Remembrance

The final film of the late Glenda Jackson and, if he remains true to his word, of Michael Caine, “The Great Escaper” has made its way to America two years after its U.K. release. Premiering Sunday under the umbrella of the PBS series “Masterpiece Theatre,” the film tells the true-life story of Bernie Jordan, who, at 89, set off unaccompanied and unannounced from an English retirement home to attend celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. (This event also inspired a Pierce Brosnan film, “The Last Rifleman,” which came out about the same time.) Love and time and duty are its themes. Written by William Ivory and directed by Oliver Parker, it’s a simple story, simply told — sweet, but not saccharine, and moving even when you know what’s coming.

Bernie (Caine) lives with his wife, Rene (Jackson), in a care home by the sea in the town of Hove. She needs more medical attention than he, but both have their wits about them. Having missed securing a spot among the groups traveling to Normandy, Bernie, a Royal Navy veteran, with Rene’s encouragement, decides to go it alone. Though he uses a walker and can seem tired or abstracted at times — he has much on his mind, and a specific mission to fulfill — the trip itself is not especially hard on him. It becomes all the easier once he meets, on the ferry across the English Channel, Arthur Howard-Johnson (John Standing, very fine), an RAF veteran who offers him a place with his group and a bed in his hotel room. As the film goes on, he becomes more and more focused, growing alert and lively and taking charge of Arthur, who had earlier taken charge of him. Each, it will transpire, carries a burden of guilt dating from the invasion.

Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson in “The Great Escaper.”

(Rob Youngson / Masterpiece, Pathé, BBC Films)

Back in Hove, the staff, represented by aide Adele (Danielle Vitalis) and manager Judith (Jackie Clune), is not immediately aware of Bernie’s absence — he’s allowed to come and go — and Rene, who has a tendency to fence with them anyway, is keeping quiet in order to give him time to get away. When they learn he’s missing, a search begins; eventually, Rene lets the truth slip, the exploit hits the press and Bernie, unaware of any of this, is given the nickname “The Great Escaper.” He’ll return home an annoyed celebrity.

Flashbacks, with Will Fletcher as young Bernie and Laura Marcus as young Rene, recall the couple’s wartime meeting and Bernie’s interactions with a young soldier on D-Day. Integrated as memories, they enrich the present action without overexplaining it.

Jackson and Caine, you may know or should learn, were icons of British thespian glamour in the 1960s and ’70s, she in “Marat/Sade,” “Women in Love” and “Elizabeth R,” he in “Alfie” and the Harry Palmer films (“The Ipcress File,” et al.); in 1975, they starred together in Joseph Losey’s “The Romantic Englishwoman,” co-written by Tom Stoppard. Always politically active, Jackson took off 23 years from acting, from 1992 to 2015, to serve as a member of Parliament, and returned to play “King Lear” in London and on Broadway and win a Tony for a revival of Edward Albee’s “Three Tall Women.” Caine, notwithstanding some slow times, made movies all along, all sorts of them, playing Scrooge in “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” Mike Myers’ father in “Austin Powers in Goldmember” and Alfred in the Christopher Nolan’s “Batman” trilogy and parts in five other Nolan films. Watching “The Great Escaper,” you’re seeing history.

Neither has lost a step. (I find it pleasant to remember that, however frail or confused an older character may be, the person playing them is doing a job that requires strength and thought.) Given both the eminence of the actors and their age — Caine was 90 when “The Great Escaper” premiered, while Jackson, 87, died shortly before — it’s hard not to watch with a double consciousness of the players and the parts. But rather than a distraction, it redoubles the impact. Jackson and Caine wear their years proudly; there’s no vanity in their performance or their appearance. The couple’s eventual reunion is deep and real and, like their whole relationship, gorgeously ordinary.

WASHINGTON — Washington National Cathedral on Thursday hosts a bipartisan show of respect and remembrance for Dick Cheney, the consequential and polarizing vice president who in later years became an acidic scold of fellow Republican President Trump.

