What's My Line? - Ralph Richardson; Peter Cook & Phyllis Newman [panel] (Jul 28, 1963)

[@scotnick59]

Such a masterful actor was Sir Ralph!

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Sir Ralph Richardson was once performing in a play that wasn't very good. In the middle of a speech he turned to the audience and asked, "Is there a doctor in the house?" A man stood up and said, "Yes, I'm a doctor". And Ralph Richardson said, "Doctor, isn't this the worst play that you've ever seen?" Then he resumed his speech. He was known as a great actor and as quite a character.

[@mikejschin]

That reminds me of an anecdote related to me by my Shakespeare professor in college. John Barrymore was playing the lead in Richard III. When he said the famous line, "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse", someone in the audience started laughing. Barrymore pointed toward the audience member and said, "Quick, Catesby, saddle yon braying ass".

[@photo161]

Sir Ralph reportedly once held rival actor and friend Lawrence Olivier out a window by his ankles...

[@scottpardee6303]

I’m sorry that Sir Ralph left so quickly. It would have been. Great to hear his real voice and respond to the questions of the panel.

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

He was a very reserved gentleman - and: a very very great actor.

[@WhatsMyLine]

What really impresses me about the first guest is that she's the rare case of a contestant who doesn't have to constantly look to John for validation before her answers-- not the slightest hesitation, really, even on the kinds of questions that might otherwise have prompted one of his patented long winded.explanations! Her line as a panelist on the Korean WML sure prepared her well to be a contestant here.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Hi Gary from 2015! This contestant was terrific. I really don't like it very much when John takes over (sometimes almost entirely) the answering for the contestant. I say let them be unsure and only help them out when they are just unable to answer. I think John is too quick to aid the guests. I realize that he is responsible for the pace and time of the show and so he may be right in doing this. But I don't have to like it.

[@soulierinvestments]

Bennett, Peter and Arlene bowing to the first mystery guest. Real class.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

However there may be some disagreement on the quality of the bows here... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmbIZYd-i6qVldE

[@kathleenburns]

@@MrJoeybabe25 m m.

[@davidreid8075]

What a wonderful show...

[@marycleary7810]

I love when they have WML panelists from. Other countries

[@daler.steffy1047]

Meant here as a retrospective: Miss Kim is from Seoul, South Korea, and is a citizen there. Also, she has the distinction of having been a captain in the military service, was a pilot in the Korean War, and is now a television panelist on the Korean version of "What's My Line." With all of these impressive credentials, here she is, seemingly one of the most kind, gentle and humble people that has ever graced the WML stage. I hold her life in celebration.

[@loissimmons6558]

Al Somers answers that both men and women can benefit from his services. It causes some confusion later on when Phyllis Newman asks him based on the premise that she can come to him for his service. Somers did not admit women to his school for umpires until 1977, and that only over concern that he would be hit with a lawsuit if he didn't. (This was 5 years after Bernice Gera won her court case but lasted only one game as a minor league umpire before quitting.) He was opposed to it because he felt that women would not make it to the major leagues as umpires. It's over 40 years later and none have made it. Of the two female students in 1977, one was Pam Postema. She graduated 17th in a class of 130 in Somers' school. She made it as far as the Pacific Coast League (same league that Al Somers reached). In 1988, she also umpired in major league spring training games and the Hall of Fame Game when that mid-season exhibition game was still being played at Cooperstown on the Monday after Hall of Fame induction weekend. Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti appeared to be a champion of her cause. She had gotten good reviews in being promoted all the way to the PCL. But then Giamatti died during his term in office in 1989. Her advancement died with him. At the end of the 1989 season, her minor league contract was canceled. She filed a sex discrimination lawsuit and it was settled out of court. Apparently the settlement was sealed.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I think John also had respect for her abilities as a tv personality and knew she did not need help, really.

[@randyhutton9371]

And she outranked him.

[@VahanNisanian]

Videotaped on February 17, 1963, immediately prior to that night's live episode. Dorothy was in her relapse phase, and Arlene hadn't had her car accident yet. Phyllis' hair looks shorter than it did on the 4/14/63 episode.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Did they know when these shows would play when they taped them?

[@VahanNisanian]

Joe Postove I'd imagine they did, given how they would sometimes say things about how it was a warm August, when it was really only earlier that year.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Sooooooooooo. They lied? Really? You can't do that! If anything it would be against the broadcasters code. But I guess no one would make a big deal out of it. I think to the degree that people cared or knew whether a show was live or taped (and like I believe you said in another thread, most people just would think of this type of show as "default' live) they would pick up on blatant prevarication.

