>>>>>>>>>>>>Based on Joseph Conrad's "The Duel" ("Point of Honor" in the US?). Others of his stories gone to film include:
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>And don't forget Secret Agent ( Bob Hoskins and Robin Williams in a particulary good role as 'The Professor' who walks around at all times with his finger on the dead-man switch of the bomb he has strapped to his body. )
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>The Conrad tale?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>Interesting how comedians make some of the best dramatic actors -
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>True. I've noticed the English commedian Lee Evans in quite a few straight roles lately (though he's a crap actor). Eddie Izzard has played a few good baddies, and some other English comic that you may not know, such as (and one of my grouchy favourites) Jack Dee
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>e.g. Jerry Lewis who isn't funny to anyone but the French but who does what should have been and Oscar turn in Scorcese's King of Comedy - which should also be on any list of truly great movies.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I thought that one was the DeNiro film, but maybe that was "Broadway Danny Rose". Anyway, I don't know if deNiro scored in that but to me the char he played was as funny as a dose of distemper in a dogs' home. The style, quality and delivery of the gags was abysmal.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>It was the Deniro film. He kidnapped Jerry Lewis.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>You mean he kidnapped Lewis (as a char in the film), or he kidnapped Lewis's act, or that he kidnapped Lewis's portrayal of teh King of Comedy, or it was like a remake thereof?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>He kidnapped him as a character int he film in order to force him to allow Deniro to perform. He kept trying to get on the Lewis' characters show, but kept getting turned down.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I thought that was the case. Was Lewis playing Lewis? I don't quite remember all the plot as the film never had that much interest to me to keep me watching all the way through.
>>>>>
>>>>>Frankly, it's not one of my favourite movies either. I can't recall if Lewis played himself or not. In general, I have problems with movies in which the main character is a jerk.
>>>>
>>>>Except Steve Martin's "The Jerk" maybe?
>>>
>>>Anytime I see Steve Martin's name on a movie marquee, I cross the road, turn around three times and spit.
>>
>>Sorta had a feeling you might say that. I'm ambivalent. he was fine in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "The man with 2 brains" and various others. The clown i can't stand is gurning Jim Carey!!!
>
>I guess we have to agree to disagree on the definition of 'fine'. I found both movies unwatchable because of him. I have problems with Jim Carey too. Oddly enough, there was a time before he became too famous when he did a couple of dramatic parts in TV shows, and he was pretty darned good. Unfortunately, that ability seems to have leaked out along his road to fame somewhere.

Well they both speak very highly of you :-)