Watch this really scary trailer for Magic (1978), one of Anthony Hopkins movies that was always very underrated but appears deservedly on our top ten Anthony Hopkins movies list.

Starring Anthony Hopkins, as Corky Withers, the psychologically disturbed ventriloquist and Ann Margaret (Peggy Snow), Corky’s high school love, this movie is a quirky, terrifying love story that delivers thrills and tension throughout as Fats the foul mouthed ventriloquist’s dummy seems to come to life amidst a love triangle involving Corky, the unhappily married Peggy and Duke (Ed Lauter) her husband.

Magic 1978 movie review

Directed by Richard Attenborough, Magic is adapted from the novel by William Goldman who also did the screenplay for this unsettling movie – a movie you will either love or hate.

Corky Withers is a hard-working, struggling magician who lacks the charisma to engage his audience in the seedy night spots he performs in, until Fats the dummy and him get together and become a hit act. Corky’s mentor and agent, Ben (Burgess Meredith) sees any eye to the main chance with a TV show starring the two but Corky has other ideas and returns to his home town where he meets up with Peggy, charming her with his magic tricks.  Naturally this provokes Duke, her husband and previous best buddy of Corky’s to be very jealous but Fats too is jealous.

Anthony Hopkins actually learnt the art of ventriloquism for this demanding part and still today has the skill of ventriloquism as well as immitating other people’s voices adeptly.  Hopkins gives Fats a squeeky, scary high pitched voice rich with paranoia.

Slowly Fats appears to take over Corky’s persona, saying unspoken words that Corky himself cannot bring himself to say and controlling him completely.  Clearly Corky has issues, his agent believes he has a fear of success but it materialises that it is a personality disorder he suffers from, hearing the dummy Fats talking to him off stage and Corky’s real fear is of failure.

Anthony Hopkins and Ann Margaret with Fats in Magic 1978

One of the most memorable scenes in the movie Magic is where Corky’s agent comes to see him and finds him arguing with Fats the dummy. Ben Greene, nick-named Gangrene by Corky, insists that Corky make the dummy be silent for just five minutes but Corky can’t do it. His reliance on his dummy is the outward expression of how he feels about himself and what he thinks he can achieve, both professionally and personally. The failure that he fears so much perhaps has nothing to do with his career as a magician, but in who he actually is as a man and how he relates to other people. Having rekindled this special relationship with the woman he used to love, he can’t seem to fully commit to her. Fats keeps getting between the two.

Corky’s agent eventually demands that Corky seek help and events take a turn….

Magic movie 1978 soundtrack CD by Jerry Goldsmith

The score is atmospheric, by Jerry Goldsmith, lighting and shot composition are spot on, and the pace of the movie keeps the tension high. You never know just what Corky (or Fats) is going to do or exactly how the story will develop…….

Ann Margaret gives a credible performance, having been previously awarded 1962′s  Most Promising Female Newcomer and Hopkins as ever, gives all in one of the top ten Anthony Hopkins movies.

Magic 1978 Movie Review is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

Anthony Hopkins 360 (2011) movie review

Anthony Hopkins latest 2011 movie 360 was unveiled this September at the London Film Festival, receiving a nomination for Best Film, the outcome of which will not be known until next year.

This romantic drama with intruiging overtones of a thriller stars Rachel Weisz (Rose), Jude Law (Michael Daly) and Anthony Hopkins (John) with an engaging supporting cast.

360 is a multi-cultural movie, spanning the continents in cities as diverse as Vienna, Denver, Bratislava, Paris, and London, lingering in each location long enough for the audience to get the flavour of the particular place. Beautifully, artistically filmed and scored, making for a visual delight, and skillfully directed by Brazillian Fernando Meirelles.

Jude Law (Michael) and Rachel Weisz (Rose) 360 (2011) movie review

The movie centres around the life-changing choices various characters have to make and the fateful consequences of those decisions upon themselves and others connected directly and indirectly to them until the events come full circle – 360 degrees to be precise.  Chance encounters that lead to life-changing events.  The movie deals with not only multicultural relationships but those which transgress social classes too.  The entire gamut of life’s emotions are played out, adultery, sex and of course love, taking the format of  vignettes of characters drawn from all 4 corners of the globe who turn out to be all connected in one way or another and linked inextricably by sex!  360, loosely based on a 1950′s French movie called La Ronde (in turn adapted from a play entitled Reigen) is as much a romp from bed to bed as much as from country to country.

