Peter Ustinov Interview on Irish Television (1972)

Peter Ustinov talks about some of the many characters he has created, his love of music and a trip to Ireland.
Actor, author, producer, director and mimic, Peter Ustinov tells Cathal O’Shannon about his latest film ‘Hammersmith Is Out’ and reflects on his life and work.
Described by Ustinov as “a very free variation on the Faust legend” ‘Hammersmith Is out’ tells the story of a homicidal maniac named Hammersmith played by Richard Burton who’s locked up in an asylum, a male nurse named Billy Breedlove played by Beau Bridges, and Billy’s girlfriend Jimmie Jean Jackson, played by Elizabeth Taylor, who works in a sleazy restaurant. Ustinov plays the head of the asylum.
Ustinov and O’Shannon also chat about Ustinov’s skills of mimicry, his love for music, the characters he plays, and a previous visit to Ireland in the company of a Japanese guide.
This episode of ‘Tangents’ was broadcast on 8 November 1972. The reporter is Cathal O’Shannon. (RTÉ Archives)

[@towerburkindine]

Such a wonderful human being...

[@chanyoke7585]

Sir Peter Ustinov, truly a marvellous actor n human being! Rest in Peace!🙏

[@antoinepetrov]

The more Ustinov there is on the internet, the merrier

[@riyadbushnaq1537]

What a gem. Thank you for the upload!

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

Ustinov was a world treasure. Too bad he left us.

[@EngPheniks]

"O Lambent flame, O force divine..." 🔥🎼

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

funny and wise.

[@davidhardiman9603]

This was interesting, without an audience Ustinov was slightly more relaxed. The interviewer was, I think, the later famous media psychiatrist, Dr Anthony Clare, and of course Ustinov would have been conscious of a more pointed line of questioning. Even though Ustinov was asked to 'perform', I felt he was more personal about it. This is quite an important biographical piece.

[@pbegley99]

Pretty sure the interviewer was Cathal O’Shannon.

[@johnnyfeen1347]

@@pbegley99 Its Cathal O Shannon all right.

[@johnnywhite58]

not anthony clare ( a reasonable assumption) - it's cathal shannon - who actually interviewed Ali in the earoly days

[@irish66]

@@johnnywhite58 Yep. I thought it was Anthony Clare too until I saw the face.
Thought he did the irish accent well. But the Japanese one was a bit of a cliche.