I'll be right back.
October 27, 2010 9:11 PM Subscribe
I'm going out to get a paper... When Richard goes out for moment before dinner to pick up a paper, it seems all well and good... well, almost...
two weeks later...
He was King Arthur, Cromwell, John Morgan, Frank, even Dumbledore. He was Richard Harris.
posted by bonehead at 10:28 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 10:28 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
or, what bonehead said..
someday I'll feel led to do a post about JFK and someone will ask "who is that guy?".... sigh
posted by HuronBob at 10:32 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
someday I'll feel led to do a post about JFK and someone will ask "who is that guy?".... sigh
posted by HuronBob at 10:32 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Ya, I've gotten drunk and been an asshole to my wife before, too. Not on such an epic scale, though.
Hilariously, the video cuts off before she can actually voice her opinion on it.
Wives, right? Ha!
posted by chococat at 10:37 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hilariously, the video cuts off before she can actually voice her opinion on it.
Wives, right? Ha!
posted by chococat at 10:37 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Thanks for the link. I've never seen any of those films, so no wonder I don't know who he is/was.
posted by 1000monkeys at 10:44 PM on October 27, 2010
posted by 1000monkeys at 10:44 PM on October 27, 2010
The only things I recall seeing him in were the Harry Potter movies and Gladiator, and I wanted to wring his neck in all of them (at least Joaquin Phoenix got to do it). Every time he opened his mouth, it was like listening to a glacier with laryngitis try to tell a story. "Commodus...Your faults...as a son...is my...failure...as a father..." And people make fun of Shatner's dramatic pauses.
posted by Gator at 10:53 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Gator at 10:53 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
The best thing about that video was that it led me to this one. My preferred English hellraiser.
posted by Roman Graves at 10:56 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Roman Graves at 10:56 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
My preferred English hellraiser.
Only a Yank could make that mistake.
posted by GeckoDundee at 10:59 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Only a Yank could make that mistake.
posted by GeckoDundee at 10:59 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was really excited when I found out Lane Pryce on Mad Men was played by his son Jared Harris. That's one ballsy family.
posted by JauntyFedora at 11:10 PM on October 27, 2010
posted by JauntyFedora at 11:10 PM on October 27, 2010
Now you've got me wondering whether you mean actors or drunks. Nicely played.
Though I still refuse to believe that Oliver Reed was an Englishman.
posted by GeckoDundee at 11:14 PM on October 27, 2010
Though I still refuse to believe that Oliver Reed was an Englishman.
posted by GeckoDundee at 11:14 PM on October 27, 2010
I wish TV was like that now
posted by kuatto at 11:15 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by kuatto at 11:15 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Aw, Richard Harris died?
Eight years ago?!
WTF have I been doing?
posted by dirigibleman at 11:17 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
Eight years ago?!
WTF have I been doing?
posted by dirigibleman at 11:17 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
Wow, has it really been eight years? Harris was the finest hell-raisers of his generation. What a life he lived.
I can't find the source for this quote--a magazine or newspaper article, I believe--but it's one of Harris' legendary anecdotes:
"Ask Harris his favorite story about himself that he doesn't remember, and he smiles wryly. ``There are many I don't remember. I say, 'Is that what I did? I'll take your word for it.'
The best one ever,'' he continues, ``two policemen came to my door and they said, 'Do you remember last night when we arrested you?' I said, 'Yeah, I think I remember.' 'Do you remember what you said to us?' I said no.
It was the funniest thing I ever heard. Apparently I was frolicking, having a great time. There were cars parked on my street, and I was running over the cars - up the bonnet, over the top, down the trunk, up the bonnet. And one of them was a police car, and they were standing having a cigarette off-duty. And I came dashing up and then went and sat in the center of the street and [the policement] pulled up, calm.
They asked, 'Richard, what in the name of God are you doing?' and they said I told them, 'I have a theory that the world goes around, and I'm sitting here, waiting for my house to pass.' ''
.
posted by prinado at 11:21 PM on October 27, 2010 [6 favorites]
I can't find the source for this quote--a magazine or newspaper article, I believe--but it's one of Harris' legendary anecdotes:
"Ask Harris his favorite story about himself that he doesn't remember, and he smiles wryly. ``There are many I don't remember. I say, 'Is that what I did? I'll take your word for it.'
