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Eric Thompson
Eric Norman Thompson (9 November 1929 – 30 November 1982) was an English actor, scriptwriter and stage director. He is best remembered for creating and performing the English narration for ''The Magic Roundabout'', which he adapted from the original French '' Le Manège enchanté''. Early life Eric Norman Thompson was born on 9 November 1929 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, the son of Annie (née Jackson) and George Henry Thompson, a hotel waiter, and grew up in Rudgwick, Sussex, attending Collyer's School, Horsham. He trained to be an actor at the Old Vic acting school in London and joined the Old Vic theatre company in 1952. Career Thompson worked regularly for the BBC, and was a presenter of the children's television programme '' Play School'' from 1964 to 1967. He was best known as the narrator of ''The Magic Roundabout'', for which he also wrote the English language scripts, using the visuals from the original French '' Le Manège enchanté''. These were transm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sleaford
Sleaford is a market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. On the edge of the The Fens, Fenlands, it is north-east of Grantham, west of Boston, Lincolnshire, Boston, and south of Lincoln, England, Lincoln. It is the largest settlement in North Kesteven with a population of 19,807 in United Kingdom Census 2021, 2021. Centred on the former parish of New Sleaford, the modern boundaries and urban area include Quarrington, Lincolnshire, Quarrington to the south-west, Holdingham to the north-west and Old Sleaford to the east. The town is bypassed by the A17 road (England), A17 and the A15 road (England), A15 roads. Sleaford railway station is on the Poacher Line, Nottingham to Skegness (via Grantham) and Peterborough–Lincoln line, Peterborough to Lincoln lines. The first settlement formed in the Iron Age where a prehistoric track crossed the River Slea. It was likely home to a mint for the Corieltauvi in the 1st ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Doctor Finlay's Casebook
''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' is a television drama series that was produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's 1935 novella ''Country Doctor'', the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictional Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s. Cronin was the primary writer for the show between 1962 and 1964. Characters The main characters were Dr. Finlay, the junior partner in the practice, played by Bill Simpson, Dr. Cameron, the craggy senior partner, played by Andrew Cruickshank and Janet, their unflappable housekeeper and receptionist at Arden House, played by Barbara Mullen. Other recurrent characters included Dr. Snoddie, Finlay's crusty detractor and Janet's admirer, played by Eric Woodburn and gossipy Mistress Niven (the district nurse whose formal title was mistress midwife), played by Effie Morrison. Cast * Bill Simpson as Dr. Alan Finlay *Andrew Cruickshank as Dr. Angus Cameron *Barbara Mullen as Janet MacP ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dougal And The Blue Cat
''Dougal and the Blue Cat'' () is a 1970 animated film based on ''The Magic Roundabout'' directed by Serge Danot. It was released in France in December 1970 and its English version, narrated by Eric Thompson, like the original series, was released in 1972. Plot One morning in the magic garden, after a rude awakening from his cuckoo clock, Dougal the dog remembers a strange event that happened the night before. He then takes the train to speak to Zebedee about it (while briefly conversing with Ermintrude, Brian, Dylan, and Mr. MacHenry on the way). Dougal recounts how, after being awoken and greeted by a strange red owl, he had heard two voices coming from the old treacle factory that had been shut down. The second voice, a female, repeatedly says, "Blue is beautiful, blue is best. I'm blue, I'm beautiful, I'm best!" After the flashback, Zebedee suggests Dougal talk with Florence. At the roundabout, Florence is greeted by Mr. Rusty and the other kids who show her a surprise: a sl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
One Day In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich (film)
''One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich'' () is a 1970 biographical drama film based on the novel by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn with the same name. Plot The film stars Tom Courtenay as the title character, a prisoner in the Soviet gulag system in the 1950s who endures a long prison sentence. It tells of a routine day in his life. Cast *Tom Courtenay as Ivan Denisovich Shukhov * Espen Skjønberg as Tiurin * Alf Malland as Fetiukov * Frimann Falck Clausen as Senka * Jo Skønberg as Gopchik * as Eino * Torstein Rustdal as Vaino * James Maxwell as Captain *Alfred Burke as Alyosha *Eric Thompson as Tsetzar * John Cording as Pavlo * Matthew Guinness as Kilgas * Roy Bjørnstad * Paul Connell * Sverre Hansen *Wolfe Morris * Kjell Stormoen * Caspar Wrede Reception Roger Greenspun, in a respectful but unenthusiastic review for ''The New York Times'', spoke highly of the cinematography, the "intelligent exploitation of realistic locations," and "estimable performances" by Courtenay and Skj ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Jokers
''The Jokers'' is a 1967 British comedy film directed by Michael Winner and starring Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed. It was written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. Two brothers hatch a plot to steal the Crown Jewels. Plot Michael Tremayne is booted out of Sandhurst. He and his brother David want to do something "big". They decide to commit a crime as a "grand gesture". The brothers take Inge, David's new inamorata, on a tour of London, including the Tower of London. At a dinner party they learn that you cannot be charged with theft unless you intend to permanently deprive the owner of their property. David proposes stealing the crown jewels and sending letters out beforehand, showing they aren't intending to permanently deprive. Michael is somewhat jealous of David, as David is considered the ‘good’ son and him the ‘bad’ son. They write and deliver the letters. They plant a bomb at the Albert Memorial and observe the police procedure. Next they put a bomb at the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Barber Of Stamford Hill
