I've had to write this comment. I'm a council estate lad, a chippy, not highly educated or well worded. I can't read a book without a dictionary. This video came up on my suggestions for some reason and I clicked on it. mainly because I'd seen this blokes face before and heard the name. I always thought he was a boring and serious man. I clicked on it because I wondered why he'd be on an audience with. Well I'm half way through and I haven't stopped laughing or being amazed at how brilliant he is. I've definitely found an absolute gem and I feel I've missed out in a big way. What a discovery. Fantastic
This is a bit late Steve, you posted a year ago, but you should check out the interviews with him. Ones where he gets a chance to tell some old stories. His was a life well lived. He had the talent to laugh at what he found & not take himself too seriously. I’m also a lad from a council estate. Nothing wrong in that.
I received my degree at Durham from Peter Ustinov. He described the giant red robes he was wearing as "being dressed as a Ferrari." He also said there were two types of graduand (what you are before after exams but before receiving the "paperwork"), those who say thank you before receiving their diploma and those who say thank you after. "Be careful," he warned, "ensure you get paid before saying thank you to an employer. In acting, there is no shame in checking the envelope before showing your gratitude.,"
Intelligent, erudite, multi talented, linguist, sharp, well dressed, no foul language, witty, entertaining.....I could go on. RIP Notice all the young comics looking up to him.
I can't help feeling how sad Peter Ustinov would be to see the state of the world today (particularly how Russia has gone). He's the type of humane, tolerant, decent and intelligent person we so badly need to remind us people are capable of doing good.
If I had to be stuck in a lift for a considerable amount of time, I couldn't wish for a better companion! What a brilliant man, so full of life and living it! Absolutely brilliant.
It was said of him that he never talked with you, he talked at you. That is to say the conversation was a performance for him and you were the audience.
One thing that always strikes me when I look at these older vids is the eloquence, vocabulary and intelligence of people (not just the performers). People back then really used to speak to each other and tell stories - I fear we are really losing that ability to elegantly communicate in this modern age.
Not only in England I Listened to the female reading the News on the radio today I could not understand her at all , some new raspy kind of accent I believe it's called "vocal Fry " people in Australia blame the Americans .lol..
I admit there is something to that perception that the average person (or at least the average White male who mattered politically and left his mark somehow -- someone mentioned the example of American Civil War letters), was more eloquent than later generations. But I think there is also a selection bias at work. We remember people who left their mark by being the wittiest and the smartest around as witty and smart and think they were representative. Reagan was the great communicator, but Bush I, despite his patrician aplomb, was much less inspiring and coherent. Even regarding the basic gifts of the mind... I mean, how many decades ago a book called Why Johnny Can't Read was written? It complained about low standards among youth draft during the Korean War (1950-1953). Even if we admit the intellectual standards were higher a few decades ago, it was the end tail of the proccess of dissemination of basic education. As late as the early 1900s, 20 percent of the American adult population was illiterate. Among American Blacks, the rate of illiteracy was four times the one for the general population. To be honest, I am particularly skeptical because, as a Brazilian, I keep hearing people ranting about people in Brazil being smarter in the 1950s, when about 50% of Brazil's population was illiterate. Sure, one can be eloquent and illiterate, but I don't think it is what people have in mind.
He doesn’t so much name drop as name carpet-bomb, but you know that he’s genuinely met all of these people and done all of these things. 2 Oscars, 2 Emmy’s, a Grammy, and a Golden globe - actor, screenwriter, playwrite, UN Ambassador and so on….
One of the most intelligent, beautifully spoken, talented and witty men whoever existed, in my humble opinion. Whenever he was on a talk show, I watched eagerly and he never disappointed.
I agree with you. Eloquently spoken, expertainly executated voice and body mimicking. Never will we have comics, come actors genius entertainers in the makings for a long long time.
@@lenagreen4031 His father was a spy and his nickname was Clop (bed bug) because that was a vital part of spying and Clop was one of the best at seduction and a MASTER spy, I mean one of the best...
A true "renaissace man" . Knew everyone important in the day. Speaks languages just like that, makes impressions, sings like a bird and is witted beyond belief. And top of that, funny as hell.
What a legend Peter Ustinov was loved his stories and the way he does the different characters and voices funny and educational what a legend he was a true comedy and great actor
This awesome man was a couple of seats away from me on a night flight from Heathrow to San Francisco in 1990 - and he chatted to us all throughout the flight. On landing, as we plebs queued up at Customs, he was waived straight through with a "Mr Ustinov, nice to see you again, come straight through!"
Forgive me I had actually forgot the genius of this man. As already mentioned you could listen to him all day. Crying with laughter. Nothing vulgar or offensive.
In the four seconds from 8:50, Peter Ustinov's utterly masterful insight and consummate acting have captured a quintessence of Englishness through the butler. No script, no props, no costume. Ephemeral, minimalist, this is a thespian equivalent of the Zen brush stroke.
Unless you live in Britain you cannot get it. I remember the terror of trying to understand the language people spoke in my first week in England. Like a carnival of accents
Peter Ustinov has been a hero of mine since I was a child. It wasn't mentioned here but he could speak 12 yes TWELVE languages extremely well. I know his French was accentless and in this video his German sounds excellent too.English Russian French German Italian Mandarin and perhaps someone else knows the other six. Peter Ustinov also worked with British intelligence. He was truly larger than life. Sadly missed.
I came across this video by chance now in 2022. As an elderly guy, I can remember all the featured audience members, and the relevance of much of Peter's material. I had forgotten just how talented Peter was, and spent my time watching with a glass (or two) of red wine, in awe and admiration of his superb talent. Although we shall never see his like again, the hope is that others will come to the fore as time goes on, although succeeding generations may well find such finely nuanced humour mystifying.
