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FATHER GEEK bids a fond fairwell to ATHOS,VULCAN, HARRY LOMART, and LEON the werewolf; OLIVER REED died today.

So long and farewell by Shadowdancer	May 2nd, 1999 11:57:24 PM
Let me be the first to say Reed will be missed. I always enjoyed his film performances. I hope his role in Gladiator will be retained in the final version of the movie. And may his soul be in heaven a half hour before the devil knew he was dead.
Another Oliver Reed film.... by LUNGROCKET	May 3rd, 1999 12:09:58 AM
This was one of my childhood favorites....although quality wise it didn't stand the test of time....i still find myself poping it in the v.c.r. any chance i get...it was Condorman...Reed played the villain to Michael Crawford's hero. Though it has some lame moments, not so great effects, and a 70's cheese feeling...disney managed to deliever a great story. And it still trips me out with the humor. Great film.
Harry.... my first trivia... by Harry Knowles	May 3rd, 1999 01:00:23 AM
I remember when I was 3 and 4 years old, my father always let me hang around. I was constantly 'part of his group'. In order for me to fit in, I had to begin to know my shit. The first thing I remember them teaching me was my werewolves (this was of course pre HOWLING, AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, ETC) I was taught that Henry Hull was THE WEREWOLF OF LONDON, Lon Chaney Jr was THE WOLFMAN, Michael Landon was I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF and Oliver Reed was THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF. Oliver Reed's name was one of the first I knew. It took me a long time to get it straight. I used to always get Henry Hull and Oliver Reed's movie titles mixed up, but.. I finally got it right. That's when I had to learn which horses went to which cowboys. You know... Tom Mix and Tony, Roy Rogers and Trigger, Gene Autry and Champion, etc... Later I really became a fan when Oliver Reed became the sweaty bruiser of an Athos in THE THREE MUSKETEERS. He so launched himself into every single action scene that I was in complete awe. When you saw 9 of the Cardinal's guards headed his way, you knew THEY needed reenforcements cause his ass would stomp them religious ruffians into a slimy mudtrap. However, my favorite Oliver Reed story comes from the set of that damn CUTTHROAT ISLAND. You see... Originally the bad guy was to be played by Oliver Reed. At the cast party a week before shooting (or so the legend goes) Renny Harlin observed Oliver Reed drinking all by himself in this booth. So, wanting to.. establish a good working relationship, he decided to approach Oliver and talk with him. When Renny sat down, Oliver's eyes went ablaze and he wanted to talk about his role. He had some GREAT ideas for the character. Renny was enthused by Reed's energy and wanted to hear all about it. So Oliver sat up straight and began to describe a scene where he would jack off till he came in his hand... He'd do this live for the cameras, then he would wipe the semen into his hair to slick it back. Renny listened horrified. What did this man just say? They got into an argument that nearly turned into a brawl (or so the legend goes) and it wound up with Renny and Oliver deciding that they couldn't work with one another. Tis a shame really. Can you imagine how cool that scene would've been? But alas, Renny Harlin is not Paul Verhoeven, and unfortunately Verhoeven never worked with his perfect actor. For me... Oliver Reed was the perfect Bachus on Earth. A man that would drink and be merry, drink and be gloomy, and... when he felt like it, he'd fuck anyone who'd have him. He was an icon of excess. Sure he was hard to work with, but only because he didn't abide unoriginal characters and rating systems. My god, I would've loved to have had my nose broken by the man. Well... Perhaps when I get to the otherside. Tonight... The world is a bit more sad, an original is dead and we are the lessor for his absence.
