Evelyn was in such a hurry to see MLSF, she forgot to close the tag. I don't blame her. ;-) Have fun!

cetacean= "any aquatic mammal including whales, dolphins and related forms with large head, fishlike nearly hairless body and paddle-shaped forelimbs." Ooops! Not a dinosaur....but still an unnecessarily unpleasant comparison by the reviewer. Quite over the top! I don't think "Miss" is intended to be particularly pretty...that would undermine the characterisation of someone suffering from repression and sexual hysteria. But I do think Jodhi May is quite attractive and a very good actress...I saw her recently in a very dramatically charged role (not a costume drama) and thought she was excellent. (Begging to differ, here! :-) ) Didn't like the Times review, so in the course of hectic Christmas shopping, did my usual "browse not buy" at the newsagents! All the papers are reviewing the Xmas TV programmes...and all the other reviews for TTOTS are, I'm pleased to say, very good indeed...,"fine new adaptation", "excellent and chilling", "Good story very well told" but they do point out that the "dashing Master" only makes a brief appearance "but that should be enough to make millions of women happy" and also comment that CF's "return to costume drama has been over-hyped" The Dail Mail review (male reviwer!)is worth giving in full (I bought this!). It's the Pick of the Day and one of only two or three (over a fortnight) to get a 5 star rating. TURN OF THE SCREW (5 stars) The jewel in ITV's drama crown this Christmas is this handsome, impressively atmosheric adaptation of Henry James' chilling ghost story. Jodhi May stars as Miss, the governess hired to look after two children in a grand, isolated country mansion. She is hired, in a scene that plays more like a seduction than a business transaction, by the Master, a debonair bachelor played by (swoon) Colin Firth. It's a pleasure to see him back in period dress, though the high Victorian gear isn't as fetching as Mr Darcy' shirt and breeches. Miss is charmed by the Master and delighted with her posting. The house is beautiful and the housekeeper is friendly and the children seem charming, However before long, Miss starts having some very strange experiences... Again, Murph, please feel free to use any of the above, if you think it would be of general interest!

I should have said, Karen and Murph...sorry! It's just that I was thinking more in terms of a news update, but the reviews could also be an interesting addition to Karen's excellent TTOTS pages!

But Darcy WAS completely and utterly naked in one scene... even if his full glory was carefully screened from prying eyes...

And there's me just about to complain to the Times! :-)

(Arami)But Darcy WAS completely and utterly naked in one scene. Nope. He was wearing his Arsenal boxers--that's why the dressing gown. IMO the most erotic moment in P&P2 comes when he leans back in his chair while writing the famous letter with all the fancy linen undone and you get that lovely view of his bare throat--so symbolic as he's making himself vulnerable by trusting his darkest secret for the first time ever and it's to the woman he loves even though she has just rejected him. One of the demonstrations of J.A.'s genius in this book is that she has Darcy and Lizzie trust each other with secrets that could ruin their families ev n though consciously they are angry and each thinks that the other is hostile. Nonetheless underneath each knows somehow that he is safe with the other, has sensed that the deepest assurance of marital success--mutual trust--is possible with the other. Warming to the doesn't-like-sex-theme (I see you sleeping in the back row!), one of CF's great talents I think is his ability to convey physical presence (I don't mean large size or physical power but rather being *physically* there in a scene). The viewer is aware of his body (and I don't think it's just my drool talking here) so that watching a scene becomes more like what you do when looking at a painting for instance as well as listening to the dialog and noting the characters' interactions. Three e amples come to mind. (SPOILER ALERT) In AMITC there's a scene where he's reclining outside Moon's tent--no sex, no Natasha, no discussion of her--you're just very aware of his body being there, how it's arranged and how it moves. In ATA of course I think that's what we respond to in the kitchen door snappies and what Jessica's character responds to (more than in the actual seduction scene!). In WOF which I've just gotten a chance to see, his physical presence is empashized throughout I think, which is nteresting in that he's not really supposed to have any, but it struck me esp in a scene in the hotel dining room where he sees what's her name crawling around on the floor among the tables and moves in to see what's going on and also at one point when he crosses the lobby and goes up the stairs. Maybe he feels it's more interesting, more difficult, requires more complex acting to convey sensuality and eroticism that way than through bald sex. And I think he's a real master of it unlike a number of actors who are supposed to be sexy guys but to my mind are merely pretty good-looking blunderers. Finally for comparison, I think one of the most erotic scenes I've ever seen comes in Strictly Ballroom when Scott and Fran dance the rhumba to Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. That movie, though it suffers from the absence of ODB, is still one of my top ten. Interested in y'all's reactions here.