I'm 25 and I can clearly see how the ugly contrast of today and the previous generations. The only words I can use to describe what I've just seen is BRILLIANT............. JUST BRILLIANT.
Hi Yasser I'm 55 and I remember Ustinov, Niven, Borge etc. They were terrific and as funny to look back on now as they were then. However, with a lifetime ahead of you I am optimistic that there will be plenty of inovative humour in the future too.
Hello Yasser. I pray yours and the next generation are exposed to great minds and new talent, the likes of Ustinov. This will only come about by comedians daring to use their intellect and the young willing to say no to crude and poor substitutes. You yourself have started the ball rolling by finding this BRILLIANT! Spread the word.
Richard Thorpe I am not at all optimistic that another 'Ustinov' will be produced. Globalisation and the EU are flat out working to homogenise everyone and make sure that noble, educated, interesting and erudite people are unable to exist. Follow the French system and realise that everyone must be specialised in one field and one field only and that children should spend as little time with family as possible so that the state can mould them into EUites.
Almost 2022 and I still find this man fantastically entertaining. I cried so many tears of laughter during this. Just brilliant. Incomparable and sadly Irreplaceable.
He has the ability to draw an audience deeply into a story … he can go 10-15 seconds just making faces and then deliver a subtle punch line that the audience loves. He makes something that is just silly into something that is side-spitting hilarious.
I have watched this many times and it always makes me laugh. Peter was an outstanding talent the likes of which we will never see again. What an amazing man he was , I could listen to him for hours. His ability to instantly be the person he is mimicking was legendary. What a great man.
Not only the best "An Audience With..." One of the most entertaining pieces of tv I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot! Thanks so much for posting this gem. Ustinov has got to be the number 1 dinner party guest. I'm a Scot and enjoyed Billy Connolly's audience, but Ustinov is in a completely different league.👍
Peter was revered as one of the world's truly legendary entertainers. As an actor, producer, director, novelist, playwright, and columnist, his body of work was thoroughly impressive. RIP Legend❤︎
The absolute, total sadness fills me that the likes of this incredible GentleMan will never come our way again.......What a loss AND.what an unbelievable pity!
One of the most funny, witty, clever and eloquent gentleman ever to grace our shores! The only person even slightly close is a current national treasure, Stephen Fry. We're haemorrhaging, even bleeding out, when it comes to wonderful people like these
How very nice to hear an hour of jokes, and anecdotes without any sly double meanings or a solitary swear word. The World is not always a better place without these men who were truly greats in their profession.
You got old-timer syndrome. Understandable, but Sir Ustinov was not only great, a Hollywood great and a global super star for decades; he truly was one of a kind. You can't compare him to "acts of today" in or any era and be fair.
Dearly love this wonderful man. I also enjoyed seeing the audience. All those fantastic faces. I may not remember the names but I will never forget the faces.
For the last 30 years since seeing this live our family always responds, when asked what we would like with a cup of tea, with a screwed up face a la Ustinov: "Any cake?"
Had the privilidge of meeting him around 1975. My father was his biggest fan. We were staying at The Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, dining at la Normandie restaurant. Ustinov was at the next table, dad sat there for ages compling something clever to say to him finally "Mr Ustinov may your shadow never diminish." Ustinov turned to my father we made introductions and he replied "Unless its a sunless day". Will never forget it.One of the most educated, erudite raconteurs that this world has ever produced, and had the privildge to meet. :)
Contrast this genius to the celebrities of today. It's almost unbelievable how stupid people have become. Ustinov was a complete genius, what a legend!
One that understands the German language can relate to this hilarious , wonderful man. So remarkable, brilliant and humble person. I love his movies especially his role as Monsieur Poirot. He was always my fav. Immensely missed.
I've watched this "Audiance..." at least six times and every time I laugh my head off. What a truly incredible and keen observer of life Peter was. May he live in our hearts forever. CVD
It's late and I'm watching this in bed. I know for certain that I will wake in the middle of the night laughing unexplicibly over this outragously funny and talented man.
As kid in the 80s he was Dr Snuggles & the voice of Prince John, now as a +40 year old man he still fascinates me just as much as he did then but for different reasons. What an absolutely wonderful genius person Peter Ustinov was. I could listen to him all day long. RIP
For anyone outside the UK who may not know, and won't get the point, he mentions that his mother wondered why every railway station was called Bovril. It's a long-established kind of paste made from beef, and was at one time advertised using massive hoardings (bilboards) on railway stations, to be visible as the trains passed. Always much bigger than the station nameplates.
Peter Ustinov - a name I have known since my childhood - but never really experienced. This is simply sublime - I have never seen a performer or entertainer of this caliber. This is simply a class of its own
A gifted, brilliant man who was so much more than an actor. Where are people like that today in entertainment? Educated, witty, worldly, multi-lingual, shrewd, with an endless appetite for knowledge. I miss people like this in the entertainment industry.
A tour de force - thanks for uploading. Years ago I was in the audience for a similarly amusing Clive James programme in which he interviewed Ustinov for an hour. After Ustinov left, James confided quietly to the audience that as an interviewer he had been somewhat worried whether he would ask Ustinov the right question. Of course it didn't matter: the man had such a fund of knowledge and stories that he could probably do 60 minutes off the cuff on the opening of a sliding door. What a wonderful chap Ustinov was.
I've watched this so many times in as many years and will watch it more. Simply a brilliant performance by Sir Peter, and being German myself, I appreciate his humor. Thank you for uploading this video!
