Cousin Bette (1998) Starring Jessica Lange, this film got very mixed reviews. However, it is a treat for Hugh Laurie fans, as he plays a character of dubious morality and great greed in this period piece set in France. Based on the Balzac novel, Laurie plays Hector Hulot with great relish. His best scenes are with Bob Hoskins, who plays Hulot’s rival.
The Young Visitors (TV film, 2003) Based on a novel by a child writer, Laurie plays Lord Bernard Clark. The film is a delight as Laurie and Jim Broadbent play rivals for the hand of a young, socially climbing Ethel. It is a fantasy, but not really a children’s movie, with a great supporting job done by Bill Nighy. Watching Laurie as the smitten Lord Bernard as he courts the pretty Ethel is a real treat.
Girl From Rio (2001) Okay. I’ll say it. This movie is pure guilty pleasure. It’s not a great film, or even a very good film, but Laurie plays a geeky and oh-so-repressed Englishman, a banking cipher (with a secret life as a samba dancer), with great charm. After learning that his boss is having an affair with his wife, he embezzles a fortune from his London bank and flees to - where else? - Rio. Laurie’s meek banker makes a pilgrimage to Rio in search of the queen of the samba, who he finds, but not before getting into an immense amount of trouble. It’s fun, and silly, but I’m a softie for romantic comedies, so… Besides, Hugh Laurie dancing? The samba? Cool.
Maybe Baby (2000) Two versions of this romantic comedy exist on DVD. The first is the original, released in Britain. It is ten minutes longer and fathoms better than the American release. It’s amazing how ten minutes of edits can substantially harm a film. I have seen both versions, and if you can get a copy of the British version (Region 2) and have access to a multi-region DVD player or software, you should get that version. Laurie and Joely Richardson play Sam and Lucy Bell, a childless yuppie couple who go through all of the machinations required when infertility issues hit. (Having gone through some of these myself, I found the film very resonant). The film is based on Ben Elton’s novel Inconceivable, and the stars do a great job as the couple. Unlike the US release, the British version of the DVD features a running commentary track by writer/director Ben Elton and Hugh Laurie (alone worth the price of the DVD). There are fun cameos by Rowan Atkinson, Emma Thompson, Dawn French, and a host of other British comedy comedy legends.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - BoffleB
Great suggestions, Barbara. I can only add that the House Soundtrack could be added to that list since it contains a Band from TV cover version of the Rolling Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want," a song which has been used to great effect on House since the series pilot. Band from TV, as you, of course, well know, features Hugh singing and playing piano: their version of "Minnie the Moocher" is available on iTunes. And Hugh's songs on J&W and ABoF&L: also brilliant! Simply brilliant!
2 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks for mentioning those Boffle! I was really disappointed when the Band From TV version of Minnie wasn't included on the House soundtrack (but then why would it?).
3 - Paquita Mompwetmo
he was also in a twilight zone episode where he was an escaped convict who picked up an alien device that looked like a gun and the moment he touched it it bonded with his hand and became a part of him and he grew these postules on his sides where bullets grew out of his body. maybe they should punk him, where he's supposed to treat an emergency case with a broken wrist and when he pulls off the sheet covering the arm he will see the same gun that he used in the twilight zone episode...just a thought...
4 - marykir
If you enjoy listening to Hugh there are several audiobooks, of which the easiest to find in the US are Jerome K. Jerome's "Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow," Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations," and Alexander McCall Smith's von Igelfeld trilogy which starts with "Portuguese Irregular Verbs." All of these are available on audible.com. If you have young children, there are some audio versions of books by Giles Andreae, Lauren Child, and Roald Dahl which are lots of fun -- but which probably will need to be ordered from the UK.
Hugh has also done a lot of work on animated programs for children. These are also easier to find in the UK. The best one you can find in the US is "The Tale of Two Bad Mice and Johnny Town-Mouse" which is part of "The Peter Rabbit Collection" aka "The World of Peter Rabbit & Friends."
