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Sir Noël Coward (1899
- 1973)
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 Brief
Encounter by
Noël Coward, Sheridan Morley
Move over Kate and Leo! Why go all the way to
the Titanic when all the really interesting English romances occur
at the Milford railway junction? "Brief Encounter" was
simply meant to be a small art house film but instead it struck a
certain chord in both England and America. Written by Noel Coward
("Mad Dogs and Englishmen") and directed by David Lean
("Doctor Zhivago," "Lawrence of Arabia"), the
film represents the ascetic, upright, emotionally restrained lives
of the people living in pre-WWII Britain (1938-1939). It concerns
the doomed love affair between a married, suburban housewife,
Laura, and an equally suburban and married doctor, Alec. Unlike
"Madame Bovary," both characters hold no illusions: they
know that they are middle-aged and unimpressive people, unable to
be drawn to the extremes of emotion enough to defy society. It is
a story of two undistinguished, but unhappy people who found each
other but could not have each other. With its simple plot, drab
setting, but intricate dialogue, it was honored with an Oscar
nomination in 1947. If you just cannot refuse an art film, a
classic film, or a foreign film, this screenplay deserves more
than just a brief encounter. -- Anonymous Review
 The
Noël Coward Diaries by Graham Payn (Editor), Sheridan
Morley (Editor)
Noël Coward is remembered as the most witty and
elegant of theatrical personalities. He left behind over fifty
plays, twenty-five films, hundreds of songs, and several books.
Fortunately, he also left behind these diaries chronicling the
last thirty years of his life, from 1941 to 1973. Moving through
the theatrical, social, political, and historical worlds on both
sides of the Atlantic, the impressive cast of characters includes
Laurence Olivier, Frank Sinatra, Lauren Bacall, John and Jackie
Kennedy, Harold Pinter, members of the Royal Family, and the
Beatles, among a host of others. The Nol Coward Diaries is a
social and theatrical chronicle as stylish and irresistible as the
man himself.
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This site is provided by the Noel Coward
Society, a club founded to celebrate the life and work of Noël
Coward. Membership of the Society gives access to a comprehensive
onsite archive of information and opinion relating to 'the
Master.' Back numbers of the Society's newsletter, HOME CHAT, are
available on the site together with its illustrated periodical
"Conversation Piece." The Society also arranges theatre
visits and meetings on Coward subjects. Finally members receive
substantial discounts on a wide range of Coward books, videos and
CDs which are listed on the site.
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From Encarta
Excerpt:
English playwright, actor, producer, and
composer, born in Teddington. He was noted particularly as a
chronicler of British upper-class life. Coward wrote The Vortex
in 1924, produced it in London with himself in the leading role,
and in 1925 appeared in it in New York City. From then on his
versatility was displayed throughout the English-speaking world...
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From The
Knitting Circle
Excerpt:
He never referred publicly to his own
homosexuality, and would not allow his biographer Sheridan Morley
to mention it, because of fears of losing royalties. He seemed to
believe that the public was unsure about his sexuality, despite
him writing and singing songs like Mad About the Boy. His A
Song at Twilight has the closeted character Sir Hugh Latymer
who is based on Somerset Maugham. His play Point Valaine is
dedicated to Somerset Maugham...
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By Charles Isherwood, The Advocate, Jan
18, 2000
Excerpt:
Noel Coward never said he was gay. But his hints
helped pave the way for today's openness
During a career that spanned more than half a
century, most of it spent in the heady glare of footlights or
flashbulbs, he never came clean. Noel Coward, the gifted
Englishman who would have celebrated his 100th birthday in
December, went to his grave without publicly acknowledging his
homosexuality. Though his stature is unassailable--as an actor,
playwright, director, screenwriter, composer, lyricist, novelist,
painter, and bon vivant, he was arguably the most versatile talent
of our time--Coward's silence might seem to make him the most
politically incorrect gay icon of the 20th century...
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Names Index:
A B
C D
E F
G H
I J
K L
M N
O P
Q R
S T
U V
W X
Y Z
| Authors
Index | Scholars
Index |
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