Ustinovs father, Jona Freiherr von Ustinov, was of Russian, German, Polish, and Ethiopian and Jewish descent. Peter's paternal grandfather was Baron Plato von Ustinov, a Russian noble, and his grandmother was Magdalena Hall, of mixed German-Ethiopian-Jewish origin. Ustinov's great-grandfather Moritz Hall, a Jewish refugee from Kraków and later a Christian convert and colleague of Swiss and German missionaries in Ethiopia, married into a German-Ethiopian family. Peter's paternal great-great-grandparents (through Magdalena's mother) were the German painter Eduard Zander and the Ethiopian aristocrat Court-Lady Isette-Werq in Gondar. Ustinov's mother, Nadezhda Leontievna Benois, known as Nadia, was a painter and ballet designer of French, German, Italian, and Russian descent. Her father, Leon Benois, was an Imperial Russian architect.
What a great person he was. He was a real polymath. He could talk for hours entertaining people. And a great actor of course. We will not see the likes of his kind for some time.
Peter was absolutely BRILLIANT at what ever he turned his hand to, His genius voice's and well travelled brain gave all of us a fantastic memory of him.
I had the great pleasure of seeing this genius in his one man show. I couldn't believe my luck. To be in the same City as him, let alone the same building. He is quite irreplaceable.
He was sooo entertaining and very well versed.A wonderful memory,he could write best selling books,A good actor and brilliant one man show.This is wonderful entertainment.
As an American I cannot imagine what your country and others think of where we are at in the U S when so many of us cannot think how we got here. When we visited our relatives in Norway they told us ET was not shown there because of the disrespect to parents. In this day and age it’s nothing but violence and shows that I can’t understand how writers got the idea they could strike. My daughter and I watch Britbox, Acorn the Canadian ch. PBS, Hallmark, not much else. $265. A month for hundreds of ch that are useless if not worse. For us this Ustinov is priceless. Have saved it for the future. A treasure for us
My relatives don’t lie. I’m talking about 1976. I would guess ET would have been in theatres there in time. There were only three channels at the time. To say liar is a very serious accusation to me
@@lynnecody1548 Yes, I'm very sorry, but I say "a tall tale", not a lie - I do not want to accuse your relatives of lying! But the movie E.T. (I assumed we were talking about the movie E.T.?) was not made until 1982, so that cannot be the case for 1976... Anyhow, the movie E.T. was indeed shown publicly in cinemas/theatres in Norway (I am Norwegian and was 12 at the time and lived in Norway). But perhaps you were talking about something else entirely? If so, just ignore my comment! I just don't want people to think that an innocent movie like E.T. was banned in Norway. :-)
I have always enjoyed Peter Ustivov's excellent acting but didn't know how wonderfully humorous and entertaining he was. What a pleasure to have listened to him. Hope there are more gems of his to find on youtube.
I felt like the luckiest teenager in the world when I met this great man in Paris. I spotted him in one of the many parks (where he was filming a documentary). He was gracious enough to talk to me (and all of the group I was with: school-trip). And believe it or not, it was exactly on my 16th b-day)...talk about a nice birthday present!
I absolutely loved Peter Ustinov from a very young age. I was fascinated by his linguistics and personal experiences. Intellect, humility, wit, charm and compassion encompassed this gentle man. The world today is empty without such giants. Alarmingly, our own intelligence is being continually assaulted by depraved individuals intent on dumbing us down with substandard, vulgar or drug-fueled rhetoric. In my opinion, those who would argue against this point of view, were never in possession of an athletic and well utilized brain to start with. As they say... humour is knowledge. Without it, ignorance is a sad and dangerous thing.
I remember watching an audience with Peter ustinov originally, I'm now watching it again and it's as brilliant as when it first aired, I could listen to this man forever ,his knowledge and obviously his willingness to absorb and integrate new culture into his life is just fantastic, and for him to share this is just ingenious, wonderful man wonderful actor wonderful comedy But most of all a wonderful human being. So sadly missed
How delightful. As someone who comes from an English family (in America), I can appreciate the English love of language and nuance. Hopefully, people recognized the number of famous people in the audience, what an evening. The range of his impressions from Reagan (for those of us old enough to remember) to Jackie Stewart calling a race are peerless and priceless. I just watched a movie yesterday "The way ahead" (1944) a war film with a very young Peter Ustinov as a North African Inn owner, so I was delighted to see this video today. God bless.
Not only is he brilliant with his comedic timing but also he knows every single person in the audience! Just because you’re in the same field doesn’t mean you know or met every one. Nevermind the politicians and royalty he’s met. What an extraordinary man. I just want an hr to chat with him...
Today we are flooded with Zelebrity reality Tv shows , back then Witty , gifted , intelligent humanitarians such as this man ,graced our screens . People like Billy Connolly ,certainly inherited some of the traits that this man possessed , but Peter Ustinov was a true one of a kind . A man who Kings, Queens and Prime ministers looked to for advice , a man who could hold court with the best of them , a story teller so gifted he could summon up a cast of a thousand characters . He was an actor, writer , ambassador for peace .... a man of so many talents , it was impossible to define him . He was many things to many people . He is sorely missed .