The movie commences with an introduction to the main theme,with the quote “If there’s a fork in the road, take it.”  The overall theme is quite reminscent of Sliding Doors.  We are slowly introduced to various characters, which are just well enough fleshed out to wet our appetite. Each new story in a new location makes a link back to the last as the tales unravel.  The various characters are also commonly linked by airports and planes. Throughout we are presented with storylines that have various possible outcomes, some could end disasterously and conversely if the coin was flipped, some optimistically, depending on which fork in the road is taken.  It is the viewers job to guess the outcome and the connections.  Often we are left hanging teasingly and abruptly in the midst of a crisis in one story only for another to begin until the circle is complete.

Although 360 is a bit slow at first, the pace soon gets going in full-swing.

Amongst these diverse characters are Blanka (Lucia Siposová), a Slovakian prostitute who is sent to a hotel bar in Vienna to meet Michael (Jude Law) an English business man, who is married to Rose (Rachel Weisz) who is having an affair with a young, red-blooded work colleague (Juliano Cazarré), whose heartbroken Brazilian girlfriend (Maria Flor) has left him, fleeing only to meet John….

Anthony Hopkins plays John, an ex-alcoholic father searching for his daughter who went missing a few years earlier, he is on a flight to the US, which becomes snow bound….

Tyler (Ben Foster), a convicted sex offender fresh out of prison is one of the most engaging characters and adds generously to the movie, providing tension and some scary moments.  Sergei (Vladimir Vdovichenkov), a Russian associate whose boss gets involved with …?

Watch this space to pre-order your DVD copy of 360, the latest of Anthony Hopkins movies.

360 (2011) Movie Review is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

A Bridge Too Far movie review

A Bridge Too Far (1977) is an epic (3 hrs) big budget (26 million dollars) world war II movie based on the true events surrounding ‘Operation Market Garden’ which took place in 1944.  Anthony Hopkins plays the part of the legendary leader Lieutenant Colonel John Frost.

Anthony Hopkins (Lt Col J Frost) A Bridge Too Far (1977)

The cast list is stunning and reads like a celebrity ‘A’ list of 1977, with possibly the only big male star Steve McQueen missing from this highly charged action drama movie.

James Caan – Staff Sergeant Eddie Dohun

Dirk Bogarde – Lieutenant General Frederick “Boy” Browning

Michael Caine – Lieutenant Colonel John Vandeleur

Sean Connery – Major General Robert Urquhart

Edward Fox – Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks

Elliott Gould – Colonel Robert Stout

Gene Hackman – Major General Stanislaw Sosabowski

Dirk Bogarde 'A Bridge Too Far' movie review (1977)

Hardy Kruger – Major General Ludwig

Ryan O’Neal – Brigadier General James Gavin

Laurence Olivier – Doctor Jan Spaander

Robert Redford – Major Julian Cook

Maximilian Schell -  Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich

Liv Ullmann – Kate ter Horst

Directed by the competent Richard Attenborough and set in Sept 1944, starting out in the UK where the  commanders of the Allied Forces finalize plans for ‘Operation Market Garden’ – an extremely ambitious but failed attempt by the Allied Forces to bring the war to an end by attempting to take control of several strategically placed bridges in Holland to gain entry into Hitler’s Germany via the Rhine.  The last bridge was the bridge at Arnhem.

The action begins as soon as the stirring theme music erupts with the Dakotas pulling the tow ropes as the squadrons of planes take off for their daring mission to land behind enemy lines.  On Sept 17th 1944 in broad daylight, 35, 000 Allied Forces paratroopers descended from the sky by parachute or glider up to 150 km behind lines. This was in history the largest airborne assault ever.  Operation Market Garden had begun and the forces were in place to begin their mission of securing the valuable bridges and thus retreat of German forces.

