Angela Lansbury - Classic or Dud?

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Mega-classic, I say.

Catching a "Murder, She Wrote" rerun on USA the other day, I lamented how this acerbic, sensual actress has in essence retired. Her Jessica Fletcher, possessing an almost frightening self-control, seemed like an older version of the shrews, harpies, and schemers she played so adeptly. Maybe a Curtis Hanson or Paul Cox would cast her as the waspish hussy we wish Lauren Bacall still knew how to play.

Search: Gaslight, The Picture of Dorian Gray, State of the Union and The Manchurian Candidate best of all.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 26 March 2006 00:51 (twenty years ago)

I was going to mention Mrs. Potts!

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 26 March 2006 00:56 (twenty years ago)

How funny - there is a 'Murder, She Wrote' marathon on right now.

coincidence, Sunday, 26 March 2006 00:57 (twenty years ago)

That show was a mauseleum for 999 B-list celebrities.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 26 March 2006 01:04 (twenty years ago)

If only for her powerfully evil performance in The Manchurian Candidate, absolutely CLASSIC! She was amazing in that role.


Mama Roux (Mama Roux), Sunday, 26 March 2006 03:50 (twenty years ago)

I would hit that in a SECOND - geriatric-style yo.

She has a workout video that is HOT

Irish ass, english booty!

http://www.rochestermn.com/Oddchester/Sex/thighs/and/videotapes/story-460.html

Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Sunday, 26 March 2006 05:17 (twenty years ago)

Meryl Streep was pallid, as usual.

(xpost)

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 26 March 2006 12:55 (twenty years ago)

ff5PanJiAt ud8LEHfcLDsNgI uwBBXETpliRew

QuXLnQWFKx, Sunday, 26 March 2006 13:36 (twenty years ago)

Gaslight is BAD ("She's a tarter ain't she!" ??!?), but at least it serves for people to see what she was like when she was ENGLISH. Probably hasn't been back since "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" She's practically one of the Waltons these days.

JTS (JTS), Sunday, 26 March 2006 15:58 (twenty years ago)

Probably hasn't been back since "Bedknobs and Broomsticks"

Not true (at least conceptually) -- check out the taping (for PBS I think) of Sweeney Todd with Len Cariou.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 26 March 2006 16:02 (twenty years ago)

She was great in Gaslight! The movie itself is rather creaky, and you get a sense of how much more interesting a movie about the Charles Boyer-Lansbury relationship may have been.

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Sunday, 26 March 2006 18:57 (twenty years ago)

Her porn movie is amazing. Talk about a MILF.

pixel farmer (Rock Hardy), Sunday, 26 March 2006 19:05 (twenty years ago)

actualyl she is a "gilf"

Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Sunday, 26 March 2006 20:35 (twenty years ago)

The World of Henry Orient

send your men of science quick (Jody Beth Rosen), Sunday, 26 March 2006 20:48 (twenty years ago)

How funny - there is a 'Murder, She Wrote' marathon on right now.

There is always a 'Murder, She Wrote' marathon on.

James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Sunday, 26 March 2006 21:11 (twenty years ago)

Perfect as the Granny in The Company of Wolves.

David Orton (scarlet), Sunday, 26 March 2006 21:19 (twenty years ago)

She will live forever in our hearts

Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Sunday, 26 March 2006 22:10 (twenty years ago)

George Hearn was in that performance of Sweeney Todd.

tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Monday, 27 March 2006 01:57 (twenty years ago)

http://www.tonyawards.com/images/pics/large/bh_tonys204.jpg

tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Monday, 27 March 2006 01:59 (twenty years ago)

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

I was taken to this at Radio City Music Hall in '72.

An LA friend has known her for 40+ years. He once asked me to email him a summary of the last third of a movie 'Angie' had fallen asleep on in front of the TV, which he then forwarded to her.

The film was Fight Club.

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 27 March 2006 13:39 (twenty years ago)

My estimation of her has now shot up by incalculable degrees.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 27 March 2006 14:23 (twenty years ago)

Indeed!

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), Monday, 27 March 2006 14:33 (twenty years ago)

kiss her Dorothy!!!!!!

Mr Jones (Mr Jones), Monday, 27 March 2006 14:43 (twenty years ago)

I served her in a shop once, in the Kings Road. She was very nice and as it was the Body Shop, signed the petition that was on the go at the time.

suzy (suzy), Monday, 27 March 2006 16:13 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...
THE BITCH IS BACK

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/theater/29gree.html

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 29 April 2007 19:01 (nineteen years ago)

heh you can say thattagain, when that "Curtains" ad popped up i thought jimmy cagney was back from teh grave!

Frogman Henry, Sunday, 29 April 2007 19:09 (nineteen years ago)

I still love that Fight Club story a few posts back.

Ned Raggett, Sunday, 29 April 2007 19:14 (nineteen years ago)

She is so cold, calculating, and wonderfully evil in The Manchurian Candidate!

Jaq, Sunday, 29 April 2007 20:01 (nineteen years ago)

She was also fucking great in Sweeney Todd...a favorite Broadway recording of mine.