Who among us would have had the life, the exposure, the observances, and the genius to absorb both the minutia and the world events to be able to weave such an entertaining and richly documented retrieval as does Mr. Ustinov? His glorious ability to utter in every world accent all of the hilarious happenings is par excellence. I hope the Americans enjoyed his devastatingly accurate portrayal of Ronald Reagan in which the latter's pathetic grasp of things in general was frightfully on display. Ustinov, to quote Kipling, was truly a man who could "walk with kings, nor lose the common touch". Some people were simply born to be listened to while others create a mad dash for the exits. And in all of this, we get the sense that he was barely scratching the surface and that lurking just behind every word spoken was an even greater story if only time could have permitted it! Nobody does this today and the world is poorer for it!
Agreed. A great analysis of this talented man. but you do realize he was doing comedy? Queen Mary didn't really speak like that, nor did Constant Lambert. And since you brought up the so called "accurate description" of the President Reagan bit, that should wake all of us Americans up about how "frightening" he was. I didn't take it that way at all. Reagan was a very sharp individual, many of us Americans appreciated him as President (sorry) . He was older and was often lampooned at that time for being absent-minded by all sorts of comedians, I laughed at that too, and even this bit made me laugh..but I also realize it was exaggeration for comedic effect. You didn't.
Ustinov was last man to interview Indira Gandhi. She was assassinated later. He had a rare sense of history. Amazing person and a more amazing personality.
Patrick McKenna , thank you for summarizing how I felt. Clearly Ustinov was a great man with an incredible intellect. However, intellectual ability is not measured solely in mimicking traits or the deftness at associations with humor. Reagan had huge intellect and steered a great country in the proper direction against a tidal wave of horribly liberal Americans and godless communists. Charles Darwin, maybe it was Reagan’s belief in God you so despise that causes you such angst?
@@Umbazooksus1 3 years late to the party though I am, I will agree with your assessment. I will also say, though, that I felt it was a shame that he took such a tired, overworked route as to mock Reagan and make him appear as a doddering old fool, even done for comic effect. Having been alive during his time in the Presidency and now, in the time after his death seeing how history has reevaulated him and his Presidency, with even his detractors speaking of the work he did and how well he did it, his "jokes" aged poorly, in my opinion. Sounds to me like "Charles Darwin" is just another in a long line of tired revisionists who feel it appropriate to sit and yap at the people who shaped and made the world that they now live in, while spitting on them at the same time.
How I miss real talent in this world, he was irreplacable.
I've had to write this comment. I'm a council estate lad, a chippy, not highly educated or well worded. I can't read a book without a dictionary. This video came up on my suggestions for some reason and I clicked on it. mainly because I'd seen this blokes face before and heard the name. I always thought he was a boring and serious man. I clicked on it because I wondered why he'd be on an audience with. Well I'm half way through and I haven't stopped laughing or being amazed at how brilliant he is. I've definitely found an absolute gem and I feel I've missed out in a big way. What a discovery. Fantastic
A great big man.
Well done for watching a great British comic Genius and a gentleman x
This is a bit late Steve, you posted a year ago, but you should check out the interviews with him. Ones where he gets a chance to tell some old stories. His was a life well lived. He had the talent to laugh at what he found & not take himself too seriously.
I’m also a lad from a council estate. Nothing wrong in that.
I received my degree at Durham from Peter Ustinov. He described the giant red robes he was wearing as "being dressed as a Ferrari."
He also said there were two types of graduand (what you are before after exams but before receiving the "paperwork"), those who say thank you before receiving their diploma and those who say thank you after. "Be careful," he warned, "ensure you get paid before saying thank you to an employer. In acting, there is no shame in checking the envelope before showing your gratitude.,"
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Intelligent, erudite, multi talented, linguist, sharp, well dressed, no foul language, witty, entertaining.....I could go on. RIP
Notice all the young comics looking up to him.
John Cleese!
I love him, my Yorkie was terrified when I yelled with laughter
Ustinov was a genius and this is wonderful. Unfortunately, I am reminded - not for the first time - of just how dumbed-down television has now become.
I can't help feeling how sad Peter Ustinov would be to see the state of the world today (particularly how Russia has gone). He's the type of humane, tolerant, decent and intelligent person we so badly need to remind us people are capable of doing good.
L Zambia
Well I have to say,that was a beautiful message and brilliantly worded❤
His genius knows no bounds...
If I had to be stuck in a lift for a considerable amount of time, I couldn't wish for a better companion! What a brilliant man, so full of life and living it! Absolutely brilliant.
And when the stories ran out, you could eat him.
It was said of him that he never talked with you, he talked at you. That is to say the conversation was a performance for him and you were the audience.
Unquestionably THE best raconteur ever. Such a talent. What a speaker. No one could come close to him in this day and age.
fastest 50 minutes I can remember. What a wonderful global treasure.
@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?
The Queen Mary story still has me in stitches every time I hear it
One thing that always strikes me when I look at these older vids is the eloquence, vocabulary and intelligence of people (not just the performers). People back then really used to speak to each other and tell stories - I fear we are really losing that ability to elegantly communicate in this modern age.
Electronic age
Read letters from the civil war.
Not only in England I Listened to the female reading the News on the radio today I could not understand her at all , some new raspy kind of accent I believe it's called "vocal Fry " people in Australia blame the Americans .lol..
Many younger people are enjoying reviving this elegance, recognising how clean the sound projects. It's on its way back ;-)
I admit there is something to that perception that the average person (or at least the average White male who mattered politically and left his mark somehow -- someone mentioned the example of American Civil War letters), was more eloquent than later generations. But I think there is also a selection bias at work. We remember people who left their mark by being the wittiest and the smartest around as witty and smart and think they were representative. Reagan was the great communicator, but Bush I, despite his patrician aplomb, was much less inspiring and coherent. Even regarding the basic gifts of the mind... I mean, how many decades ago a book called Why Johnny Can't Read was written? It complained about low standards among youth draft during the Korean War (1950-1953). Even if we admit the intellectual standards were higher a few decades ago, it was the end tail of the proccess of dissemination of basic education. As late as the early 1900s, 20 percent of the American adult population was illiterate. Among American Blacks, the rate of illiteracy was four times the one for the general population.
