Peter Firth

[picard1109]

Hi folks! I'm a newbie and a relatively new convert to the way, the truth and the light that is Spooks. A big Harry fan...and realising just what a fantastic actor Peter Firth really is. I've been going back over some of his older work and been very pleasantly surprised.

I've been through this whole thread and there's not been mention of "White Angel" or "Prisoner of Rio", among others. PF's performance in White Angel took my breath away - it's the best example of understated menace I've ever seen. Makes Hannibal Lector look like your Great Aunt Mamie!! Peter is totally amazing in it. Technically, the film leaves a lot to be desired, but then it was made for about 10 quid! Available on DVD...I really do recommend it. I won't spoil the story...but I will say that there's a shower scene, girlies... :-)

Prisoner of Rio is about Ronnie Biggs (the great train robber). It's really a lousy film - poor script, even worse direction - but PF does the best he can with the material. He plays an under cover cop in Rio. Again, won't spoil it...except there's a rather nice scene of PF in skimpy swimming trunks...

Anyone who wants to see Dorian Gray can watch it on YouTube. "Lifeforce" is hilarious (not meant to be but it's soooooo bad it's laugh out loud funny). Peter plays an SAS colonel and, as it was made in the mid-80s, he's lost the 'damaged cherub' look. To his credit, he once again does the best he can with a bad script. Christ knows how he played it straight - the temptation to ham it up must have been overwhelming (as many of the other cast members did...including Patrick Stewart).

And speaking of ham...watch "Chill Factor", in which he plays a maverick colonel. Absolutely dreadful film and the director should have been shot, as should Cuba Gooding Jr (doing his hysterical over-acting thing again). But it's PF running about waving guns and wearing black commando gear, so worth a watch just for that!

He was terrific in "Blood and Oil" - just one scene but what a doozie! If I didn't know it was him...I wouldn't have known it was him. Just by changing his posture, voice, accent and being unshaven, he seems to have 'shape shifted'. The character he plays is really sleazy...and he seems to have had a lot of fun with it. An anti-Harry kind of role. Watch it if you can!

BTW, hopefully I've managed to attach a scan of that Mail on Sunday article (photo of him sitting in the taxi is nice) which some kind soul posted on a different forum.