Dean Spanley **** (2008, Peter O’Toole, Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill, Bryan Brown, Judy Parfitt, Art Malik) – Classic Movie Review 533

In 2008 Peter O’Toole gave an adorable performance in the British comedy drama film Dean Spanley as a crusty old Edwardian England dad, Fisk Senior, who has little time or affection for his son, Fisk Junior (Jeremy Northam).

But when the pair visit an eccentric Indian mystic (Art Malik), they set off on a weird and wonderful journey that leads them to the barking mad churchman Dean Spanley (Sam Neill), who believes he was a dog in the last life.

This strange journey eventually allows the old man Fisk Senior to find his heart and warm to his son.

Based on Alan Sharp’s adaptation of Irish author Lord Dunsany’s 1936 novella My Talks with Dean Spanley, this peerless shaggy dog story has big laughs throughout, and a huge emotional surge at the climax.

Dean Spanley is directed by Fijian New Zealander Toa Fraser. It won seven awards at the 2009 New Zealand Film and TV Awards, including Best Film and Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film (Peter O’Toole).

The cast are Jeremy Northam as Fisk Junior (Henslowe), Sam Neill as Dean Spanley, Bryan Brown as J J Wrather, Peter O’Toole as Fisk Senior (Horatio), Judy Parfitt as Mrs Brimley, Art Malik as Swami Nala Prash, Ramon Tikaram as the Nawab of Ranjiput, Xavier Horan as Harrington Fisk, Barbara Wilshere as 1st lady, Angela Clerkin as 2nd lady, Dudley Sutton as Marriott, Shaughan Seymour as wine shop proprietor, Charlotte Graham as woman in cloisters, Hayden Downing as boy in cloisters, Miriama McDowell as foxy lady, Bruce Hopkins as shepherd, Elizabeth Goram-Smith as a young lady of stature, and Nick Shaw as man of stature

Peter O’Toole died on December 14 2013, aged 81. Best remembered for Lawrence of Arabia, Becket, The Lion in Winter and The Last Emperor, he held the unenviable record of being the actor with the most Oscar nominations without any wins (eight). This beat his old Sixties drinking buddy Richard Burton by one nomination.

He received an honorary Oscar in 2003. He won four Golden Globes and an Emmy. ‘I’m not an actor, I’m a movie star!’ he said.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 533

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