Hellraisers – The Life and Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter OToole, Oliver Reed

They don’t make them like they use to, what am I on about, stars, iconic actors, larger than life performers. That is something you will probably feel after your read about the exploits of acting legends Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed in Roberts Sellers “Hellraisers The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed”. Reading about what a drunken Oliver Reed or an inebriated Peter O’Toole got up to back in the day makes the current crop of popular actors sound like choir boys rather than supposedly big stars.

Technically “Hellraisers The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed” is a biography of these 4 titans of stage and screen, chronologically giving us details of their lives growing up through to, in the cases of Richard Burton, Richard Harris and Oliver Reed, their final days as Peter O’Toole is the proverbial “Last Man Standing”. As is the case with Sellers later book “Hollywood Hellraisers: The Wild Lives and Fast Times of Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson”, the lives of these men are told in segments which interweave and overlap as their careers and social paths crossed. But to be frank it’s not an in-depth biography, it doesn’t go into great detail about their childhood or personal loves, although it does go into more detail when it came to their turbulent relationships and various womanizing ways.

Quite strangely for a book which covers the lives and careers of 4 great actors it’s surprisingly skimpy when it comes to the various movies which they appeared in. It goes through many of these stars movies giving you a balance of some of the great movies which they appeared in and some of the complete turkeys but the detail about each one is lacking. As such “Hellraisers The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed” struggles to get across how brilliant these actors were, how mesmerising a performance was from them and why despite being notorious for their social exploits were constantly in demand. Though what is nice is that several co-stars chip in with an anecdote or two about the time spent with these great actors, more often or not ending up with a visit to a pub and a mammoth drinking session.

And that is really what “Hellraisers The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed” ends up, a book of fabulous anecdotes about the inebriated exploits of these actors. In a way it’s frightening when you read not only about the excessive drinking which could end up in days of inebriated oblivion but also the mischief which usually occurred after. And as such there are some wonderful nostalgic anecdotes such as the one where a bladdered Oliver Reed appeared on the Michael Parkinson chat show.

What is sad is not so much that author Robert Sellers enjoys regaling us with all these anecdotes but that you never really understand how great these stars were and how even greater they could have been if they didn’t end up hitting the bottle to excess. You look at Richard Burton one of Britain’s greatest actors yet his movie career consisted of more bad movies than good and you get a sense that if he hadn’t been such a great lover of drink maybe his movie career would have been even greater. And the same can be said for Richard Harris and Oliver Reed although O’Toole has seemed to have made more good movies than bad.

What this all means is that if you were to read “Hellraisers The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed” expecting a look at the lives and careers of these iconic actors you will probably end up disappointed by the lack of detail. But if you enjoy reading anecdotes about how acting legends behaved and more often than not misbehaved then this will be right up your street. No matter which one thing does come across from reading “Hellraisers The Life and Inebriated Times of Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed” and that is the stars of today are nothing like the stars of the past.

Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; 1 edition (December 8, 2009) Language: English ISBN: 0312553994

Andy Webb writes movies reviews covering everything from the classics through to modern. Please visit The Movie Scene to read my movie reviews.

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The Early Life Of Sir Richard Burton, Translator Of The Kama Sutra

Many people recognize Sir Richard France Burton only for his collaborative work with F.F.Arbuthnot on the first English translation of the Kama Sutra. What they fail to recognize is the life that led up to that accomplishment and how it had prepared him to go against his contemporaries in Victorian era England to become a translator and publishing partner of a book that could have placed him in the prison house due to the laws of the time.

The Birth And Childhood Of Richard Frances Burton

Richard Frances Burton was born in the late evening of March 19, 1821 in Torquay, Devon to a Captain of the British army and the heiress of a wealthy Hertfordshire squire. He had two older a siblings, a brother and a sister.

Due to his father’s military career, Richard Burton and his family spent much of his early life traveling between the countries of England, France and Italy and thus the child became quite adept at Italian, French and Latin, in addition to his native English, at a very early age. Not only was he proficient with the basic languages but he had also learned several specific dialects. Later in life, his remarkable skill at learning languages would enable him to speak a total of twenty-nine different languages.

Young Richard was very independent and through the families travels he had developed a kind of strong willed dependence on himself. A trait that would later help the young man to have many adventures and eventually become a publishing partner and translator of the Kama Sutra. Richard Burton was quoted to say “Do what thy manhood bids thee do, from none but self expect applause.” He knew that he was capable of anything he set his mind to and he did not need the encouragement, or even the approval, of his peers to accomplish his ideas.

As all children do, the young man grew up and eventually had a romantic interest in a young gypsy girl of Romani background. He taught himself her language to be able to communicate better and this has been credited with his fast learning skills of the Hindi language later on in life because the Hindi and Romani languages share a similar structure.

