SOUTH BANK SHOW, THE: LAURENCE OLIVIER: A LIFE, II (TV)
Summary
One in this weekly arts series. This program, the second of a special two-evening profile of actor Laurence Olivier, traces Olivier's life from his return to the stage in 1944 after a six-year absence and his marriage to actress Vivien Leigh to the making of the film "The Entertainer" in 1957. Reminiscences from Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir John Gielgud, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., John Osborne, and Joan Plowright are interspersed with early film footage of the Old Vic Theatre Company touring Australia. Film clips from "Richard III," "Hamlet," "Caesar & Cleopatra," and "The Entertainer" are also shown.
Next, the evening traces Olivier's life from his appointment to director of the National Theatre Company in 1961 to his semi-retirement. Reminiscences from actress Plowright are interspersed with film clips of the stage productions of "Uncle Vanya," "The Recruiting Officer," "The Merchant of Venice," and "Long Day's Journey Into Night"; film clips from "Othello" and "A Voyage Round My Father"; and stills from the films "The Betsy," "The Boys From Brazil," and "The Jazz Singer." Included is film footage of a 1973 press conference honoring Olivier upon his departure from the National Theatre Company. The footage also shows Peter Hall, who succeeded Olivier as director of the National Theatre, and Queen Elizabeth at a July 13, 1951, christening of the future building site for the National Theatre Company. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: London Weekend Television (United Kingdom)
- DATE: October 24, 1982
- RUNNING TIME: 1:21:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T88:0209
- GENRE: Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Acting; Biography; Film; International Collection - United Kingdom; Theater
- SERIES RUN: London Weekend TV (United Kingdom) - TV series, 1978-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nick Elliot … Executive Producer
- Nick Evans … Executive Producer
- Bob Bee … Producer, Director
- Melvyn Bragg … Host, Editor
- Stephen Oliver … Composer
- Marcus Dods … Conductor
- Ralph Richardson … Special Guest
- John Gielgud … Special Guest
- Douglas Fairbanks … Special Guest
- John Osborne … Special Guest
- Joan Plowright … Special Guest
- Elizabeth II, Queen of England
- Peter Hall
- Vivien Leigh
- National Theatre Company
- Old Vic Theatre Company
- Laurence Olivier