[@loissimmons6558]

It seems to me that they have avoided references to the weather conditions on the taped episodes. But even if they were mentioned, it could have been whatever they were experiencing the day it was recorded and not a lie.

[@rtflone]

@@MrJoeybabe25 Especially with Johnny Olsen's iconic LIVE FROM NEW YORK intro every show

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I think once they guessed that he was an umpire Bennett knew who he was, as he said he was one of the best and head of the umpires, etc... As for Bennett's assertion that umpire's are the worst treated and most under paid people in baseball; well, my late Uncle who was a scout for 52 years without a pension or a share of World's Series money, plus eating restaurant food for seven or months a year and staying in lousy hotels would take issue with that. But it was his entire life. And he loved it.

[@bluecamus5162]

Bennett really knows his baseball if he knows an umpire from the Pacific Coast League, which is where .Mr Somers was working.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Rather fittingly, seeing as Peter Cook's "clip-on" bow-tie comes loose from his collar towards the end of this show, I wanted to point out to people particularly in the US watching this that Cook is doing extremely well adapting himself to the confines of this show (great though it is, it's not Cook's natural stomping ground as it was for say, Ustinov or Steve Allen for instance). He was so uber-talented comedically, a genius in fact, yet as many have noted he didn't over-achieve, it has to be said. Alcoholism, disenchantment and laziness blunted his achievements somewhat from the mid-Seventies onwards but he still did enough nevertheless to remain regarded as the chief pioneer of alternative comedy in the UK by his colleagues, contemporaries and successors. From Python to Gervais, Peter Cook is the root of it all. Just so you know he's only half-cocked (if not quarter-cocked) here. You're not getting the whole Cook (or should I say, the whole cock?).

[@savethetpc6406]

What's My Line? At the bottom of this page is the following comment from you: "What really impresses me about the first guest is that she's the rare case of a contestant who doesn't have to constantly look to John for validation before her answers-- not the slightest hesitation, really, even on the kinds of questions that might otherwise have prompted one of his patented long winded.explanations! Her line as a panelist on the Korean WML sure prepared her well to be a contestant here." I wanted to +1 it to agree with you, but for some reason there's no way to either reply to or +1 that particular comment, so I'm doing it here. :)

[@WhatsMyLine]

Well, thank you for going to all that trouble just cause YT/G+ doesn't work. :) I rarely remember individual segments from shows offhand this long after I last saw them, but *this* one I completely remember. The Korean panelist's poise was remarkable!

[@dancelli714]

I always like this Jazz theme of the show.

[@annakaminski4406]

Such respect & friendship.

[@dannydoc1969]

When I was living in Marina Del Rey California, my next door neighbor was Dudley Moore. Dudley and Peter Cook were a class comedy act from England, and I got to meet many of Dudley's friends over the years. Cook was the real comic genius of the act and Dudley was the straight man most of the time. Many of you will remember Peter Cook as the hysterically lisping Clergyman in the Princess Bride.

[@lauraatkinson4790]

I remember him as the Devil in the original Bedazzled.

[@oldhat6100]

Cheers for staying for a chat Ralph

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Arlene "Mr Cerf knows what team you're an umpire for"! 😅😅😅😅 Those gals!

[@leannsherman6723]

Sweet that Arlene stood up for the Korean woman.❤

[@RalphOnofrio]

One of the first TV game shows to have franchised over the world.Maybe the first.

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

Peter Cook is so handsome

[@davidsanderson5918]

Catherine Fraser Ha ha I've never read those words in the same sentence before. I suppose Cuddly Dudley took all the female attention away from him usually. :)

[@verbalearache]

@@davidsanderson5918 thats odd! these days i hear most folks prefer peter cook!

[@call2872]

Ralph Richardson was brilliant in The Heiress. He played the cold, abusive father far too well.

[@bluecamus5162]

That film. for me, was an extraordinary experience. I became a huge fan of both Sir Ralph and Dame Olivia De Havilland at that point.

[@golden-63]

Totally agree! I think what made it so brilliant is that he played with subtlety.

[@SueProv]

Olivia de Havilland described how cold and mean spirited Richardson was and how he tried to steal scenes from her. It got so she went to the director and he told her not to worry because the business that Rochardson was doing for a lengthy time was cut so it wasn't seen.

[@rosemaryallen2128]

​Well, we all know who goes down in acting history, eh? Sounds like she confused the harsh character and the actor playing him.

