Entertainment For Lively Minds
Utter, utter, utter B*stard!
Posted by Ahh_Bisto on 9 November 2011 - 6:44pm.
as Rick called Vivian in The Young Ones.
I murmured this to myself the other night when I caught the 1939 film version of Beau Geste starring Gary Cooper in the eponymous role.
Is there a more compelling utter bastard in film or literature than his unit leader Sergeant Markoff, a man only too willing to let any soldier die needlessly under his command in order to serve his own sadistic pleasure and selfish ends?
Have you, dear Massive, a favourite utter b*astard or total b*tch who manages to go through a book, film or TV series displaying little or no redeeming qualities?
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Dudley Smith
Absolutely brilliant scum bag corrupt cop from James Ellroy's LA Quarter (though only in three of them). Wonderfully played by "the nice farmer from Babe" in the film of LA Confidential.
Chilling
Have you a valediction, boyo?
Major Horst Mohn
Played by Anthony Valentine in the 70's TV series Colditz.
Proper b'stard that one.
Colditz
I am 2/3 of the way through the box set of Colditz and completely agree.
A picture of him makes me shudder, still
When was that series on TV? (Just wondering how old I was when I saw it)
The second series aired in 1973/4
George Kennedy...
...as Red Leary in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. What a complete and utter, total fucking bastard he was. His sidekick, Eddie Goody, played by Geoffrey - father of Juliette - Lewis has a great turn as an ice-cream salesman.
Steven Stellfox...
....at least I think that's his name? He's the protagonist in "Kill Your Friends" by John Niven. He's the A&R man for a record label. Not a single redeeming quality. When I read the book, the character reminded me of the protagonist in Irvine Welsh's "Pigs" who is obviously a policeman. I'm afraid I can't even guess at his name. Again...total bastard!
Bruce Robertson
And coincidentally, he is my favourite bastard.
Linda Fiorentino
in The Last Seduction. Evil, evil bitch.
Such a great
role and performance. Funny and sexy too, which just made it worse!
See also:
Oh aye.
She genuinely deserved an Oscar. Utterly compelling. Women shouldn't be allowed to watch The Last Seduction in case it gives them ideas.
(Apart from ideas about shagging random blokes out the back of dodgy bars. That bit's allowed.)
Richard Chamberlain
in his role in 'Towering Inferno' really made me angry when I was ten or so watching this movie in the cinema, when he pushes others out of the way and grabs the swinging cradle that is supposed to lead them to another tower and safety. I recall calling out in indignation and being shushed by my mother at that moment. Happily he soon fell, tumbling to a horrific death. What a fuck.
Two come immediately to mind
the blind, mute, god fearing "Boss" from Cool Hand Luke
Ian Hendry in 'The Hill'
The Hill
... is the single greatest thing Sean Connery has ever done. FACT!
But....but...
Zardoz....
My two favourite bastards...
I watched Dallas recently
having not watched it for very long time. To summarise:
* Larry Hagman was terrific. Still
* There was an awful lot of Victoria Principal in swimwear
* For a family so wealthy, why were they all living in such a small house?
With regards your points...
1. Yes he was.
2. Yes there was, but it wasn't nearly enough.
3. Good point. I've no idea.
Delgado's Master
"displaying little or no redeeming qualities" - he had a great sense of humour and was rather charming. Not a complete bastard.
Flashman!
None better at being bad...
Shagged farted cried ran hid murdered his way through the entire 19th Century.
Honourable mention to Roger Mellie, and bollox to all of you.
"Shit Yourself Slim" anyone?
How about that
little toss-pot on Game of Thrones? (Joffrey I think)
I hate to say it, but if I passed that kid in the street I couldn't help but sink the boot in.
Two, possibly a bit cliched
This complete shitbag:
And Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, although maybe he had to be a bastard to do his job properly.
Ernie McCracken from Kingpin
Completely hateful bastard but he makes a good film great.
Good shout on Flashman there Geacher53 only I can't quite bring myself to regard him as a bastard as I usually regard his tactical choices as quite logical, except when the little general takes control. Much as I like Malcolm McDowell I was disappointed with the cinematic version. I must start a blog sometime for Flashman afficianados to see who would best embody the great man in a film. I can't quite make my mind up.
:)
good call
Kingpin
Fantastic soundtrack album as well.
In My Minds Eye
Always a young Anthony Valentine, with mutton chops.
Colonel Jock Sinclair
As played by Alec Guinness in Tunes of Glory, is a terrible martinet, reacting to the world changing around him by being vile to all and sundry, especially poor old Johnny Mills
'TOG' is an unsung classic of old school British cinema. Someone has kindly (and illegally) posted the whole thing in 10 minute chunks here.
Tunes of Glory
is a cracking film. Both Mills and Guinness are excellent.
John Mills is often boxed in a stalwart of British cinema for decades and his acting chops are often overlooked in favour of just reflecting on his longevity, forgetting that he put in some great performances beyond just the stiff upper lip roles.
One of my favourite roles of his was in The Long Memory where his character is convincingly morally ambiguous. But, alas, not an utter bastard so doesn't qualify on this thread.
Michael Madsen's character in Reservoir Dogs
Mr White?
I spent most of the film fervently wishing someone would kill
the bastard NOW!!!
Importer Exporter
George Costanza
That is all.
A young un
But a proper wrong un;
Everyones favourite bastard.
Everyones favourite bastard. I give you Malcolm Tucker
Malcolm Tucker
Richard III
the Shakespeare version.
EDIT: Hang on, "no redeeming qualities" ?
I might have to withdraw my nomination then...
Atia of the Julii
From the 'Rome' series. You feel sorry for her once in the entire 2 box sets, for about 3 seconds, and even that's overshadowed by schadenfreude.
And I simply cannot figure out why I fancy her.
It's a real mystery
A point
well made.
Al Swearengen
While I'm thinking about epic, hope-trampling, semi-historical series, Ian McShane's character in Deadwood is just brilliant.