын

In Britain, there was a very distinct group of people, in all the entertainment sphere's and Arts, who emerged from the 1930's, in particular, and who had not only experienced the hardships of that decade, but also, who survived and emerged from their experiences, in the armed forces of WW2. Somehow, these harsh times, gave them a sense of human value , and armed them with the material of lifes experience, that they later shared, with their future audiences. This turned them into great actors, writer's, comedians, showbiz entertainer's etc etc. Sadly ,we have seen many of these great and talented peole, pass away in recent years. But each historic period, creates it's own hero's and talents, who learn as those of the past learned, to create the material and products, suited to the needs of their own time. It doesn't happen over night, but it will emerge, perhaps just not as WE know it.

Yep, he was a great storyteller.