Dirk Bogarde - Interview - Thames TV - 1981

[@lilybond6485]

“ Are you ever homesick ? I am an Ex-Patriot for an England that is gone”. I wonder what he would be thinking about England now in 2021 ?! Such a gorgeous man. I loved/love everything about him: His handsome looks, the way he talked, his voice, especially loved his laugh. Yep -- he was the whole package.

[@ukrandr]

It's a never ending pleasure to happen upon a nugget of pure gold such as this. Eloquence, style, integrity and talent defined Dirk Bogarde

[@ferkara8223]

He was one of the best actors of all the times.

[@mikejohnson2638]

lol

[@davidjohn5402]

I would have loved to have met him ,even for 10 minutes,, such an interesting, intelligent, great actor.. The servant,, springs to mind..one of his best...

[@stevenlangdon-griffiths293]

What a simply marvellous interview. He was a famous person and yet he could be the nice gentleman from down the road.

[@dianespanpinato8890]

What a grace to be so honest BRAVO

[@annakoroneos3959]

He was a very talented actor.I appreciate, that he is honest,he is not trying to be sympathetic to the people as so many famous people are doing today,appearing themselves to be like saints,when inside them,who knows what they really think.The point is not,if someone agrees or not with his beliefs,but his courage to express his own ideas,even if we don't like them.I have missed that in our days,very much.

[@Carly8Corday]

But he is angelic without trying. Sweetheart of a beautiful guy.

[@shetlandbudgie2611]

I think it’s the ability to respectfully express contrary beliefs and not have your head bitten off.

[@Patis.Vargas.]

My my, he is delicious and was/is a wonderful actor and writer, I love him to pieces, he just makes me melt. Thank you so much for sharing this. :D

[@lilybond6485]

Yes. I agree. Patrick McGoohan had/has the same effect on me.

[@anythingbootneck]

If England was bad in 1981, just imagine what Dirk would say about it now!

[@connoroleary591]

He was right, London was dirty and decayed in the 60's and 70's. It is a much finer and cleaner city since then. Indeed he sold his house in France and returned to the UK and died in London.

[@jenniferjones188]

Totally agree.

[@AnnabelleJARankin]

@@connoroleary591 London was not 'dirty and decayed' in the 60s and 70s - you have been watching too many black and white film clips - there were parts still being rebuilt after the war in the 50s and 60s but it was by and large a very elegant city. England DID disappear in the early 80s - I remember the change in attitudes and the changes of the streets because I was away in the USA for a couple of years and came back to a different mood. DB is talking about before the second world war as better - I wasn't around then!

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

What would he say about the mess France is in????? Those Yellow Vest riots they had EVERY WEEKEND, with fire bombs and graffiti everywhere. London was NEVER as bad as France, not to mention the coast with all the refugees getting on boats, every day ........... in their own little tent city.

[@goldenultra]

Politically the 80's was not fun. Nor was I a fan of that time. Then the 80's ended and so did the poll tax, second worst British tax - second to only the Victorian window tax. Day light robbery?

[@williamneumyer7147]

That wonderful honesty! In a world of mendacity, that man called a spade a spade.

[@kmvenezia4337]

SPOT ON DIRK! Man with integrity.

[@AlongtheFarClimbDown843]

Bogarde had a minor stroke in November 1987, while Forwood was dying of liver cancer and Parkinson's disease. In September 1996, he underwent angioplasty to unblock arteries leading to his heart and had a massive stroke following the operation.[18] He was paralysed on one side of his body, which affected his speech. After the stroke he used a wheelchair. He then completed the final volume of his autobiography, which covered the stroke's effects, and published an edition of his collected journalism, mainly from The Daily Telegraph. He spent some time with his friend Lauren Bacall the day before he died at his home in London from a pulmonary embolism on 8 May 1999, age 78. His ashes were scattered at his former estate in Grasse, Southern France.[19]

[@lilybond6485]

So depressing that his life ended this way. Beautiful man he was.

[@larahensinghlyc3641]

Words can't express how much I love this guy. Really. Thanks for uploading, whoever did this, did a great job.