Trump, who has been publicly silent about Cheney’s death Nov. 3, was not invited to the 11 a.m. memorial service.

Two ex-presidents are coming: Republican George W. Bush, who is to eulogize the man who served him as vice president, and Democrat Joe Biden, who once called Cheney “the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history” but now honors his commitment to his family and to his values.

Daughter Liz Cheney, a former high-ranking House member whose Republican political career was shredded by Trump’s MAGA movement, will join Bush in addressing the gathering at the grand church known as “a spiritual home for the nation.”

Others delivering tributes include Cheney’s longtime cardiologist, Jonathan Reiner; former NBC News correspondent Pete Williams, who was Cheney’s spokesman at the Pentagon; and the former vice president’s grandchildren. Hundreds of guests are expected.

Cheney had lived with heart disease for decades and, after the Bush administration, with a heart transplant. He died at age 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family said.

The White House lowered its flags to half-staff after Cheney’s death, as it said the law calls for, but Trump did not issue the presidential proclamation that often accompanies the death of notable figures, nor has he commented publicly on his passing.

The deeply conservative Cheney’s influence in the Bush administration was legendary and, to his critics, tragic.

He advocated for the U.S. invasion of Iraq on the basis of what proved to be faulty intelligence and consistently defended the extraordinary tools of surveillance, detention and inquisition employed in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Bush credited him with helping to keep the country safe and stable in a perilous time.

After the 2020 election won by Biden, Liz Cheney served as vice chair of the Democratic-led special House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. She accused Trump of summoning the violent mob and plunging the nation into “a moment of maximum danger.”

For that, she was stripped of her Republican leadership position and ultimately defeated in a 2022 Republican primary in Wyoming. In a campaign TV ad made for his daughter, Dick Cheney branded Trump a “coward” who “tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.”

Last year, it did not sit well with Trump when Cheney said he would vote for Democrat Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

Trump told Arab and Muslim voters that Cheney’s support for Harris should give them pause, because he “killed more Arabs than any human being on Earth. He pushed Bush, and they went into the Middle East.”

Woodward writes for the Associated Press.

Strictly Come Dancing fans were left in tears as they watched the results show

Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left reaching for the tissues during Sunday night’s emotional elimination show.

The evening featured a musical performance from James Morrison, belting out ‘Fight Another Day’, accompanied by a dance routine from Jowita Pryzstał and Neil Jones.

The Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment also graced the stage alongside the Strictly Professional Dancers for a group performance in honour of Remembrance Sunday, set to Sam Fender’s poignant track ‘Remember My Name’.

However, it was this particular performance that had fans welling up, with many taking to social media to express their emotions – and eagle-eyed viewers spotted that Amy Dowden was part of the special pre-recorded routine.

Amy is currently on a break from the show as she recovers from her second mastectomy, reports Wales Online.

One viewer posted on X, “Amy dancing recorded in August, then, hate these ‘Sunday’ shows and dances recorded months ago.”

Another fan gushed, “Love seeing Amy in the performance. I am sobbing.”

While another added, “Dancing to Remember My Name by Sam Fender on #Strictly making me VERY emotional.

“Not one for sentiment when it comes to war, but brass bands really do choke me up #strictly,” another viewer shared.

Yet another wrote, “That was a beautiful pro dance and the music was spot on, can’t believe I’m now in tears over strictly. I almost never cry, yet I’ve cried two shows in a row tonight!”

Tonight’s results saw the departure of one celebrity, as Harry Aikines-Aryeetey and Karen Hauer found themselves in a dance-off against La Voix and Aljaž Škorjanec.

Both pairs took to the floor once more; La Voix and Aljaž reprised their Foxtrot to Make Your Own Kind of Music by Cass Elliot, while Harry and Karen Hauer danced their Samba to Samba by Gloria Estefan.

However, it was a unanimous verdict as all judges opted to save La Voix, resulting in Harry being sent packing.

