Thursday, May 15, 2008

TODAY'S TIDDLYWINKYDINK: CRISP SERIAL

John Hurt will once again be playing the role of Quentin Crisp, whom he first portrayed in "The Naked Civil Servant" over thirty years ago. "An Englishman In New York" (which takes its name from the Sting song about Crisp) will take place in the Manhattan of the 1970s and 1980s and will begin filming in August for ITV.

Crisp, who once described himself as "The Stately Homo Of England", died in 1999 at the age of 90. So it's always possible that Hurt could reprise the role one last time to cover the last years of Crisp's life. And by doing so, would make the televersion of Quentin Crisp eligible for membership in the TV Crossover Hall of Fame for the three related projects.

Here's a VERY short profile of Quentin Crisp:

Quentin Crisp was Oscar Wilde's perfect descendant. With his calculated caustic words, open homosexuality and wittily provocative attitude toward any kind of conventionality, Crisp caused a bit of a stir in conservative England during the 1950s and 1960s, and even on through the 1970s. In 1981, Quentin Crisp moved to New York City, bringing along his familiar and witty remarks and his eccentricity. Quentin Crisp charmed everyone and became "the face of a modern rebel."

Throughout his near twenty-year tenure on Manhattan, Mr. Crisp wrote a variety of books, reviews, appeared in several movies (most notably playing Elizabeth I in Sally Ann Potter's Orlando) and otherwise delighted us publicly and privately with his inimitable grace, wit and genius. Quentin Crisp died on the eve of touring his one-man show in Manchester, England, on 21 November 1999.

This came from Crisperanto.org, a very interesting site where you can learn about all aspects of Quentin Crisp.

BCnU!
Toby OB

"If you've been on Television twice
You wear perpetually an expression of fatuous affability
."
Quentin Crisp

1 comment:

JohnTS said...

Hi,

I was checking out your site today- very cool and informative. Your readers might be interested to know that Resident Alien, a film about cult figure Quentin Crisp's arrival in New York, is now available to download on iTunes.

About the film -
At age 73, Quentin Crisp moved to the States where he became an Englishman in New York. In this film, director Jonathan Nossiter follows Mr. Crisp about the streets of Manhattan, in and out of fantasy and reality, where he seems very much at home, wearing eye shadow, appearing on a makeshift stage, making and repeating wry observations, and dining with friends. Commentary by notable British celebs such as Sting and John Hurt, as well as demi-stars and wannabe Warhol Superstars who know Mr. Crisp, illuminate the life of this effeminate and eccentric fellow. The portrait that emerges is one of absolute wit and of suffering.

Your site is the perfect place to spread the word about something like this, and we would all really appreciate your help in getting out the good news.

If you would like to post a link to the film and help us spread the word, here it is:
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Best,
John Heavey
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