[@Patis.Vargas.]

+Lara Hensinghlyc That makes two of us. :-)

[@sandrastone7019]

+Patricia Vargas make it three.

[@mckavitt]

+Sandra Stone Make it four.

[@sjp4669]

Five! I met him once.

[@paulgrahamedwardspencer5161]

I have all his films on DVD my favorite actor of all time .

[@markwright7021]

After reading his book 'Short Walk From Harrods' and how it all ended for him, this breaks your heart

[@lilybond6485]

Oh wow. I have to get that book. Thanks for mentioning it.

[@alangiles2763]

@@lilybond6485 His own end was even worse. He had two strokes and for the last year or so of his life he had no use of his left side, was housebound, and in a wheelchair and needed 24 hour nursing. He died on May 8th 1999, and his final days must have been torture for him. "Short Walk From Harrords" deals with him comng back to the UK after Tony Forwood's Parkinson's got very advanced in 1987. A very melnchololy book, please be warned, but written with his usual grace and style.

[@lilybond6485]

@Alan Giles: Oh - that is so depressing. I had no idea he had 2 strokes. He always looked like the picture of health to me. Life is so strange. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do, how wealthy you are, how kind you are, how much you help people, etc if you don’t have your health - everything else is almost meaningless. To think he also had to watch his beloved partner go through what he did, just so sad.

[@sphericalempirical9359]

I’ve just watched this, 17/01/21, and I can completely understand his view. I’m English and felt just the same and moved away to Spain 2008. A patriot, no doubt, but I just had to leave as it’s just NOT England anymore.

[@lilybond6485]

I so regret not taking a trip to England decades ago.

[@sphericalempirical9359]

@@lilybond6485 ,.... Lily, you’d have Loved it.

[@Kentcommentator]

A wonderful actor, fascinating man. Loved all his autobiographies.

[@S7EVE_P]

I think Britain has continued to get worse...we've had the best times.

[@sarahdixon6011]

It's up to us

[@akumar7366]

Fascinating to listen to Dirk , to think this is over 40 years ago , the themes are so currant .

[@treborob]

CurrEnt....currAnt is a dried grape.... sorry

[@simpaticaism]

My father was born into poverty in London in 1902, he joined the navy to get away from the situation as many men did , he lived through two world wars and then saw thing improve in Britain for the working class and the very poor, by the late 1970s , my father would say , no matter what I have lived through I now know I have seen the best of Britain . I myself now know he was correct and that Thatcher and those who have followed her have dismantled Britain and continue to do so . I live in Europe and have done so now for over thirty years.

[@martinreynolds1]

Fantastic actor and a fascinating human being!

[@virgorising7388]

He's awfully right about television and if he could see how it's used today I think he would go out of his mind. He died at the right time. My parents were born 3 years before Dirk and they lived to 2009. The greatest generation.

[@nainoswad2725]

Love Dirk..and his acting and writing...A Postillion Struck By The Truth.

[@MrJohnnywonny]

The epitome of class, refinement, erudition, and gentlemanliness.

[@friendlier]

If you can find it, I very much recommend his book "A Short Walk from Harrods", which, title aside, is a wonderful memoir of his years in this house.

[@eileensims8774]

I have always loved Dirk and I always will Xxxxx ❤

[@marysmyth8288]

To my mind this wonderful sophisticated intelligent man having experienced the War Clearly made his decision to have a private life , I feel so humble to listen to his voice Of sheer honesty, I am glad he made a lot of his own personal dreams of seclusion come true and enjoyed an almost lifetime with his beloved partner an that he stayed close to his sister I really didn’t know of his life besides being an actor, I feel so sad 😞 that he has passed He was truly remarkable (. R.I.P. )

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

Sheer honesty? He lied for DECADES about being gay. and never had the guts to admit to it.

[@fritula6200]

I have a son with this same ideal as dirk. What he is talking about a lifestyle that he would want maintained, slow living. Dirk has this belief of a "purity" !

