View Full Version : Terence Davies


Liza
10-17-2004, 09:06 PM
I don't know if any of you are familiar with his work, but he is an English director, who is simply one of the most fascinating people alive. When I did my study abroad in London last summer, we were fortunate enough to have him visit our class twice, and we viewed two of his films: The House of Mirth and Distant Voices, Still Lives.

He's an increddibly personal director, and DVSL is a perfect testimony to this. Our professor explained that it was this very film that made her decide to become a professor of film studies - it changed her life.

He was abused as a child, by his father who was undeniably insane. His mother had nine children to raise, and he along with his brothers and sisters, endured hell for years until his father's death. DVSL chronicals much of this in great detail, which makes the film very hard to watch when you know how true it is.

The House of Mirth was a very successful film, with Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz, and Laura Linney. Gillian Anderson gave an unbelievable performance, despite whatever problems she may have given Uncle Terrence on the set. Elizabeth McGovern had a rare return to the big screen as Mrs. Fisher - and she's one of my favorite actresses.

Terence says he has a high respect for American actors, and really enjoys working with them more than British ones (I believe the term "stick up the arse" was used once or twice). I really encourage everyone to see his work, because he is an absolutely amazing man. There is no other like him.


Here's our class - "Uncle Terrence" is in the front row. I'm in the front on the far right.

Liza
11-06-2004, 08:47 AM
Oh come on, people. Nobody here has seen the House of Mirth?

Nighthawk76
11-06-2004, 04:34 PM
Emily, I have seen The House of Mirth I think. Does it not have Sean Connery and Gillian Anderson in it?

Oh, if you don't mind me saying so, you are a very attractive young woman. A real cutie.

Liza
11-07-2004, 05:29 PM
Originally posted by DAX
Emily, I have seen The House of Mirth I think. Does it not have Sean Connery and Gillian Anderson in it?

Oh, if you don't mind me saying so, you are a very attractive young woman. A real cutie.


Sean Connery's not in it, but Gillian Anderson is.

And thanks for the compliment :blush: I don't think that's a very good pic of me, but it's the only one I have with Uncle Terrence ;)

Nighthawk76
11-07-2004, 08:32 PM
Originally posted by Liza
Sean Connery's not in it, but Gillian Anderson is.

And thanks for the compliment :blush: I don't think that's a very good pic of me, but it's the only one I have with Uncle Terrence ;)

Your welcome
:D

You mentioned a problem on the set between Gillian Anderson and "Uncle Terrence", do you know exactly what took place?

Kitt
11-07-2004, 09:50 PM
Sorry Emily, I haven't seen it but I just now read up on it and viewed a trailer. I'll put, "Watch 'The House of Mirth'", near the top of my 'things to do' list. :)

Thanks for telling us about the movie, and also about your class experience.

I, too, enjoyed seeing your picture. You have a friendly and engaging smile.:)

Liza
11-07-2004, 11:32 PM
Originally posted by DAX
You mentioned a problem on the set between Gillian Anderson and "Uncle Terrence", do you know exactly what took place?

Terrence is such a nice guy - it is really hard to see anyone having problems with him. But apparently both she and her agent can get very high-and-mighty. Terrence said he can be very patient for a very long time, but after three weeks her attitude just pushed him too far. I don't know what exactly happened, but she must have been pretty awful to get him angry. But according to him, once he spoke frankly to her and told her what her attitude was doing to the film - she really improved.

But that was the only bad story he had. The rest was hilarious - it sounds like it was a really fun shoot. A bunch of Americans with a Liverpool director in the middle of Glasgow, Scotland. Eric Stoltz was known for coming on the set and doing a welcome cheer of "Come on, House of Mirth Team!" :lol:

Liza
11-07-2004, 11:36 PM
Originally posted by Kitt
Sorry Emily, I haven't seen it but I just now read up on it and viewed a trailer. I'll put, "Watch 'The House of Mirth'", near the top of my 'things to do' list. :)

Thanks for telling us about the movie, and also about your class experience.

I, too, enjoyed seeing your picture. You have a friendly and engaging smile.:)

Lol, it's not a film for everyone. I mean, my brother thinks it's increddibly boring - but for me - I just live for slow-moving costume dramas, ya know? So I love this. It's also surprising to see Dan Ackroyd and Laura Linney so far out of their element. So if you see it, I hope you'll like it.

Thanks Kitt. You're a sweetie :)

Nighthawk76
11-08-2004, 04:27 AM
It's cool that he allowed your class to call him "Uncle Terence". I can only imagine that way back when I took film class that if we had been lucky enough to have had Martin Scorsese or Stanley Kubrick (who was still alive), two guys I'm in awe of, as guests and they walked in and said call me "Uncle Marty" or "Uncle Stanley" that it would have been mind blowing.

Liza
11-08-2004, 11:28 PM
He was just a doll. He came in and my professor was completely starstruck. She called him "Mr. Davies" and he said "Call me Terrence." She couldn't! She goes, "No, you're Mr. Davies!" But he came in for a couple of our classes and by the second time we were all good buddies. He made a point of telling us to "Listen to our Uncle Terrence" so as far as I'm concerned, he's my Uncle Terrence! :D