David Niven on How The Queen Mary Accidentally Sank The HMS Curacoa In WWII | The Dick Cavett Show

British Actor David Niven describes the tragedy behind how the Queen Mary sank one of its escort ships, the HMS Curacoa while transporting 15,000 soldiers across the Atlantic Ocean in WWII.
Date aired - November 26th 1981 - David Niven
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Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.
His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.
Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.
#thedickcavettshow #DavidNiven #DickCavett

[@TheDickCavettShow]

What has been your favourite interview on the Dick Cavett Show with David Niven so far?

[@stephanegerard513]

Before I answer, I would first like to express my gratitude for the true privilege of allowing us all access to this invaluable archival footage of people who might otherwise live on in name only. The easy conversations that Dick Cavett seemed to foster make it feel as though the respective characters of these enormously influential cultural icons (many of whom died long before I was born) are now in some sense known to me, in a more familiar sense than I might otherwise have hoped for. To all those who have anything to do with this channel, I trust that I also speak for many others when I extend a heartfelt "thank you". Moving on to the question posed, my favourite interviews thus far fall into five distinct categories: one Cavett-specific, one for charisma, one for art, one of personal interest, and one historic and culture-centric. The first involves Cavett's courtesy with relation to the generational shift in the formality of routine interactions, with an almost eerily polite and reserved audience making a contrast to our present-day discourse most especially in the "questions" compilations. The second is likely to be a perennial standout in the sheer verve of Muhammad Ali's captivating persona at the peak of his fighting career. The third is the fascinating sophistication of Paul Simon's scintillating musical compositions for "Bridge over Troubled Water" and "Still Crazy". The fourth reflects my fascination with the written word in the "authors' roundtable" interviews, and the fifth category is the sober discourse on fraught issues from a series of "group reactions" to topical events (such as Woodstock, or the assassination of Robert Kennedy). My apologies for not having been able to narrow things down any further, however I hope the length of this list will stand as a testament to how high the standards of the show must have been, not to mention the mastery with which Cavett spearheaded them, to have such an impact on me. I hope I have done the question the justice it deserves, -Stéphane Gérard

[@Beeza56]

This one! Thank you.

[@cynthiaennis3107]

Those with David Niven when he came out with The Moon Is a Balloon! Such a classy gentleman with a great wit!

[@hanseekhoff1093]

This one. Definitely.

[@amazon5031]

I like this one the best as he succinctly explained why Churchill got kicked out the government. Rightly so too.

[@AML2000]

He modestly said that in the incident with the general "I was dressed up as an officer by that time". He was actually a graduate of Sandhurst, the British officer's academy, and served as a lieutenant for 3 years in the early 1930's before resigning his commission to become an actor. He was the only British actor to leave Hollywood and immediately join back up, and served as an officer the entire war and ended the war as a lieutenant colonel. He was a member of a secret reconnaisance unit after D-Day, and rarely talked about his combat experiences.

[@haroldgodwinson832]

A proper man.

[@kiasax2]

David Niven was such an amazing man.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Niven was very modest about his service in the war. Basically saying he was much more fortunate than many he served with.

[@dennisleise5393]

Niven lived quite the life and there was some discomfort in this recounting. Thankfully Dick was skillful and compassionate enough to help him through it and get it out of him.

[@augustinewong-pown5814]

A very honorable and respectful gentleman soldier. Much respect to Sir David Niven and his service to fighting for democracy for the world

[@theguitardude5613]

I love the old actors. Niven, Burton, O'Toole. Harris and Reed. Such interesting men.

[@jagreb]

David was a great friend of Roger Moore. When David died, Roger was shooting a Bond film in the south of France, I believe. When he found out David died, he got in a car and drove straight through to be with and support David's family.

[@Io-Io-Io]

Before feminism recked society

[@rinkadink66]

always worth watching David, such a likeable gentleman..

[@Southprong59]

Wow, as a WW II buff, that was one of the most powerful WW II stories I have ever heard. You could tell that DN did all he could to hold back his emotions and tears.

[@markh9011]

David died less than two years after this of ALS. I think the disease is affecting his speaking in this interview. Another WW2 vet who survived the war as a kinder, better person.

[@oh8wingman]

His humanity showed when he talked about letting the General go. He simply could not do it. Says a lot about the man. Read his book "the Moon is a Balloon." It's a good read.

