Seeing the title of this post, I of course came to read it, but also to quote the Lucy line that of course you also quoted. I knew she died when more than one old friend texted me without explanation "poor Charlotte."
Thanks as always! Not sure I didn’t first encounter her in Murder by Death, which, reading this, I am now inclined to revisit sooner rather than later. (Surely “toting” comes from “totaling” … I’ve never heard of “totting”; whence that variation???)
My mother always pronounced it with a short o, and I have always seen it written without a doubled t, so I have assumed that it was yet another illustration of the vagaries of English.
People are, quite rightly, paying all kinds of tribute to Dame Maggie. What I appreciate today about yours is the careful choosing of brilliant performances/line delivery. Thank you for writing.
There's a great moment when she's getting ready for dinner and says something about it all being exhausting; I can't find the exact quote or video of the moment, but every time I see it I'm struck by how much feeling she gives her character in a tiny moment of dialog.
And then when Bob Balaban's character Mr. Weissman doesn't want to spoil the end of his murder mystery film by revealing the murderer and Dame Maggie shuts him down completely with "Oh, but none of us will see it." And "Difficult colour...green." Damn, now I have to go watch the whole film!
When I was in high school, we took a bus from Michigan to Stratford Ontario to see a play. Being 15, I was not looking forward to it in any way. It was Much Ado About Nothing with this superpowered redhead person as Beatrice. That was the beginning for me. I don't think I knew she was in movies or anything. This was pre-internet (pre-many-things) 1970s. But I soon figured it out. At the time it was just WHO *WAS* THAT?
I’ve heard amazing things about her time at Stratford; I’m sorry I never saw her there. I saw her onstage five times: in Night and Day (minor Stoppard), The Lady from Dubuque (extremely minor Albee; she did the best she could with it), and three times in Lettice and Lovage (heavenly Shaffer).
As folks commenting here say, there are no end of tributes to Dame Maggie every which way at the moment. As there should be.
I guess one of the things that I really dig about her (or maybe it’s the myth around her) was her difficult-ness, her - for want of a better expression - quality of not suffering fools gladly. Expecting, and invariably providing, high standards and expecting others to do the same. A prickliness. So not a people pleaser…unless she was pleasing us, the audience, with her work.
There’s something about the quality of her and Davis in Murder on the Nile (other than the camp-fest) that always seems to speak of Davis clearly having met her match; and rather liking it.
Another Maggie I recommend that few seem to know: My Old Lady. It's primarily a Kevin Kline film and one of my favorites of his too, but Dame Maggie plays the opposing force and takes what could otherwise be a truly despicable character into one that's actually sympathetic.
On New Year's Day 1988, friends and I couldn't agree on seeing a movie and so we decided to see all three of our choices that day. We started with Housekeeping, went on to see The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, and finished with The Dead. It's remarkble to look back and realize what an embarassment of cinematic treasures we could choose from on a winter's day.
It's also remarkable to realize I had the stamins to sit through three movies in one day, but I was a tad younger then.
Thank you for a lovely tribute to an actor who never disappointed.
She's a constant treat, even in vehicles that are beneath her.
Hey, a lady has to work.
Seeing the title of this post, I of course came to read it, but also to quote the Lucy line that of course you also quoted. I knew she died when more than one old friend texted me without explanation "poor Charlotte."
Poooooooooor Charlotte. ❤️
Thanks as always! Not sure I didn’t first encounter her in Murder by Death, which, reading this, I am now inclined to revisit sooner rather than later. (Surely “toting” comes from “totaling” … I’ve never heard of “totting”; whence that variation???)
I guess that if you can take the sound tote out of total you can always extract the clipping “to tot,” and thus “totting.”
ah, that does make sense
My mother always pronounced it with a short o, and I have always seen it written without a doubled t, so I have assumed that it was yet another illustration of the vagaries of English.
People are, quite rightly, paying all kinds of tribute to Dame Maggie. What I appreciate today about yours is the careful choosing of brilliant performances/line delivery. Thank you for writing.
Thank you, Judy!
Love her and I love this post ❤️🥰
Such great books and films
Thank you!! On this rainy Saturday, chores all dispatched, I have a lovely playlist — starting with Judith Hearne.
Much to re-watch in this, and I would also add "Gosford Park" -- a true gem.
There's a great moment when she's getting ready for dinner and says something about it all being exhausting; I can't find the exact quote or video of the moment, but every time I see it I'm struck by how much feeling she gives her character in a tiny moment of dialog.
And then when Bob Balaban's character Mr. Weissman doesn't want to spoil the end of his murder mystery film by revealing the murderer and Dame Maggie shuts him down completely with "Oh, but none of us will see it." And "Difficult colour...green." Damn, now I have to go watch the whole film!
When I was in high school, we took a bus from Michigan to Stratford Ontario to see a play. Being 15, I was not looking forward to it in any way. It was Much Ado About Nothing with this superpowered redhead person as Beatrice. That was the beginning for me. I don't think I knew she was in movies or anything. This was pre-internet (pre-many-things) 1970s. But I soon figured it out. At the time it was just WHO *WAS* THAT?
I’ve heard amazing things about her time at Stratford; I’m sorry I never saw her there. I saw her onstage five times: in Night and Day (minor Stoppard), The Lady from Dubuque (extremely minor Albee; she did the best she could with it), and three times in Lettice and Lovage (heavenly Shaffer).
We were such lucky little ingrates. (We my classmates and I not we you.)
You have no doubt seen this, but I will share it anyway. Smith, Dench, Plowright. "How rude!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VxsyjMv1d8
“Think what you like, Lucille” — for some reason I imagine B.B. King saying that to his guitar.
On a different note, Lahti has for some reason not had the career she should have.
Loved this piece, man. Thank you.
As folks commenting here say, there are no end of tributes to Dame Maggie every which way at the moment. As there should be.
I guess one of the things that I really dig about her (or maybe it’s the myth around her) was her difficult-ness, her - for want of a better expression - quality of not suffering fools gladly. Expecting, and invariably providing, high standards and expecting others to do the same. A prickliness. So not a people pleaser…unless she was pleasing us, the audience, with her work.
There’s something about the quality of her and Davis in Murder on the Nile (other than the camp-fest) that always seems to speak of Davis clearly having met her match; and rather liking it.
"Davis clearly having met her match; and rather liking it." Yes, precisely, a lovely way to view it!
Another Maggie I recommend that few seem to know: My Old Lady. It's primarily a Kevin Kline film and one of my favorites of his too, but Dame Maggie plays the opposing force and takes what could otherwise be a truly despicable character into one that's actually sympathetic.
On New Year's Day 1988, friends and I couldn't agree on seeing a movie and so we decided to see all three of our choices that day. We started with Housekeeping, went on to see The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, and finished with The Dead. It's remarkble to look back and realize what an embarassment of cinematic treasures we could choose from on a winter's day.
It's also remarkable to realize I had the stamins to sit through three movies in one day, but I was a tad younger then.
Thank you for a lovely tribute to an actor who never disappointed.
What an amazing trio of films! Wow!
Another one https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LpeGI3DArKQ