Abbott, Sunday, 29 April 2007 20:08 (nineteen years ago)

arabesque!

RJG, Sunday, 29 April 2007 22:54 (nineteen years ago)

http://content.answers.com/main/content/img/webpics/angela_lansbury.jpg

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 29 April 2007 23:10 (nineteen years ago)

Honkyesque

Noodle Vague, Sunday, 29 April 2007 23:11 (nineteen years ago)

http://www.alohacriticon.com/images/elcriticonfotos/angelalansbury.jpg

If Timi Yuro would be still alive, most other singers could shut up, Sunday, 29 April 2007 23:14 (nineteen years ago)

Before she got old
It's a worrld no one knows
After she wrote murder
None knew the young her

Abbott, Sunday, 29 April 2007 23:38 (nineteen years ago)

She "felt trapped in" M,SW for years... I'm relieved.

Dr Morbius, Monday, 30 April 2007 13:10 (nineteen years ago)

"so *she's* the murderer!" -Peter Griffin

Spencer Chow, Monday, 30 April 2007 18:36 (nineteen years ago)

seven months pass...

this woman is one of the greatest, most heartfelt performers i have ever seen

Surmounter, Tuesday, 4 December 2007 19:29 (eighteen years ago)

two months pass...

ROWR

http://www.sheilaomalley.com/archives/Angela-Lansbury.jpg

Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Sunday, 17 February 2008 20:58 (eighteen years ago)

I preferred her father.

The Boyler, Sunday, 17 February 2008 23:00 (eighteen years ago)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FW983E2CL._AA240_.jpg

classic for her vocals on this alone

s1ocki, Sunday, 17 February 2008 23:07 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

Adoring profile in today's NYT.

Bud Huxtable (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 18 May 2009 13:35 (seventeen years ago)

three weeks pass...

wins her 5th Tony.

where's video link to speech? I missed.

Dr Morbius, Monday, 8 June 2009 02:08 (seventeen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCywkGjHkZg

Dr Morbius, Tuesday, 9 June 2009 03:59 (seventeen years ago)

two months pass...

The Picture of Dorian Grey finally out on DVD, with superb commentary track by Lady Angela.

post-contrarian meta-challop 2009 (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 22 August 2009 15:07 (sixteen years ago)

she's the TCM star all day tom'w.

Indiana Morbs and the Curse of the Ivy League Chorister (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 22 August 2009 15:30 (sixteen years ago)

four months pass...

friend saw her in A Little Night Music a few weeks ago. he came back and said, "i know this is going to sound weird, but i'm in love with angela lansbury." i said "scott, say no more."

Do you love me now? (surm), Wednesday, 6 January 2010 06:16 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

I just watched a "Murder, She Wrote" episode from '92 in which Harvey Fierstein plays a cartoonist accused of murder. His blond male lover did it.

a 'catch-all', almost humorous, 'Jeez' quality (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 02:15 (fourteen years ago)

surm's last post in this thread is magical

zsa zsa and digweed (donna rouge), Tuesday, 30 August 2011 02:28 (fourteen years ago)

got msw on atm

surm, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 04:04 (fourteen years ago)

two years pass...

gets her Oscar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-qk2itNfzU

eclectic husbandry (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 19 November 2013 17:25 (twelve years ago)

two years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOy7eVjz-2I

The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 19 September 2016 16:31 (nine years ago)

eight months pass...

"I'm an actress ... I'm also a socialist." Dame Angela Lansbury #GeneralElection17 pic.twitter.com/BFHInY9IRg

— Angela Lansbury News (@_AngelaLansbury) June 7, 2017

Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:24 (nine years ago)

fuck yeah

alcohol aficionado zane lamprey (bizarro gazzara), Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:25 (nine years ago)

national treasure status strengthened further-still

alcohol aficionado zane lamprey (bizarro gazzara), Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:26 (nine years ago)

didn't know/forgot her grandpa was Labour leader in '30s

Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:27 (nine years ago)

When this thread was revived, my heart stopped

the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:28 (nine years ago)

same

alcohol aficionado zane lamprey (bizarro gazzara), Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:28 (nine years ago)

she's in fairly amazing health afaik, a good bet for 100

she's doing a couple benefits in NYC this month

Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 8 June 2017 14:35 (nine years ago)

two years pass...

happy 94th!

mookieproof, Wednesday, 16 October 2019 21:46 (six years ago)

Angiiiiie

a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 16 October 2019 21:47 (six years ago)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EHA8uO7UcAArIYP?format=jpg&name=small

mookieproof, Wednesday, 16 October 2019 21:48 (six years ago)

She was supposed to play the Tilda Swinton part in Grand Budapest Hotel!

a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 16 October 2019 22:06 (six years ago)

She Also Played Elvis' Mom In Blue Hawaii!

a bevy of supermodels, musicians and Lena Dunham (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 16 October 2019 22:07 (six years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-GqOXueKGo

a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 17 October 2019 00:35 (six years ago)

I love Jessica

flappy bird, Thursday, 17 October 2019 01:03 (six years ago)

two years pass...