Oliver Reed - Great Actor - Outrageous Hellraiser by Chyren	May 3rd, 1999 01:50:18 AM
Oliver Reed was one of my heroes - not least for his take-no-shit-from-anyone attitude, his incredible persona which was larger than life and dominated the screen, and his beautiful mellifluous speaking voice, which could at once purr like audible honey, or roar like a lion. In later years his acting abilities were overshadowed by his legendary hellraising (chiefly getting extremely drunk, fighting in pubs and insulting people on live national television) but never forget that this man was unique, untrained, but dripping with a vigour and charisma that many RADA trained thesps could only dream of. Having said that, I loved his wild ways and as a young lad he really impressed me with his "I don't give a fuck about your opinion" attitude: a great benefit to me. I also will always remember his classic appearance on the Clive James show mid '80s on UK tv where he appeared on set disheveled, very, very drunk, holding a large jug of vodka and orange. He proceeded to be the most entertaining guest on the show and told the very pompous other guests exactly what he thought of them. "You meet a better class of people in pubs!" he exclaimed when James asked him why he drank. Classic. The man was a walking icon of iconoclasts. He once claimed his only regret was "not to have drunk every pub dry and not to have slept with every woman alive." Saying so to some means nothing, saying so to others leaves nothing to be said. Father Geek and Harry have already covered the fantastic films he enlivened, so I won't go there, but to say he was in 53 films in his 61 years. His voice still chills me. Oliver, you huge wonderful man, I will drink a large jug of vodka and orange for you tonight, and I will cry for you and remember your great movies. Give 'em hell in heaven, Ollie! I know you will.___ Sadly, Chyren.
As anyone in Britain can tell you... by Palmer Eldritch	May 3rd, 1999 06:23:53 AM
Most of Oliver Reed's best work was oh TV, Eh Parky?
Oliver Reed...a dying breed by Mr. Zumdish	May 3rd, 1999 06:34:38 AM
Alas, they are all diappearing, the hard drinking English actors. Once we had Oliver Reed and Richard Burton, now we have Joseph Fiennes and Hugh Grant. I will miss him, his off-key rendition of The Who's Tommy will always ring pleasantly in my ears and his menacing performance as Bill Sykes will immortalize him as one of the great screen villians. I lift my pint glass to ya Oliver, don't let Burton hog the bar up there! P.S. My favorite Oliver Reed moment...He was on David Letterman , obviously walking in a Guiness induced fog. He was very unresponsive to Letterman, so Dave asked him point blank "So, Oliver...Had a few before you stopped by?". Reed's eyes went a blaze, Letterman turned into Fagin right before Oliver's eyes. His huge hand slammed onto Dave's arm holding it down. Reed then started to stand and they cut to commercial. When they got back Oliver was gone, but Dave was still shaking. I will miss him.
I'll be drinking for two tonight by smilin'jackruby	May 3rd, 1999 06:45:58 AM
Good-bye and good luck, ya drunken bastard. I'll pour a pint of some nasty swill on the earth for you tonight. To die like Dylan Thomas 'tis the death for me.
Why not more posts? by Chyren	May 3rd, 1999 07:12:00 AM
As we speak I mourn Oliver Reed with Vodka and orange and a stack of videos. Just stopped by to check out the comments...and what? Only a few more since I was here last? WHAT IS THIS? Reed deserves an ovation, no less! I suppose all the usual wankers are over making stupid comments in the Denver Con talkback: bastards. I suppose only the older generation really understand Reed and his irrepressible charisma. Damn it, but he should have gotten more work in recent years! Nice story about Letterman, btw, I would have liked to see that! Christ, but 'tis a bittersweet end for the man. The way he would have wanted, but I wanted to see more of his work, dammit._______ Drunkenly, Chyren
Reed by Money G	May 3rd, 1999 07:24:34 AM
Ironic. I saw Oliver! on cable yesterday and was just thinking that Mr. Reed was the best Bill Sykes ever. I also enjoyed his performance in the Sting. The victim could not have been portrayed any better in the film.
Unmentioned film... by gromit	May 3rd, 1999 07:49:12 AM
First off, I barely knew who Reed was before my Scottish-born wife told me a couple years ago. The only movie I think I've seen him in was one that hasn't yet been mentioned: The Bruce. This was a fairly low-budget British film released in 96 on the crest of the Braveheart wave. I didn't like the film too much, but Reed obviously stood out. The film does have (according the jacket) the largest filmed reconstruction of medieval battle ever staged in the British Isles. And it has a terrific performance of "Flower of Scotland" by none other than Ronnie Browne (one of the lads that actually wrote the song...) Anyway, for the sake of completeness... BTW, I have an NTSC version for sale. ;)
The Devils by strfkr	May 3rd, 1999 08:21:04 AM
I know everyone is going to start with the "you didn't mention....." stuff but, What about The Devils? Damn good movie and a perfect for the freaks that check out this site.