[@d23bw]

His two autiobiographies are some of the most moving and funniest that I've read. Amazing man, Though he'd probably dislike the term.

[@frereM]

He also seemed quite subdued, even depressed in this interview, which was not characteristic of his usual public demeanor. Nevertheless, he always came off as a considerate and consummate gentleman.

[@johnarmitt9511]

I thought he had MND ?

[@frereM]

@@johnarmitt9511 I believe that ALS is a more specific diagnosis within the general category of MND.

[@davidhardiman9603]

This is quite extraordinary for several reasons. Firstly, Cavett was soft and accepting for his guests. He seems never to have been anyway self-dramatising, so his guests felt both comfortable and the centre of attention. Secondly, he seems to have spoken with his guests for some time before the camera rolled, and got their trust. Then thirdly, he seems to have brought the relaxed atmosphere into the filming. I've seen this with several guests and it's very striking. Cavett and Parkinson have achieved to the same effect. It's an ideal.

[@os5573]

Yes, I've seldom seen actors open up and be as funny as with Cavett, a great example being Sir Richard Burton.

[@dalek3086]

Richard Burton was never given a knighthood, as he was a tax exile

[@Mike7O7O]

As others have said. Sincere thanks for putting this in the public domain. I would highly recommend both of David Niven's books. The Moons A Balloon and Bring On The Empty Horses. I've read both many times and the first time I read them I was in stitches as we say in the UK. David would've been the first to admit that he had a very lucky life. The tragedies in his life, he rarely or never talked about. Like his highly dangerous work in WW2 as a commando trained reconnaissance unit commander and the tragic death of his first wife, Primmie. He was on the rebound from Primmie's death at only twenty-eight, when he met his second wife Hjordis. A meeting which led to a tragic relationship. It speaks highly of David that he was one of Prince Philip's closest confidants. I believe they met weekly for dinner at a London club with a third person, who might've been Peter Ustinov (sorry, awful memory) and I suspect that these escapes from a highly regulated royal life were a lifeline to Philip. Niven took all that was said during those dinners to the grave. If there was ever a man who typified the ethos of making the most of every opportunity that life presents you with, I believe that man was David Niven.

[@margaretcollins9382]

A man who truly understood the value of humility, a virtue almost nonexistent now. Two world wars proved a pretty humbling experience.

[@scottd9448]

Such a great actor. But so much pain in the memories of this interview.

[@rulebritannia1553]

Fantastic interview Lovely man 2024 from Australia 🇦🇺

[@justpassingby2358]

What a great interview. Thanks Dick and thanks youtube.

[@sianwarwick633]

Beyond the jokes and the charm, Niven really had quite a life

[@bencotton3050]

can not get enough david nevin

[@janethigginbottom]

...not enough to spell his surname correctly, apparently.

[@banjopete]

@@janethigginbottom ,cruel.

[@nkt1]

@@banjopete Pedantic, perhaps, but not cruel.

[@betatwin2006]

I just finished reading NIV by Graham Lord. I really think you’ll like this one!!

[@daveeggleston8218]

My great uncle Roy was on the Queen Mary with the 29th Infantry Division when this happened. He said they never even felt it. And the HMS Curacoa was a light cruiser, not a destroyer. That's how big the Queen Mary was.

[@paulmarshall8774]

My Great Uncle was on the Curasoa and didn’t survive he was a stocker in the boiler room, I hope your Uncle survived the war.

[@daveeggleston8218]

@@paulmarshall8774 Yes, sir, Uncle Roy survived the war. I didn’t know him well, though. He passed when I was young. I’m sorry to hear about your uncle.

[@paulmarshall8774]

@@daveeggleston8218 I’m pleased your Great Uncle Roy survived the war, his last remaining brother passed away in 2008 and my Nan often spoke of this incident and gave me the book about it. The family were devastated as he was the second brother to die in WW2 they only found out the truth years later. High price to pay

[@r.c.reasor4807]

He was always such a classy gentleman.

[@davidgladstone5261]

Yes, this is almost 10 years after the other Dick Cavett show and you can hear the speech difficulties. Dick was very sympathetic and helpful. Niven was a brave man, in addition to his other qualities.

[@Prellium]

Wonderful man.

[@albanan1]

It's noticeable in his books that Niven tells stories about every part of his life, except what he actually did in the war. He didn't want to tell funny tales about brave men being killed.