Hardy Kruger 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977)

Elliot Gould 'A Bridge Too Far' 1977

Far from accurate intelligence had told the troops to expect old men and very young in terms of fighting opposition but in truth what they quickly encountered was heavily armed crack Panzer divisions (who had been placed in these backwaters for R and R)  fresh and experienced from their successful exploits on the Russian front, being the first of many critical set backs for this operation.  The second being the failure of the radio equipment the allies had brought with them, the crystals were the wrong type, which meant the CO’s were marooned without progress reports and therefore flaying around in the dark as to where any other of their divisions was located.

Two points of interest, Browning played by Dirk Bogarde in reality fought in the battle of Arnhem and knew General Browning, (his character part in the movie) in real life and Edward Fox also knew his alter ego Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks.

The bridge of Arnhem 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977)

Attenborough ensured historical accuracy by taking on a team of military advisors including in person both Lieutenant Colonel John Frost and Major General Robert Urquhart (played by Sean Connery).  ‘A Bridge Too Far’ intersperses historical balck and white news footage throughout the movie to great effect in this larger than life desparate battle, featuring Hitler, Patton, de Gaulle, Montgomery, Eisenhower, Churchill and Roosevelt.

A Bridge Too Far movie review - one of the best Anthony Hopkins movies from the 1970's

Anthony Hopkins features strongly throughout the movie from the outset where he is preparing for the ‘drop’ over enemy territory,  reminding his batman to pack his dinner jacket! A distinct touch of British humour right through to the trenches yards from the bridge at Arnhem.  An active, well played out performance and undoubtedly one of the best 1970′s Anthony Hopkins movies.

Hundreds of extras were drafted in, a military operation in itself, for the raging battle scenes taking place in war torn towns which ended up almost demolished.

‘A Bridge Too Far‘ is a moving and entertaining account of one of the biggest battles in WWII, but also one that somewhat exposes the truth a little too shockingly (in 1977 upon it’s release, despite its enormous budget, it was not well-received for its truths hitting a little to close to the bone).  Dealing with the specific failures of leadership in Operation Market Garden perhaps too candidly for some.  The movie portrays the extreme bravery and loyalty of men in the face of death.

'A Bridge Too Far' book by Cornelius Ryan

‘A Bridge Too Far’ is adapted from the book of the same name by Cornelius Ryan (author of ‘The Longest Day‘).  Ryan, himself a respected WWII historian, was a journalist in wartime, based with Patton’s Third Army.

Useful links to read more about Operation Market Garden, the mission that resulted in over 17, 000 dead or seriously wounded casualties.

www.marketgarden/UKframes.html

www.rememberseptember44.com

A Bridge Too Far (1977) Movie Review is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

The Mask of Zorro(1988) movie review

The Mask of Zorro (1998) starring Anthony Hopkins, Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones is an old-fashioned, swash-buckling adventure movie, peppered with romance, honorable heros and a beautiful  true heroine!

Ably directed by Martin Compbell and produced by Steven Spielberg, Anthony Hopkins plays the part of the original mysteriously masked Zorro, the legendary hero and protector who fought all evil with one slash of his sword in the mark of a ‘Z’. Hidden behind his mask, Zorro’s true identity is the nobleman   Don Diego de la Vega who has been imprisoned for over 20 years but having escaped, returns now to seek revenge upon his arch enemy Don Raphael Montero (Stuart Wilson) who took away his freedom, murdered his wife and snatched his beloved baby daughter, Elena to bring up as his own daughter.

The Mask of Zorro movie

Set in 18th century Mexico and California, with the help of the devellish bandit Alejandro Murieta (Antonio Banderas), Don Diego plots to reclaim his daughter and stop his rival Montero taking over more land to rule over from the oppressed peasants he is imprisoning or murdering.  Don Diego plans to school Alejandro to be the new Zorro, complete with signature cloak and mask attire.  Alejandro has his own score to settle with Montero, his own brother having died at the hands of Montero’s sidekick, army Captain Harrison Love (Matt Letscher).

Antonio Banderas as Alejandro, the new Zorro

Don Diego sets about teaching his young apprentice the art of sword-fencing, horsemanship, and agility stunts such as swinging on ropes, and jumping onto his horse to quickly flee from danger – he teaches him every daring trick in the book in preparation for his confrontation with the wicked Don Raphael, as well as how to be witty and charming!