To be honest, I am particularly skeptical because, as a Brazilian, I keep hearing people ranting about people in Brazil being smarter in the 1950s, when about 50% of Brazil's population was illiterate. Sure, one can be eloquent and illiterate, but I don't think it is what people have in mind.
The World is a poorer place by his passing. A genius no less.
But you can own a full set of Ustinov CDs
And to think that the audience was chock full of todays "geniuses" who were all in awe...
I wish he was still with us. He would have been 101 6 days ago.
@@budbutley532 àq1q2aaà were
He doesn’t so much name drop as name carpet-bomb, but you know that he’s genuinely met all of these people and done all of these things. 2 Oscars, 2 Emmy’s, a Grammy, and a Golden globe - actor, screenwriter, playwrite, UN Ambassador and so on….
One of the most intelligent, beautifully spoken, talented and witty men whoever existed, in my humble opinion. Whenever he was on a talk show, I watched eagerly and he never disappointed.
Orson Wells tells a good story also about Churchill...
I agree with you. Eloquently spoken, expertainly executated voice and body mimicking. Never will we have comics, come actors genius entertainers in the makings for a long long time.
@@lenagreen4031 His father was a spy and his nickname was Clop (bed bug) because that was a vital part of spying and Clop was one of the best at seduction and a MASTER spy, I mean one of the best...
So fortunate to see his show 30 odd years ago in Birmingham, Uk. So clever, funny, his ability for accents was amazing.❤
How do you know
I could happily listen to this great man for the rest of my life. I have admired Peter Ustinov for many, many years.
He is totally irreplaceable. The world and in entertainment is a very very lonely place without him. Even God is having a laughing fit
Amazing writer too
I was 27 when this was broadcast.. It totally blew me away, just how eloquent, funny, and outstanding this man was. SUPERB RACONTEUR.
One of the greatest raconteurs that the world will ever see.
R.I.P Sir Peter Ustinov.
The other one is David Niven!
A true "renaissace man" . Knew everyone important in the day. Speaks languages just like that, makes impressions, sings like a bird and is witted beyond belief. And top of that, funny as hell.
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What a legend Peter Ustinov was loved his stories and the way he does the different characters and voices funny and educational what a legend he was a true comedy and great actor
This man is an absolute genius we should grieve his passing I feel privileged thank you Mr Ustinov
30 years on and this still has me crying with laughter.
I agree
The STaTe of AuaTria
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STaTe of GB never AT no point
@@andrealuisecandido7372 ..
He begins at around three and half minutes in, and it simply never stops...
@@martijnspruit 👍😊
Found myself laughing out loud. What a tremendous personality and gifted man, totally irreplaceable, and sorely missed.
This awesome man was a couple of seats away from me on a night flight from Heathrow to San Francisco in 1990 - and he chatted to us all throughout the flight. On landing, as we plebs queued up at Customs, he was waived straight through with a "Mr Ustinov, nice to see you again, come straight through!"
Forgive me I had actually forgot the genius of this man. As already mentioned you could listen to him all day. Crying with laughter. Nothing vulgar or offensive.
Making people laugh is a very rare thing. Especially when it's done expertly.
In the four seconds from 8:50, Peter Ustinov's utterly masterful insight and consummate acting have captured a quintessence of Englishness through the butler. No script, no props, no costume. Ephemeral, minimalist, this is a thespian equivalent of the Zen brush stroke.
I thought the same.... perfect in its minimalism.
@@barryryan8267 Brevity is the soul of wit
TeeHHee
So skilled to act between 3 characters plus his own narration without hesitation
Unless you live in Britain you cannot get it. I remember the terror of trying to understand the language people spoke in my first week in England. Like a carnival of accents
God Rest Your Soul, Mr. Ustinov...you will NEVER be duplicated....nor forgotten!
Peter Ustinov, how we miss his universality, intellect, humour and inclusiveness.
But he never talks about his famous relative, Benois.
Very good show , with a much missed man , 🙏🇬🇧❤️
Thank you for posting. A walk back in time seeing all the famous people in the audience. Peter Ustinov was a brilliant man.
Peter Ustinov has been a hero of mine since I was a child. It wasn't mentioned here but he could speak 12 yes TWELVE languages extremely well. I know his French was accentless and in this video his German sounds excellent too.English Russian French German Italian Mandarin and perhaps someone else knows the other six. Peter Ustinov also worked with British intelligence. He was truly larger than life. Sadly missed.
I came across this video by chance now in 2022. As an elderly guy, I can remember all the featured audience members, and the relevance of much of Peter's material. I had forgotten just how talented Peter was, and spent my time watching with a glass (or two) of red wine, in awe and admiration of his superb talent. Although we shall never see his like again, the hope is that others will come to the fore as time goes on, although succeeding generations may well find such finely nuanced humour mystifying.
So much LOVE for one of THEE ALL TIME GREATS. Sorely missed Utinoff!
I'm 25 and I can clearly see how the ugly contrast of today and the previous generations. The only words I can use to describe what I've just seen is BRILLIANT............. JUST BRILLIANT.
Hi Yasser
I'm 55 and I remember Ustinov, Niven, Borge etc. They were terrific and as funny to look back on now as they were then.
However, with a lifetime ahead of you I am optimistic that there will be plenty of inovative humour in the future too.
