Michael Hordern was an excellent stage and screen actor – excellent enough to be knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1983.
One of Sir Michael\’s best known roles was also one of his shortest: in the 1951 version of “A Christmas Carol”, starring Alistair Sim, Hordern played the ghost of Jacob Marley. Though he was on for no more than four or five minutes in total, Marley/Hordern\’s tormented wailing about the chains he had forged in life, and the unending agony of being fettered by them throughout eternity, was, to me, unforgettable.
But just in case there is anyone out there who did forget, no problem at all. All you have to do is listen to oscar pistorius\’s contrived, phony-as-a-plastic-Rand testimony at his murder trial, and you will hear Hordern/Marley in every premeditatedly tortured word.
Doubt me? Then click here, and start at about 17:40. (Or, better yet, watch the entire movie, because it\’s a genuine classic).
maybe pistorius should change his name to plagiaristorius. Because he apparently is very good at it.
And, I suspect, he will have a long time in prison to further hone his skills.
