Tidbits about Christopher PLUMMER that filtered down to my level, while never seeing more than clips
I won't intrude in the tribute threads, although my tidbits are in no way derogatory, just the usual off-kilter.
I never saw more than clips, never saw a full sample of his work. And, no, have never seen The Sound, despite that Richard RODGERS's music is tops.
However, he was a Name, a big Name at my level of things. I just assumed that he was the standard Brit big Name actor - imagine my surprise to learn not that he was Canadian. The Big Named ones are acknowledged as superlative, but not with the personal connection of Peter O'TOOLE.
Anyway, the tidbits that struck the right bell tone for me:
* That he detested the smarminess of The Sound.
* When Kevin SPACEY was bounced for a role and PLUMMER took over, the interviewer gushed about what a big deal it was to replace somebody who was supposedly irreplaceable, and PLUMMER testily set him straight, lecturing a foolish pupil, "In the theater we do that all the time! It's called being an *understudy*!"
That piece of informed experience was honest, appropriately high and mighty. Reminded me of 30 years ago when Hugh DOWNS was interviewing (gushing) the latest concert wunderkind pianist, who said that he enjoyed time to himself, sometimes six weeks on a boat. And Hugh was shocked and said, "But what do you do about PRACTICING?!" And the kid said, with PLUMMER's informed anger, "I don't practice (when on the boat for six weeks) ! "
*** Not to mention that PLUMMER was an inbiber in his natural grouping of Name Brit actors.
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