Amid all the good cheer of this Marathon week in Boston, comes the sad news of the passing of the very fine British character actor, LIONEL JEFFRIES.
Jeffries did other SF and horror films such as REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN, many comedies including a Golden Globe nominated performance in SPY WITH THE COLD NOSE, appeared as Mr Potts in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, and even directed a youth oriented ghost story, THE AMAZING MR. BLUNDEN. He had a supporting role in the intial Quatermass feature film THE CREEPING UNKNOWN (aka QUATERMASS XPERIMENT) - which is looooong overdue for a return to Boston, not having shown since SF/6. And, it's NEVER played Ohio?
But, it was his wonderful performance as Cavor in the Harryhausen epic FIRST MEN IN THE MOON (Boston's SF/3, SF/19; Ohio's 2nd and 15th) that I will always remember him for. Jeffries is absolutely delightful in the film, which I consider one of the very finest performances by any actor in an SF film.
trailer :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2ZHH-r-Pks
Mr. Jeffries will be missed. Perhaps, a showing is in order in April of FIRST MEN?
_________________ Long Live the Orson Welles Cinemas
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