Burton Goes To College

In 1840, the ostentatious young Burton entered Trinity College in Oxford. He was quick of temper and during his first term, he challenged a fellow student, who had mocked Burton’s mustache, to a duel. He went on to study the Arabic language at Trinity College as well as falconry and fencing but his contempt for authority kept snagging the young man. In 1842, he decided to violate the rules of the college yet again and attended a steeplechase. Unfortunately, Burton had pushed authority too far at this point and he was permanently expelled from the school. Not one to leave without making his mark, Burton reportedly trampled the flower beds of the school with a horse and carriage before departing the campus.

If you want to learn more about The Kama Sutra including the latest news and reviews, then Kama SutraManual.com is the place to go!

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There are only two Richard Burtons

A famous chant involves supporters singing the praises of their star player to the tune of “Guantanamera.” My first memory of it involved the Manchester City supporters in the late Seventies singing “there’s only one Kazy Deyna” about a Polish international player who played for them briefly.

Most people have a namesake and most people can describe the good and bad antics of somebody with the same name as them. A few people liven up the lives of their contemporaries with tales of a famous namesake and some actually change their name by deed poll to do this. Very few celebrities actually share the same name as each other because prospective candidates rightly don’t want to limit their career chances and usually adopt a suitable stage name at the earliest opportunity. Richard Burton is an exception to this rule.

Chronologically the second but probably the most famous Richard Burton was a Welsh actor who was nominated for an Oscar seven times without ever winning. His film roles included The Robe, The Spy who Came in from the Cold, Look Back in Anger, Becket and 1984. He also starred in Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolfe with Elizabeth Taylor and they were married on two separate occasions. This Richard Burton is probably best known for his heavy drinking, his womanising and his tempestuous, on-off relationship with Ms. Taylor who he met on the set of Cleopatra. He also had a successful stage career on both sides of the Atlantic and died in 1985 aged 58.

The other Richard Burton was far more interesting. He was a Victorian explorer who led a life that made Indiana Jones seem like a quiet and retiring chap. Richard Francis Burton travelled in disguise to Mecca and Medina to become one of the first non-Muslim Europeans to make and give a detailed description of the pilgrimage known as the Hajj. He led various expeditions to Africa on behalf of the Royal Geographical Society, explored the Great Lakes and attempted to locate the source of the River Nile. In 1858, this Richard Burton and his partner John Hanning Speke, discovered both Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria and the subsequent public quarrel about their adventures entertained Victorian society. Burton and Speke were due to publicly debate the subject but unfortunately Speke was killed in a tragic accident the day before.

This Richard Burton was a prodigious and erudite author who wrote articles and books on a wide range of diverse topics including travel, human behavior, falconry, fencing and ethnography. He was a renowned linguist who spoke approximately thirty European, Asian and African languages. This Richard Burton was responsible for the first full translations of both the “The Arabian Nights” and “The Karma Sutra” into English.

Richard Francis Burton served as British Consul to Fernando Po, Damascus, Santos and Triesteand was awarded a Knighthood in 1886. He died of a heart attack aged 69 in 1890 and is buried alongside his devoted wife Isabel at St Mary Magdalen’s Church in Mortlake near London. His remarkable tomb is the shape of a Bedouin tent and is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary life. It is well worth a visit.

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1984 – The Book and the Film

This famous book was written by George Orwell and was first published in 1949. It describes a totalitarian society of the future where everything and everybody is controlled by Big Brother and the Party. Winston Smith works at the Ministry of Truth rewriting old newspaper stories written mainly about people involved in the continual war being fought. When he embarks on a brief affair with fellow Party member Julia, Winston discovers that life might have a purpose after all and it opens his eyes to various new possibilities. Despite overwhelming odds and constant danger, Winston and Julia continue their affair, they begin to form their own views, begin to question the Party and are subsequently made aware of a conspiracy called The Brotherhood. Unfortunately for them, Big Brother will not tolerate any dissent even in the mind and anybody guilty of Thought Crime must enter Room 101.

In the book, Orwell introduced concepts and phrases which have become widely recognised and widely used today such as Big Brother, Room 101 and even Thought Crime. He predicted the National Lottery too.

All books are open to personal interpretation but most readers will recognise, amongst other things his prediction of political correctness, the war on terror and the influence of a large screen in each room.

I have read and re-read this book many times, it works on many different levels and can be interpreted in so many different ways. It is a fascinating story of an individual and his relationship with a large organisation and each time I read it I discover something new. It’s just as relevant today as on the day it was published

Obviously, a film version was always going to be released in 1984 and it starred John Hurt at the height of his fame and Richard Burton in his last role. Some familiar faces from TV also appear including Gregor Fisher later to star in Rab C Nesbit and Roger Lloyd Pack from Only Fools and Horses. Like most films of books it struggles to convey some of the subtleties of the original although the producers avoid the temptation to rewrite a revered text for the sake of convenience. The subject matter dealt with is hardly a laugh a minute and the film version is pretty grim fare but it tells the story of Winston Smith in a reasonable way and makes most of the important points.