RIP

jaymc, Wednesday, 12 October 2022 00:51 (three years ago)

I guess everyone has has their say on the Obituaries thread.

jaymc, Wednesday, 12 October 2022 00:54 (three years ago)

I've counted 20 text messages since 4:30 EST.

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 00:57 (three years ago)

so self-assured in her first movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIlzY-UcYZU

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 01:04 (three years ago)

Maybe a Curtis Hanson or Paul Cox would cast her as the waspish hussy we wish Lauren Bacall still knew how to play.

She outlived both of these guys!

an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 01:05 (three years ago)

OMIGOD

This is magical. šŸŖ„

Angela Lansbury and Jerry Orbach recording Beauty and the Beast.

šŸŽ„ https://t.co/hdW1XJs2H7 pic.twitter.com/COmVlrS6ET

— Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) October 11, 2022

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 01:49 (three years ago)

Massive lols at Morbs' first post above.

Kim Kimberly, Wednesday, 12 October 2022 04:11 (three years ago)

The Howard doc has some great behind the scenes footage, like that clip. I bet Disney recorded everything and is just sitting on it all.

formerly abanana (dat), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 09:03 (three years ago)

Never forget that Angela Lansbury moved her teenager children from California to Ireland to save her daughter from Charles Manson’s cult and help her son get clean from drugs at the risk of losing her career, and they are still alive and well today because she put them first. RIP pic.twitter.com/JMznhwGSld

— Margaret "Molly" RasberryšŸ³ļøā€šŸŒˆ BLMšŸ”œ919filmfest (@RasberryRazz) October 11, 2022

Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 12:09 (three years ago)

turning on the TV while i work and there she is wroting murder

mark s, Wednesday, 12 October 2022 13:22 (three years ago)

re-upping my correct theory that this series is set in HELL (evidence starts wth the lighting)

mark s, Wednesday, 12 October 2022 13:23 (three years ago)

I pissed myself laughing at this typical MSW script template:

JESSICA:
I’m so glad you invited me to Place Where You Live.

JESSICA’S LOVELY FRIEND:
It’s so lovely to see you Jessica! How is your book tour going?

JESSICA:
Very well, thank you. I am a literary titan known to over 75% of humanity and my work is to everyone’s taste.

JESSICA’S LOVELY FRIEND:
That’s great. I just hope you don’t get wrapped up in the FLASHPOINT OF LOCAL TENSIONS going on while you’re here.

JESSICA:
(Raises quizzical eyebrow)

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 13:53 (three years ago)

Now that's a good soul

My favorite fact about Angela Lansbury is that during her MURDER SHE WROTE era she made it a practice to hire guest actors of the golden age that had aged out of the game because it allowed them to earn the union points they needed for insurance, pensions, etc.

— Tess Sharpe (@sharpegirl) October 11, 2022

Exactly! Angela Lansbury had the recurring role of Cabot Cove librarian Jean O'Neill on "Murder, She Wrote" created for Madlyn Rhue to ensure she could keep her health insurance while living with MS. šŸ’— https://t.co/zOieQC6Nwm

— Mollie Katie (@molliekatie) October 11, 2022

Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 12 October 2022 17:37 (three years ago)

The parade of Golden Age stars in the twilight of their careers was always one of the more pleasurable things about watching MSW, so it is intensely gratifying to learn that this was a feature of Lansbury's kindness and political conviction.

Les hommes de bonbons (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 17:40 (three years ago)

She had old pal Hurd Hatfield (aka Dorian Gray) on a couple essays. Van Johnson too.

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 17:47 (three years ago)

*episodes

Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 17:47 (three years ago)

One thing struck me about this photo-essay in The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/gallery/2014/jan/24/angela-lansbury-crime-drama

Well, two things. Firstly Angela Lansbury circa 1945 was cute. She had big eyes. And a dead bird in her hat, which is always a good look. Secondly this:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DnKtZl-WwAUFdqG.jpg

"Advice to Lady Golfers - Get Lost!" by Marshall Smith. What? The magazine is available on Google Books:
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=pVUEAAAAMBAJ

At first I thought it was going to be an arch piece of self-depreciation, but no, it's just horrible. Who was Marshall Smith? He seems to have faded into obscurity. My hunch is that Angela Lansbury outlived him, so yay!

Ashley Pomeroy, Wednesday, 12 October 2022 21:27 (three years ago)

Mega-classic, I say.

OTM

"H to the Izzo" means "I love you" (Deflatormouse), Wednesday, 12 October 2022 23:23 (three years ago)

One thing I realized after seeing a somewhat recent photo of her: she was tall - 5’8ā€! I never noticed that in her performances tbh.

omar little, Friday, 14 October 2022 19:26 (three years ago)

no one ever says "Happy Death!" - I think she would appreciate the sentiment

| (Latham Green), Saturday, 15 October 2022 10:58 (three years ago)

three years pass...

She had old pal Hurd Hatfield (aka Dorian Gray) on a couple essays.

Watching these two now.

Nicholas Raybeat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 9 November 2025 04:15 (seven months ago)

And recently watched her play a very different role in The World of Henry Orient.

Nicholas Raybeat (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 9 November 2025 04:17 (seven months ago)


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