[@BanjoLuke1]

Just at the beginning of the visible/audible onset of the illness that killed him. His speech sounds slightly slurred and sibilant, as if in in drink. But it is the illness.

[@kyle381000]

My mother died of ALS in 2005. The very first symptoms were a slight slurring of her words and eventually she could no longer speak. She was gone in two years. I would not wish it upon anyone.

[@jessmontgomery3454]

Bit where he talks about meeting that General it is so sad, the diminished and dishonored German walking home on foot. And he just couldn't find the malice in his heart to arrest him, the tragic misery of war. When hate and fury have left us, only sadness and regret remain.

[@kindnessfirst9670]

Following orders in the military does not usually require malice. If it did the German General likely felt much more of it in the war than David Niven did. The Germans were fighting to conquer while the British were fighting to liberate.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

Actor Ronald Colman is another GREAT Man with interesting stories .

[@loudredflipflops]

Excellent conversation, the way to an exceptional interview.

[@spankflaps1365]

The Queen Mary was built like a tank so it only suffered light bow damage in the collision. She couldn’t stop to pick up survivors, because they would be a sitting duck for U-boats.

[@zigwald]

I love this kind on interview. Raw and unvarnished views of ww2.

[@jujuoliver6959]

Such a gorgeous, articulate, decent, classy man.

[@Polyfusia]

Most interesting.

[@josephking6515]

David Niven well before the war had attended Sandhurst Military College and was an officer. He _escaped_ to Hollywood in the mid 30s and he returned for the party that started 3rd September 1939 and stayed for the duration. He had an extremely interesting war and his exploits were just amazing. He was even caught up in the Battle of the Bulge and was challenged by American soldiers with their stupid _"Who won the World Series (only played in the US of course) in 1936"_ and being English he had no idea but his response was so damned funny. Look it up as it's well worth the effort it really is. David Niven one of the Greatest Generation and one incredible gentlemen of the 20th century. SPOILER. His response was _"I don't know but I made a movie with Betty Gable."_

[@stevemaher7481]

I was a tour guide on The Queen Mary. It is 1,119 feet long.

[@kevinmcadams805]

I’m sure your mean 1,019 ft. 😉

[@zaphodbeeblebrox6627]

David Nivens assumption about a GI taking a photo of the Curaçao incident was spot on. A few years ago ( MANY years after this interview and Mr Nivens death) a photo DID actually turn up in the news which was taken by a GI showing the upended stern of the Curaçao (taken over to handrail) passing along the port side of the Queen Mary. A very sad wartime accident.

[@Magooch86]

Cool, he was on the Queen Mary with Easy Company. They theoretically could have shown a young David Niven on BoB and it would be historically accurate.

[@tommurphy4094]

Nah, they would have portrayed him as a bumbling snob, rigidly sticking to the rules, like BoB did with the other British soldiers in the show & the US troops having no respect for them.

[@richardstoker4963]

My uncle died on that ship, he was a stoker. I think it was the officer of the watch on the Queen Mary who was to blame.

[@tommo01]

Not at all, it was the captain! The young officer of the watch saw the danger and made a hard turn away, but the captain, feeling the hard turn away, came forward and said go back to the original course, the Royal Navy ship would get out of the way. The foolish captain on the Royal Navy ship thought he had the right of way as normally the ship over-taking (in this case the Queen Mary) should give way. An tragic and totally avoidable collision in which 338 men lost their lives.

[@os5573]

@@tommo01 Yes, it was so foolhardy and rigid it would be comedic if it weren't so tragic. The captain faced no repercussions, as far as I know.

[@williamewing5509]

I have got two movie DVDS of David Niven with Gregory Peck Anthony Quayle Anthony Quinn Stanley Baker and James Darren in The Guns Of Naverone with Telly Savalas Elliott Gould Stephanie Powers Sonny Bono Anthony Valentine and Roger Moore are both German Officers in Escape To Athena I am dedicating these movie DVDS to my old school friends who are both sisters as I hope to see them both again very soon to Chris Marie and Hester Brand from Billyxxxxx

[@davidjonathangudlaugson4768]

I never ever heard of this incident.

[@666johnco]

101 survivors, 337 of the crew were lost. Initially no blame was attached to the liner crew, an appeal by the navy let too 25% blame on Queen Mary's officers. An appeal by Cunard to the House of Lords led to all the blame going back to the navy. Not that I am finding fault with David as long ago and possibly the stewards were not correctly recalling it to him.