On the TV front, another fun performance is from "Tracy Takes On" season 1. Hugh appears as Timothy Bugge in 3 episodes: very briefly in episode 1, "Romance"; episode 4, "Royalty"; and episode 8, "Death."
5 - Mary
And let's not forget that many public libraries have pretty good video/DVD collections that will let you borrow items for free. That's how I got to see "The Young Visiters" (sic), which was surprisingly entertaining for an adaptation of a book written by a very young girl with some peculiar ideas of how adults conversed. But all the actors do a splendid job with the material, (including Hugh Laurie, of course).
6 - Barbara Barnett
If you enjoy listening to Hugh there are several audiobooks, of which the easiest to find in the US are Jerome K. Jerome's "Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow," Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations," and Alexander McCall Smith's von Igelfeld trilogy which starts with "Portuguese Irregular Verbs." All of these are available on audible.com. If you have young children, there are some audio versions of books by Giles Andreae, Lauren Child, and Roald Dahl which are lots of fun -- but which probably will need to be ordered from the UK.
Marykir--All are good choices for audio books. I personally love hearing Hugh reading Ben Elton's Inconceivable (on which "Maybe Baby" is based). Hugh has such a great ear, and a flexible voice which makes it possible for him to create all of those wonderfully unique voices.
Thanks for adding those, and it's nice to see you over here!
Mary--good suggestion about finding a lot of things in libraries.
Barbara
7 - Die Hard
I am not sure whether I love him or whether I am in love with him. Either way I am gone. utterly and totally.
8 - Barbara Barnett
Die Hard--you will get no argument from me.
Barbara
9 - Krista
I have spent the last year or so catching up on Hugh's career. Where has this man been all my life?? He is awesome!!
10 - Barbara Barnett
Krista--agreed. It's unique enough to have created one iconic character in one's career (film or television). Hugh has created three completely unforgettable characters--I wish at some point in his career he would play Holmes. I believe that Sherlock Holmes is a character Hugh was born to perform.
Barbara
11 - cadeira
Again a wonderful article from you. Thank you! Some weeks ago I´ve spent hours or so to collect all the stuff Hugh´s made on Amazon.
At the moment, when I go out with my dog, I listen to von Igelfeld´s adventures and I have to laugh so often although I´m actually German and sometimes his "fake german" pronounciation is just outrageous but in an absolutely amiable way.
I just wanted to add the two Stuart Little Movies and 101 Dalamtians, because noone else mentioned them yet. Never enjoyed rewatching kids movies as much since I´m a Hugh fan.
12 - Barbara Barnett
I have to admit to having the Stuart Littles and 101 Dalmatians on my DVR right now. Guilty, guilty pleasures (since neither of my kids are young enough anymore to actually watch them). I have no excuse other than that they star Mr. Laurie!
13 - hl_lover
Mr. Little is such a sweet man, again quite the opposite of Gregory House.
Hugh has the comic chops and timing, along with a rubber face and quick wit, that are necessary to be a great comedian, with his equally good partner, Stephen Fry, but it is in drama that you really see Hugh's depth as an actor. Such nuanced performances as Leo Hopkins and Gregory House are stunning in the range of emotions protrayed, sometimes with something as simple as a tightening of a cheek muscle, but more often through the soulfulness of his blue eyes.
I suppose you could add Hugh's performance in the Judy Garland biopic, "Life With Judy Garland--Me And My Shadows" to your list of Hugh's film performances, although you won't get blue eyes in this one, but brown (he wore contact lenses).
And don't forget his appearance in "Spice World, The Spice Girls Movie"!
OK, kidding on that one.
Great review, Barbara, of a marvelous actor's career! Thanks for helping us through the current drought of new "House" episodes.
14 - sdemar
Thank you for the nice recap of Hugh's past work. I am currently building my Hugh Laurie library, while my husband only shakes his head and gently teases me about my tv boyfriend.
