My OperaAn Englishman in New York
Friday, February 6, 2009 11:25:17 AM
"Heute in 20 Jahren werdet ihr mit größerer Trauer den Dingen, die ihr NICHT getan habt, gegenüberstehen, als denen, die ihr tatet. Darum hisst die Segel, verlasst den schützenden Hafen, fahrt hinaus in die Passatwinde, erforscht, entdeckt und erlebt euer Leben!"
Mark Twain
Today, on February 7th, 2009, the World Premiere of the movie "An Englishman In New York" shall start at the Berlinale Film Festival, as a dedicated hommage to Quentin Crisp, with John Hurt as the lead actor and Richard Laxton as director.
John Hurt began shooting "An Englishman In New York" in August 2008 in New York, a title taken from the now famous song by Sting. Watch the Sting video here.
Besides, there are some sequences showing the original Quentin Crisp as an elderly dandy with his black velvet hat within this video.
In 1975 John Hurt launched a remarkable career with the lead role in the movie adaptation of Quentin Crisp’s autobiography "The Naked Civil Servant", a book dated from 1968.
The new drama by Brian Fillis is based on the diaries Mr. Crisp wrote in the newspaper "The New York Native" and on conversations with New Yorkers who remember him.
Setting off on the journey of a lifetime to New York City on September 13th, 1981, the out-spoken Quentin Crisp was immediately embraced by New Yorkers and before long wined and dined by celebrities in every corner of the city. Mr. Crisp’s romantic view of New York and America was colored by wartime relationships with GIs in London and by his adoration of Hollywood movies.
He went to America because he wanted to be himself, a selfconscious gay man in a new city, and because he also wanted to entertain and be entertained. Obviously he became an accepted trentsetter for the New York society. "I want my time lived!", he stated. And living his life Quentin Crisp certainly did. In 1999 he died at the age of 91 in Manchester, England.
For those, who are interested in the lyrics of the Sting song, look beneath; maybe the text is a poetic description of Crisp's lifestyle and "raison d'être", too:
I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York[/COLOR]
Mark Twain
Today, on February 7th, 2009, the World Premiere of the movie "An Englishman In New York" shall start at the Berlinale Film Festival, as a dedicated hommage to Quentin Crisp, with John Hurt as the lead actor and Richard Laxton as director.
John Hurt began shooting "An Englishman In New York" in August 2008 in New York, a title taken from the now famous song by Sting. Watch the Sting video here.
Besides, there are some sequences showing the original Quentin Crisp as an elderly dandy with his black velvet hat within this video.
In 1975 John Hurt launched a remarkable career with the lead role in the movie adaptation of Quentin Crisp’s autobiography "The Naked Civil Servant", a book dated from 1968.
The new drama by Brian Fillis is based on the diaries Mr. Crisp wrote in the newspaper "The New York Native" and on conversations with New Yorkers who remember him.Setting off on the journey of a lifetime to New York City on September 13th, 1981, the out-spoken Quentin Crisp was immediately embraced by New Yorkers and before long wined and dined by celebrities in every corner of the city. Mr. Crisp’s romantic view of New York and America was colored by wartime relationships with GIs in London and by his adoration of Hollywood movies.
He went to America because he wanted to be himself, a selfconscious gay man in a new city, and because he also wanted to entertain and be entertained. Obviously he became an accepted trentsetter for the New York society. "I want my time lived!", he stated. And living his life Quentin Crisp certainly did. In 1999 he died at the age of 91 in Manchester, England.
For those, who are interested in the lyrics of the Sting song, look beneath; maybe the text is a poetic description of Crisp's lifestyle and "raison d'être", too:
I don't drink coffee I take tea my dear
I like my toast done on one side
And you can hear it in my accent when I talk
I'm an Englishman in New York
See me walking down Fifth Avenue
A walking cane here at my side
I take it everywhere I walk
I'm an Englishman in New York
If, "Manners maketh man" as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Modesty, propriety can lead to notoriety
You could end up as the only one
Gentleness, sobriety are rare in this society
At night a candle's brighter than the sun
Takes more than combat gear to make a man
Takes more than a license for a gun
Confront your enemies, avoid them when you can
A gentleman will walk but never run
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York
I'm an alien I'm a legal alien
I'm an Englishman in New York[/COLOR]