The best one ever,'' he continues, ``two policemen came to my door and they said, 'Do you remember last night when we arrested you?' I said, 'Yeah, I think I remember.' 'Do you remember what you said to us?' I said no.
It was the funniest thing I ever heard. Apparently I was frolicking, having a great time. There were cars parked on my street, and I was running over the cars - up the bonnet, over the top, down the trunk, up the bonnet. And one of them was a police car, and they were standing having a cigarette off-duty. And I came dashing up and then went and sat in the center of the street and [the policement] pulled up, calm.
They asked, 'Richard, what in the name of God are you doing?' and they said I told them, 'I have a theory that the world goes around, and I'm sitting here, waiting for my house to pass.' ''
.
posted by prinado at 11:21 PM on October 27, 2010 [6 favorites]
The second dumbledore is way better. When the new Dumbledore showed up I assumed they had sacked the first one...
posted by BinGregory at 11:26 PM on October 27, 2010
posted by BinGregory at 11:26 PM on October 27, 2010
Figures. I finally find the hollow-headed half-wit who left the cake out, and he's already gone and kicked it.
At least I still have that recipe.
posted by KChasm at 11:54 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
At least I still have that recipe.
posted by KChasm at 11:54 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
Harris and O'Toole were both great hellraisers. According to the wiki article on Harris, O'Toole almost replaced him as Dumbledore. As far as you kids who only remember Richard Harris from the Harry Potter movies, you can kindly stay off my lawn.
posted by DaddyNewt at 12:09 AM on October 28, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by DaddyNewt at 12:09 AM on October 28, 2010 [3 favorites]
That is an entertainingly outrageous story.
but also:
Am I the only one who finds the wife's (widow's?) discomfort with the screening of that video almost unbearably painful?
posted by bardophile at 12:10 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
but also:
Am I the only one who finds the wife's (widow's?) discomfort with the screening of that video almost unbearably painful?
posted by bardophile at 12:10 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
The Carson appearances were legendary (part 2)
posted by victors at 12:52 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by victors at 12:52 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
If you haven't seen Wild Geese... you haven't seen it.
You can take your Expendables and expend them somewhere else.
posted by MuffinMan at 3:21 AM on October 28, 2010
You can take your Expendables and expend them somewhere else.
posted by MuffinMan at 3:21 AM on October 28, 2010
He's the Duck of Death
It's not in that clip, but Hackman's delivery of that line is amazing. Love that movie.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:53 AM on October 28, 2010
It's not in that clip, but Hackman's delivery of that line is amazing. Love that movie.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:53 AM on October 28, 2010
I thought it was extremely awkward when they cut back to her in the middle of the clip for the reaction shots.
posted by crunchland at 4:02 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by crunchland at 4:02 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
oh God I hate Pat Kenny
posted by Wilder at 4:59 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Wilder at 4:59 AM on October 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
Woah, I am old. When people at Metafilter don't know who Richard Harris was, or else have only heard of him via Harry Potter movies... then I am old, so very old. It feels like someone left the cake out in the rain.
posted by Decani at 5:01 AM on October 28, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by Decani at 5:01 AM on October 28, 2010 [5 favorites]
It's interesting that we venerate the drunken womanizer.
posted by crunchland at 5:16 AM on October 28, 2010
posted by crunchland at 5:16 AM on October 28, 2010
"It's interesting that we venerate the drunken womanizer"
If you google "drunken womanizer" among the first few hits are Ted Kennedy, Obama, Paul Newman.
Richard is in good company...
posted by HuronBob at 5:50 AM on October 28, 2010
If you google "drunken womanizer" among the first few hits are Ted Kennedy, Obama, Paul Newman.
Richard is in good company...
posted by HuronBob at 5:50 AM on October 28, 2010
Yeah, I wasn't really specifically talking about Harris, but the whole archtype. You'd expect that sort of antisocial behavior wouldn't be acceptable, and I bet, to a certain extent, it isn't until the man reaches a certain age, and then it somehow becomes tolerable. Maybe it only does when there's the addition of a certain charisma. Watching that clip, I'm not so sure his wife thought the story was half as charming as the audience did.
posted by crunchland at 6:41 AM on October 28, 2010
posted by crunchland at 6:41 AM on October 28, 2010
It's interesting that we venerate the drunken womanizer.
posted by crunchland at 1:16 PM on October 28
I don't like to reduce the sum total of a life to just the bad parts, personally. It seems inconsiderate.
posted by Decani at 7:42 AM on October 28, 2010
posted by crunchland at 1:16 PM on October 28
I don't like to reduce the sum total of a life to just the bad parts, personally. It seems inconsiderate.
posted by Decani at 7:42 AM on October 28, 2010
then I am old, so very old. It feels like someone left the cake out in the rain.
