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Maggie Smith has died

variety.com

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Re: Maggie Smith has died

#11

Post by piltdownman »

jimbokun wrote: post #7

Maggie Smith and Michelle Dockery were brilliant in Downton Abbey. Their characters always seemed two to three steps ahead of everyone with their wit. And were hilarious to boot. Robert Crawley was nominally in charge of everything. But it was clear that Violet and Mary were pulling all the strings through their understanding of how the social contracts really worked. And it was fitting that in the finale Violet hand…

If you haven't already make sure you watch Brideshead revisited.

You have Phoebe Nicholls (who played Lady Rose's mother) and Diana Quick (Polina Molotova in The Death of Stalin and the Queen in the eponymous BBC series) doing some similar social machinations in the background of an absolutely stacked period-drama with a cast including Jeremy Irons, Laurence Olivier, and John Gielgud.

Re: Maggie Smith has died

#13

Post by piltdownman »

jszymborski wrote: post #10
piltdownman wrote: post #6

A towering presence of British stage and screen, with Dame Judi Dench being about the last of that golden generation since the passing of Diana Riggs (Olenna Tyrell). Time for a rewatch of Gosford Park while archly sipping gin out of a china teacup with a raised pinkie.

I didn't know Diana Riggs died :( She really brought the Queen of Thorns to life.

Yeah she was a big loss, a 60s bond girl and all-round sex symbol who went on to completely transcend that label and developed into a serious thespian and RSC/Old Vic stalwart. She absolutely holds her own as the Wife of Olivier's Lear.

I'm delighted she got to work with Edgar Wright before her death and put in a great turn in Last Night in Soho; I'd a big fear she'd peter out with a few Dr.Who episodes in a fairly unceremonious end to a glittering and exremely accomplished career.

Re: Maggie Smith has died

#14

Post by whamlastxmas »

workingdog wrote: post #4

I don't think you can understand the 1960s without seeing her glorious movie, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie It captures the tension of social norms and rebellion and, if one pays attention, the natural consequences of unbridled enthusiasm. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXA0N55c3iw

Lovely, thank you for sharing!

Re: Maggie Smith has died

#16

Post by saucymew »

Maggie Smith's character in both Abbey and HP brooked no BS. We're reaching the time now when more of the Harry Potter teachers are leaving this world, I am not looking forward to the students.

Re: Maggie Smith has died

#17

Post by astr0n0m3r »

jimbokun wrote: post #7

Maggie Smith and Michelle Dockery were brilliant in Downton Abbey. Their characters always seemed two to three steps ahead of everyone with their wit. And were hilarious to boot. Robert Crawley was nominally in charge of everything. But it was clear that Violet and Mary were pulling all the strings through their understanding of how the social contracts really worked. And it was fitting that in the finale Violet hand…

In Downton Abbey, Maggie Smith is playing a toned-down version of the character she played in Gosford Park.

Re: Maggie Smith has died

#19

Post by udkl »

workingdog wrote: post #4

I don't think you can understand the 1960s without seeing her glorious movie, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie It captures the tension of social norms and rebellion and, if one pays attention, the natural consequences of unbridled enthusiasm. Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXA0N55c3iw

> I don't think you can understand the 1960s

I think the same of "The Graduate (1967)" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cKafIqhEvk

Note - this is not a movie she is in.

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