The Great Kandinsky

This was the BBC drama acting debut for Richard Harris who had never previously acted for them before. A big thanks has to go to the writers who coaxed Mr Harris to this project.

Harris was always an actor that always needed to be reined in and since the 1970s, his choice of acting projects were dodgy.

This film about an escapologist who escapes from a retirement home to track down his old mentor, brilliantly played by Tom Bell. The film provides a lot of fun but is rather uneven.

It is notable that many of the cast are now dead but it did feature a lot of actors of advanced years.

As alluded by one of the script writers who has posted a review, the drama is unlikely to be repeated by the BBC because of the way Harris's contract was drafted.

The late Richard Harris will always be remembered as the popular magician in Harry Potter, but he also played a real great magician, in this wonderfully magical movie called The Great Kandinsky.

The story takes place long after Kandinsky has lost all his popularity, living in a retirement house, playing tricks to the other residents, amazing them with magic, and never revealing his secrets.

But he is something like a bitter person, unhappy with himself.

In his youth, he was the assistant of the magician known as The Professor, who disappeared from the face of the earth just before the Second World War, taking with him his latest secret, secret which The Great Kandinsky never found out. Now, 50 years later, he'll try to find it out.

I highly recommend it, it's the kind of movie that will make you smile, and leave you with a smile.

Personally I absolutely adore this film. But then I was the one who wrote it along with Terry Winsor.

Boy, what an ordeal we had trying to get it made at all. I think it took ten years from writing the first draft to getting the film actually broadcast. It's rather sad, looking back now, that most of the cast (and the producer come to think of it) went on to die quite soon after the film was broadcast.

Maybe it will make it to 'The Top 100 Cursed Productions of all time' list that no doubt IMDb are putting together with the help of BBC Worldwide, HBO and Canal Plus.

The chances of it getting another outing on British TV are slim to non- existent, however, thanks to really really really bad contract writing by somebody who shall remain nameless.

Merchant Bankers, eh?

Interestingly, outside of The UK and US of A, I can only assume that Terry Winsor and I are something approaching folk heroes - especially in Poland, where The Great Kandinsky has played to rapturous audiences approximately 20 gazillion times (= £42 cheque in my bank account).

I'd love to see it broadcast again in Britain (I missed it the first time due to a free lunch) but I'm not holding my breath (plot point!).

Then again, if I was elected Fat Controller at The BBC, I wouldn't be too inclined to chuck Richard Harris's Estate another £1.5 million just to show it again either.

RIP Mr. Harris. Thanks for the kind comments you wrote in my copy of the shooting script.

I am obviously still available for further writing projects, otherwise why would I be sitting here filling in this form?

To be honest, right now I am ready to grow a Lech Walesa moustache and move to Gdansk if there's a market for me there.

Shalaam!

Jules D

Have you ever watched some movies and seen the actors sleep walk through their roles as if they are bored? Have you ever watched actors clearly annoyed or disgusted by what they are required to do?

When was the last time, if ever, that you watched actors having the best fun of their lives? Watch Richard Harris in the terrific "Great Kandinsky" and you will see and experience the most fun you and the actors have ever had!

I gave it a ten. It's the most enjoyable movie I've seen in a long time.

Roger Moncrief