Not many movies with Anthony Hopkins portray him in a sexy role, but The Mask of Zorro gives him ample licence on this score and it is a visual treat to see Hopkins in this role of  mentor to the newly empowered Zorro.

With his training complete, disguised as a Spanish nobleman Alejandros infiltrates a party at the house of the villian Don Raphael who is now very rich from plundering Mexican goldmines and plans to use the ill-gotten funds to buy California.

It is here that Alejandros meets the beautiful Elena who is as skilled at sword play as any man.

The dance and the sword duelling scenes between Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones are played out with sensual sparks flying between the two, as this fiery but tempestuous young woman falls for this mysterious, handsome young man in his swirling black cape.  The somewhat erotic, well choreographed duel between the two ends with him ripping her clothes with the sharp point of his steel sword.

The Mask of Zorro movie - Catherine Zeta-Jones as Elena

Fun is provided in the form of high-speed chases on horseback, acrobatics and even fighting with bull’s horns!

The movie is complimented with appropriate lavish period costume and scenes reminiscent of the old wild west, complete with haciendas and sombreros.

The Mask of Zorro movie is highly entertaining, witty and undoubtedly one of the best  Anthony Hopkins movies and it is well-deserved of being in our top ten Anthony Hopkins movies.

Buy The Mask of Zorro movie in our own Anthony Hopkins movies store at Amazon for the best prices.

The Mask Of Zorro (1998) Movie Review is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson - The 65th Annual Academy Awards, March 1993 'The Remains of The Day'

Academy Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins has received many top film awards during his movie career,  which we have listed below.

Anthony Hopkins Oscar was won for his legendary performance as Hannibal Lecter in ‘The Silence of The Lambs’ 1991.  Hopkins has been nominated for an Oscar on four occasions during his film career to date, the other three movies being ‘The Remains of The Day‘ 1993, ‘Nixon‘ 1995 and ‘Amistad‘ 1997.

In 1993 Anthony Hopkins was knighted for his services to the arts, by Queen Elizabeth II of England.

ANTHONY HOPKINS FILM AWARDS

‘The Lion in Winter’ 1968 – Prince Richard (AH) nominated for Best Supporting Actor BAFTA Film Award

‘The Great Inimitable Mr Dickens’ 1970 – Charles Dickens (TV) (AH) nominated for a BAFTA TV Award

‘Danton’ 1970 – Danton (AH) nominated for a BAFTA TV Award

‘Hearts and Flowers’ 1970 – Bob (AH) nominated for a BAFTA TV Award

‘War & Peace’ 1972/1973 – Pierre Bezukhov (AH) (TV epic drama series17 episodes) Won Best Actor BAFTA TV Award

‘The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case’ 1976

‘Magic’ 1978

‘The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case’ 1976 – Bruno Richard Hauptmann (TV) (AH) won an Emmy for the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special

‘Magic’ 1978 – Corky Withers (AH) nominated Best Actor BAFTA Film Award

Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actor – Drama

‘A Change of Seasons’ 1980 – Adam Evans (AH) nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor (won by Neil Diamand for ‘The Jazz Singer‘

‘The Bunker’ 1981 – Adolph Hitler (AH) won an Emmy in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special

‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ 1982 – Quasimodo (TV episode) (AH) nominated for an Emmy in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special

‘Mussolini and I’ 1985 – Count Galeazzo Ciano (TV) (AH) won a Cable Ace Award in the category Actor in a Movie or Mini series

’84 Charing Cross Road’ 1987 – Frank Doel (AH) won a Prize for Best Actor at the Moscow International Film Festival

‘Hallmark Hall of Fame’1988, ‘The Tenth Man’ (TV episode) nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV

‘Great Expectations’ 1989 – Abel Magwitch (TV mini-series ‘Chapter One’ 1 episode) (AH) nominated for an Emmy in the category Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Mini Series or Special

‘The Silence of the Lambs’ 1991 – Dr Hannibal Lecter (AH)  Best Actor in a Leading Role Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar

Won Best Actor BAFTA Film Award

Won a KCFCC Award (Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards) for Best Actor

Won Saturn Award Best Actor (Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA)