Maybe an appearance by Mary Nesbit or Del Boy might’ve livened up proceedings. Probably not.

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Remember Prestonpans

In the good old days, England used to play regular soccer fixtures against Scotland, usually during May as part of the Home International Series involving England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. I vividly remember Scottish supporters displaying banners with the motif “Remember Prestonpans”.

Prestonpans is situated to the east of Edinburgh and was the scene of a landmark battle in Scottish history. In 1745, the Jacobite forces under Charles Edward Stuart (or Bonnie Prince Charlie as he is usually known) defeated the English at Prestonpans as part of his campaign to regain the English throne for his father. Encouraged by this, the Jacobites ventured as a far south as Derby causing panic in London which was virtually unprotected at the time. The Prince was persuaded by his advisers to retreat due to a their failure to gain the expected levels of support and the opportunity was lost. Eventually the Jacobite forces were massacred by the English under the Duke of Cumberland at Culloden Moor near Inverness in 1746. The Prince went on the run and escaped to France where he spent the rest of his life in exile.

During a recent trip to Edinburgh, I decided to pay a brief visit to Prestonpans to satisfy my curiosity. I found a quiet, pleasant bay with excellent sea views and a yacht club but few facilities. The nearby Cockenzie Power Station dominated the skyline although the numerous new housing developments inland indicated that other people shared my opinion about unrealised potential.

I was particularly disappointed to find no mention of the Battle of Prestonpans. There were no sign posts, no visitor centre and no pubs with historically accurate names.

There was a Museum of Industrial Heritage which looked interesting as were various unusual murals and I later found out that Prestonpans is a mural village with a mural trail. Musselburgh Racecourse was nearby as were the varied attractions of Scotland’s capital but there was nothing concerning the Jacobite rebellion. What a shame!

Eventually, I managed to track down a small information board about Prestonpans with some historical information about Bonnie Prince Charlie, the battle and other relevant facts about the area. I saw a signpost for a cairn commemorating the battle but after a brief search I couldn’t find anything obvious.

Modern day Scots are toying with the idea of independence but are they actually aware of the exploits of perhaps the greatest Scottish Nationalist of them all?

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The Testament by John Grisham

The time has come for us all to think about lying on a beach with some suitable reading matter. I recommend this. It will provide ideal entertainment for anybody trying to relax during the summer and it is tinged with enough wisdom to enrich the minds of anybody looking for more.

I admit I am a big fan of John Grisham and “The Testament” was the first book of his that I read. I was immediately addicted and I have now read the majority of his novels although this one is still my favourite. As with all his books, it has a fast moving plot and works as a terrific thriller in a legal setting but it is still able to show the author’s world weary contempt for his former profession and all it represents.

The story concerns an elderly billionaire who, tired of life, draws up a new will then promptly commits suicide. The new will leaves his fortune to a previously unknown, illegitimate daughter and this destroys the hopes and dreams of his entire family including three ex-wives and numerous children.

Legal challenges take place and a search is launched for the missing daughter but the story really concerns the contrasting stories of Nate O’Reilly and Rachel Lane. Nate is the ex-drug addict, recovering alcoholic lawyer dealing with the case while Rachel is the missionary working in Brazil with no knowledge of her inheritance. Through them Grisham conveys his thoughts on the pursuit of money and the meaning of real wealth.

Enjoy your reading.

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The Boys from Brazil

At first glance, “The Boys of Brazil” seemed to deal with unusual subject matter, it seemed to come with a high pedigree and as a result I was initially expecting a great deal. Top notch stars such as Gregory Peck and Laurence Olivier further whetted my appetite and I knew that Director Franklin J. Schaffner had a proven track record with titles such as “Papillon,” “Patton” and the original “Planet of the Apes.” “Welcome Home” starring Jane Fonda and John Voigt is another career highlight and another particular favorite of mine.

Originally released in 1978 and based on a book by Ira Levin, I saw the film as a teenager although it didn’t particularly stick in my mind. When I noticed a recent re-run in the terrestrial TV schedules I decided to do some reminiscing.

While attempting to explore a controversial topic, it proved to be an effective although ultimately shallow and unsatisfying thriller involving a Nazi cloning plot organized by Dr Joseph Mengele. Death camp Doctor Mengele, who performed infamous concentration camp experiments in attempts to develop a superior Aryan race, is now exiled in South America and still pursuing his dream of a Fourth Reich. Gregory Peck is excellent as Dr Mengele as is Laurence Olivier as a Simon Wiesenthal type professional Nazi Hunter, Ezra Lieberman, who hears of and then attempts to foil the plot. Other famous faces featured include an underused James Mason, a young Steve Guttenberg, Lili Palmer and Denholm Elliot. Watch out for Prunella Scales a.k.a. Sybill Fawlty too.