Mr. Reed in OLIVER! by Bundren	May 3rd, 1999 08:22:38 AM
I'll always remember watching this musical version of Oliver Twist as a little kid and being totally bored with it, and thinking the boy who played Oliver sang and talked and acted like a girl. But then Oliver Reed would show up.....and I'd be scared to death. In my childlike logic, I decided I'd better watch the rest of the movie , or Bill Sikes might get mad and come after me too.
The Late Great Oliver Reed by W. Leach	May 3rd, 1999 10:55:19 AM
The other day I was discussing AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. I posted something along the lines of "We feel sympathy for David ... more so than any other werewolf character onscreen before or since." Apparently I forgot about Oliver Reed's tragic Leon in THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF. Reed has been a favorite of mine as well. For me, his best films include Cronenberg's THE BROOD, BURNT OFFERINGS, CONDORMAN (remember THAT one??), THE CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF, the MUSKETEER films, THE DEVILS, TOMMY, VENOM, DR. HECKYL AND MR. HYPE, PARANOIAC (a Hammer knock-off of PSYCHO), and OLIVER! AICN is the first place I heard about Mr. Reed's passing, and I am saddened by it. He wasn't in the public eye much these last few years, but he will always live on in the numerous movies and television appearances he's blessed us with over the years.
The Assassination Bureau by HCEarwicker	May 3rd, 1999 10:59:25 AM
Anyone remember seeing this? I did when I was a kid... and still love that cast. Is it as good as I remember it?
RE: Deuce by Chyren	May 3rd, 1999 11:18:32 AM
Nice story, but something tells me it's fanshit.
Another TV appearance.... by Migs	May 3rd, 1999 01:05:54 PM
I can't remember what the program was called, but it was on Channel 4 (UK), on Saturday's after midnight, early 90's. Might have been called 'After Dark'. Anyway, it was a group of people (mainly snotty types) just sitting on sofa's discussing various topics. The night Ollie was on, he was drinking (surprise surprise), but the tv crew didn't stop him and he was literally rolling over the backs of the sofas, walking off camera and coming back with pitchers of red wine. It was hilarious! He even started to chat up a right old prim and proper woman and she started to take offense. They went to a commercial break and and then a few moments later, it was announced that the program would not be coming back on! I was so pissed I rang the studio to demand they put it back on, but they said they were having 'technical difficulties'. God bless you Ollie.
"Oh" Reed.....I agree w/ TheLondon Times... by Leyla	May 3rd, 1999 01:19:57 PM
When it ran a caption under his pic saying he was a better actor than he knew....In my youth I was one of his most devoted fans...and I admit the news of his death sent tears down my cheeks with each article I read. Across from me on a shelf bearing the clutter of my life are notebooks of stills, pics, and articles of Reed's early films and life (Sitting Target included, one of my favorite). I discovered Ollie first in The Shuttered Room, when I was a teenager. But it wasn't until Michael York bumped into him on the stairs in The Three Musketeers, and those baleful blue eyes in a bearded face sized up Mr. York, that he literally affected the turning point in my destiny (but that's another story). It's been many years since I followed his career closely, but I was always aware he was out there. Aware of "the drink" and "bad boy" behavior that took up the energy he might have spent developing and starring in projects that best showed off all of his acting qualities as he matured in age. Always he teased us with his now-you-see-it-now-you-don't innate nobility and character depth. But I thank him for being such an inspiration once, that I had the opportunity to meet people who worked with him, such as cinematographer Billy Williams, director Ken Russell, and even actor Ian McShane (I was too shy to meet Reed himself when an opportunity presented itself)...Because of some of the challenging cinematic vehicles he undertook with Russell, I learned to explore all the artistic possbilities of film. While I ultimately moved on to a different career altogether, I have never lost that appreciation of, in particular, British films (only the Brits could have come up with The Full Monty!). Once I was thinking of selling/giving away my Reed collection of pics, posters and early soundtracks. Now I'm glad I didn't. They'll remind me of opportunities both met and missed. Oliver Reed was all the extreme contracdictions that England is: handsome and scarey; (wild)manly and (on occasion) mannerly; soft and harsh spoken; noble and nutty; and an actor of intense talent and range. I had never really forgotten him, just moved on. Now so has he. My prayers go to his family.
farewell by JetAlone	May 3rd, 1999 04:23:11 PM
As a member of the pilloried "younger generation", I only know this fine actor from Tommy and Oliver--but those performances were enough to impress me (as a die-hard Who fan I also know he was a drinking buddy of Keith Moon's). I'll be sure to look for him in Gladiator. So long, Mr. Reed; you will be missed.