The bit you missed from the actual Boxing Day page in The Daily Mail, Bethen - , "PICK OF THE DAY.......as above but this is the bit that worries me " She is hired in a scene that plays more like a seduction than a business transaction, by the Master, a debonair batchelor, played by (swoon) Colin Firth. A pleasure to see him back in period dress, THOUGH THE HIGH VICTORIAN GEAR ISN'T AS FETCHING AS MR. DARCY'S SHIRT AND BREECHES. (not shouting, just don 't know how to emphasize any other way). I agree tha he does not look quite so good in this period costume as in P&P, but I am looking forward to the "seduction". Talking of seduction, I have just returned from seeing Colin in 3DOR with my sons and Mark's girlfriend and I have to say that I preferred Colin's March portrayal of Walker to how he is playing it this time around. Both my sons mentioned that they found it hard to hear what Colin was saying because he seems to shout quite a lot and waves his hands around much more and seems much more neurotic. However, I liked the way they played the second act, especially E.MCg who was much better this time around and was really quite seductive, I loved her scenes with Colin. Having said all this we all enjoyed it very much and I am looking forward to seeing it for the 4th time in January. To round off a really lovely evening with my two sons, just as we were leaving Colin came down the stairs beheind us and we nearly didn't recognise him as he had these dark rimmed glasses on, old jogging bottoms and trainers. I turned to Mark and said thats Colin behind you and he said where, and there he was right behind Mark. H gave some people in the foyer his autographs and had some photos taken, I was frantically searching for something for him to sign his authograph on but had no programme as I already had one and left it at home!!, well Mark rushed up to the Box Office, bought a programme and came back to find that he had left and was walking up the street, I said never mind but he ran after him said "Excuse me Colin, but could I have your autograph for my Mum".. What is her name says Colin, Anne says Mark, do you spell th t with or without an "E" says Colin, I'm not sure says Mark, (Iask you!), You ought to know how to spell your Mum's name says Colin. Then Marks says something about "how come you got all the funny lines and he laughed. What a really nice man, he was with friends and still stopped and signed the autograph and spoke to Mark. Well done Mark and well done Colin. Sorry to ramble on but I think that will do. No so good was when we got back to Gatwick and found it was snowing very hard and I hate driving th ough the snow, still ODB is worth it!!

Oh Ann...what a funny scene.Love the part of Colin telling Mark he should know how to spell your name!!He's getting "fatherly". Thanks for sharing. Well done, Mark for taking care of your mum. And dear Colin for being so obliging.Sounds like a perfect evening...:-) 'Cept for snow:-( ~~~~ .. he seems to shout quite a lot and waves his hands around much more and seems much more neurotic. I think he must emphasize this more in different performances.When I saw him in November, I saw a difference, but didn't find it objectionable...in fact I preferred it to last March's portrayal of Walker. Made more of a contrast to Ned. ~~~~~~ I'll post MLSF comments on #121 tomorrow; the Miramax guy tells me the review will be in Sunday's paper.I will say I'm glad Colin is packing the house in 3 DOR 'cause I had a "private screening" today.

After yesterday's rather bizarre zoological review of TTOTS in the Times, the Sunday Times gives it a glowing review ("pick of the day") and describes Jodhi May's performance as "brilliant". Usual pic of The Master and JM.

Sweet story, Ann. I'm so glad to hear he's still so obliging. Don't you wish you didn't care so much, then you could talk as freely to him as your son. Tell him what a good boy we all think he is. Only you at MLSF, Evelyn? Sounds like this horse has been beaten to death. Time to ship it over the Atlantic to resuscitate it.

(Cymbeline) Maybe he feels it's more interesting, more difficult, requires more complex acting to convey sensuality and eroticism that way than through bald sex. It would have to be. I've never heard any actor say they like doing sex scenes, mostly for the reason that they're difficult to do in front of a crew on a set. I'm sure conveying sensuality and eroticism is more challenging and exciting and it sounds as if Colin gets to bring it to the screen yet again in TTOS. Yippee! That said, I can't decide if it's the chicken or the egg conundrum. Do I like Coling Firth because he's a special actor or is he a special actor because I like Colin Firth. It's all become too entwined to know. I do cringe sometimes watching sex scenes and especially sappy romantic scenes with surging violin music in the background, candles and enraptured, open mouthed expressions because they're so badly done. Yet there's only one sex scene/romantic scene with Colin I can ever recall cringing at and that's the rock scene in Playmaker. Even Lost Empires which has the candles, open mouths and music isn't badly done, IMO. Cymbeline, sounds as if your CF video collection is getting quite large.

...-he seems to shout quite a lot and waves his hands around much more and seems much more neurotic. ...-I think he must emphasize this more in different performances. It helps to remember that in live theatre no two performances are exactly the same. Actors' mood on a particular day, their health, their private joys or sorrows, usually reflect on the performance, sometimes quite significantly. Do I like Coling Firth because he's a special actor or is he a special actor because I like Colin Firth "Both, I imagine..." :-)

Great TOTS page Karen, choc full of goodies, thank you. Thanks Murph for sharing all your "insider" info, your site just keeps getting even better. Lovely encounter Ann, I am so glad you got your autograph, well done Mark too!

(Heide)...-he seems to shout quite a lot and waves his hands around much more (Arami) . Actors' mood on a particular day, ........, their private joys ........, usually reflect on the performance, sometimes quite significantly. 'Bet he spends a lot of time with his Italian relations. ;-D

Just caught a fisrt glimpse of CF in the TTOTS "trailer" which was shown at the end of "Oliver Twist". TTOTS looks good. My impression of the millisecond recording of Colin is that his hair is brown and shortish (sideboards are brown certainly) not that artificial dyed black, and it's the lighting that makes him look dark. (Jodhi May is blondish) He also looks slightly tanned...a healthy complexion anyway (probably after filming Londinium in the London sunshine!) and has a very slight 5 o'clock shadow. Did anyone see the ending of "Wives and Daughters"...Barbara Cartland meets "The English Patient". And the proposal in the rain...? Didn't work for me. Michael Gambon's performance was the saving grace.

the ending of "Wives and Daughters"...Barbara Cartland meets "The English Patient" Oh, yuk! Now you've done it. We watched Oliver Twist, because we wanted the longer one out of the way first (and it was quite unnecessarily overlong) - now I'm not sure if I want to bother with WaD seeing your summing it up... Still, I like the scenery and Michael Gambon is a rare treat, so... maybe.