He is a true renaissance man. It is only right that he has finally made it big. He has worked hard and has earned his place in the spotlight.
I simply adore him.
15 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks for chiming in hl_lover. And Sdemar.
Hugh was excellent as Vincente Minnelli in the Judy Garland movie (alas with those brown contacts hiding the patent-able eyes). Hugh has always had a lot of range in his acting. That he finally has gotten the much-deserved critical acclaim for his dramatic acting is terrific after a legendary early career as a comic actor.
My husband is constantly teasing me as well. He simply shakes his head and indulges me regarding my TV boyfriend.
16 - ostrova
WODEHOUSE. It's spelled that way, even if it's pronounced "Wood-house". "Woodhouse" is the lady who trains dogs, not a male writer who created Bertie and Jeeves.
"Rhymes with goodhouse, not roadhouse."--PG Wodehouse.
17 - Barbara Barnett
WODEHOUSE. It's spelled that way, even if it's pronounced "Wood-house". "Woodhouse" is the lady who trains dogs, not a male writer who created Bertie and Jeeves.
Of course you are right. Megadoses of cold meds is my lame excuse for such a typographical error. Apologies from this Wodehouse fan.
BB
18 - Tourmaline
Excellent article Barbara!
Note that, in addition to playing the lead in Fortysomething, Hugh also stepped in to direct the series when the original director dropped out.
19 - Colin
I'm glad you're liking Blackadder and a Bit of Fry and Laurie, are you an Anglo or merely an Anglophile Barbara?
I hope Hugh's success gives Stephen Fry some American profile too - I think all he has done so far is a 'bumbling inspector' cameo in Gosford Park, and his portrayal of Oscar Wilde in Wilde - he's a gay you know!
A Bit Of Fry and Laurie lit up my late adolescence with its genius and I can still recite parts of it - better still, but whether it's available anywhere was Stephen Fry's BBC Radio 4 series Saturday Night Fish Fry, where his word play was allowed even freer reign, Hugh Laurie was an occasional guest on the show.
Blackadder too was an enourmous schoolyard hit - I swear to people of a certain age it is probably still basis of their knowledge of British history - with "A cunning plan" still an oft-repeated catchphrase to this day. Brilliantly cast, brilliantly written, brilliantly acted (Tim Mcinerney and Miranda Richardson in II especially)...
Brilliant. Crikey, I could go on for hours about this - I wonder how well Blackadder travels? Monty Python did I suppose and Blackadder had far greater mainstream success at home...
"Too many fat bastards eating all the pie," indeed, the birth of modern socialism Blackadder III styley.
And, one final word, I promise, well two. Blackadder IV's finale does indeed have incredible emotional impact and was indeed something of a national event in this country... And, finally, Stephen Fry currently hosts a very old fashioned panel game on BBC2 and BBC4, called Qi for Quite Interesting, which they are trying to flog to BBC America, Hugh Laurie recently appeared on it, possibly with a view to that market - I hope you get it, it's absurdly brilliant. Na night.
20 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks, Tourmaline! Yes, I recall that he directed (I think) two of the episodes.
Colin--thanks for your comments. I confess to being an American Anglophile. Blackadder has really had quite a long life here on this side of the pond. It's a wonderful history lesson (which is no surprise, given that Ben Elton is quite the student of history--I loved his recent novel on WWI).
It's funny that for so long Hugh really was so overshadowed by the more gregarious and flamboyant Fry. Nowadays, with Hugh's success over here, he is clearly more in the spotlight (at least in the US) than is Stephen, and of course it was fun to see Stephen in the US Show Bones, filmed on the same lot as House.
Love to see them do Holmes one day (with Hugh as Sherlock and Stephen as either Watson or Holmes' brother).