[@jasonhurd4379]

Basil Rathbone created the role of Dr Sloper in the original Broadway production of The Heiress.

[@jasonhurd4379]

Ralph Richardson is magnificent as Dr Sloper in William Wyler's film The Heiress. Sloper is one of the coldest, cruelest characters in film history, and Richardson plays it to the hilt without ever once resorting to hamminess or scenery-chewing. A superb artist.

[@RalphOnofrio]

Long career for Sir Ralph Richardson....Made it into ''Time Bandits''

[@soulierinvestments]

I wonder if Peter Cook and Ralph Richardson ever worked together in something. It would be a shame if this were their only appearances together. Richardson should have won a best supporting actor Oscar for "Long Day's Journey into Night," but I suspect that he was not even nominated. My personal favorite of his rolls: "God" in "Time Bandits."

[@epaddon]

He was nominated posthumously for "Greystoke" as I recall (but lost).

[@soulierinvestments]

That's right. He was great in Greystoke. Should have won.

[@MarcBrewer]

soulierinvestments Ralph & Pete along with John Mills, Dudley Moore, Peter Sellers, and Michael Caine were in The Wrong Box. Script by Larry Gelbart . A comedic tour de force.

[@soulierinvestments]

Any movie, MarcBrewer, with that cast cannot be all bad.

[@jmccracken1963]

+soulierinvestments Of the five nominees for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in 1963, who would you have replaced with Sir Ralph Richardson? a) Ed Begley (who won, for "Sweet Bird of Youth") b) Omar Sharif ("Lawrence of Arabia") c) Telly Savalas ("Birdman of Alcatraz") d) Terence Stamp ("Billy Budd") e) Victor Buono ("What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?") (You're right: Ralph Richardson wasn't even nominated. In fact, the only Oscar nomination that "Long Day's Journey Into Night" garnered that year was for Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn.)

[@leesher1845]

Even though Arlene Francis made that clumsy statement about government-run television, she somewhat redeemed herself by standing up and bowing to that Korean woman who was so intelligent and accomplished.

[@_WooWho]

Arlene...you're not supposed to bow like that!

[@perfumeaddict1204]

Yes she is - the bow is usual, and the hands pressed together is used by people of inferior rank when greeting those of superior rank.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Contestant #2, Al Somers (owner of a school of umpires) also appeared in this episode of To Tell the Truth: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3y9dYimqsaljNk

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

*_'WHAT'S MY LINE?' PANELIST IN KOREA_* *_RUNS SCHOOL FOR BASEBALL UMPIRES_* *_BUTLER_*

[@dancelli714]

PHYLLIS NEWMAN died September 2019 at 86 years old.

[@VahanNisanian]

So besides Ralph Richardson, what other English celebrities with the "Sir" title were mystery guests and/or panel members on this show? I can think of at least four others: Noel Coward, Peter Ustinov, Michael Caine, and Michael Redgrave.

[@rah62]

Of this group, Richardson and Redgrave were the only ones who were "Sir" at the time of their appearance. The others were knighted later.

[@VahanNisanian]

rah760 I've yet to see the Michael Redgrave episode (12/10/61), but I read about it on tv.com. After Bennett successfully identified Mr. Redgrave, he then said to him that he saw his daughter at the Shakespeare Festival. But he doesn't specify which one; Vanessa or Lynn.

[@rah62]

***** Vanessa. Lynn, six years younger, was just starting her theatrical training around that time.

[@VahanNisanian]

rah760 Thank you so much! Makes perfect sense.

[@soulierinvestments]

Two others who were knights at their appearance -- explorer Sir Hubert Wilkins who appeared in 1958. And that UK retired general General Sir what's-his-name, the contestant who raised cacti. That General Sir had the distinction of being knighted by King George VI on a battlefield which is right up there for a dramatic touch. Eventually Dame Julie Andrews. Dame Elizabeth Taylor.

[@kenowens9021]

The Korean guest signed her name in Chinese characters and not in the Korean language.

[@JBOIsMusicCollection]

Yes, but John didn't know that, I'm sure.

[@victorvelazquez6547]

Koreans used Chinese characters to write "Korean" until the 1300's when the "modern" Korean alphabet was introduced. Just like Turks used to use Arabic script until 1935 and now use a form of the Latin alphabet today and English was written in Runes(Old Norse letters) until the Romans occupied Britain and it took about a millennium for the English alphabet to "evolve" to the way it is today, in 2021. P.S. In MY opinion, Runic alphabets cannot and should not transcribe modern languages.