Ann, Loved your little encounter with ODB. You've got a great son there for sure! So did you get Colin's autograph with your name correctly written? I bet your son is sure how to spell your name now, LOL! (Heide)...-he seems to shout quite a lot and waves his hands around much more (Renate)'Bet he spends a lot of time with his Italian relations. Renate, that was what exactly came to my mind when I read Heide's comments ;-)

Sorry to differ, Bethan, but we enjoyed the ending to W&D. The whole series got better from episode 2 onwards. It's true that a lot of the plotting is two-dimensional, but it meant the ending was appropriate.

I have to wait till Saturday before I can watch the ending of W&D. I have to agree with Mark, I too felt the series got better and better. I actually considered staying home to watch the ending. But it was snowing heavily, so I wanted to leave home at a decent hour and not be stuck in the snow in the middle of the night.

Yes, I agree with Mark and Tineke! After the slow start we enjoyed it. It is worth watching just for Michael Gambon who is quite brilliant.

(Bethan) Hmmm, talk about male reviewers! /.../ if only the governess did not look like a cetacean (Dinosaur)hoovering up krill. Reflecting upon some of the lower-than-low blow British reviews that have been posted (that 'celluloid toilet paper' crack comes to mind, as well as the one calling Ralph Fiennes' lovemaking in TEOTA akin to opening a tin can [or something equally merciless]) it seems that no bad review is considered complete unless the author somehow makes it personally insulting. As for male reviewers and their naked jealousy toward Darcy (naked or otherwise), I can only say that it must be due to genetic programming--the same that results in male pattern baldness, failure to lower the toilet seat, failure to place dirty dishes in the dishwasher, failure to ask for directions, failure to move out of the passing lane although they're doing only 50 mph...I could go on and on! Loved your story, Ann! Kudos to Mark for having the nerve to scoot after Colin and kudos to Colin for being so accomodating (not to mention dispensing advice). I love these anecdotes. BTW, what did you think of his new specs?

OT: Wives and Daughters. I'm looking forward to this if only because of Gambon. He's opening a new play by Nicholas Wright next year. It's called "Cressida" and the Almeida is producing it, Nicholas Hytner directing. Opens at the Albery Theatre in the West End on 4 April. I'm there!

Are you going to The Albery in Jan/Feb/March Chris!! (TRT) Eileen, I thought his specs made Colin look very severe, very Headmasterish! re W&D, I agree with Bethan, I couldn't get into it, must confess I didn't get past episode 2, but couldn't relate to any of the characters and didn't really care, I am afraid. Liked OT though.

Are the specs for disguise, or for real? Or are they the specs he wears in 3DOR and he's forgotten to taken them off? Re W&D, I agree Michael Gambon was absolutely marvellous. But I switched allegiance to OT (with frequent channel hopping back and forth!) I thought the actual closing sequence of W&D was very Mills & Boon, and the thoroughly modern Molly reminded me of Kristin Scott Thomas in TEP. In the 1860s Africa was still the Dark continent, claiming the lives of most of its explorers (Mungo Park, Lander, Speke), and the malaria and sleeping sickness were endemic. No woman would have been allowed to join a scientifi expedition, and probably no husband would have exposed his wife to such dangers. But maybe I'm nit-picking!! :-) Are you feeling better, Allison? Ann (without an "e" :-))...thanks for describing your encounter!

OT: "The Real Thing". Unfortunately, unless I get a business trip to the UK during the run, I'll will miss this production again. I won't be back until May for certain. But I'll be there for all three Almeida productions (at Albery, Gainsborough Studios, and Islington) and Vanessa Redgrave's run as Prospero as the Globe. That will have to do. :-)

Article on CF, "I'm Quite Rough, Actually," in The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/et?ac=001780639829970&rtmo=VMJ88w8K&atmo=99999999&pg=/et/99/12/21/btcol21.html

Thanks, Marianne. Take a look at the picture. He remarks of Three Days, "Though it didn't reveal itself to me completely in the initial readings, now I think it's a really major work." Just imagine what he would think of the play after reading our discussion! ;-) At that time I was mostly in Tunisia filming The English Patient and in Italy" - the native country of his soon-to-be wife, producer Livia Guiggiolo. Livia's been promoted? From PA to producer! Or is that what she's doing now? Firth the actor is not wholly averse to attention or publicity. He indeed declares that he is "happy to plug all the work I've done this year". Not "wholly" averse - ok, partially to fairly high percentage. ;-) If not, we've got some television talk shows he needs to appear on.

Hey, that coat looks familiar ;-) The only hysterical moment I've had was recently when some girls recognised me in the supermarket and started to shriek, but that was from Fever Pitch. Just for the record, that wasn't Heide and I. I had that same reaction to that bit about Livia, Karen. I think the author was going for past tense ('soon-to-be-wife'), but she got the job wrong. Well, at least everybody's age was right this time! he has also started pounding the pavements before and after performances ...muttering "where is Evelyn? Where is she?"