[@nkt1]

No, the first appeal assigned 1/3 of the blame to Cunard and its officers, 2/3 to the Admiralty. A further appeal to the House of Lords upheld this finding.

[@666johnco]

@@nkt1 Oh well thats Wikipedia for you then

[@kurtwicklund8901]

As a kid I read his autobiography, The Moon Is A Balloon.

[@markwebsdale2901]

My grandad died on the hms curaçao

[@betatwin2006]

😢 I wish I could thank him for his service.

[@paulmarshall8774]

My great Uncle also died on the curacoa

[@harleyblue999]

Did I notice a slur to his voice,considering the eventuality of a medical condition,lovely actor and human being.

[@carmenlottner297]

You can see that his illness is clearly starting to kick in here.Very sad.

[@phmwu7368]

James David Niven wrote 4 books ...

[@ISIO-George]

An extraordinary life. His would make a great biographical film - if Hollywood could control itself and stick to the truth.

[@amazon5031]

My old man went to the Korean War for the full 3 years as an officer in the POW camp on the PLA side. He came back to China and became a pacifist. Of course he never told any one back then in China as it was a no no thing for being a pacifist. He used to tell me about the frozen soldiers he saw on the road and soldiers flattened by tanks like a piece of paper lying on the road. He also saw deposit safes lying about evrywhere from banks of which buildings were totally destroyed. Most tellingly is that the prisoners had no wish to escape from the POW camp as there were no houses for miles and miles around as they were all destroyed by aerial bombing. So figure that out and then think about what the Americans have been doing ever since....it is pure evil.

[@Jade420_]

They need to find that ship if they do or did lotta people died

[@petesmith9472]

111 survivors actually….two thirds fault of Curacoa..one third fault QM.

[@karensinclair4189]

Curaçao pronounced cure a sow…like the island. Not Curacoa in your tag line.

[@therealinformalmusic]

Though the fourth ship to commemorate the capture of the Dutch island of Curaçao in 1807, the official name and spelling of the ship was HMS Curacoa, a C-class light cruiser.

[@elliottg.1954]

The interviewer doesn't know when to stop. It should be obvious that the war affected David terribly, and he was up at the sharp end. Compelling for viewers and for ratings maybe, but terrible for David, a thoroughly decent man, and for others like him. Veterans with such experiences don't want to remember or dig it all up again. For the sake of entertainment, people like David are made to feel like crap for a few hours or even for days afterwards.

[@krugerfuchs]

Wrong curocao was zigzagging and turned in front of queen mary clearly not the Mary's fault

[@mrkiplingreallywasanexceed8311]

Oh for God's sake, Cavett is absolutely excruciating in this embarrassing interview. While everyone admires David Niven for his superlative British pluck and rogueish but always-gentlemanly charm, I had neither seen nor heard of the interviewer. Sir David humbly acknowledges the sombre tone of his story - particularly brave in that he knew everyone in the room was expecting a swashbuckling performance from a glamorous English knight of the stage, which, in any case, already wholly aware of being only a shadow of his former self, he knew he had not delivered. Furthermore, under the full glare of the spotlight, despite acute consciousness at falling short of his own reputation, gamely carried on at the exhortation of Cavett to "be funnier" - a very weak and unsympathetic effort at levity which only highlighted his own dismal deficiencies compared to even a much-reduced Niven - and who furthermore, directly proceeded to prattle on longer, about the previous rather grave story concerning the Curaçao, himself having just asked Sir David to move on.......uuugggghhhhhh Jeees, talk about utter lack of human empathy, emotional intelligence or just any bloody interviewing and people skills whatsoever. Absolutely devoid of any personality or interest of his own, either. I acknowledge my bias, being British, but that notwithstanding, no wonder the marvellous David Niven lives on in the collective imaginations of a huge and devoted fanbase while Mr Cavett languishes, as far as I am concerned, in total obscurity.

[@sdwriter2626]

So, so wrong,

[@alpearson9158]

don't think that Cavett could comprehend that war is as the soldier sees it. Niven had been at war for 6 years and that affected him likely in ways most of us simply can's encompass. Cavett 's view would be far less knowledgable

[@nkt1]

What drivel.

[@Io-Io-Io]

? ? ?... You might want to talk to a psychologist...

[@jnighs8380]

Cavet has millions of views he's one of our better interviewers of the time from America in a.ericana he hasn't faded he's interviews get hundreds of thousands and million of views