Olivier (45 page)
Authors: Philip Ziegler
As James Tyrone in “Long Day’s Journey into Night” – “a pretty well perfect play”, Olivier judged it.
With Lord Cottesloe, smoothing out the cement during the topping-out ceremony for the new National Theatre in May 1973.
With Peter Hall in May 1973: the past and the future of the National Theatre.
As John Tagg in “The Party”: Olivier’s last stage role and one of his most successful.
With Michael Caine in “Sleuth” – “He’s young enough to be my son,” said Olivier ruefully.
Opposite Sarah Miles’ marvellously seductive schoolgirl in “Term of Trial” in 1962.
Operating on Dustin Hoffman. “I am awfully pleased about the ‘Marathon Man’,” Olivier wrote, “horrific as the story is.”
Reunited with Gielgud and Richardson in 1983 in a mini-series for television
about Wagner.
As Lord Marchmain in “Brideshead Revisited” (1981) with Diana Quick as Julia Flyte.
Olivier with Joan Plowright.
The family at the time of Olivier’s eighteieth birhday. Tamsin, in the patterned dress on the left, Richard in the centre and Julie Kate on the right.
Problems
T
arquin Olivier had dinner with his father and Joan Plowright in the summer of 1962. “They were still happy and in love with their young family,” he wrote. Their relationship may have lacked some of the hungry passion that had fired Olivier’s relationship with Vivien Leigh, but it was more mature, more equable, more likely to endure. Many people remarked on the conspicuous success of their marriage, the pleasure they took in each other’s company. Rosemary Harris was impressed when Olivier, having smashed a particularly precious Dresden china cake stand three tiers high, was stricken with guilt. “Oh well, dear, never mind,” said Plowright. “Get on with your supper while I fetch a dustpan and brush.”
1