[@kenowens9021]

@@victorvelazquez6547 My wife's Korean. Sure is an easier alphabet to learn than Chinese. I heard that if you want to read a Chinese newspaper, you have to know at least 5,000 characters.

[@hazelanderson1479]

Ralph Richardson gives a masterful performance in The Fallen Idol, as do his co-stars Sonia Dresdel and Michèle Morgan. However, the real scene stealer is a young French actor, Bobby Henrey, in his first film.

[@44032]

Sir Ralph had no interest in conversing with John Daly but very much wanted to talk to Phyllis Newman.

[@epaddon]

Al Somers, though he never umpired in the majors (he never went further than the Pacific Coast League), set the standard for training major league umpires with his school which he ran until his retirement in 1977. Veteran National League umpire Harry Wendelstedt then took over the school until his death two years ago. Other umpires of note who appeared on WML in the past included American League umpire Ed Hurley in 1953, whom Dorothy actually nabbed on the wild guess, and around 1961, Terry Tata, who was the youngest umpire in organized baseball was a contestant (he later became a National League ump of long-standing).

[@jmccracken1963]

And, in the future, Emmett Ashford (the first black man to umpire in the major leagues) appeared as a contestant (on 29 May 1966).

[@JuanFernandez-jr2wz]

One of the great british actors.

[@allanshulstad1783]

Sir Ralph, I mean

[@MrJoeybabe25]

John was misleading (again) when he was less than clear about how the service of the butler is delivered. Certainly one would initiate the service by going to see the butler, but from then on and always, the butler would come to whoever used the service. John has done this before, and I think, usually corrects his mistake. But not tonight. When the butler said he was "working over here now" (or Peter asked that question rather) that had to be quite confusing for the panel. I mean one goes to HIM for the service, according to Mr. Daly. Bennett looked rather bemused and displeased, I'd say at the end of the game, and I'll bet John caught some flack after the show. I mean he completely threw a wrench right into the works.

[@bluecamus5162]

The butler ran off so fast that no one got a chance to use Carol Lombard's famous line, "Do you Butle?"

[@LisaDawnn]

@6:33.....Oh but Arlene, the government DOES do it over here!

[@geniusmchaggis]

love phyllis' eye glasses!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Arlene is a real GIRL! When she said the Bennett knew which team the umpire worked for, I thought he would bust a gut. She knew, however, and said so, that an umpire works for a league not a team. But when she suggested he might be a manager too...I wonder!

[@RobertJonesWightpaint]

And as a butler, he could have taught Peter Cook how to tie a real bow tie and not the ready made thing that popped off his neck during the programme. Shocked, I am: and him an Englishman!

[@soulierinvestments]

8:30 -- boys always make passes at girls who wear glasses, especially if the girl is Phyllis Newman. Lucky Adolph Green.

[@JBOIsMusicCollection]

@What's My Line? I hope it isn't too much work to you, and I hope you would be willing to do so, as it interests me since I'm a long-time studier of one of these languages and a "spring chicken" studier of the other two (and their writings), but can you go through all the episodes and put together a compilation of all Japanese, Chinese and Korean guests (including mystery guests)? And yes, I know that the South Korean panelist that showed up first thing signed in Chinese instead of Korean, but I still find it interesting.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

After the game, Ralph Richardson got up from his chair so quickly it was jolting. It was as if he did not want to be interviewed.

[@philippapay4352]

@Joe Postove - If he knew of John's penchant for talking about himself and his friends, even when hosting the most accomplished of guests, he may have decided it was not worth his hanging around to hear him somehow relate Ralph's entire career to his own life and list of acquaintances of whom he spoke often.

[@davidsanderson5918]

Philippa Pay OOF!!!........(I know what you mean though)

[@philippapay4352]

@@davidsanderson5918 They had hosted such a spectacular array of MGs over the years that when they did the 25th anniversary special, they were sure they'd be using a lot of MG material. It came out in one of their memoirs that this did not occur. There was fairly little MG material in it, compared with the treasure trove they thought they had. The overall show was so entertaining and interesting on a weekly basis that no one had noticed, until having to binge on them to produce the special, that Daly talked about himself, his past, his friends, etc., incessantly, to the point where Arlene or Dorothy often interrupted to remind him of the professional promotion that was the point of the MG's appearance. And they were horrified to discover how insincere he sounded because he used the same exact words for so many MGs in describing their work and went on and on with the most gooey, bloated encomia. One graphic artist actually called him on it right on the air and told him he was way overstating the point. I think he had also told him they had never before entertained an artist of such stellar achievement; meanwhile they had hosted Frank Lloyd Wright and Dali, among others. Instead of finding out about the MGs and their work, it was Daly having an onanistic moment listening to the sound of his own voice. They had to rethink entirely what to include in the anniversary special.