It was a poignant moment for Harry, and when quizzed by Tess Daly about his Strictly experience, he said, “I think, first things, I just want to thank Karen, genuinely, you have given me an opportunity to shine.

“You’ve understood my crazy brain. I’m a logical person, trying to dance – and obviously doing what I do – an Olympic sprinter and a Gladiator; now I’m trying to be a dancer.

“I just want to thank you so much for the time and effort, the hard work that you’ve put into me. You show up, you turn out. I want to thank everyone here. Literally, this has been a dream come true. This is a celebration. It’s a celebration.”

The Gladiator continued, “I spoke to my daughter and she didn’t like seeing her dad sad, and when she saw me sad last week, she was like, “Daddy, what’s wrong?’ and I wanted to show everyone that, no matter what happens, there’s always a silver lining.

“But this is an experience for me. So, thank you for this lovely gift, and at the end of the day, we carry on, we give it to them, and we continue to shine. Do you know what I mean?”

Karen also became emotional as she shared with Tess what being paired with Harry had meant to her.

She said, “I am extremely proud. We’ve had the best time.

“You’re such a gentleman, you’re a hard worker, you listen, and you get into those times where I don’t know what you were thinking, but you know what? I loved you in every kind of way because of the person that you are, and it was an honour to teach you, so thank you so much.”

Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

Sir Rod Stewart performed at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on BBC One

Sir Rod Stewart’s lively performance at this year’s Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at London’s Royal Albert Hall left some viewers unimpressed.

The 79-year-old music icon kicked off the annual event, attended by high-ranking royals and military veterans, with a spirited rendition that split opinions among home audiences.

Despite the evening being dedicated to honouring the nation’s fallen heroes, some fans suggested his hip-shaking moves were “not exactly in the spirit of remembrance.”

One disgruntled viewer posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Because Rod Stewart gyrating his hips is how we all want to pay tribute to the fallen.”

Another commented, “Rod Stewart’s really going for it, but I’m not sure those hip gyrations are exactly in the spirit of remembrance,” and questioned, “Is this appropriate?” according to the Daily Express.

Someone else added, “Rod Stewart is totally inappropriate for the Festival of Remembrance.”

However, many came to the defence of the veteran singer, highlighting his decades-long history of entertaining troops and supporting military charities.

One fan praised, “Sir Rod Stewart on bbc1 tonight made me so very proud and all our soldiers and airmen, and LADIES GOD BLESS YOU ALL THANKYOU YOUR ALL AMAZING THANKYOU.” (sic)

Someone else complimented, “Sir Rod Stewart isn’t looking (or sounding) half bad for a man of 80! Good for him.”

Sie Rod, who previously performed at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, has a long-standing commitment to charity work supporting the armed forces. He returned to the stage a second time to perform his hit song, Sailing.

The evening, held at the Royal Albert Hall and presented by Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, also saw performances from Sam Ryder, Keala Settle, Blessing Offor, and The Wellermen, alongside moving displays by the Central Band of the RAF and Royal Marines Band Service.

This year’s Festival of Remembrance commemorated the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II and paid tribute to the bravery of those who served, while also recognising the resilience of military families and the advancements made since the prohibition on LGBT service personnel was removed 25 years ago.

Viewers applauded the entire show, sharing their thoughts online: “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance is always so beautifully put together. An incredible tribute to those who serve & have served our country.”

Some acknowledged the sacrifices being remembered whilst criticising the current state of Britain’s borders. One viewer commented: “In the year that our government admitted that they have lost control of our border, it makes the #festivalofremembrance more poignant than ever. Let us pray we don’t see the day when we admit they all died in vain.”

Many were left feeling emotional during the annual commemoration, with one viewer confessing: “10 minutes in and I’m already in tears.”

Another shared: “Imagine not seeing your baby until it was 9 months old. It’s incomprehensible. We owe these men and women so much.”

Hannah Waddingham received acclaim for her “simply superb” hosting and “stunning” vocal performance as she sang “We’ll Meet Again”.