Hello Yasser. I pray yours and the next generation are exposed to great minds and new talent, the likes of Ustinov. This will only come about by comedians daring to use their intellect and the young willing to say no to crude and poor substitutes. You yourself have started the ball rolling by finding this BRILLIANT! Spread the word.
Richard Thorpe I am not at all optimistic that another 'Ustinov' will be produced. Globalisation and the EU are flat out working to homogenise everyone and make sure that noble, educated, interesting and erudite people are unable to exist. Follow the French system and realise that everyone must be specialised in one field and one field only and that children should spend as little time with family as possible so that the state can mould them into EUites.
A possible candidate for Ustinovian brilliance: the multifarious Eddie Izzard?
Yasser Salem (
He was brilliant and the bit about Queen Mary priceless
Almost 2022 and I still find this man fantastically entertaining. I cried so many tears of laughter during this. Just brilliant. Incomparable and sadly Irreplaceable.
Absolutely Brilliant. 😂❤
One of the greatest raconteurs of the 20th century, and so talented that he made a conspicuous success in everything he did.
A TRUE RENAISSANCE MAN... with some of the best timing in delivering his impressions... piercing without be cruel or malicious-hilarious...
As a raconteur, he was non pareil.
He has the ability to draw an audience deeply into a story … he can go 10-15 seconds just making faces and then deliver a subtle punch line that the audience loves. He makes something that is just silly into something that is side-spitting hilarious.
I'd forgotten how brilliant this man was. Fabulous to see this. TH-cam has so many great memories to show us.
I have watched this many times and it always makes me laugh. Peter was an outstanding talent the likes of which we will never see again. What an amazing man he was , I could listen to him for hours. His ability to instantly be the person he is mimicking was legendary. What a great man.
Thank-you for this. I remember watching this with the whole family and crying with laughter. It brought back happy and hilarious memories.
Thank you so much for putting this on! Peter Ustinov was a wonderful, wonderful man. 🤗🤗
Not only the best "An Audience With..." One of the most entertaining pieces of tv I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot! Thanks so much for posting this gem. Ustinov has got to be the number 1 dinner party guest. I'm a Scot and enjoyed Billy Connolly's audience, but Ustinov is in a completely different league.👍
I haven't watched this in ages. Ustinov is the consummate raconteur. Articulate, elegantly spoken and effortlessly amusing. Utterly wonderful.
Rest In Peace Peter Ustinov
(1921 - 2004)
Peter was revered as one of the world's truly legendary entertainers. As an actor, producer, director, novelist, playwright, and columnist, his body of work was thoroughly impressive.
RIP Legend❤︎
I miss this incredible man and his amazing stories.
@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?
The absolute, total sadness fills me that the likes of this incredible GentleMan will never come our way again.......What a loss AND.what an unbelievable pity!
One of the most funny, witty, clever and eloquent gentleman ever to grace our shores! The only person even slightly close is a current national treasure, Stephen Fry. We're haemorrhaging, even bleeding out, when it comes to wonderful people like these
A star- studded audience gathering to hear the eloquent and entertaining Ustinov. An evening unlike anything that happens today.
How very nice to hear an hour of jokes, and anecdotes without any sly double meanings or a solitary swear word. The World is not always a better place without these men who were truly greats in their profession.
Well said.
Christopher Lovelock qa
You got old-timer syndrome. Understandable, but Sir Ustinov was not only great, a Hollywood great and a global super star for decades; he truly was one of a kind. You can't compare him to "acts of today" in or any era and be fair.
Christopher Lovelock idiot
I could listen to him for hours
The anecdotes about his time in the Army are the funniest, most well delivered stories I have ever heard. “Any cake?” 🤣🤣
Dearly love this wonderful man. I also enjoyed seeing the audience. All those fantastic faces. I may not remember the names but I will never forget the faces.
@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?
For the last 30 years since seeing this live our family always responds, when asked what we would like with a cup of tea, with a screwed up face a la Ustinov: "Any cake?"
"Genius" is a word that has lost its meaning as it's bandied about too much now, but when it meant something, it definitely applied to this man.
Incomparable!
Had the privilidge of meeting him around 1975. My father was his biggest fan. We were staying at The Oriental Hotel in Bangkok, dining at la Normandie restaurant. Ustinov was at the next table, dad sat there for ages compling something clever to say to him finally "Mr Ustinov may your shadow never diminish." Ustinov turned to my father we made introductions and he replied "Unless its a sunless day". Will never forget it.One of the most educated, erudite raconteurs that this world has ever produced, and had the privildge to meet.
:)
Contrast this genius to the celebrities of today. It's almost unbelievable how stupid people have become. Ustinov was a complete genius, what a legend!
Loved every minute of Peter's absolute genius.
One that understands the German language can relate to this hilarious , wonderful man. So remarkable, brilliant and humble person. I love his movies especially his role as Monsieur Poirot. He was always my fav. Immensely missed.
I've watched this "Audiance..." at least six times and every time I laugh my head off. What a truly incredible and keen observer of life Peter was. May he live in our hearts forever. CVD
It's late and I'm watching this in bed. I know for certain that I will wake in the middle of the night laughing unexplicibly over this outragously funny and talented man.
As kid in the 80s he was Dr Snuggles & the voice of Prince John, now as a +40 year old man he still fascinates me just as much as he did then but for different reasons. What an absolutely wonderful genius person Peter Ustinov was. I could listen to him all day long. RIP
For anyone outside the UK who may not know, and won't get the point, he mentions that his mother wondered why every railway station was called Bovril. It's a long-established kind of paste made from beef, and was at one time advertised using massive hoardings (bilboards) on railway stations, to be visible as the trains passed. Always much bigger than the station nameplates.