[@barrycuda3769]

How could anyone guess so fast that the Korean woman was on what's my line in Korea ' he should've worked with the police.

[@Eddie_Schantz]

In the second game with the head of the umpire school, this was another example of where Bennet Cerf could not keep his big mouth shut when other panelists are asking questions. I never understood why the producers let him get away with that. It could ruin the game for the contestant.

[@allanshulstad1783]

He played God in Time Bandits film.

[@MegaSK21]

At 23:20 Peter Cook's question: "Do they say: 'See you next week. See you next Tuesday'?" surprised me. Probably didn't have the same meaning back then (and I guess I have a dirty mind). But his bowtie was also surprised at that statement. So surprised that it fell off :D

[@WhatsMyLine]

Can you fill me in on whatever the off-color meaning of "See you next Tuesday" might be??? I'm totally baffled. I'm assuming it some sort of specifically British reference? In which case, I should probably have spelled that "off-colour"! :)

[@MegaSK21]

It's a way to spell the C-word. C-you-next-tuesday.

[@WhatsMyLine]

MegaSK21 Ah, I see. . . Thanks for the discreet explanation. :) Hard to imagine what else Peter Cook would have meant, unless he was really referring to a meeting he was having on the coming Tuesday!

[@MarcusCunn]

The shows without both Dorothy and Arlene are just not the same. Nothing against Phyllis Newman, but I've never cared for her on the panel. For me, she lacks chemistry and doesn't fit with the regulars. I lose interest in any episode in which she appears.

[@WhatsMyLine]

Well, I disagree about Phyllis Newman, but I totally agree that the show loses something when any of the regulars are absent.

[@Omahabigbill]

Phyllis Newman is a doll!

[@LarsRyeJeppesen]

Absolitely disagree.

[@philippapay4352]

@Marcus Cunningham - I like and respect Phyllis Newman. She does not shine as much as Arlene and Dorothy in this format, not does Betty White and some others who did well at acting and were often good in other formats of game show. Betty White could be hilarious at Password among other things. Phyllis Newman was one of the more frequent guests over all the years of Johnny Carson's tenure on The Tonight Show, especially when it was in NYC where she lived and performed most of the time. The reason was the same as many others of Carson's frequent guests - he adored her because she was terribly funny, a woman who could think funny, not just act funny from someone else's dialogue. And she had a generous spirit and was a local and would come on if he needed her in a pinch because some guest punked-out on him at the last minute. No matter how well-planned or sudden her guest appearance was, she and Carson sparkled together and she was a pleasure to have visit your home of an evening.

[@kasperjoonatan6014]

Are they saying that Phyllis could not be an umpire? Were women not allowed to be?

[@cort_tempered]

I had no idea "niggardly" was a word, and I was a bit shocked when I heard Arlene say it, and had to look up what it meant >.> haha I guess I'm too young

[@stlmopoet]

Yes. It has no relation to that other word, but people tend to avoid it now because of the similarity in sound.

[@TheTerryE]

You're not too young, you're just stupid and uneducated.

[@bp.andrewherron8539]

TheTerryE uneducated maybe but that doesn’t equal stupid. Honestly

[@marnie0512]

@@TheTerryE There's no need to be rude and insulting, just because someone doesn't know something. @What's My Line? maybe this comment needs to be deleted?

[@ihatey0utube]

@@TheTerryE no need to be rude. they just didnt know what the word meant and it sounds awfully similar to the other one so its understandable why they were shocked. think about what youre going to post before you post it.

[@danielmontgomery350]

In the orient the show instead of being called what's my line it is called that's my rice

[@daler.steffy1047]

Serrrrrr...vice!!!

[@MrJoeybabe25]

When Arlene said "niggardly" I thought I would plotz! These days she would spend her time apologizing for using the English language correctly! 😣😣

[@stevestites9762]

psssst. Hey Bennett. SHUT UP when it isn’t your turn.

[@washoe4827]

he can't hear you... he's dead.

[@icturner23]

It's so annoying when Daly flips all the cards over before they have actually got it and then has them guess anyway. Why not just let them play properly?

[@rberry4288]

I love this show but Phyllis Newmans voice makes me skip any episode she's in.