[@clairieannie1]

His opinion of film making sounds exactly like Johnny Depp. He has said that after the filming of a movie he considers what happens to it after that "none of his business". They both liked the process of creating as a group but not what makes it marketable after.

[@poopypants814]

Mesmerizing...you can not take your eyes off him .

[@lilybond6485]

I never could. Everything about him. Such an elegant man. - and he had the most enjoyable laugh.

[@scotnick59]

A beautiful man inside and out

[@PeterPete]

i can understand why he left england - that malaise just gets worse as we get older and yet nobody does anything about it bar cover it all up!!!

[@shane6115]

Honesty is refreshing

[@lekunberriko1]

One of the best actors ever.

[@lidijabasanovic9779]

Smart and genuine, gentleman-like

[@bertibear1300]

My parents had an awful life up to the war, poverty in the 20-30’s.They were destroyed by 55 yrs old, hard work.Dad died in 1981 and mum in 2001 aged 89.Dirk had a very narrow view of England .But now in 2021 it is really awful, terrrifying and vile country so I know how he feels.

[@lilybond6485]

I hate myself for not taking my dream trip to England years ago. : (

[@ArnoldVeeman]

but selling the product was making a lot of money... but apart from that - what a wonderful clip from the entire interview. Thanks for sharing!

[@leightonbate7516]

An honest gentleman and a fantastic actor who was much appreciated abroad,he never really went the showbiz American route and was all the better for it,This must be about the time he was playing Roald Dahl opposite another British acting great Glenda Jackson,What he said resonates with me in 2023.

[@aliciabalchin4559]

Wonderful man and actor. Im a huge fan.

[@justsayin397]

Beautiful intelligent man ….. a wonderful actor and an equally great writer.

[@veromaestro5194]

what a charming man!!

[@richtomes]

One minute in to the clip, DB is using a long thin cane which he waves in front of him as they walk. As they go through a doorway, he seems to knock it against the door, presumeably to check whether the door is closed or not - did he have eyesight problems ?

[@rachelthompson8475]

An incredible Actor,spot on, loved Darling, The Servant, honest humble autobiographies, fascinating calming to listen to, stunning to look at. At times seemed pompous hiding a warmth underneath after war etc and a need to be alone as an artist. Stylish, cultured,where has this gone. Is private but seemed originally bisexual from writings, became platonic with Forwood,then celibate to avoid publicity at that time.

[@brendasmithson3395]

Sounds a nice natured man. We must except his Lifestyle in this Day and age the World as changed. We have open views now and he would be excepted of how he wants to live. He had a Love of someone and that all that counts.❤️🇦🇺❤️

[@margaritatomasfernandez4306]

Magnífico actor R.I.P. From Mallorca 🇪🇸

[@thespiancaine]

Great Actor and honest.

[@MrDavey2010]

He was prickly when being interviewed as he was constantly on his guard about his undisclosed homosexuality.

[@carolking6355]

The whole world is a worse place now.

[@scotnick59]

Unfortunately true.

[@olcraigsen]

But soon to get better..... Jesus is coming again ,don't ever forget that...

[@lilybond6485]

-- and now 2 years later it’s worse and will continue to get worse. Jesus was already here and nothing has changed.

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

The world was always terrible.

[@lilybond6485]

@TGA: The thing is - when I was growing up -- sheltered - I was really not aware of what goes on in this world. Now that I am older and have observed the current world and what has happened in the past - I agree with you. Human beings never learn and things are only going to get worse - sad to say. Just my opinion.

[@NikoHL]

Dirk was so right to move to France.. Such an elegant, warm soul. Wonderful actor..

[@redjacc7581]

simply brilliant.

[@lilybond6485]

I knew I should have taken a trip to London in the 70s. It is truly a very big regret.

[@TheGrimhilde]

no second part?

[@Themanwhocameback2]

A phony veneer, but his beautiful soul keeps seeping through.

[@lilybond6485]

“I’m an English Patriot for an England that is gone”. and it’s not coming back.

[@markryley7652]

Always liked Dirk and after watching this I like him more. A man from a bygone era sadly.

