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."
I also enjoyed her performance in The Lady in the Van, but of course Murder By Death, being my first encounter with her, is my favorite. A Room with a View was also magnificent, of course. Honestly, most things she did (that I saw, at least) were fantastic.
And there were many that were beneath her. That work ethic is, I think, one of the things I admire most about her and Dame Judi Dench. Stage, film, TV . . . a paycheck’s a paycheck. (Or, as they would likely write it, a paycheque.)
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).
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. ❤️
I also enjoyed her performance in The Lady in the Van, but of course Murder By Death, being my first encounter with her, is my favorite. A Room with a View was also magnificent, of course. Honestly, most things she did (that I saw, at least) were fantastic.
She's a constant treat, even in vehicles that are beneath her.
Hey, a lady has to work.
And there were many that were beneath her. That work ethic is, I think, one of the things I admire most about her and Dame Judi Dench. Stage, film, TV . . . a paycheck’s a paycheck. (Or, as they would likely write it, a paycheque.)
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.