The scientifically possible but very improbable plot might hinder your enjoyment but the two main stars, high profile director and the quality cast live up to their reputations and provide good value for money although everybody involved has done much better.

In many ways this is a wasted opportunity and I personally was looking for something with more depth. No real attempt was made to address the legal, ethical or scientific aspects of cloning and the age old nature or nurture question concerning child development was hinted at but not fully explored.

It might be useful as a sixth form vehicle to provoke a discussion on cloning and associated topics such as GM food but my original appraisal from thirty plus years ago turned out to be highly accurate. Maybe I was a reasonably cultured teenager after all.

Is it time to play the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks and Clash albums again?

Anyone for “Cranked Up Really High” by Slaughter and the Dogs?

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Take Control of Your Own Destiny

The recent economic difficulties experienced by the EU countries, the USA and others throughout the world have been well documented and will continue. It will see many normal people lose their jobs and possibly their homes through no fault of their own. Meanwhile, the bankers and so called financial experts who caused the problem will continue to live in their large mansions and continue with their affluent lifestyles. The very few individuals who were deemed responsible and sacked were given multi-million pound severance deals. They will not starve.

Over the years the financial sector has, on the whole, been very successful at using our money to make more money. The people involved were shrewd, sophisticated investors who were very good at assessing and managing risk. This strategy can still be successful in the future if it is managed correctly. The economic problems were caused by arrogant individuals who became over confident and took unnecessary risks with our money.

We cannot depend on big companies or the state to look after our welfare anymore. We should all take control of our own destiny, copy these methods and use money to make money. We will all need to increase our financial education and learn how to manage risk but the financial rewards will be much greater than working nine to five.

There is no difference between investing on the stock market and gambling using more traditional outlets such as bookmakers and casinos. You must be a sophisticated investor by assessing and managing the risk and the easiest way to do this is to use one of the many available systems and stick to it rigidly

I recommend the use of on-line casinos because there are so many advantages. You can play when you want from the comfort of your own home. You can practise for free and play for very small stakes. Nobody can see you and you can take as much time as you like.

Every on-line casino will have a bonus system and I strongly recommend that you use it. Deposit $100 and they will (at least) double it. You have made a profit of $100 before you even start.

Practise until you are ready, then when you are play for very small stakes. Remember this is gambling. Do not commit any money that you cannot afford to lose

Every casino has an acceptable daily loss and you should help yourself to some of it. Don’t be too greedy though. Do not draw attention to yourself. The casino owners are intelligent people and they will see what you’re doing and you might get banned. Share your winnings between a few casinos and in this way remain inconspicuous.

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How a Game of Rugby League Can Teach You to Make Your Online Business a Success

I just watched the state of origin (a rugby league game played each year between NSW and Qld). It was a terrible game for a NSW fan (me lol) but I suddenly realised I was being taught a very valuable lesson.

How I hear you ask? Simple!

Qld absolutely belted NSW, it was a crushing defeat and more importantly for them it sealed the series and in doing so provided Qld with a record 5 series in a row. The series is 3 games each and every year and the series winner must win two.

This in itself is amazing because the two sides are made up of the best of the best of Australian Rugby League players and there is little between them on paper or in form.

What is even more amazing and where our lesson comes from is this…

The QLD side is basically the same side that lost 3 series in a row to NSW before going on to win 5 in a row as of an hour ago or so. They were called one of the worst sides the state had ever had and most people called for change and had little faith in them. They wanted to quit and start all over again.

The lesson is simple. To achieve greatness in anything you must first of all persist. You must trust and back yourself to be a winner and then you have to go out and train and educate yourself in all the areas of the game that you previously failed in.

You should never give in, believe in yourself, give yourself time to learn, to develop and be prepared to fail before you succeed. Ignore the critics and naysayers who will run you down and have faith in your ability.

Above all you must have “heart” and the courage to remain true to yourself and what you desire.

Qld proved that this is what breeds success. Yes it is just a game of football BUT if you take and apply the same principles to your business then you cannot do anything but succeed.

I was born and bred in NSW and will forever be a NSW fan but I suddenly realized just how great the Qld side had become and how they had done it. I also so clearly how these principles apply to other parts of your life and wanted to share that with anybody out there struggling to WIN.

I know that business is never easy and an online business is a challenging and daunting prospect for most if not all people. However the rewards for success are great.

The “Queenslanders” showed us how to do it NOW it is a matter of applying this knowledge to ourselves and just as they did glorying in the rewards that will come.

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