[@geoffreygreen5037]

Dirk was a great actor with he was so private in life

[@sarahjones-jf4pr]

You are not selfish just know how awful most people can be most of the time,and want a piece of your own life with standards that are acceptable to your self.

[@michaelmouse4002]

I’m suprised Thames TV didn’t have the courtesy of crediting who the interviewer was. I’d love to know her name.

[@rupertbloomsbury9789]

A true gentleman and indubitably correct on the vulgarity of entertainment. In the 1950s they had Dirk Bogarde. In 2010s we have foreigners like Jimmy Kimmel and Kardashians.

[@Carly8Corday]

Rupert, you should say no to kardashian. If only you could! Hey, I know who you can like, watch and support if you're in U.K., not a foreigner, the fine actor and handsome doll who played Dracula Untold!

[@Carly8Corday]

Luke! Evans!!!

[@michelez715]

What's wrong with foreigners? Dislike the Kardashians and Kimmel if you think they're rubbish, but don't dislike them just because they're foreigners!

[@stephendavis6066]

Kimmel is ok. He has some integrity...Kardash more for Murdoc uk

[@georginan4703]

Credit to Elaine Grand - a sensitive interviewer.

[@ayeletadam4086]

i like this man he doesnt lie to himself

[@paulreed480]

Puts me in the mind of Rupert Spira

[@brucemarsico6]

Always a great actor.....I don't know all of his films but I never fail to miss 'Darling' when it's on tele. Once there were fine performers....now it's mostly shit and noise and rubbishand demanding adulations......

[@lilybond6485]

-- and The Servant.

[@LazyAssWins]

"woke" in an era of England that has only worsened

[@annakker6015]

Can you blame him for NOT talking about being gay ,lately the world thank goodness has changed and people accept it more but not in his days

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

It was made legal in 1967 and he NEVER admitted to it. He died over thirty years later and still never had the guts to fess up. He didn't want to ruin his career, as his looks were important and so many women fancied him, and also he would have had to admit he had LIED for decades. Not only gay but a liar, so he never came out and admitted to it, even when too old to care. Rock Hudson was another one. Always denied it, as it would have ruined his career when he was young.

[@hollowmale]

@@treasurehunteruk9718 if he doesn't describe himself as "gay" or "homosexual", then how else do you think would he describe himself?

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

@@hollowmale Heterosexual or bisexual, I suppose.

[@hollowmale]

@@treasurehunteruk9718 How would coming out benefit a British actor, retired or not, in the 1990s? After coming out, Jaye Davidson quit acting after Stargate, feeling that gay niche would want a manly-looking gay guy. Besides Ian McKellen, have those openly gay actors gained more access and offers in exactly 1990s?

[@hollowmale]

@@treasurehunteruk9718 BTW, from what I read, Alec Guinness was also closeted AND had been married to his wife with a son until his 2000 death. But then I could be wrong

[@thyshaupt]

he is the ONLY one who could be The Night Porter

[@lilybond6485]

“My plan was my own survival”. Well, I guess that I have something in common with him. We had the same plan. --- and as I am sitting here watching -- listening to this video - thinking -- that we will never see this beautiful, elegant man alive again - and a thought - is your spirit alive somewhere -- anywhere ? -- I glance up and see one of my favorite shirts that I brought home from the dry cleaners -- that I have been resistant to donating - and it is the exact same shirt that he is wearing. I think that I’ll just hang on to it for a while. I should hear The Twilight Zone music about now.

[@servabo_fidem1449]

Where is the rest of the interview?

[@MorganHayes_Composer.Pianist]

10:35 effortlessly slips into a working -class accent :)

[@alexmay1754]

France is now a mess of overly strong trade unions and a culture of malaise.... Dirk Bogarde reminds me of a gentler, happier time...

[@arricammarques1955]

Yes, when gentility, and intelligence were revered, respected. Can't blame him for exiled in France, by choice.

[@michelez715]

Living in France is a hundred times better than living in Brexit Britain.