Won BSFC (Boston Society of Film Critics Award) for Best Supporting Actor

Won  Best Actor for a CFCA Award (Chicago Film Critics Association)

Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Nominated for an ALFS Award (London Critics Circle Film Awards) for Actor of  The Year

Won an NBR Award (National Board of Review USA) for Best Actor

Won a NYFCC Award (New York Film Critics Circle) for Best Actor

Won a Sant Jordi Award for Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero)

The Kiss, Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore (Lecter and Clarice) 'Hannibal' 2001

Anthony Hopkins The Greatest Villian of all time 'Hannibal Lecter

‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ 1992 – Professor Abraham Van Helsing (AH) nominated for a Saturn Award Best Supporting  Actor (Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA)

Anthony Hopkins 'Howards End' 1992

'Legends of The Fall' movie 1994

‘Howards End’ 1992 – Henry J Wilcox (AH) nominated Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero) David Award (David di Donnatello Awards)

1993 Anthony Hopkins was knighted for his services to the arts, by Queen Elizabeth II of England, becoming Sir Anthony Hopkins

‘Shadowlands’ 1993 – C. S. Lewis (AH) won Best Actor BAFTA Film Award

Won LAFCA Award (Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award) for Best Actor

Won an NBR Award (National Board of Review USA) for Best Actor

Won SEFCA Award (Southeastern Film Critics Association) for Best Actor

‘The Remains of the Day’ 1993 – James Stevens (AH)  Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar nomination

Won an ALFS Award (London Critics CircleFilm Awards) for Actor of  The Year

Nominated Best Actor BAFTA Film Award

Nominated Best Actor for a CFCA Award (Chicago Film Critics Association)

Won Best Actor DFWFCA Award (Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association

Won Best Foreign Actor (Migliore Attore Straniero) David Award (David di Donnatello Awards)

Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Won a KCFCC Award (Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards) for Best Actor

Won LAFCA Award (Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award) for Best Actor

Won an NBR Award (National Board of Review USA) for Best Actor

Won SEFCA Award (Southeastern Film Critics Association) for Best Actor

‘The Road to Wellville’ 1994 – Dr John Harvey Kellogg (AH) nominated Best Supporting Actor for a CFCA Award (Chicago Film Critics Association)

1994 Anthony Hopkins won a Special Award at the Evening Standard British Film Awards

‘Legends of the Fall’ 1994 – Colonel William Ludlow (AH) won the Bronze Wrangler at the Western Heritage Awards in the Theatrical Motion Picture category (shared with Brad Pitt (leading actor), the writer and producers of the movie

1995 Anthony Hopkins won a Britannia Award for the category Excellence in Film

'Meet Joe Black'movie starring Anthony Hopkins and Brad Pitt 1988

'Titus' 1999

‘Nixon’ 1995 – Richard M Nixon (AH) Best Actor in a Leading Role Oscar nomination

Nominated Best Actor for a CFCA Award (Chicago Film Critics Association)

Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Cast nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast by the Screen Actors Guild Awards

‘Amistad’ 1997 – John Quincy Adams (AH) Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar nomination

Won the Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor by the Broadcast Film Critics Association

Nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role at the Screen Actors Guild Awards

Nominated Best Supporting Actor for a CFCA Award (Chicago Film Critics Association)

Nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Nominated for an OFCS (Online Film Critics Association) Award for Best Supporting Actor

1998 won a Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival

‘Meet Joe Black’ 1998 – William Parrish (AH) nominated for a Saturn Award Best Actor (Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA)

Won 1998 ShoWest Award for Actor of  The Year

‘‘Titus’ 1999 – Titus Andronicus (AH) nominated for an ALFS Award (London Critics CircleFilm Awards) for British Actor of  The Year

2000 Anthony Hopkins won a Virginia Film Award at the Virginia Film Festival

‘Hannibal’ 2001 – Dr Hannibal Lecter (AH) nominated for a Saturn Award Best Actor (Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA)

Nominated for 2 MTV Movie Awards for Best Kiss (with Julianne Moore) and for Best Villian

