1973: DAVID NIVEN Interview | Nationwide | Classic Celebrity Interviews | BBC Archive

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  • čas přidán 21. 08. 2022
  • Hollywood legend David Niven sits down for a chat with Nationwide's Sue Lawley about life, luck, laughter and drugs. He also recalls his younger days, from his boozy house share with Errol Flynn, to his time as an impish schoolboy organ bellow blower with a penchant for mischief.
    Originally broadcast 30 April, 1973.
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Komentáře • 65

  • @geoffjoffy
    @geoffjoffy Před rokem +25

    He was 73 when he died in 1983. I didn't realise how 'not that old' it was until I turned 60 this year.

  • @maxbeale8186
    @maxbeale8186 Před 5 měsíci +11

    David Niven; actor, storyteller, writer and soldier. A true British institution 🇬🇧🇬🇧👌🏻👌🏻

  • @Ridersonthestorm8899
    @Ridersonthestorm8899 Před rokem +37

    I could listen to him all day.

  • @JonTheComputerDoctor
    @JonTheComputerDoctor Před rokem +14

    73 when he died which is no age at all, greatly missed as he had so much more to give.
    A truly great gentleman and a superb actor.

  • @davidlee6720
    @davidlee6720 Před 4 měsíci +8

    Brave soldier as well - survived the war. English gentlemen, the type we seem to have lost, unassuming, never lost his cool, Americans loved him too.

  • @jimjiminy5836
    @jimjiminy5836 Před rokem +29

    I bloody love him. A wonderful man. Up there with the best.

    • @jimjiminy5836
      @jimjiminy5836 Před rokem +3

      “Tea is a drug, you know”
      “Are u addicted?” “No”
      C’mon, as a fellow Brit, we’re all addicted to that socially acceptable drug🤣😂

  • @davedogge2280
    @davedogge2280 Před rokem +11

    His name comes up when I looked up the word 'suave' in the Oxford English dicctionary.

  • @tinakev4022
    @tinakev4022 Před rokem +49

    What a wonderfully urbane and witty raconteur, David Niven was. So glad this popped up in my recommendations.

    • @jimjiminy5836
      @jimjiminy5836 Před rokem +5

      Sure was. A lovely man also.

    • @alexandradane3672
      @alexandradane3672 Před rokem +1

      Absolutely . Added to which I think he was far too sophisticated for the interviewer - the fine and finer points of his humour being lost on her ?

    • @oscarwilde5473
      @oscarwilde5473 Před rokem

      @@alexandradane3672 ... like an autistic with a God complex - not unlike Chance the gardener walking on water in Being There (1979) - this abject moron managed to become a glittered interviewer on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4. Like fingers down a black board, I fear she must be stopped ... 🤗 ...

  • @jeremypearson6852
    @jeremypearson6852 Před rokem +13

    I was about eleven when this aired and I think I had a huge crush on Sue Lawley. I’m guessing most boys of that age did. Actors like David Niven don’t exist today because the type of movies aren’t produced anymore for his kind of character. We’ll never see actors like Niven, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Laurence Oliver, Burt Lancaster, Marlon Brando and others again.

  • @benjaminclasper9355
    @benjaminclasper9355 Před rokem +8

    I love how well spoken he is

  • @kvk1960
    @kvk1960 Před rokem +8

    One word: CLASS!!!!

  • @rodneyclarke6477
    @rodneyclarke6477 Před rokem +12

    Yes Niven was all class and a witty & intelligent guest.

  • @vanessahawarden9028
    @vanessahawarden9028 Před rokem +7

    David Niven ….hero on so many fronts

  • @Greenwillow
    @Greenwillow Před rokem +11

    I adore this man. My earliest memory is of him doing a coffee commercial. Such a brilliant actor love him in Separate Tables🥰

  • @stevemaynards.g.t
    @stevemaynards.g.t Před rokem +10

    Great actor & gentleman.