OK, the date has been announced for the US broadcast of Turn of the Screw. Will be on February 27th!!

I have just heard from a very good friend that 3DOR was voted "Play of the year" on BBC 2's "Late Review" last week. She said there were a lot of stills from the play used as well. Sorry if this is old news.

Marianne, many thanks for the link. So who's going to be checking out those Islington pubs? Good strong soled shoes are required for your visit to London ladies so you can "pound" the pavements in sympathy! "Clubbable" Colin LOL, sounds like he's out techno raving every night!! BTW agreed about W&D , got a lot better and MG was indeed superb. Thanks for forthcoming theatre news Luvvie.

(Lizza) "Clubbable" Colin LOL, sounds like he's out techno raving every night!! Didn't you say his friend's hair was blue? ;-)

(Karen) Didn't you say his friend's hair was blue? Maybe she's one of the Volvo ladies.

Thank you Marianne for the Telegraph article. ~~~~~~ Interesting stuff.....tells us a lot about him. Livia ia a nice girl. That's the jacket he wore last March..the one in the Spring picture. I refer to it as the Camden Market jacket. ~~~~~ I like "he's happy to plug all the work I've done this year..." Does that mean he'll attend the premieres?

For the competent scanners in our midst....the actual paper copy of the Daily Telegraph has a different HUGE black and white photo of Colin.....head and body shot, and a smaller colour photo (head only) on the front page ("The real Colin Firth") Looks thin...too much pounding the streets! Perhaps he walks home! Can't help but wonder why he's given this interview now. 3DOR has only a couple more weeks to go (after the Xmas break) and surely doesn't need any publicity now. He didn't give any interviews for MLSF or SLOW. Perhaps he only does interviews when put under pressure...Harvey for SIL, and in this case, I think, Carlton TV for TTOTS. Good news about The Late Review Best Play for 3DOR, Lizza. They can be extremely snooty and picky. That's praise indeed!

3DOR has only a couple more weeks to go (after the Xmas break) and surely doesn't need any publicity now. au contraire (or how ever that is spelled) The play AND Colin need lots of publicity now, to make sure he gets an Olivier nomination. I'm sure the ballots will be due within a couple of weeks of the beginning of the year.

To All: I could use your help -- A visitor to my AMITC site has asked me the source for: "And he shal com with woundes rede To deme the quikke and the dede...." From Moon's observation on the wall painting in AMITC. Is it Chaucer? Who is it? I'd appreciate any help. I've done every quote engine there is, and cannot get it. J. L. Carr himself tells no source for it in the book. Thanks for anything you can come up with. Murph

On CF's interview: The "nasty school" was in St. Louis, I believe. And as Eileen said, it is so good to see Will finally arriving at a sensible age. He quotes Livia a couple of times. That's nice. If I saw him in the supermarket, I'd holler too! All we have are harried moms and old folk. He does love those old comfortable outfits. Remember when he chose those harlequin pants when they were being discarded from some theatrical group? And could he be doing publicity also for TOTS and Channel 4, though the interviwer only mentions that once? Murph

Mary, it's Chaucer, Troiles and Cressida.

Thanks so much, Laura. Are you guys bright or what? Murph

Just noticed that the IMDB has added a feature called "Box Office and Business Data." Looked up MLSF and it shows the weekly figures through 9/12 for the US. MLSF had grossed $616,310. Not too shabby for only 20-22 reels! FP only showed $2,519 for the three screens in the NY area for that opening weekend of October 17. Nothing shown for SLOW.

From The Telegraph: New Pic? Same Camden Market jacket.

Happy Christmas and New Year everyone.

Happy Christmas and New Year everyone.

Karen, After the way he spoke of the play in that article: "Though it didn't reveal itself to me completely in the initial readings, now I think it's a really major work." , the first thing I thought of was that that was exactly how the play had revealed itself to us during the discussion, and: "I hope they're going to go through with getting a copy of the 3DoR discussion to him; I'm sure he'd really be interested." Are you still pursuing the idea?

I think I'm giving up on Lady Viola's Favorite Men site. CF was 1200 votes ahead this morning, and tonight it's down to 450. The AA people seem to be able to get votes at will, while I'm plodding along at 5 votes per sign on! Bah Humbug!!

Evelyn, we've seen the top part of that pic before in color, but never the full shot to my knowledge. Lynn, don't give up! I was just there voting a couple of times and each time did about 20 votes. Don't have a clue why. I think the AA people (a handful actually) keep hanging up and calling back.

Thank you for the picture, Evelyn. Don't you think he looked cold? The jacket must not be warm enough ;-)

Don't you think he looked cold? The jacket must not be warm enough ;-) I think he looks like a homeless person about to be confronted by Rudy Giuliani. The guy is too thin anyway. ~~~~~ Good girl, Lynn for persevering on those poll websites...I gave up a year ago. I think they're all rigged. (**evelyn being v. cynical**) ~~~~~~ As far as I know KJ, the plan is still to hand carry the 3 DOR discussion. If not Moon will haunt us. Yeah, I think we got the gist of that play before he did.