2001 Anthony Hopkins was named as ‘Man of The Year’ by Harvard Hasty Pudding Theatricals USA

2002 Anthony Hopkins won the Master Screen Artist Tribute at the USA Film Festival

2003 Hopkins won a Hollywood Film Award for the category Outstanding Achievement in Acting – Male Performer

2003 Anthony Hopkins won a Star on the Walk of Fame in the Motion Picture category

‘‘Bobby’ 2006 – John Casey and executive producer (AH) the cast were nominated for the Critics Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble by the Broadcast Film Critics Association

The cast won a Hollywood Film Award at the Hollywood Film Festival for Ensemble of the Year

Cast nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards

‘The World’s Fastest Indian’ 2006 – Burt Munro (AH) won a New Zealand Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

2006 Anthony Hopkins won the Cecille B DeMille Golden Globes USA Award

‘Slipstream’ 2007 – Bonhoeffer and director (instrumental soloist: piano) (AH) won Youth Jury Award at the Locarno International Film Festival

Nominated for a Golden Leopard at the Locarno International Film Festival

Nominated Best Film at the Sitges Catalonian International Film Festival

2008 saw Anthony Hopkins awarded an Academy Fellowship Award by BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts).  This is the highest accolade they can award.

‘The City of Your Final Destination’ 2010 – Adam (writer: “Venetian Medley”) (performer: “Venetian Medley”) (AH)

Nominated for Best Actor in a Feature Film at the Method Fest

January 2011 Anthony Hopkins was named by Sky HD as having been voted as the Best British Male Actor of all time

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Anthony Hopkins Movie Awards is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

The Tenth Man (1988) Movie Review

‘The Tenth Man‘ (1988) is one of our top 10 Anthony Hopkins movies.  Made as a TV movie, adapted from a novel by Graham Greene, although Greene originally wrote it as a movie script back in the 1940′s when he was engaged by the movie studios MGM.  The script lay forgotten for over 40 years until the novel was published.

Set in Nazi occupied Paris in the 1940′s, this drama/thriller movie captures the era most authentically, has a well defined clever plot and a surprising ending.

Anthony Hopkins plays the wealthy french lawyer, Jean Louis Chavel who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, when Nazi soldiers were randomly rounding up people to throw in prison, in retalliation for the French Restistance’s killing of certain German military personnel.  The Germans told the prisoners that one in every ten of them would be executed, Chavel was arrested along with some 28 others.  The prisoners were left to decide amongst themselves which 3 would die.  The men drew lots, if the piece of paper drawn had a cross on it, you were to be killed.  Cheval was one of the unlucky 3.

The Tenth Man movie 1988

Cowardly Cheval was horrified and could not face death and so offered money to any of the other prisoners who would change places with him but he had no takers.  Finally in desparation he said “I’ll give you everything I’ve got, money, land, everything …”

Amongst the prisoners is a poor, sickly man, Michel Mangeot, (Timothy Watson) who, upon hearing the extent of Chavel’s wealth, agrees to trade places in order that his mother and sister may inherit the money and land, after his execution.  Cheval hurriedly did the legal paperwork for his part of the bargain, transferring the ownership of his country mansion house, land and money and also the will for Mangeot to benefit his own family. Mangeot was put in front of the firing squad and shot dead.

After the war Cheval is liberated from prison, albeit penniless and with no job.  He finds a gold ring which he pawns and makes his way back to his former mansion which although still standing, is unkempt.  When Cheval finds the house is

Anthony Hopkins as Cheval in 'The Tenth Man' 1988

occupied by Therese Mangeot (Kristin Scott Thomas), the sister of the man who died in Cheval’s place, he dreams up a story, a new name and manages to secure a position as a gardener in his former home.  Cheval however, tells Therese that he was in prison with her brother and so gains her trust.  Therese makes it clear to Charlot (Chavel’s new name) that she would rather have had her brother alive and be poor than her brother sacrifice his life – she holds the man Cheval responsible for the death of her brother and awaits his return to get her revenge.  Therese tells Charlot that he must look out for Cheval, as she is convinced he will return to the area.

Anthony Hopkins is convincing as Cheval, even though he speaks without a French accent, (you don’t seem to notice this at all).  Hopkins portrays the worried, guilty, remorseful Cheval/Charlot in this impossible situation with the usual carefully studied mannerisms that you can expect in all  movies with Anthony Hopkins.

