Latest news with #Rattigan
Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
Rattigan's films are as important as his plays
A campaign is under way to rename the West End's Duchess Theatre after the playwright Terence Rattigan. Supported as it is by the likes of Judi Dench and Rattigan Society president David Suchet, there's evidently a desire to right a historical wrong. Author of classics such as The Browning Version, The Winslow Boy and Separate Tables, Rattigan was known for his poise, melancholy and restraint, all of which put him at odds with the coterie of upstart writers of the 1950s – still amusingly known as the Angry Young Men. It's an oft-repeated chapter of theatre history that arch-kitchen-sinkers such as John Osborne made the environment virtually impossible for Rattigan to work in. Rattigan joked about it at the 1956 opening of Look Back in Anger. It was as if Osborne were saying, 'Look, Ma, I'm not Terence Rattigan!' he quipped. However, the Rattigan-bashing was always an empty indulgence. Osborne himself admitted as much on these very pages in 1993, writing: 'I have been intrigued by the success of the current revival of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea. Rattigan was under the general frown when I first joined the Royal Court Theatre in 1956, and both George Devine and Tony Richardson were appalled when I confessed to being moved by the play.' Perhaps a Rattigan Theatre would indeed lay some of the ghosts to rest. But on first hearing news of the campaign, another thought occurred: Rattigan deserves a cinema as well. Film was arguably much kinder to him than theatre ever was in the low ebbs of his career. It supplied him with constant work, saw some of his best adaptations, and allowed his writing to weather the storm. Without his breakout play French Without Tears (1936), British cinema wouldn't have acquired one of its classic rogues, Rex Harrison, whose name it thrust into the spotlight. But French Without Tears was chiefly important because its adaptation in 1940 was Rattigan's first collaboration with director Anthony Asquith – and the first success of his screen career. Few could match Asquith's ability to adapt stage classics for film. The son of liberal prime minister Herbert, Asquith junior had directed an Oscar-nominated Pygmalion (1938), with Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller, as well as the most celebrated version of The Importance of Being Earnest (1952), with Edith Evans as the definitive Lady Bracknell. Like so many British artists, Rattigan and Asquith were drafted into propaganda duties during the war. And it resulted in their first truly great work, The Way to the Stars (1945). The film had a Who's Who cast – Michael Redgrave, John Mills and Trevor Howard, all of whom would return to work with Asquith and Rattigan – and in its quieter moments, observing the grin-and-bear-it times of a British bomber base, hinted at their true creative potential. Postwar, Asquith returned to Rattigan's stage work with an adaptation of The Winslow Boy in 1948. It perfectly captured the it's-just-not-cricket mentality of the original play with its story of a boy unjustly expelled from naval college. Rattigan would take up these themes again (to lesser effect) in The Final Test (1953), but The Winslow Boy had the advantage of Robert Donat in the lead role at the height of his powers. Asquith's take on The Browning Version was another great example of his refusal to follow the growing spectacle – albeit much of it magnificent – of contemporaries such as David Lean and Michael Powell. Refraining from visual tricks or even much of a musical score, Asquith allows Rattigan's poise and melancholy to speak for itself. It may be one of the most quietly devastating English films ever made. And as the retiring classics teacher who may or may not be missed by his pupils, Michael Redgrave gives one of his most heart-wrenching performances as Crocker-Harris. Rattigan was not tied to Asquith, and pursued multiple projects outside of his preoccupation with upper-middle-class England. He created the original screenplay for Brighton Rock (1948), for example, Graham Greene's story of wide-boy knife gangs directed by John Boulting. It was reworked before reaching the screen but Greene crucially retained Rattigan's vision of the work as a thriller rather than an intellectual treatise. The Boultings kept Rattigan's change of ending, too, in which a gramophone recording of Pinkie (Richard Attenborough) jams on 'I love you…' before he lays into his love interest. Rattigan didn't generally shy away from the brutality of romantic relationships. The Deep Blue Sea (1955) is testament to that. Influenced by the relationship between Rattigan and actor Kenneth Morgan, the play's curtain-twitching portrait of a squalid postwar London is still one of his most unflinching of love stories. Vivien Leigh was cast as Hester, the spurned lover of RAF pilot Freddie, played by Kenneth More, who had transferred from the original play. More suggested that Leigh brought too much glamour to the part. Yet with Leigh's mental health deteriorating and her personal life crumbling, she appears in hindsight to have been all too right for The Deep Blue Sea. Rattigan then teamed up with Leigh's husband Laurence Olivier on The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), but Rattigan's last great screen work was his collaboration a year later with Delbert Mann on the Oscar-nominated Separate Tables. Another of his tragic ensemble pieces, the film saw a wealth of stars gathered in a run-down Bournemouth hotel, all forced to examine their lives after the revelation of a scandal involving the retired Major Pollock played by David Niven. Niven has the film to thank for the only Oscar win of his career, and Rattigan for his second nomination. (He received his first in 1952 for scripting David Lean's The Sound Barrier.) What happened next might have been the apex of Rattigan's screen career yet turned out to be the beginning of the end. In 1960 he had started working with the Rank Organisation to adapt his T.E. Lawrence play Ross. It was to star Dirk Bogarde and Asquith was slated to direct. But there was a problem: another Lawrence film was already in the works. Out of respect to David Lean – and under some pressure from Lawrence of Arabia producer Sam Spiegel – the studio pulled the plug on the project. Bogarde called it his 'bitterest disappointment'. Rattigan and Asquith ploughed on, assembling star-studded casts for two further movies, The V.I.P.s (1963) and The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), with all favours from friends called in. But even with Rattigan's work finding new audiences on television, the 1960s were relentlessly unforgiving. His last screenplay of note was the wonderful musical adaptation of Goodbye, Mr Chips (1969), with Peter O'Toole, before he fled into creative (and tax) exile to Bermuda. A knighthood in 1971 and a minor reconciliation with the theatre industry before his death in 1977 did little to remedy his unhappiness. The West End rediscovers Rattigan's work almost every decade. But the screen never forgot him. Terence Davies's hypnotic version of The Deep Blue Sea (2011) with Rachel Weisz and Tom Hiddleston converted a whole new generation. Rattigan no doubt deserves a theatre. His contribution continues to enrich the British stage – especially in its deeply English themes, its styling and restraint. But his dedication to the screen suggests a Rattigan cinema wouldn't go amiss either.