Oh Jesus, that can't be good! What about the sweet green icing?
posted by Naberius at 7:54 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh Jesus, that can't be good! What about the sweet green icing?
posted by Naberius at 7:54 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Maybe it only does when there's the addition of a certain charisma.
I think Letterman summed it up well in the O'Toole clip I linked when he said "I always am fond and admire your life and career because you're kind of a guy who's led his life as he wants to." Sure, they're drunks, but they make it looks so god damn fun. Of course Harris' wife didn't think it was all that fun, I'm sure, but we don't usually have to view the messy details. It appeals to the Peter Pan in some of us.
posted by Roman Graves at 8:05 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
I think Letterman summed it up well in the O'Toole clip I linked when he said "I always am fond and admire your life and career because you're kind of a guy who's led his life as he wants to." Sure, they're drunks, but they make it looks so god damn fun. Of course Harris' wife didn't think it was all that fun, I'm sure, but we don't usually have to view the messy details. It appeals to the Peter Pan in some of us.
posted by Roman Graves at 8:05 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was really excited when I found out Lane Pryce on Mad Men was played by his son Jared Harris. That's one ballsy family.
My wife and I were watching The Curious Case of Benjamin Button recently and I kept saying "Who is that tugboat captain? He looks familiar, I've seen him in something but I can't place it..."
posted by drmanhattan at 8:51 AM on October 28, 2010
My wife and I were watching The Curious Case of Benjamin Button recently and I kept saying "Who is that tugboat captain? He looks familiar, I've seen him in something but I can't place it..."
posted by drmanhattan at 8:51 AM on October 28, 2010
It is worth noting that Elizabeth eventually divorced him.
Marriage to the Errant Genius is a tough row to hoe. These are spectacularly seductive characters who generally make poor life partners, and you either have the temperament to tolerate the manic behaviour or you don't. Those men are only occasionally motivated to change, usually by cataclysmic crisis: death of a child, life threatening illness, sometimes bankruptcy. Harris did in fact clean up his act when his drinking threatened his life.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:18 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Marriage to the Errant Genius is a tough row to hoe. These are spectacularly seductive characters who generally make poor life partners, and you either have the temperament to tolerate the manic behaviour or you don't. Those men are only occasionally motivated to change, usually by cataclysmic crisis: death of a child, life threatening illness, sometimes bankruptcy. Harris did in fact clean up his act when his drinking threatened his life.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:18 AM on October 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Am I the only one who finds the wife's (widow's?) discomfort with the screening of that video almost unbearably painful?
I did to, but I thought that clip was from when he was still alive and she was giving him dirty looks in the audience (I think they maybe even cut to him sitting in the audience?). But then again, I don't know what he looks like well and it may have just been some random dude. It just looked to me like she was shooting dirty looks to someone in the audience and then they cut to an older man sitting there.
posted by 1000monkeys at 3:41 PM on October 28, 2010
I did to, but I thought that clip was from when he was still alive and she was giving him dirty looks in the audience (I think they maybe even cut to him sitting in the audience?). But then again, I don't know what he looks like well and it may have just been some random dude. It just looked to me like she was shooting dirty looks to someone in the audience and then they cut to an older man sitting there.
posted by 1000monkeys at 3:41 PM on October 28, 2010
"It's interesting that we venerate the drunken womanizer"
It was of an era. There was the rat pack thing here in the US, too - similar type of thing. It's a mark of progress that our values have changed. I don't think drunken womanizers are cut as much slack today. Unless, as DarlingBri says, they somehow are in the Errant Genius genre.
He and O'Toole were magnificent actors. And you have to admire good storytellers.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:48 PM on October 28, 2010
It was of an era. There was the rat pack thing here in the US, too - similar type of thing. It's a mark of progress that our values have changed. I don't think drunken womanizers are cut as much slack today. Unless, as DarlingBri says, they somehow are in the Errant Genius genre.
He and O'Toole were magnificent actors. And you have to admire good storytellers.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:48 PM on October 28, 2010
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posted by 1000monkeys at 10:23 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]