*mrsbrown andhercat*
Thanks! I laughed yet again. ; )
@mrsbrown andhercat
Thank you for that. As a Yank, I wondered to what he referred.
I’ll add my thanks, as well.
Pashtet.
Bovril is a beef-tea. Dried concentrated beef that you add hot water to making a fortifying drink served with buttered toast.
Peter Ustinov - a name I have known since my childhood - but never really experienced.
This is simply sublime - I have never seen a performer or entertainer of this caliber. This is simply a class of its own
A gifted, brilliant man who was so much more than an actor. Where are people like that today in entertainment? Educated, witty, worldly, multi-lingual, shrewd, with an endless appetite for knowledge. I miss people like this in the entertainment industry.
Surely the greatest raconteur and mimic of all time. And what an audience!
I agree with the raconteur comment. From what I have seen only David Niven, Stephen Fry, and maybe Kenneth Williams, at a pinch, come close to him.
A tour de force - thanks for uploading. Years ago I was in the audience for a similarly amusing Clive James programme in which he interviewed Ustinov for an hour. After Ustinov left, James confided quietly to the audience that as an interviewer he had been somewhat worried whether he would ask Ustinov the right question. Of course it didn't matter: the man had such a fund of knowledge and stories that he could probably do 60 minutes off the cuff on the opening of a sliding door. What a wonderful chap Ustinov was.
Peter Ustinov was a brilliant, and very funny, man.
Admirable character and personality. Remarkable and highly educated man. Great sense of humor.
I've watched this so many times in as many years and will watch it more. Simply a brilliant performance by Sir Peter, and being German myself, I appreciate his humor.
Thank you for uploading this video!
What a great artist so sad that he's not with us anymore...
Ustinovs father, Jona Freiherr von Ustinov, was of Russian, German, Polish, and Ethiopian and Jewish descent. Peter's paternal grandfather was Baron Plato von Ustinov, a Russian noble, and his grandmother was Magdalena Hall, of mixed German-Ethiopian-Jewish origin. Ustinov's great-grandfather Moritz Hall, a Jewish refugee from Kraków and later a Christian convert and colleague of Swiss and German missionaries in Ethiopia, married into a German-Ethiopian family. Peter's paternal great-great-grandparents (through Magdalena's mother) were the German painter Eduard Zander and the Ethiopian aristocrat Court-Lady Isette-Werq in Gondar.
Ustinov's mother, Nadezhda Leontievna Benois, known as Nadia, was a painter and ballet designer of French, German, Italian, and Russian descent. Her father, Leon Benois, was an Imperial Russian architect.
What a great person he was. He was a real polymath. He could talk for hours entertaining people. And a great actor of course. We will not see the likes of his kind for some time.
Interesting' none the less
And such ancestry could find a home only in Britain. The greatest melting pot ever
The master of small but hilarious gestures and voices.
Peter was absolutely BRILLIANT at what ever he turned his hand to, His genius voice's and well travelled brain gave all of us a fantastic memory of him.
I had the great pleasure of seeing this genius in his one man show. I couldn't believe my luck. To be in the same City as him, let alone the same building. He is quite irreplaceable.
moggs i
How lucky you were!
I had the pleasure of sitting with him in a train from London to Leeds
He was a delight
Lucky you.
Genius! never a dull moment with this funny & wise man, I could watch and listen to him all day.
I have seen this so many times and I still cry with laughter...genius, genius
@ byam - me too, and I find something new every time. There should be another word for a genius of this quality.
I agree
Me too, and his humour breaks me up every time.
What a wonderful life this man had, an absolute pleasure just listening to him.
A wonderful performance from a man of many talents. His timing and story telling - perfection.
So good, amusing, intelligent, I admire this man so much !
Can you imagine sitting at a dinner table with Ustinov and , for example, Steven Fry and David Niven. I saw Fry in the audience.
Good bless you, Mr Ustinov! Some people are born to brighten our lives… World citizens…Loved by people everywhere.
He was sooo entertaining and very well versed.A wonderful memory,he could write best selling books,A good actor and brilliant one man show.This is wonderful entertainment.
The Dutch painting joke is one of the all time greats
A genius, and then some!
As an American I cannot imagine what your country and others think of where we are at in the U S when so many of us cannot think how we got here. When we visited our relatives in Norway they told us ET was not shown there because of the disrespect to parents. In this day and age it’s nothing but violence and shows that I can’t understand how writers got the idea they could strike. My daughter and I watch Britbox, Acorn the Canadian ch. PBS, Hallmark, not much else. $265. A month for hundreds of ch that are useless if not worse. For us this Ustinov is priceless. Have saved it for the future. A treasure for us
Someone told you a tall tale, because ET was indeed shown in Norway and was a big hit!
My relatives don’t lie. I’m talking about 1976. I would guess ET would have been in theatres there in time. There were only three channels at the time. To say liar is a very serious accusation to me
@@lynnecody1548 Yes, I'm very sorry, but I say "a tall tale", not a lie - I do not want to accuse your relatives of lying! But the movie E.T. (I assumed we were talking about the movie E.T.?) was not made until 1982, so that cannot be the case for 1976... Anyhow, the movie E.T. was indeed shown publicly in cinemas/theatres in Norway (I am Norwegian and was 12 at the time and lived in Norway). But perhaps you were talking about something else entirely? If so, just ignore my comment! I just don't want people to think that an innocent movie like E.T. was banned in Norway. :-)
I have always enjoyed Peter Ustivov's excellent acting but didn't know how wonderfully humorous and entertaining he was. What a pleasure to have listened to him. Hope there are more gems of his to find on youtube.