[@hollowmale]

@2:39 She said "homesick", not... well, you know...

[@paulgrahamedwardspencer5161]

He was engaged to a actress before he was famous they broke up because they never saw each other .

[@sarahdixon6011]

Was that the reason??

[@treasurehunteruk9718]

Might have been just for show purposes, like Rock Hudson, and Elton John, who both married women to save face.

[@zoeymckeown3194]

He was gay, he was with Anthony Forwood from 1940 until Forwood died in 1988. The women were just beards.

[@mikejohnson2638]

He's so camp.

[@mckavitt]

I live in France & it is filthy & there is a gigantic racial, cultural malaise, due to French & Arab hostility.

[@davidjames9626]

Well it certainly is a divide between different experiences as in my experience I find the UK far dirtier than here in France..

[@michelez715]

Possibly large French cities are dirty, like most large cities around the world, but otherwise France is not only clean, but very beautiful, too. Depends where you live, I guess. I can only say that I have seen NO "gigantic racial, cultural malaise" whatsoever.

[@anonymousr1918]

Is there in avignon?

[@dekubaner]

pardon my cinematographic ignorance, but i only know him by "the night porter"....i love the movie indeed. he seems to have some gay mannerisms, BUT i might wrong.

[@mckavitt]

You are not wrong.

[@inkyguy]

“Gay” mannerism? Yes, he was gay, but men come in all kinds of packages with all sorts of personalities, traits and manners. Are they gay, effeminate, European or merely English? I don’t discount that there are stereotypical gay qualities, but I think a lot of it comes from boys who are taught and given the models of hypermaculinity and subtly and not very subtly told not to act “that way.”

[@Carly8Corday]

dekubaner, no no, you're just seeing a Brit. Don't be confused. (I'm only trying to be funny, and succeeding to me! Your comment was kidding too, I am convinced.)

[@23malaise]

Night Porter is adorable. Dirk had the lead role in a Rainer Werner Fassbinder film of a Nabokov novel adapted for the screen by Tom Stoppard: "Despair." The real masterwork showcase of his acting is "Death in Venice," directed by Count Luschino Visconti.

[@DW-hv1dn]

In the 1950s and 60s he was a massive star in the UK.

[@johnryman1366]

THe person asking questions is a 4th grade teacher? Or, formerly a 4th grade teacher? AND London was really dirt in the 80's. Liter everywhere, over flowing garbage cans, if any at all .

[@teeniebeenie8774]

pity he hid his gayness/longterm lover his whole life...

[@SarahJones-wy5us]

Pompous,above question , in denial , twists the truth , seems to have a chip on his shoulder,complex man very complex.

[@christinahall2587]

Sarah Jones Sally Betts, the lady who typed out his manuscripts, corrected his spelling and punctuation, said that Dirk came across as pompous and affected in interviews but in reality he wasn’t that way at all.

[@zoeymckeown3194]

It's a great shame he found it necessary to deny the intimate relationship he had with his lover and partner Anthony Forwood from 1940 until Forwood's death in 1988. Homosexual relations were legalized in UK in 1967 so Bogarde had plenty of time to acknowledge his debt to Forwood and honour their long relationship. He was a great pretender.

[@23malaise]

Foreshadowing Morrissey malaise Ltd.

[@patrickjacquiot9073]

Je le croyais Hollandais.

[@royfr8136]

Low volume

[@NewRootsHairUK]

He's very intolerant. But an enjoyable interview.

[@rscottlogan9471]

Chester Fields Hahaha

[@christianmonturanoii6539]

Cool bro he looked a little like James dean

[@docm27]

I pity his self-imposed closeted life.

[@publicmail2]

A bit of a drama queen.

[@SarahJones-wy5us]

AD Electronic Teardowns Yes absolutely.

[@jayneroberts5354]

I used to like him,but after this interview I can't help but what a unmitigated snob he is.

[@JamesDunn-b3x]

What an awful snob he was….

[@leonidasideesparta1789]

HOROR GAY MAN

[@adoculos4521]

He really wasn't a very nice person.