  • @sarahlouise7163
    @sarahlouise7163 Před 2 měsíci +1

    dapper David and lovely Sue ☺

  • @markbumford8076
    @markbumford8076 Před rokem +11

    A wonderful gentleman and a superb actor and I could listen to him all day even if it involved him reciting ingredients of tinned food!

  • @mollyfilms
    @mollyfilms Před rokem +12

    Love love love David Niven. What a life he had. The Moons a Balloon is a must read as the story of his life is unreal.
    I think from this interview Sue Lawley was just starting out maybe? Taking over answers are an editors worst nightmare.

  • @joncrawford3485
    @joncrawford3485 Před rokem +40

    They don't make blokes like that anymore...

    • @jimjiminy5836
      @jimjiminy5836 Před rokem +8

      They sure don’t. He’s a wonderful man. His autobiography “the moon is a ballon.” Is a delight.

    • @ScottishOutlaw
      @ScottishOutlaw Před rokem +3

      @@jimjiminy5836 I thank you. that's a new audiobook on the list. Read by the man himself no less.

    • @jimjiminy5836
      @jimjiminy5836 Před rokem +2

      @@ScottishOutlaw you’re welcome! Read by him also? I’ll be listening also! Cheers

  • @sporkfindus4777
    @sporkfindus4777 Před rokem +6

    Wonderful David Niven. That shirt and tie combo is really cool. I hope it's not disrespectful to say that he reminds me a little of Graham Hill and vice versa. Certainly the humour.

  • @dnorfed
    @dnorfed Před rokem +3

    I wish David had been my father, a wonderful man he was, a captivating voice as well

  • @davidhamm7909
    @davidhamm7909 Před rokem +6

    I love that shirt and tie.

  • @gavin4513
    @gavin4513 Před rokem +7

    More more more!!!

    • @Hysteria98
      @Hysteria98 Před rokem +4

      How do you like it?
      How do you like it?

  • @heathsavage4852
    @heathsavage4852 Před rokem +8

    Back when movie stars had some class and style.

  • @Philmoscowitz
    @Philmoscowitz Před rokem +3

    This is vintage Niven!

  • @seankayll9017
    @seankayll9017 Před rokem +1

    A star-struck Sue Lawley giggling away in the background during the organ story.

  • @NoosaHeads
    @NoosaHeads Před 3 měsíci

    An actual gentleman.

  • @ZootZinBootZ
    @ZootZinBootZ Před rokem +3

    I'm only 40 really appreciate my grandmother's collection of such considered interviewed stars such as Sir David Niven she encouraged me to read in the 80'90's to keep recognising what transitioning from centuries, senses of past social construct and balance of the real life estimates of some people who have vision or communication skills to enterprise advance ideas on into inspiration that is timeless. I don't know what playing bellows is but David Niven makes it important regular knowledge.. He knew the kids were going to be alright 😋

    • @thebat7048
      @thebat7048 Před rokem +2

      Playing the bellows is either playing the bagpipes or the accordion but way he's talking I think it was the bagpipes..Bellows are something with air in them to make a noise i.e the bagpipes, accordion,etc...

    • @ZootZinBootZ
      @ZootZinBootZ Před rokem

      @@thebat7048 many thanks and some 🍒🍇🍐🍏🍑fruit for such a wise Bat...

    • @thebat7048
      @thebat7048 Před rokem +1

      @@ZootZinBootZ Lol why thank you kind lady 🤗🤗🤗 and here's some 💐 for the kind lady ☺️

  • @denizmehmed971
    @denizmehmed971 Před rokem +12

    A very young Sue Lawley! Brings back memories of Nationwide.

    • @tb-cg6vd
      @tb-cg6vd Před rokem +1

      As a child I heard that The Police did a version of 'So Lonely' singing 'Sue Lawley'. However my elder brother is a big bullshitter.

    • @buxycat
      @buxycat Před rokem +3

      @@tb-cg6vd what is true is that many people at the time thought The Police were genuinely singing Sue Lawley. It's possible The Police did sing Sue Lawley as a joke at some point.