Therese and Charlot in The Tenth Man 1988

The plot twists that ensue are a delight and the ending that gives Cheval the redemption he sought is tragic.

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The Tenth Man (1988) Movie Review is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

War & Peace Anthony Hopkins 1973 (Pierre)

It was on Monday 29th December 1975 that Anthony Hopkins took his final alcoholic drink, you could say his New Year resolution came early or you could be surprised to learn it was 2 days prior to his 38th birthday on 31st December, also New Year’s eve, after which it would have been a more logical time to quit, but he didn’t pick the time, it chose him.

Sir Anthony Hopkins, who has been sober now for 36 years, said later of his moment of realization on that sunny day in Hollywood, where he lived then :

“For me, giving it (alcohol) up was finding the airlock, the escape hatch. It all happened one Monday morning in 1975.

“It was as if a voice said, ‘Ready! Go!’ It was that clear, the voice of gold. The best part of myself, my subconscious, came to rescue me.

“I don’t know how. I had no religious connection or a connection to what I thought was God.

“And then that Monday: Boom. And it was over. It was like a great pilot light was lit.

“No explanation except, I guess, I was open, willing and ready. When I look back I think I was so lucky to get out of that one.”

The drinking addiction started when he was in his early twenties, then the 1960′s, when the young actor was appearing in theatres up and down the UK, living out of bedsits and hating his job.  Hopkins never felt at home on the stage, although having admired his mentor Sir Laurence Olivier immensely, on the whole he kept himself to himself during these what he later calls ‘tedious’ years.  Anthony Hopkins claims the whole of the 1960′s decade is a blurr to him, even the Beatles and the whole swinging 60′s London scene of which he chose not to partake.

The drinking got worse and by his own admission he ‘drank himself into oblivion’, culminating in him walking out of ‘Macbeth’, half way through a run in 1973.  He also walked out on his first wife Petronella Barker and their young daughter Abigail, a distance which was to last for decades.  ‘War & Peace’, the epic BBC drama, adapted from Tolstoy’s novel was a big break for Hopkins at the time, starring as the soul-searching Pierre Bezukhov in this prestigious production which was televized weekly.  Anthony Hopkins became a very popular household name in the UK for this role, yet he revealed many years later that he had been drunk throughout the entire filming of 20 episodes, which lasted months.  You wouldn’t know though, if you hadn’t been told.

Anthony Hopkins A Bridge Too Far 1977

Anthony Hopkins confesses he does not like the limelight and found it difficult as a rising star to cope with the attention he was receiving as his acting career progressed.

That Christmas of 1975, Jenni his second wife walked out on Hopkins, returning to London, leaving him by himself.  Hopkins spent several days on a roving booze up, which ended firstly with him waking up in a hotel room in Phoenix, calling Jenni, crying like a baby, saying he did not know how he had come to be there.  Jenni’s retort was to reassure him but told him firmly he had to stop drinking and get help.  Secondly, a few days later, Hopkins blacked out at a party, after hitting the bottle hard.  A Hollywood movie agent called Bondi, expressed his concern about the actor’s talent going to waste and handed him a card for AA – Alcoholics Anonymous.

Anthony Hopkins, former alcoholic made that call to AA, after his last drink on the morning of 29th December 1975.  He has been a lifetime member since that day when he declared war on his demons.

What made Hopkins suddenly wake-up, fear.  Fear of losing his wife, his career, and himself.

Hopkins embarked on an arduous, testing 5 year recovery plan and constant battle against alcoholism, which he won hands down. During that time he said he had ‘found God’.  Clancy Imislund is one person who he did find then to help him through his battle.  Today Clancy is the MD of the LA charity Midnight Mission, who honoured Anthony Hopkins last year for his work with the charity.  It was Clancy who pursuaded Hopkins to help others and give something back to society, as part of his own recovery from alcohol addiction all those years ago.

It is doubtful the success would have continued, if the drinking had not stopped.

How Anthony Hopkins Quit Drinking is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

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Anthony Hopkins to play Alfred Hitchcock

Anthony Hopkins the actor, artist and musician has led a rich and varied life and even now at 73 is still delighting us with new movies, more art exhibitions, piano concerts and rumours of various movies in the pipeline.

