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Sadly once again I have to announce the death of another old star. This time it is Hardy Kruger, who as a handsome young German actor scored a big hit in a 1950s film called The One That Got Away, a wartime tale about a German pilot who escapes from an English POW camp.
He went on to star in many other movies and lived to the good age of 93 but sadly I never got to meet him. Alas, that is true of many actors – although with all my name dropping it might appear I have met everyone. Although I have literally been meeting stars since childhood, starting in 1960, I naturally missed many of the Hollywood greats and these days I would not get a look-in if a big name came to town.
I see the Oscar ceremony has lost so many viewers that it is embarrassing, but I am one of those lost viewers. Personally I don’t care what some star I have never heard of is wearing on the red carpet or to listen to boring acceptance speeches. I have met many Oscar winners in the past and have actually held three of the golden statues. It needs a root and branch review, although I am not sure these days how many more cinema ticket sales are gained from an Oscar win. It has always been the case that the actor and actresses’ awards do give the recipients a big financial clout, albeit many end up forgotten or reduced to appearing in cheap films with guest star billing.
Read more: Let’s build Lucasland in Borehamwood to celebrate Elstree film heritage
Hollywood, as the generic name for the film business, is very unforgiving once you start to slip. I was once walking down Hollywood Boulevard with a Universal Studios executive when he suddenly said we needed to cross the road. He later told me he had seen a former executive colleague, who had been sacked, walking towards us. You must never be seen in the company of losers – that is a true story.
Personally I have different standards, but that is showbiz. I hear that ITV have dropped Simon Cowell’s latest silly talent show….
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Source : times