I think Lady Viola got her message thru with the note at the bottom just above the vote. She's taking those who have been at the top before off after this month. I think she means she doesn't want them in her little Hall Of Fame. It would explain lot.

Thank you 3 deers for your lovely Xmas page , all those sentiments are sent right back to you. I will have to have my daily fix! Murph thanks to you for that gorgeous Xmas log and Happy Holidays to you. It never ceases to amaze me, the versatility and inventiveness of such sites. A special thank you for all your hard work in 1999 Ladies to bring Colin to us in his many wonderful guises.

Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Three weeks today I fly to London - what a Christmas present!!! Thanks to everyone for all the info/photos/comments you bring to us via this list. I would rarely hear anything about Colin if it wasn't for you guys. Cathey

Looking forward to meeting you Cathey, until then have a great time! Merry Christmas to you.

Meluchie has done a tremendous job of grabbing some DVD images from FEVER PITCH DVD..available only in the UK now...this summer in the US. Check it out. http://members.xoom.com/morgaine/Fever_Pitch/feverpitch10.html Thanks Mel....Murph....3 Deers....Karen -in- the- boots.... Ann ...Bethan...Allison.... for keeping us informed of the latest Colin news...enhancing his past projects.. and everybody....for the million laughs. It's been a Firthrate Year. Let's hope the Firthcoming one will be even better.

I'm off to my Mom's for Christmas, so I just wanted you to know that I'll miss terribly all the informative, entertaining, witty, and insightful comments from all of you. But I'll be back next week and have lots of good reading ahead in the form of catching up with your posts. Can't wait to read what you have to note on "The Turn of the Screw". So -- "Joyeux Noel"!

(Karen) Evelyn, we've seen the top part of that pic before in color, but never the full shot to my knowledge That's from the post-speaker-falling-on-head photo shoot. We've seen a couple of shots throughout the year, but never this "hey, it's freezing in here" gem. (Evelyn) I think he looks like a homeless person about to be confronted by Rudy Giuliani. Hee hee! I'll wager Livia has found a way to separate Colin from that jacket by now ;-) (Evelyn) Good girl, Lynn for persevering on those poll websites...I gave up a year ago. I think they're all rigged. I think we should start our own poll site for the new year. The slate of candidates could look something like this: - Colin Firth - Firth, Colin - C. Firth - Colin Frith - Rudy Giuliani - My garbage [dust]man Waddaya think? :-D

There's a not-so-good readout of Blackadder Back and Forth in today's Guardian, based on a preview audience's reaction. Maybe someone could post?;-) (Evelyn) I think he looks like a homeless person about to be confronted by Rudy Giuliani. LOL! That's *not* a position one would want to be in! To me, it's from the same photo session that People mag used in the brief CF blurb when MLSF came out. Had a green background, I think it's on someone's website. Ann, l enjoyed your story about your son's conversation with Colin, and your interesting comments on the change in his Walker interpretation. I suppose actors get itchy playing the same role night after night, and maybe the temptation is there to fix what is not broken.;-)

(Eileen) - Colin Firth - Firth, Colin - C. Firth - Colin Frith - Rudy Giuliani - My garbage [dust]man Everything depends on what your dustman looks like??? Are those his legs among the spilled bin contents at the top of the page?

(Mari) There's a not-so-good readout of Blackadder Back and Forth in today's Guardian, based on a preview audience's reaction. Not surprising based on the article Ann had sent me from The Times. Many comments were somewhat apologetic about the film, not up to their usual quality level, but "hey, it's for the silly Dome." Will go dig that up. Here's the couple of paragraphs in the Guardian today: http://www.filmunlimited.co.uk/News_Story_Front/0,4057,,00.html Blackadder given thumbs down by millennium audience A preview audience has been less kind, however, to Blackadder Back and Forth, the film version of Rowan Atkinson's popular historical sitcom, Blackadder. The film is the centrepiece of the celebrations at the millennium dome on New Year's Day, but it failed to ignite the imagination of an audience invited to a sneak preview last week. In the film, Atkinson's character Blackadder goes travelling through time in an improvised time machine, encountering historical characters along the way. During the course of his travels, he steals Shakespeare's Hamlet in order to spare future generations from Kenneth Branagh playing the role. Which, in our book, means the film can't be all that bad. ******hee hee, liked that last line! ;-)

...Blackadder given thumbs down by millennium audience I don't care...maybe they'll let us stay for more than one showing now. ~~~~~~ BTW I was wondering if our UK friends would be willing to go to Chat for a few minutes aft TTOTS on the 26th and give us the scoop...like we did aft the A&E interview a year ago.Dumb idea? How many on both sides of the pond would be interested in attending? What time GMT does TTOTS end? ~~~~~~~ In the new year let's make a concerted effort to utilize that chat room for CF topics. Sometimes, we could even take film discussions there.

Good idea, Evelyn. It's on at 9 pm and will be over at 11. That's 5 pm Central (and chatroom) time or 6 pm Eastern.

That's a good idea, Evelyn. I haven't been in the chat room since...since...I can't remember when. Don't know if I can make the 26th but I'll try. I'm looking forward to hearing reactions to TTOTS. PS. Cymbeline, you shock me ;-D ! Here's a hint: my garbage man is a cross between Ricky Martin and the beast in Beauty and the Beast.

