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I adored Mr. Rossiter in "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin" which is one of the greatest and quirkiest situation comedies of all time. Really special. In looking at his credits I believe the earliest film appearance that I experienced was "King Rat" when I was 12. That film made a huge impression on me -- and in revisiting it only a few months ago it retained its power. He had a lot of credits -- and I think I've managed to see about 90% of his film work over the years - plus a good many TV appearances. I was in London in 1976 when he apparently was in "Tartuffe" - but alas didn't get to that production. I always look forward to seeing him in anything. Found some blurbs about him on the interweb:
"In The Purging, there was the sheer joy of listening to Leonard describing Follovoine's chamber pot as if it were an objet d'art...Follovoine, demonstrating the indestructibility of his chamber pot, broke it. He then went on to break - as only Leonard could break - one after another, fourteen pots in all...Leonard and Feydeau were hilarious." - Robert Tanitch.
"Leonard Rossiter was the best farceur of his generation, because the most serious. On stage he combined incredible speed with absolute physical and verbal precision. I once asked him to slow down during rehearsals so we could concentrate on certain details. But he said that he was only able to think comedically at high speed... He was disturbingly word-perfect in two large parts after just three days of a planned four-week rehearsal... His energy and concentration were prodigious. He always had to change shirts at least once during rehearsals." "In the role of the mad composer... he wore a hideous set of protruding false teeth. In the middle of a preview performance they shot out of his mouth and into a wastepaper basket. Still in character and mouthing dialogue, though now apparently toothless, he retrieved the teeth, turned to the audience, shrugged and said: 'What do you expect? This is a preview!'." - Peter Barnes, director.
"...But it was in the black farce by Wedekind, The Singer, that Len gave one of the finest comic performances I have ever seen... He didn't ask for a laugh. Never conspired with the audience. The laughs came, thick and fast, because he was totally inside the character, driven by his enormous energy, usually wanted something bigger and better than mere laughs. He was a great comic actor." "Len had evolved for himself an extraordinary get-up. A long, yellow oilskin garment down to the floor, a black felt hat, enormous false teeth, pince-nez... Yet Len never went over the top because he gave these things life. His commitment to the idea was total." - John Phillips, co-star, The Singer.
"...I loved his performance so much I used to step down-stage, back to the audience, and just enjoy it." - John Stride, co-star, The Singer.
Critical Reviews:
"The lunatic frenzy sustained by Mr. Rossiter in his scene - some twenty minutes with hardly a breath drawn - is a delight and a wonder to behold, but the nervous energy in it is alarming; I hardly dare to wish the enterprise well, for with seven such performances a week Mr. Rossiter will be dead before Christmas." - Bernard Levin, Sunday Times.
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Hi folks
Some Rossiter I love - some I loathe..
Apart from the classics and those all ready mentioned - Le Petomane - a short comedy film based on a true story - is probably my all time Rossiter favourite. Sadly not a very well known film, but despite its subject, it is very very funny, and acted brilliantly. It was originally shown as a support feature at the cinema. I can't remember what it supported - but it definitely wasn't Gone With The Wind.
Regards
CC
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