I felt like the luckiest teenager in the world when I met this great man in Paris. I spotted him in one of the many parks (where he was filming a documentary). He was gracious enough to talk to me (and all of the group I was with: school-trip). And believe it or not, it was exactly on my 16th b-day)...talk about a nice birthday present!
Luck you
I absolutely loved Peter Ustinov from a very young age. I was fascinated by his linguistics and personal experiences. Intellect, humility, wit, charm and compassion encompassed this gentle man. The world today is empty without such giants. Alarmingly, our own intelligence is being continually assaulted by depraved individuals intent on dumbing us down with substandard, vulgar or drug-fueled rhetoric. In my opinion, those who would argue against this point of view, were never in possession of an athletic and well utilized brain to start with. As they say... humour is knowledge. Without it, ignorance is a sad and dangerous thing.
What an extraordinary audience!
I remember watching an audience with Peter ustinov originally, I'm now watching it again and it's as brilliant as when it first aired, I could listen to this man forever ,his knowledge and obviously his willingness to absorb and integrate new culture into his life is just fantastic, and for him to share this is just ingenious, wonderful man wonderful actor wonderful comedy
But most of all a wonderful human being. So sadly missed
Sums up perfectly what I was thinking
This is a really Class Comedy Act, No Swearing , No Insults Positively Great!!
How delightful. As someone who comes from an English family (in America), I can appreciate the English love of language and nuance. Hopefully, people recognized the number of famous people in the audience, what an evening. The range of his impressions from Reagan (for those of us old enough to remember) to Jackie Stewart calling a race are peerless and priceless. I just watched a movie yesterday "The way ahead" (1944) a war film with a very young Peter Ustinov as a North African Inn owner, so I was delighted to see this video today. God bless.
He had Ethiopian, Palestinian, German, Russian and French heritage - very mixed like many Brits. He was an international star though born in London.
Absolutely brilliant!
Bloody brilliant, watching this just confirms how far this country has fallen.
I'm afraid Britain is not an isolated case...
Not only is he brilliant with his comedic timing but also he knows every single person in the audience! Just because you’re in the same field doesn’t mean you know or met every one. Nevermind the politicians and royalty he’s met. What an extraordinary man. I just want an hr to chat with him...
Utube GRATZI!
Today we are flooded with Zelebrity reality Tv shows , back then Witty , gifted , intelligent humanitarians such as this man ,graced our screens . People like Billy Connolly ,certainly inherited some of the traits that this man possessed , but Peter Ustinov was a true one of a kind . A man who Kings, Queens and Prime ministers looked to for advice , a man who could hold court with the best of them , a story teller so gifted he could summon up a cast of a thousand characters . He was an actor, writer , ambassador for peace .... a man of so many talents , it was impossible to define him . He was many things to many people . He is sorely missed .
completely hilarious. I loved it. Bless him....his impressions of Olivier and Charles Laughton have never been done better. What a great guy.
Who among us would have had the life, the exposure, the observances, and the genius to absorb both the minutia and the world events to be able to weave such an entertaining and richly documented retrieval as does Mr. Ustinov? His glorious ability to utter in every world accent all of the hilarious happenings is par excellence. I hope the Americans enjoyed his devastatingly accurate portrayal of Ronald Reagan in which the latter's pathetic grasp of things in general was frightfully on display. Ustinov, to quote Kipling, was truly a man who could "walk with kings, nor lose the common touch". Some people were simply born to be listened to while others create a mad dash for the exits. And in all of this, we get the sense that he was barely scratching the surface and that lurking just behind every word spoken was an even greater story if only time could have permitted it! Nobody does this today and the world is poorer for it!
Agreed. A great analysis of this talented man. but you do realize he was doing comedy? Queen Mary didn't really speak like that, nor did Constant Lambert. And since you brought up the so called "accurate description" of the President Reagan bit, that should wake all of us Americans up about how "frightening" he was. I didn't take it that way at all. Reagan was a very sharp individual, many of us Americans appreciated him as President (sorry) . He was older and was often lampooned at that time for being absent-minded by all sorts of comedians, I laughed at that too, and even this bit made me laugh..but I also realize it was exaggeration for comedic effect. You didn't.
Ustinov was last man to interview Indira Gandhi. She was assassinated later. He had a rare sense of history. Amazing person and a more amazing personality.
Patrick McKenna , thank you for summarizing how I felt. Clearly Ustinov was a great man with an incredible intellect. However, intellectual ability is not measured solely in mimicking traits or the deftness at associations with humor. Reagan had huge intellect and steered a great country in the proper direction against a tidal wave of horribly liberal Americans and godless communists. Charles Darwin, maybe it was Reagan’s belief in God you so despise that causes you such angst?
Sisters
@@Umbazooksus1 3 years late to the party though I am, I will agree with your assessment. I will also say, though, that I felt it was a shame that he took such a tired, overworked route as to mock Reagan and make him appear as a doddering old fool, even done for comic effect. Having been alive during his time in the Presidency and now, in the time after his death seeing how history has reevaulated him and his Presidency, with even his detractors speaking of the work he did and how well he did it, his "jokes" aged poorly, in my opinion. Sounds to me like "Charles Darwin" is just another in a long line of tired revisionists who feel it appropriate to sit and yap at the people who shaped and made the world that they now live in, while spitting on them at the same time.
An irreplaceable genius to my mind. Peter Ustinov never fails to raise my spirits.