Would love to attend on26th but won't be able to, also have to video TOTS but would be willing to go into chat at another time when I have seen it.

Just a thought for the New Year celebration and have to spit it out: I don't how many people make their New Year wishes (I sometimes do but never achieve them). This year, I'd like to make my New Year wishes for ODB, anybody wants to join me? I probably should go back to my little corner to mumble myself.

I'm with you Xian and my wish for Colin is that he does play Flashman and that we have six lovely episodes to watch this time next year!! Evelyn, if my visitors leave in time I shall be very happy to come to CHAT but can't say for sure. I will of course video TTOTS, I will add it to the recording of The Survival Appeal.

(Eileen) Here's a hint: my garbage man is a cross between Ricky Martin and the beast in Beauty and the Beast. Which parts of which? If he also shares the characteristics of the philosopher/garbageman in Dilbert, I think we might have a serious contender for Hall of Fame fave.

11PM sounds kinda'late for UK types to go into Chat.But we can give it a shot and see who can make it. ~~~~~~ How about Monday the 27th 9PM GMT which is 4PM Eastern, and 3 PM Central. Ann, Lizza...Bethan...anybody over there can you go to Chat?

A very Happy Christmas Season to all.

A very merry Christmas to one and all! I'm not sure about Chat but will certainly give a report on TTOTS.

If you'd like an explanation of what is going on at the Lady Viola voting site, go to this place and read the messages. It will tell you what they are doing and how they are doing it. http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/anthonyandrewsfanclub What disgusts me to no end is that one of the people is belongs to another Firth fan group, but has been voting nearly on a nightly basis for 2-3 hrs for Anthony Andrews. If you have AOL, you can switch names and keep on voting forever... It's the great cheating device we've wondered about. And to think I sent that woman a picture of Colin from March... :-(

- My garbage [dust]man Everything depends on what your dustman looks like??? Are those his legs among the spilled bin contents at the top of the page? *********** Cymbeline and all: Rufus Sewell was once a dust man. Mine look nothing like him! CF built furniture??? After reading that he puts his hand in a lamp socket, and gets hit in the face trying to put up a stereo shelf, I'd love to see what the furniture looked like! But then, we know his talents lie elsewhere, don't we? HAPPY HOLIDAYS again to all around this nice place. Murph

CF built furniture??? After reading that he puts his hand in a lamp socket, and gets hit in the face trying to put up a stereo shelf, I'd love to see what the furniture looked like! I am increasingly convinced that ODB, in common with most actors, has ever-so slight a tendency to exaggerate.

What disgusts me to no end is that one of the people is belongs to another Firth fan group, but has been voting nearly on a nightly basis for 2-3 hrs for Anthony Andrews I've just been to that Anthony Andrews Yahoo fan club.The strategy confirms what I have suspected all along; pure larceny.And I recognized the email address of the perpetrator.And bragging about voting against ODB!!Frankly, IMO we should do what Nan did last year when this occured on another site....ask them to remove Colin's name from the competition. And then ask her to resign from Springfolks.

(Murph) Rufus Sewell was once a dust man. In real life? If there is such a thing. CF built furniture??? After reading that he puts his hand in a lamp socket, and gets hit in the face trying to put up a stereo shelf, I'd love to see what the furniture looked like! Now, now, we all have bad days. Oh, ye of little faith. If we don't have confidence in him, who will? Certainly not those traitors on the Anthony Andrews site.

Happy Christmas ('fraid that's what we still call it over here;-)), everybody! I know that I shall not be able to make it to chat and may not even be able to watch TTOTS on Sunday but I shall tape it.

I am back from my wonderful two weeks in London. With Christmas upon us, I have not had a chance to catch up on the posts but will do so when I find a moment and then post my impressions of 3DOR and SLOW and tell you about my encounter with ODB. To everyone, Cheers and a very Happy Christmas.

Welcome back, Lynda. We'd love to hear about your viewings of El Firth and your *encounter* with same. :-0 Cymbeline, a dustman is a garbage man. We have them here. Don't you? ;-)

Can't wait to hear your report Lynda.

(Karen) Cymbeline, a dustman is a garbage man. We have them here. Don't you? ;-) Yes---Murph said Rufe was once a dustman, and I asked in real life (as opposed to just acting one). I have seen him as a bus driver, a farmer, an Italian senator, and the strange person in Dark City, but not as a dustman. I guess I should go to her site and find out. And I see this is off topic and should be on Odds and Ends. I don't know how I got onto it over here. I've stuck my finger into the wrong socket. A thousand apologies. Help! I'm going now.

CF built furniture??? After reading that he puts his hand in a lamp socket, and gets hit in the face trying to put up a stereo shelf,I'd love to see what the furniture looked like! (Murph) Ah, but at least he tries to be handy!! If I mentioned in our household that our spotlights needed re-angling, or I wanted some shelves/speakers mounted, it would fall on deaf ears! Welcome back Lynda! Do tell! Just saw a preview of a few dramas coming up in next year's television. Vronsky in "Anna Karenina" will be played by Kevin McKidd (blonde frizzy hair, ex "Trainspotting") which doesn't thrill me...not Stephen Dillane. Also Channel 4 are just about to start casting for Evelyn Waugh's "Sword of Honour" trilogy, which we can expect to see this autumn. I like the speedy turnaround on TV work...definitely the way forward (not Brit films!) Still hoping for "Flashman"! ("Sword of Honour" is also a good prospect.) Back to peeling the sprouts!

