Peter Ustinov Movies
Hirsute, puckish "renaissance man" Peter Ustinov was born in England to parents of Russian lineage. Trained at the London Theatre Studio, Ustinov was on stage from the age of 17, performing sketches written by himself in the 1939 revue Late Joys. In 1940, the year that his first play, Fishing for Shadows, was staged, the 19-year-old Ustinov appeared in his first film. Just before entering the British army, Ustinov penned his first screenplay, The True Glory (1945). School for Secrets (1946) was the first of several films starring, written, and directed by Ustinov; others include Vice Versa (1946), Private Angelo (1949), Romanoff and Juliet (1961) (adapted from his own stage play), and Lady L (1965). Perhaps Ustinov's most ambitious film directorial project was Billy Budd (1962), a laudable if not completely successful attempt to transfer the allegorical style of Herman Melville to the screen. As an actor in films directed by others, Ustinov has sparkled in parts requiring what can best be described as "justifiable ham" -- he was Oscar-nominated for his riveting performance as the addled Nero in 1951's Quo Vadis and has won the Best Supporting Actor prize for Spartacus (1961) and Topkapi (1964). Never one to turn down a good television assignment, Ustinov has appeared on American TV in such guises as King George and Dr. Samuel Johnson, winning the first of his three Emmy awards for the latter characterization; he is also a frequent talk show guest, regaling audiences with his droll wit and his mastery over several dialects. While he has never starred on-camera in a weekly TV series, his voice could be heard essaying virtually all the roles on the 1981 syndicated cartoon series Dr. Snuggles. The closest he has come to repeating himself was with his frequent theatrical film and TV-movie appearances as Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in the late '70s and early '80s. The author of several plays (the most popular of which included Love of Four Colonels and Photo Finish) and books (including two autobiographies), Peter Ustinov was still going strong into the 1990s, making a long-overdue return to Hollywood in the 1992 film Lorenzo's Oil. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Peter Ustinov has made his mark on the world as an actor, writer, and director. He is interviewed for this program by Paul Ryan, who converses with Ustinov on a variety of subjects. They discuss Ustinov's long acting career, in such movies as Quo Vadis and Topkapi, as well as on stage and television. In his inimitable way, Ustinov relates some of the high points in his endeavors in the fields of entertainment and education, and in his personal life. ~ Rose of Sharon Winter, All Movie Guide
The two siblings Ares and Eris are legitimate children of Zeus and Hera, and create misery and strife wherever they appear. Disliked even by the gods on Mt. Olympus, the two were lead figures in the Trojan War. In this episode, In the Path of the Gods: Ares and Eris -- Quarrels of the Gods, Sir Peter Ustinov looks at the deaths and political battles waged by these gods of war and discord. The series is filmed on-location in Greece and visits temples where the gods were worshipped. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
Artemis, Apollo's twin sister, was a virgin goddess, who did not take kindly to being viewed by men. Her rage at being seen by Actaeon is one of the stories told during In the Path of the Gods: Artemis -- The Forces of Nature. She protected the wild, both plants and animals, and was also the goddess invoked in childbirth. The temples where ancient Greeks worshipped Artemis are shown in this film, and include Arcadia, Mount Cithaeron, and Brauron. Sir Peter Ustinov continues his narration of the eight-part series. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
The trying circumstances of Dionysus' birth are discussed in this episode of the eight-film series on Greek mythology. The programs are filmed on-location in Greece, with narration provided by Sir Peter Ustinov, and give a thought-provoking look at the beliefs of the ancient Greeks. Dionysus' main gift to the mortals was wine, and this episode features the stories in which he played an important part. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
Apollo and his sister Artemis were the only twins to be descended from the gods of Mt. Olympus. In the Path of the Gods: Apollo: Light and Harmony is a look at the god who is associated with medicine, archery, light, music, and truth. Sir Peter Ustinov narrates the stories of Apollo, who avenged his mother's death by a python, only to invoke the rage of Hera, who had sent the snake to torment his mother. The ancient Greeks believed that Apollo taught mankind the art of medicine, and thought of him as the most handsome of all the gods. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
Discover the eco-system and its participants. ~ All Movie Guide
The ancient Greeks believed in a god of the sea, Poseidon, brother of Zeus. In the Path of the Gods: Poseidon: Master of the Seas journeys to sites where reverent Greeks worshipped this powerful god. His history is told, including details of how he got his trident. Sir Peter Ustinov provides narration for the series, offering a vivid picture of Poseidon, to whom the Greeks prayed and sacrificed. In the all-important Trojan War, the god took sides with the Greeks, but deplored their treatment of the Trojans. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
Fertility rituals appear in many ancient cultures, and the ancient Greeks held the topic in high regard. Demeter was the goddess of both fertility and grain, and her importance to the agriculturally minded Greeks should not be underestimated. In the Path of the Gods: Demeter: The Miracle of Fertility visits Eleusis, a place of worship for Demeter, and retells the story of how she lost her daughter, Persephone. Stories of Triptolemus, Deucalion, Charon, and Pyrrha are also featured, as Sir Peter Ustinov continues to narrate this series of programs. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
In this series, actor Sir Peter Ustinov narrates the fascinating stories from Greek mythology. Though they are colorful and entertaining works of fiction to modern cultures, they represented much more to the ancient Greeks. In the Path of the Gods: Zeus -- King of the Gods is an examination of the chaotic beginnings of the world. The Greeks believed in a Universal Egg, out of which came the heavenly bodies and life itself. This episode is concerned with Zeus, his wife Hera, and his forays into adultery with Leda, Alcmene, and Europa. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
As this series on Greek mythology continues, the focus is on two rival goddesses, Aphrodite and Athene. Narration is provided by Sir Peter Ustinov, and the scenic locations of Greece enhance the programs. In the Path of the Gods: Athene and Aphrodite -- Wisdom and Love is a discussion of the contrast between wisdom and love. The influence of Aphrodite's power is illustrated in stories of Galatea, Pygmalion, Ares, and Adonis, as love rules the day. Athene's contributions to Greek culture are the chariot, the plow, and the potter's wheel. ~ Alice Day, All Movie Guide
- 1940
This historical documentary makes use of both archive footage and dramatic re-enactments to show the rise to power of Adolf Hitler. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
This subtle, unadorned British war drama was the second collaboration between "The Archers," Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Six British bomber crewmen are obliged to bail out over Holland. To escape detection from the Nazis, the crewmen accept the hospitality of several Hollanders, all dedicated to the freedom-fighting activities of the Underground. The film is constructed along the lines of the earlier Powell-Pressburger film The Invaders, except that the escapees are British rather than German and their Dutch contacts are willing rather than reluctant co-conspirators. The six male stars are Godfrey Tearle, Eric Portman, Hugh Williams, Bernard Miles, Hugh Burden, and Emrys Jones; among those who aid them in their flight to freedom are Googie Withers, Joyce Redman, and Peter Ustinov. The austere photography by Ronald Neame is complemented by the to-the-point editing of future director David Lean. Adding to the verisimilitude of One of Our Aircraft Is Missing is the utter absence of a musical score. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Godfrey Tearle, Eric Portman, (more)
- 1942
Let the People Sing is an offshoot of J. B. Priestly's earlier show business-based fable The Good Companions. In Companions, a trio of mismatched dogooders save a musical troupe from ruin. In Let the People Sing, Alastair Sim is a besotted nobleman who comes to the aid of indigent comedian Fred Emney. Through Sim's intervention, the planned closing of a local music hall is prevented. Even if Sim hadn't let the people sing, as the title implores, they probably would have done so anyway. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alastair Sim, Fred Emney, (more)