You can read Anthony Hopkins Biography which details his childhood, early youth and developing stage career of this classically trained actor who started in theatre in 1960 (Palace Theatre, Swansea ‘Have A Cigarette’) and always wanted to be a Hollywood movie star from an early age.

The legendary actor was interviewed last year about his autobiography, which sadly he has since abandonned, mistakenly believing that no one would want to read about him, saying they would be bored!  Let’s hope he reviews that decision, as although there are many biographies written about him, there are gaps and episodes in his life that have only been lightly touched upon.   Read our candid interview about Anthony Hopkins autobiography.

Sir Anthony Hopkins

His movie making career has already spanned some 44 yrs since his first movie in 1967 ‘A Flea in her Ear’ which was made for television, adapted from a stage play. Since 1967 Hopkins has starred in over 100 movies both made for TV and the silver screen.  He has also narrated movies such as the popular Christmas movie ‘The Grinch’ and various documentaries.  His rich, rounded voice was the choice for TV ad makers for both Barclays Bank and Sky HD.   Recently there has been talk of Hopkins playing James Bond in the next  proposed 007 movie and the infamous movie director Alfred Hitchcock in the new movie being made about the making of the classic movie ‘Physcho‘.

Hopkins himself is no stranger to directing movies, having not only acted in ‘Slipstream’ and ‘August‘, but directed both.

Read our unique reviews of Anthony Hopkins Movies and about Anthony Hopkins Movie Awards

Painting, turned into more than a hobby when at his wife’s insistance, Sir Anthony Hopkins exhibited his striking artwork first in the U.S. and then in the UK, you can see some of Anthony Hopkins paintings and read more about Anthony Hopkins art and music, including his forthcoming piano concert in the UK, where some of his own works will be performed by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, 2 of which he recently wrote specially for this event.  Hopkins diversification into art and music is a brave move but the actor said of this:

“I have no academic training, although I read music and I play the piano,” he explained. “And I think I have a knack for orchestration. The premise of my venturing into this dangerous new world is that I quite honestly don’t give a hoot what anyone says about it. My philosophy is, they can’t arrest me.”

That statement about sums up Anthony Hopkins current attitude to everything in the autumn of his life – he has no more to prove, having achieved his life-long dream of being a big movie star.  He has his Oscar and possibly more nominations to come.  It has been a long journey to stardom, with personal troubles along the way, including his battle against alcoholism, 2 divorces and a prolonged estrangement from his only child, Abigail Hopkins.

Read about the personal side of Anthony Hopkins and how Anthony Hopkins Quit Drinking.  We also have all the latest on  Anthony Hopkins News, where you can catch up with the celeb gossip, on this legendary actor.

Anthony Hopkins is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor

Fracture Movie Review

We have unique movie reviews of many of Anthony Hopkins Movies, all his latest movies and a growing collection of reviews that we add to every month.

You can buy Anthony Hopkins DVDs and all other formats in our own Anthony Hopkins Store at Amazon for the best prices, secure purchase and check out.

Buy Anthony Hopkins DVDs in our own US/Canada  Amazon store

Buy Anthony Hopkins DVDs in our own Amazon  UK store

360 (2011) Movie Review

Thor (2011) Movie Review

The Rite (2011) Movie Review

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010) Movie Review

The City of Your Final Destination (2010) Movie Review

The Wolfman (2010) Movie Review

Boewulf (2007) Movie Review

Fracture (2007) Movie Review

Bobby (2006) Movie Review

The World’s Fastest Indian (2006) Movie Review

Proof (2005) Movie Review

Dr Suess How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) Movie Review

The Mask Of Zorro Movie Review

The Mask of Zorro (1998) Movie Review

The Edge (1997) Movie Review

Shadowlands (1993) Movie Review

The Remains of  The Day (1993) Movie Review

The Silence of The Lambs (1991) Movie Review

The Tenth Man (1988) Movie Review

The Bunker (1981) Movie Review

The Elephant Man (1980) Movie Review

Magic (1978) Movie Review

A Bridge Too Far (1977) Movie Review

Check out Top 10 Movies with Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins Movie Reviews is a post from: Sir Anthony Hopkins, the actor