Irish Independent
17-06-2025
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: The rise, fall and resurgence of Brian ‘King Ratt' Rattigan
Emergency services were alerted to the firearm discharge in Dolphins Barn on Monday of last week. A number of rounds were discharged but no injuries were reported. It's believed two brothers, who are aged in their 20s and centrally involved in the feuding, were the targets of the attack. Among the group that was targeted were associates of one of Irelands most feared crime bosses, Brian 'King Ratt' Rattigan. Once one of Ireland's most notorious mobsters, Rattigan's rise was as dramatic as the feud he was at the center of. But now, 4 years after his release from prison, his name is surfacing again and so is the violence. The drug dealer, who was one of the leaders of the bloody Crumlin-Drimnagh feud, was jailed for 18 years, and there had been suggestions his criminal operation had diminished in that time. However, despite his lengthy spell behind bars, he is suspected of playing a background role with a number of criminals based in the south inner city and in his native Crumlin-Drimnagh, as well as directing criminal activity from Spain. Nearly 25 years later, Dublin still feels the effects of the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud that killed 16 people. Today on The Indo Daily, Tabitha Monahan is joined by Robin Schiller, Senior Journalist with the Irish Independent, and Nicola Tallant, Investigations Editor with The Sunday World, to discuss the rise, fall - and resurgence of Brian Rattigan.
Sunday World
12-06-2025
- Sunday World
Convicted drug dealer arrested over shooting linked to associates of mobster Brian Rattigan
The 24-year-old criminal is being questioned over the gun attack at a south-inner city flat complex recently targeting junior associates of mobster Brian Rattigan Associates of convicted killer Brian Rattigan are caught up in the feud A convicted heroin dealer has been arrested over a shooting linked to a dangerous city feud. The 24-year-old criminal is being questioned over the gun attack at a south-inner city flat complex recently targeting junior associates of mobster Brian Rattigan. Detectives also suspect the reckless criminal was also planning more shootings as part of the feud after a car linked to the incident was recovered parked in a housing estate over the weekend. Emergency services were alerted to the firearm discharge in Dolphins Barn on Monday of last week. A number of rounds were discharged but no injuries were reported. It's believed two brothers, who are aged in their 20s and centrally involved in the feuding, were the targets of the attack. They are considered young associates of convicted killer Brian Rattigan and have been involved in an escalating feud with a man from Drimnagh. It has seen shootings, assaults and petrol bomb attacks carried out over the past month. One source told the Irish Independent: 'Significant investigations have been underway into these feud incidents and as a result this man was identified as a suspect in the latest shooting. 'He is closely associated with the Drimnagh man involved in the feud while innocent women linked to both men have also been targeted. 'Those close to him have been badly beaten and had their homes shot up so this is deeply personal for him. 'The concern is that the car used was stashed away for further incidents, so his arrest is a significant result for gardaí'. The suspect in custody is well-known to gardaí and previously served a lengthy jail term after being caught with thousands of euro worth of heroin in the south of the country. He is currently being held on suspicion of committing firearms offences and can be held for up to three days. It's been reported that a number of children were playing in the area at the time of the shooting but no injuries were reported. The gunman fled in a car which was recovered by gardaí in Crumlin over the weekend and seized for forensic examination. Associates of convicted killer Brian Rattigan are caught up in the feud Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 12th The gun attack is seen as the first reprisal by associates of the young Drimnagh man who are feuding with the Rattigan associates. Mob boss Rattigan, who is a convicted heroin dealer and killer, is not suspected of direct involvement in the feud although gardaí believe he has a major influence over the younger criminals involved. Multiple serious incidents are being investigated as part of the feud including an arson attack on an innocent family's home. In the early hours of May 21 reckless thugs petrol bombed the wrong house in Ballyfermot, killing a family dog and leaving a couple hospitalised. Days earlier, the same gang orchestrated a series of coordinated petrol bomb attacks at houses in Drimnagh and Kildare. A key target of the gang is a drug dealer aged in his 20s who was the victim of a violent assault on May 10. The man was stabbed, slashed in the face and beaten with weapons on Victoria Quay in the south-inner city. The man's partner was later warned that she would be burnt out of her apartment even though she has no involvement in the violence. On May 25, a failed petrol bomb attack was carried out at this man's mother's home. Just some 24 hours later the same woman was targeted after an apartment she'd moved to was shot up on the Long Mile Road.