    • @traceya9615
      @traceya9615 Před rokem +1

      @@tb-cg6vd I remember Sue Lawley referring to the song when it had recently come out. I think it was on Nationwide. She looked very unamused and made me laugh (I was 12) as she described The Police as a "punk" group.

  • @adam_meek
    @adam_meek Před 3 měsíci

    He was great in A Matter of Life and Deth. A proper British jent.

  • @johnaldred6864
    @johnaldred6864 Před rokem +1

    They don't make them like that anymore. . what a class act. 👍

  • @hanseekhoff1093
    @hanseekhoff1093 Před rokem +2

    Sue fancies him - quite clearly!

  • @scotttait2197
    @scotttait2197 Před 5 měsíci +1

    One of my favourite actors when I was growing up despite the plummy way he pronounces off as owf

  • @kingarthurusatenniscoach1415

    sue lawley interview

  • @oscarwilde5473
    @oscarwilde5473 Před rokem +4

    BBC Archive ... ahhh, those barbed interview skills of an early Sue Lawley, luminously discussing the luck of their craft with the ever effervescent David Niven ... a luck in her part, as I'm surprised she hasn't been slapped beyond silly by someone of distinction by now. I suppose it's similar to going to a party and struggling to find the f---wit ... you're it, then ... so it may as well be me ... I've narrowed her down to First Street in London ... anyone wish to verify that before I end up before the judge ... 🤗 ...

  • @betsyrocks
    @betsyrocks Před rokem +4

    Wow, Sue Lawley was pretty hot back then.

  • @888ssss
    @888ssss Před rokem

    a lot of people dont know david niven is an uncle of paul daniels the magician.

  • @benjaminclasper9355
    @benjaminclasper9355 Před rokem

    Classic English gentleman.

  • @lordnevets9184
    @lordnevets9184 Před rokem +3

    The Quintessential,
    You want someone to look up to?
    Here's not a bad place to start.
    More David Niven and less Lawrence Fox is what this world needs.

  • @scottfoster3548
    @scottfoster3548 Před 11 měsíci

    Wonderful AND what I always say EVERY generation thinks they were the lucky ones SO throw away my traditions we throw away yours. AND smoking weed with David Niven WHOA.

  • @grahamstewart615
    @grahamstewart615 Před měsícem

    Sadly had serious problems with alcohol 😢

  • @craig869
    @craig869 Před 27 dny

    As classy a lady as Sue Lawley has always been, i can't help but think she's like putty in his hands in this interview, if he were so inclined. Saying that, i could sit and listen to him all day too.

  • @davidlittle7182
    @davidlittle7182 Před rokem +3

    I love David Niven but you've got to laugh how many posh people get fantastically 'lucky' in acting. Seems even more obvious today

    • @Kevin-mx1vi
      @Kevin-mx1vi Před rokem +1

      Indeed, and today there are more "posh" actors than ever - Cumberpatch, Redmayne, etc - but the difference is that they're arrogant and believe themselves to be *great* actors, while David Niven was very modest about his acting ability, as befits a proper gentleman.
      Today's lot may be posh, but they'll never have Niven's sheer class.

    • @davidlittle7182
      @davidlittle7182 Před rokem +1

      @@Kevin-mx1vi I think this is a very good distinction

    • @paulmasterson386
      @paulmasterson386 Před 4 měsíci

      Niven had the courage to abandon a career in the army and take a chance on success in Hollywood. People who are successful often have the courage to make leaps into the unknown,so I would say he made his own luck.

    • @davidlittle7182
      @davidlittle7182 Před 4 měsíci

      @@paulmasterson386 he was born in Belgravia, went to Stowe School (because he'd misbehaved too much to get to Eton), and walked into Sandhurst (officer) college because of his privileged upbringing. He treated the whole thing exactly like a toff does: a wheeze

  • @user-mf8ff3pr1d
    @user-mf8ff3pr1d Před 9 měsíci

    월리엄 홀덴과 혼동될정도로 비슷한 외모의 데이빗 니븐