Oliver Reed by Lord Logic	May 3rd, 1999 04:37:46 PM
Jesus Christ, am I the only one of your readers lucky enough to have seen Reed's virtuoso per-formance in THE TRAP? His brooding, French-Canadian trapper was unforgettable...
Keith Moon by Appleman	May 3rd, 1999 05:05:28 PM

Keith Moon by Appleman	May 3rd, 1999 05:12:34 PM
So, during the filming of Tommy, Keith and Oliver got into a tiff. That evening a very drunken Keith Moon flew his helicopter (you heard that right! Who the fuck gave him a license is beyond me) and landed it in Oliver's flower garden in the front yard. Oliver raged out the door and threw Keith a sword and they proceeded to duel until the local gendarmes called a halt to it all. If you haven't seen The Devils, see it. If you value humanity, integrity and honesty, see it. Sit all the way through it. It's a tough film to watch, violent, unusual, thought provoking. See it because Oliver is as fine there as any actor's ever been. See it because Ken Russell has never been better.
Two words: TIME BANDITS by Maniaq	May 3rd, 1999 08:41:23 PM
Let us not forget what the man did for this GREAT movie - the duel role adding a very Terry Gilliam ambiguity to the whole exercise... He could do no wrong, could he? I can't name a single role he's played that wasn't simply DAMN GOOD - and that's pretty bloody rare these days, I must say - most people usually have at least one lemon lurking somewhere in their closets...
Thanks and fare thee well by BrotherZag	May 3rd, 1999 11:53:47 PM
I just drank a toast to Oliver. I'd like to think it's what he'd have wanted.
CROSSED SWORDS by filmakr1	May 4th, 1999 02:01:01 AM
This 1978 remake of the Prince and the Pauper hasn't been mentioned - and one of my Fav swashbucklers. Reed could swashbuckle with the best of them and this film was no exception. His Miles Hendon blew Eroll Flynn's version away in my opinion. Eroll Flynn was THE Robin Hood, yes, but Mark Twain's Sir Miles Hendon WAS Oliver Reed.
True Musketeer by Lorgalis	May 4th, 1999 12:33:58 PM
For me, Oliver Reed will always be the definative Athos, (one of my favourite performances, from one of my favourite films) charismatic, brooding.... drunk! Cheers Mr. Reed.
Never a dull moment by 1776	May 6th, 1999 05:03:10 AM
This is my first time posting on AICN and I'd like to start off with a THANKYOU to Father Geek for his tribute to the late, great Oliver Reed.Reed was my favorite actor. Why? Choices. The choices an actor makes while potraying a role. Oliver Reed could be accused of chewing the scenery now and again but he could NEVER, EVER be accussed of mediocrity!I'm an actor myself and the world has grown a little colder this week with his passing.So many moments.Remember the terror he made us all share with him in BURNT OFFERINGS over the smiling chauffer? His scene with Jack Nicholson in TOMMY where these two great actors seem to literally be trying to outmug eachother? My favorite Oliver Reed moment has got to be his unforgettable entrance in OLIVER.Fagin walks out of The Three Cripples and looks out at the foot bridge.Bullseye the dog appears.Followed by the shadow of Bill Sykes and then finally Bill Sykes himself. Reed says not a word in this scene as he slowly opens a sack to show Fagin the items he has just burglarized. Reed was an actor who could convey so much in just a look!Cheers Mr.Reed.You'll be sorely missed.
Not a bad way to go. by Wolfpack	Jul 23rd, 2006 04:24:09 PM
Better than losing your wits shitting yourself in a nursing home.

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FATHER GEEK bids a fond fairwell to ATHOS,VULCAN, HARRY LOMART, and LEON the werewolf; OLIVER REED died today.

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