Peter O'Toole has long been a favourite actor of mine. His classic delivery and leonine energy infuse every role he plays with a unique signature. At Oscar time he's the perennial bridesmaid; he holds the record for most nominations (8) without a win. In 2003 he received an "Honourary" Oscar but had to be cajoled into accepting it.
He's a man's man, hard drinking, two-fisted and outspoken...the sort of "Hollywood Star" that Hollywood stopped making years ago. Next to the current crop of bloodless clones that make up today's leading "Men", he is a God. He stands like an oak tree in a garden of weeds, towering above all in the movie firmament.
I met him in 1992, at a charity cricket match, and gushed like some pathetic fanboy. He was gracious, impressive and charismatic; in those few minutes he confirmed every wonderful thing I'd ever thought about him.
Over the years his performances have been celebrated far and wide; here I want to highlight some of his lesser known turns! "Murphy's War" (1971) Fantastic WW2 story of Irishman Murphy (O'Toole), sole survivour of a merchant ship sunk by a German U-Boat. After being nursed back to health by the local settlement's Quaker doctor (and discovering the U-Boat is moored secretly nearby) he set's about plotting his revenge. A splendidly energetic O'Toole gives an authentic stench of madness to his portrayal of a man in search of redemption.
1980 brought us "The Stunt Man", a complex, unclassifiable movie within a movie. It saw O'Toole, in imperious form, as manic film director Eli Cross harbouring a young Vietnam vet on the run from the law. Cross takes the boy into his crew and slowly, but surely, the line between reality and Hollywood make-believe begins to disappear. Again the great man is wildly charismatic, riveting and monstrous to a fault.
Finally, my favourite O'Toole, is "My Favourite Year". His weary, melancholic rake Alan Swann, is his finest hour. He ellicits wonder, contempt, sympathy and love at every turn. The 50's setting makes the movie all the warmer as young TV comedy writer Benjy Stone (a brilliant Mark Linn Baker), tries (unsuccessfully) to keep Swann sober for his live TV appearance on "The King Kaiser Show". O'Toole's own mythology plays directly into this character so much that by the time his confession, at not having seen his daughter in years, comes around we feel the pain of his shame as genuine.
A great actor, a flawed man...a living legend. Celebrate him while you can.
Excelsior out!