21 - bertas
Barbara great article and very informative too, it seems I can smell Hugh Laurie enthusiast a mile off :) I love Jeeves and Wooster, I grew up on Black Adder however I still have to get my hands on A bit of Fry and Laurie, perfect thing for Christmas season... hm you think Sherlock would be his thing? hmmmm but I have to say as much as I adore House I enjoy it best when he is with Stephen Fry they do gel so well together...
anyhow thanks for the article, now I have to update my hm collection :))
22 - Colin
Ben Elton is more than a student of history, or at least it runs in his family, he is related to the very great British historian Geoffrey Elton - a leading Tudor specialist and Reggius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge. I heard a recent reminiscence of Blackadder (if you can get BBC Radio 4 in America on the web, you should really try and listen to it) in which it was recorded that young Ben was petrified that his uncle would dissaprove of his comedic take on British history, which, duly, he did. Until, that is, the final episode of Blackadder IV, which led him to send a note of congratulations to the young shaver.
Fry certainly qualifies for the title 'national institution' in this country (with his 'brain the size of Kent," Emma Thompson, simply Britain's most knowledgable man) and I would reccomend heartily his collected journalism, Paperweight, if you can get hold of it - great wisdom delivered with great humour. He also produces and directs films now through his company Sprout - he was going to make a Joe Meek biopic (I wrote a bc article on Joe you might like) but someone else got there first. I think he directed an Evelyn Waugh adaptation, Bright Young Things.
I hope they don't do Sherlock - I'm a massive Holmesian and the pair - certainly in this country - carry too much comic baggage for the roles. Again probably only in the UK, no-one would accept Laurie as Holmes with Fry as Watson, quite the wrong way round, although Fry as Mycroft (the brother) is a better shout.
Fry's written a number of novels, none of which I've read, but his autobiography would definitely be worth a look for an Anglophile, and I've checked Amazon and you can get Paperweight in the US - do it forthwith!
Sorry, I should have said, great article too Barbara, and I shouldn't have hijacked your Hugh to go on and on about Stephen Fry.
And, I should probably admit I've never seen House in my life - though it is on British telly.
"And death to the stupid prince who grows fat on the profits!"
Sorry.
All the best and look out for QI on BBC America, if they get the go ahead.
Colin.
23 - Barbara Barnett
I'm a massive Holmesian and the pair - certainly in this country - carry too much comic baggage for the roles. Again probably only in the UK, no-one would accept Laurie as Holmes with Fry as Watson, quite the wrong way round, although Fry as Mycroft (the brother) is a better shout.
I, too, a Holmes fan, and I so very much see HL in the role of Holmes (and Fry as Mycroft--and he would be fabulous in that role). One of the things that House has done for Laurie is to strip him of the "only a comedian" persona. He is immensely powerful as a dramatic actor, playing the troubled genius Gregory House (who is, btw, based on Holmes). It's a powerhouse role (as it were)--and even British critics have admitted how sensational his is in the role. I could not see Hugh as Watson at this point. Hugh has the subtlety of emotion in his dramatic work (particularly in House, but in other things as well) to do Holmes justice.
I wasn't aware of Elton's deep connections to history. Mostly aware of his knowledge and politics (and wonderful writing). I've read several of Fry's books as well. (And of course Hugh's Gun Seller). I love Fry's way with language, and have enjoyed his work in ABOFL and other things--especially his stuff with Hugh.
24 - bertas
Oh but I simply have to suggest Moab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry it is a great read, what that man does with the language is simply astonishing... do you know Barbara I have Gun Seller, I just did not have the time to read it yet...
Colin you really think Fry/Laurie in a new edition of Holmes would not do well in UK? I think they have both proven they can do so much more then comedy... Fry was brilliant in Wilde and well Hugh as House although it is not his only dramatic role, as Barbara said is simply brilliant... anyhow we shall see, but you know what I would really really love? To have Fry as a guest star on House, now that would be a riot :)
25 - Barbara Barnett
Hi Bertas--I've read Moab. A very good read indeed. Fry on House--a lot of fans have suggested that it would be a lot of fun. But I'm not absolutely sure about that. Maybe as a clinic patient in a cameo-like role. I'd prefer that to Fry playing a patient of the week.