Sunday World
26-05-2025
- Sunday World
Family dog killed and two people injured as Dublin gang firebombs wrong house
Two hospitalised after blunder by feuding thugs Two people were hospitalised and a family dog killed after reckless criminals firebombed the wrong house as part of an escalating Dublin feud. The innocent family's home was targeted in an early morning attack in Ballyfermot, causing extensive damage. Detectives believe it was carried out as part of a worsening city feud involving a young drug dealer and junior associates of mobster Brian Rattigan. There has been a spate of assaults and petrol bombings in recent weeks while one property was also shot up last year. Brian Rattigan is not suspected by gardaí of any direct involvement in the gang feud which is believed to be connected to the petrol bombing An investigation is under way into the latest incident which happened at around 2.30am last Wednesday. Emergency services including Dublin Fire Brigade, paramedics and gardaí were alerted and two people taken to hospital as a precaution. Extensive damage was caused by a suspected petrol bomb and the family dog was killed. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house The residents who live at the property have no involvement in criminality and gardaí are satisfied the perpetrators targeted the wrong home. A source said: 'This is a decent family who have absolutely no involvement in what has been going on. The lads who were sent out to petrol bomb their target clearly got the wrong house. 'It shows the calibre of people involved in this feuding and how easily completely innocent people can get caught up in this'. No arrests have been made. Stock photo News in 90 Seconds - May 26th 2025 A Garda spokesperson confirmed that an investigation into the incident of criminal damage by fire is under way. The Sunday World previously revealed how a partner of one of the feuding criminals was also warned by her boyfriend's rivals that she would be burnt out of her home. A drug dealer in his 20s is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack Her partner, a drug dealer aged in his 20s, is centrally involved in the dispute and was the victim of a violent attack in the city centre recently. He was beaten over the head with weapons and also stabbed while receiving a bad slash wound to his face. His family home was also shot at in May of last year while his home and car were smashed up days before the assault on him. Days after that attack a series of co-ordinated petrol bomb attacks linked to the dispute were carried out in Drimnagh and Kildare. Gardaí believe two brothers, who are in their early 20s and junior associates of convicted killer Rattigan, are leading the feud against the young drug dealer. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud They were previously part of the same drugs gang but last year fell out in a row over drugs as well as a personal dispute over a woman. Rattigan led a gang involved in the deadly Crumlin/Drimnagh feud which claimed more than a dozen lives in the 2000s. He has served lengthy jail terms for drug offences and manslaughter. The mobster is not suspected of playing any direct role in the feud but gardaí believe he still has a key role in criminality in the area.
New European
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New European
This role will win Tamsin Greig a best actress Olivier award
In theatre and in our world generally, there is a visceral horror of silence that now seems to be more pronounced than ever. Given what's happening around us, maybe we just don't want too much time to dwell upon things. Even some of my oldest friends, it so happens, have started to babble inanities over lunches and dinners. Lindsay Posner, the director of what might be called a radically traditional revival of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea, understands, however, that silence can be used to devastating effect, certainly on a stage. He allows his audience quite a few moments of silence to contemplate the full horror of Hester Collyer's life after she made an unsuccessful bid to end it in the opening scene. Hester has broken up with her dull but decent husband,played by Nicholas Farrell, and is living with a feckless but charismatic young drunkard (Hadley Fraser). As their relationship inevitably disintegrates, she has to understand how she needs to focus on a point in her life that's 'beyond hope,' which is to say come to terms with reality. There is nothing terribly special about Hester – all of us know people like her and some may well see aspects of themselves in her character – and that's what makes the piece so powerful. Rattigan was almost certainly writing about his own troubled private life in the piece – in a more repressive time, he had to make the principals heterosexual, but, as a gay man, he knew the sense of despair about love and loss were just the same – and this is what gives the piece its punch. Tamsin Greig as Hester heads an exceptionally strong ensemble cast – I'll put money on her for best actress in the next Olivier awards – but Fraser, who I remember as a musical star in his younger days, is her equal on stage, capturing very well the inner turmoil of her youthful boyfriend. Farrell is on customarily great form, too, and Finbar Lynch, as a seedy, disbarred doctor tending to Hester, turns out to be a fine old scene-stealer. Posner directs with due reverence to Rattigan and it succeeds as a production precisely because of this, and, of course, the great acting. We've playwrights like Rattigan to thank for helping to make generation of theatre-goers emotionally literate, and it's pleasing, after seeing James Dacre's excellent double bill of his plays Table Number Seven and The Browning Version down in Chichester, to now see the old boy making a comeback in the West End.