Lynda, looking forward wth bated breath to your report from London. Evelyn, 9pm on Monday sounds a better option for me. Happy Christmas and much Festive relaxation and cheer to everyone, whatever you do. Here's to the wonderful drool and its delightful posters in the next Millennium.

OK so Boxing Day at 11PM GMT 3PM CT, 4 PM ET.is not a good option. But you guys can get together anyway.That's my Movie-rama Day. But if Lizza and hopefully Ann can make it on Monday let's *Do It*! 9 PM GMT, 4 PM ET, 3 PM CT.. you kids on the west Coast and Hawaii...figure it down from Central. Telegraph was wrong on SD...said he was filming Anna K. Makes me feel better. Heard that RF is doing a Pushkin program with Felicity Kendall for BBC1 though.. Does he have to do everything? :-(

Rufus was a dustman once in real life, Cymbeline. He has mentioned that in a couple of articles. Hey, I was only kidding about CF being less than perfect around the house. Like Bethan, I'm lucky if my husband can even find the circuit breaker box! At least Colin tries. Murph OT: Any discussion of Mr. Ripley going on anywhere at Spring? I plan to see it tomorrow. Rave reviews coming in. A great book, BTW.

Murph, let's do Mr. Ripley (hmm, didn't come out sounding how I meant it;-) on Topic 127 Odds and Ends. I'm going to try to see it Sunday, but will be anxious to hear your readout whenever. Am looking forward to hearing all about TTOTS--I've got company on Monday so will miss the chat, but hopefully you will all post your thoughts here too. Lynda, let's hear all about your Donmar trip! I wish a very Merry (and Happy!) Christmas to all here who celebrate it. You are a lovely group and I thank you for welcoming me so warmly this year.

I hope to be at Chat on Monday Evelyn. Glad you and Murph joined our happy throng Mari. Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to everyone.

Does anybody know where he is? Did he go to Rome? I'll try to join you Monday--good idea. Let's definitely do TTMR--terrific reviews and great locations. I'm talking my family into seeing it. MDH said, Is he in it, that Simon Birch or whoever it is you like, my rival? Oh dear--I had no idea what effect this whole drool thing was having. I really keep pretty quiet about it.

Will see you all in chat on Monday. Loads of trailers for TOTS currently. Today's Guardian describes Colin as "dashing" and mentions sexual repression too Most unusually there are also verbal trailers without any footage! It's great to hear his name so much, althou' very misleading as we have said before.

OK...we're on for Monday in chat.9PM GMT and 4 PM ET. Thanks Lizza and Ann...you're pivotal! What we don't go through for ten minutes of ODB ~~~~~~ I'm gonna see Mr. Ripley on Sunday too.Gotta support Anthony Minghella and hope he casts Colin sometime :-D. Let's do discussion on #127. ~~~~~~ Murph and Mari: It has been great fun having you both active at Spring this year.We always enjoy your postings...news, comments ...whatever. ~~~~ Most of this was OT but I did it all on one thread:-D

F r � h l i c h e W e i h n a c h t e n and a peaceful and happy New Year to you all. *********************************************** Please, everyone, don't take this voting thing so seriously, in particular since it is obviously just a matter of how much time you spend with robot voting. You can employ your time much better I should think. And why is everybody so keen to vote on that ladyviola booth - there a several other pages where you could add Colin, or where he is already listed! Also, it is ridiculously easy to create your own booth. Call it "Favourite British Man", or whatever, and create your own rules, let the AA fans come to you ;-). http://www.freevote.com/ Having said thus, there's still my Colin Roles voting booth: http://www.freevote.com/booth/renate Whatever you vote, Colin will always win. :) ********* Since you were discussing dustmen but didn't mention ODB I can only assume that you are not aware that he also was in the dustbin business very early in his career....

Such a voting booth does already exist, for favourite british actors: http://www.freevote.com/booth/hotbrits Colin had 6! votes - now he has 11, two less than his little brother, tsk, tsk

I spent (?wasted?) An inordinate amount of time going back over that Anthony Andrews site that Karen pointed out and I discovered that if you go back far enough you begin to see that they are just like us. Right at the beginning, complaining that the place was rigged, strange unexplainable surges in "the other guy"'s vote counts. Oh, they should give up and not waste time. Oh, write the "lady" (who they concluded ain't no lady) about that and about the horrible color scheme, and they should not only stop voting but withdraw their favorite's name from the competition, etc., etc. (Where have we heard THAT before, hmmm?) But there was one major difference between their tone and ours, especially later when they decided to persevere ... the site sounds like one long pep talk. Not a day goes by when numerous messages are passed on to remind to vote, to give a hard-headed vote-count to the faithful, to commend the participants. In spite of being behind many times, they kept on, instead of indulging in pessamistic gloom. They (like so many) are totally unaware of Colin's work or popularity. Also of the number of his fans ("Don't those Firth people ever sleep?" one complained well into the fray -- hee hee!! 8-D) or how wide-spread we are. We are the ones underestimating ourselves!! I'm willing to bet we've got 4 times the number of online followers as A.A. has (bless his soul) but we DON'T pull together like they are doing, and we discourage too easily as they continue to give each other moral support. We are aware of and have every trick they know about at our disposal... they just apply them more often. You wanna see outrageous surges in vote counts?? Then provide them. And provide them. And provide them. Colin's fans never sleep because we're around the world in every time zone. The race goes to those who don't flag at the end of the contest, or discourage at the drop of a vote percentage. So VOTE!, VOTE!, VOTE! End of pep talk! And while you're at it, pay some attention to Renate's site when you're waiting to get in again ... I'd hate to see Ross T. end up as the second most popular character after Fitzwilliam Darcy, due to some twisted visionary's persistence (there's that word again!), but I'm fighting a lonely battle here and could use some reinforcements! And Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All the Firthful!!

