Saturday, 24 June 2017

#CHRISTOPHERLEESATURDAYS: THROUGH THE ROUND WINDOW: RAPTOR IS COMING AND BRIAN CANT IS GONE!


#CHRISTOPHERLEESATURDAYS: Lee referred to as, "one of the best pictures I've ever been in, most delightful". 'A Feast At midnight' is surely is one of the secret gems and certainly worth watching....Headmasters, private boys school, and FOOD! Let this little morsel whet your appetite ...tell if you think so too...worth a watch?- Marcus


A NEW STUDENT at a British public school forms a secret society centered around cooking and midnight feasting with other school misfits and outcasts. . . The school's principal, is nick-named, 'RAPTOR' . .. now I wonder who could be playing that role???


AND SO UNCLE BRIAN has gone. I would doubt that few outside of the UK , who visit this site, would know the name. Brian. Brian Cant. Millions of thirty, forty and fifty year olds who grew up in the UK from the mid 1960's and up until the early 80's, will know that voice, even if the name doesn't ring bells. Cant very late in his career, played a small role in a firm favorite of the late Christopher Lee...but I doubt if many would recognise the title either...so shamefully limited was it's release in 1995.  'A Feast At Midnight' is a gem of film. Set in a private boys school, it's the stuff of dorms, headmasters, tuck shops, rugger, cricket and FEASTS at midnight...! Cant's role was a blink and you'll miss him opportunity, but I didn't miss him, or that voice. So, there we are, that is the justifying out of the way. We pay tribute to Brian Cant who played a small role in a low budget film, that got little chance to shine. The real reason why he is here, I'll come clean . . .   


CANT WAS THE VOICE and face, of one the most popular and earliest pre school morning television programmes on the BBC, 'Play School'. I missed his arrival, being too old for the show, and was otherwise busy elsewhere, when for the first time, 'Here's a house and a door, windows, one, two, three four..' were spoken over the air. I didn't come to the programme, until the show was well into its stride and my younger sister was born, I was eight years old. I missed pretty much most of my primary schooling and thought a family unit was something along the lines of a piece of kitchen furniture or the place where children who were slower were sent at school. 'Apply yourself, or YOU will end up in the unit!' No, for endless mornings, because I was not at school, my sister and I watched the half an hour of 'Play School', with Cant, Humpty, Hamble, Jemima, Big Ted and Little Ted. The songs, dance, stories and chatty lessons. 


THE KIND SMILING MAN with the gentle voice made a huge impression me, and the relationship I had with my sister. Daily, Cant showed me, how to communicate with a young child, with patience, care and gentleness. We called him, Uncle Brian. He was the nearest thing we had to compassion and understanding. In a perfect world, he would have been our favorite school teacher, Uncle, friend's Dad... or wishful thinking OUR Dad. Daily, through that flickering screen and fuzzy black and white screen, Brian Cant led the way. And for that, I say thank you. Thank you Uncle Brian. Today, you are remembered, tomorrow cherished. . . 



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The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA.

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