Newspaper Article

DAVID, MY BROTHERLY LUVVIE

Attenborough, Richard

2008

نظرة عامة

I can see [Dave, Johnny] now, aged about nine, sternly dismissed but having the last word in the doorway. 'That wasn't rude,' he's insisting. Then he puffs out his cheeks and blows the most enormous raspberry. 'That's rude!' And the Governor sits at the head of the table, trying desperately to keep a straight face. 'I don't want to do that, do I, Dick?' he asked. 'You?' I replied. 'Sit on your a**e, chairing meetings and making endless policy decisions until you collect a gold watch and a pension? Of course you don't.' His relief was instant and palpable. A gloomy post-mortem was held in our hotel lobby. [Agatha Christie] sat there, absorbing our pessimism but saying nothing. Then she got up to go to bed. Halfway up the stairs, she leaned over the banisters and delivered one of the greatest understatements in theatrical history. 'Don't worry, my dears. I'm sure we shall get a nice little run out of it.' I began to think so too, and [Sheila Sim] and I decided to take a 10 per cent stake in the production. It was the wisest business decision I've ever made. Indeed, as it went on to become the world's longestrunning play, it should have made us comfortable for the rest of our lives. Foolishly, I sold some of my share to open a short-lived Mayfair restaurant called The Little Elephant. Later still, I disposed of the remainder in order to keep afloat [Gandhi], a film I was ready to sacrifice almost anything to make -- and which, as I'll describe tomorrow, became one of the greatest adventures of my life. ABRIDGED extract from Entirely Up To You, Darling by [Richard Attenborough] and Diana Hawkins, published by Hutchinson tomorrow at [pounds]20. (c) 2008, Richard Attenborough and Diana Hawkins. To order a copy for [pounds]18 (p&p free), call 0845 155 0720.

• الناشر: Solo Syndication, a division of Associated Newspapers Ltd
• موضوع: Attenborough, Richard / Coward, Noel / Dave, Johnny / Sim, Sheila