''The Barber of Stamford Hill'' is a 1962 British drama film directed by Casper Wrede and starring John Bennett. The screenplay was by Ronald Harwood, adapted from his own 1960 television play of the same name. It was made at Shepperton Studios. Mr. Figg, a Jewish barber about to turn fifty, as he contemplates middle age and expresses regrets at never having started a family. Plot The film opens in Mr. Figg’s barbershop in Stamford Hill, in which he discusses his family life with his customers. Upon his arrival home, however, it is revealed that he is a bachelor and his stories of family life are inventions he concocts because he believes they are what his customers want to hear. In fact, he lives on his own in a flat in Stepney and on Friday nights lights the Shabbat candles before his mute friend Dober comes to visit and they spend the evening eating and playing chess. As he sits with Dober, Mr. Figg discusses his sadness at not having had a family and subsequently dec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Private Potter
''Private Potter'' is a 1962 British drama film directed by Caspar Wrede and starring Tom Courtenay, Mogens Wieth, Ronald Fraser and James Maxwell. The screenplay was by Wrede and Ronald Harwood. Plot During the Cyprus Emergency (1955–1959) Private Potter is a soldier who claims that the reason he cried out leading to the death of a comrade was that he saw a vision of God. There is then a debate over whether he should be court-martialled. Cast * Tom Courtenay as Private Potter * Mogens Wieth as Yannis * Ronald Fraser as Doctor * James Maxwell as Lieutenant Colonel Harry Gunyon * Ralph Michael as Padre * Brewster Mason as Brigadier * Eric Thompson as Captain John Knowles * John Graham as Major Sims * Frank Finlay as Captain Patterson * Harry Landis as Lance Corporal Lamb * Michael Coles as Private Robertson * Jeremy Geidt as Major Reid * Fulton Mackay as soldier Production The screenplay was written by Ronald Harwood for a television play that was broadcast on ITV ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lucky Jim (1957 Film)
''Lucky Jim'' is a 1957 British comedy film directed by John Boulting and starring Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas and Hugh Griffith. It is an adaptation of the 1954 novel ''Lucky Jim'' by Kingsley Amis. Plot Jim Dixon is a young lecturer in history at a redbrick university, who manages to offend his head of department and create various disastrous incidents. When he eventually delivers a lecture drunk, he feels forced to resign. But just as his career seems over, he is offered a job in London, and when he learns that the girl of his dreams is on her way to the railway station, he chases after her in the professor's old car. The professor's whole family chases after, and arrives at the station just in time to see Jim and the girl disappear on the train to London. Main cast * Ian Carmichael as James "Jim" Dixon * Terry-Thomas as Bertrand Welch * Hugh Griffith as Professor Welch * Sharon Acker as Christine Callaghan * Jean Anderson as Mrs Welch * Maureen Connell as Margaret Peel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pool Of London (film)
''Pool of London'' is a 1951 British noir crime film directed by Basil Dearden. It stars Bonar Colleano, Earl Cameron (in his breakthrough role) and Susan Shaw. It was written by Jack Whittingham and John Eldridge. Set in post-war London, the film is of note for portraying the first interracial relationship in a British film. Plot ''The Dunbar'', a merchant ship, arrives in the Pool of London, bringing a crew of sailors eager to spend their shore leave in the bustling city. Among them are Dan MacDonald, a streetwise seaman, and Johnny Lambert, his more reserved Jamaican friend. While Dan seeks excitement and quick money, Johnny experiences London from a different perspective, forming a tentative friendship with Pat, a young white woman who shows him kindness despite the racial prejudices of the time. Dan is approached by a gang of criminals who offer him a large sum of money to smuggle stolen diamonds out of the country. Unaware of the full extent of their crimes, he agr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Heart Attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is retrosternal Angina, chest pain or discomfort that classically radiates to the left shoulder, arm, or jaw. The pain may occasionally feel like heartburn. This is the dangerous type of acute coronary syndrome. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, nausea, presyncope, feeling faint, a diaphoresis, cold sweat, Fatigue, feeling tired, and decreased level of consciousness. About 30% of people have atypical symptoms. Women more often present without chest pain and instead have neck pain, arm pain or feel tired. Among those over 75 years old, about 5% have had an MI with little or no history of symptoms. An MI may cause heart failure, an Cardiac arrhythmia, irregular heartbeat, cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Most MIs occur d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
My Fat Friend
''My Fat Friend'' is a play by Charles Laurence. Plot The comedy is an ugly duckling tale about an overweight young woman who attracts the attention of a potential suitor. With the help of her friends/roommates, she undergoes a diet and exercise regime to shed the extra pounds she assumes she needs to lose in order to hold the man's attention. Performances The play premiered on 6 November 1972 at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, where it ran for one week before transferring to the Rex Theatre in Wilmslow for another week's engagement. On 6 December it opened in London's West End at the Globe Theatre, where it enjoyed a modest run despite lukewarm reviews. The cast, directed by Eric Thompson, included Jennie Linden and Kenneth Williams. After seven previews, the Broadway production, directed by Robert Moore, opened on 31 March 1974 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where it ran for 288 performances. The cast included Lynn Redgrave, John Lithgow, and George Rose, who was nominated f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was a British actor and comedian. He was best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 ''Carry On'' films, and appeared in many British television programmes and radio comedies, including series with Tony Hancock and Kenneth Horne, as well as being a frequent panellist on BBC Radio 4's comedy panel show ''Just a Minute'' from its second series in 1968 until his death 20 years later. Williams grew up in Central London in a working-class family; he said his father spoke Cockney. He served in the Royal Engineers during World War II, where he first became interested in becoming an entertainer. After a short spell in repertory theatre as a serious actor, he turned to comedy and achieved national fame in ''Hancock's Half Hour''. He sustained continued success throughout the 1960s and 1970s with his regular appearances in ''Carry On'' fil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