There's an article with George McDonald Fraser on This is London. It's entertaining, but no Colin mention (and the political views of these two men are not very likely to meet anywhere, IMO). "Flashman's George vents his anger" http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/index.html Kjart, interesting what you write about the AA fans. They can't be all that bad if they like a British actor even less known than ODB outside of the UK. ;-) I think we should rather make friends with them, perhaps swap links. Meanwhile, let's vote for Colin ;-). On the Colin roles I have voted for Tom Birkin, but that means I have to abandon poor Stephen. I seem to be the only one to vote for Stephen! Come to think of it, what about a film discussion about MOTM, perhaps after we are all back from London?

(Evelyn)From The Telegraph: New Pic? (Xian)Don't you think he looked cold? The jacket must not be warm enough ;-) My thoughts exactly! Wouldn't we all volunteer to warm him up? ;-) (Lynn Davis)I think I'm giving up on Lady Viola's Favorite Men site Hon, what took you so long? :-P (Evelyn)I think we got the gist of that play before he did Never tell him that! (Evelyn)IMO we should do what Nan did last year when this occured on another site....ask them to remove Colin's name from the competition. And then ask her to resign from Springfolks Ask her, you say? ;-) (KJArt)VOTE!, VOTE!, VOTE! KJ, I'm impressed! You would be great in politics!

KJ, you're quite right about the AA fans' attitude and desire to persevere, the cheerleading, etc. Other than our posting the voting booth url periodically here at Drool and at the Chatroom, I know of no other Colin site which promoted it. However, the most unfortunate thing is that the charge was led by another Colin fan, who many people know. They feel betrayed. I myself do not hide my liking for other actors (and my disliking for some. However, if I saw Colin's name in a listing, I would never ever consider for one second voting for someone else, let alone spend hours a night doing so. With hindsight (i.e., knowing that the booth owner is taking the top 3 names off regardless of outcome at the end of the month), I woul have waited until Colin had won in due course and then had Anthony Andrews name put on the ballot. Then, in all good conscience, I could even ask my Colin friends to help out with the voting. Ah... but that's all hindsight. ;-) Don't worry, I haven't given up voting, but I know some people have. :-(

(Renate)Please, everyone, don't take this voting thing so seriously, I'm not...in fact I don't to vote on any site. The part that riles me is that a Colin fan from this website was a traitor in situ. Now the List people might think she's cute, and admire her"commitment" but I think she's at the bottom of the food chain. I'm committed to Jennifer too, but if she and Colin were in competition in a poll,(v. unlikely). I would refrain from voting rather than betray my friends. Loyalty to Spring is a priority for me. ~~~~~ (KJArt).... going back over that Anthony Andrews site that Karen pointed out and I discovered that if you go back far enough you begin to see that they are just like us..... Leave me out of that "us", KJ.

a Colin fan from this website was a traitor in situ Evelyn, she doesn't come here. Anyway, I'm done talking about. What's done, is done and everyone's entitled to his/her opinions. boo hoo... Hotmail has disappeared off the face of the earth since late this morning!

As of about 6:20 tonight, Ladyviola got so angry at the (I guess insulting) communications and attitude from the Anthony Andrews group that she's frozen the vote and removed A.A. (Leaving CF on top). She hasn't actually declared a winner for December, though. (I'd hate to think of all that effort from so many fans going for naught). But it is a relief to be able to free up the rest of December for more weighty matters, eh? Thanx for that Hotbrits URL, Renate ...I think I'll transfer some of my attention there ... impractical, I know, but it hurts to see ODB so low on such a long list ... Evelyn, by "us" I was only seeing the similarity of fans appreciating the object of their affection to such an extent as to go to extraordinary lengths for him. I admire the "togetherness" of that group, but I do not necessarily admire the type of tactics practiced by INDIVIDUALS belonging to that group. I think all fan groups would end up with a bad reputation if their image was defined solely by some select minority of their membership. There's always one or more rotten apples in any barrel, but that is no reflection on the group as a whole or the object of their affection.

Happy Boxer Day in England. Can't wait until tomorrow (or later tonight over here) to hear how our Colin was. Tell all, please. Murph

Boxing Day Murph. Apparently according to my aged mother-in-law it goes back to the times when landed gentry gave their servants Christmas Boxes, the day after Christmas Day. Saw the first five minutes of TTOTS and recorded the rest, what a let down even for a cameo role. so little of ODB, oh well. His hair is very poofy!! (not sure if that is the right word) and I wish someone had helped him tie his tie. Will watch the rest romorrow.