R.I.P. LENTULUS BATIATUS

Sir Peter Ustinov dead at 82!

I’m sure at some point within the next couple weeks TCM will air a tribute day, or at least an evening. I’m not sure what’s in their library, but if you want to have your own little Ustinov film festival, start with the films that gave him his two Best Supporting Actor Oscar wins: the flawed but fascinating Spartacus and the Jules Dassin heist-comedy Topkaki. Also of note is his portrayal of Nero in Quo Vadis? And don’t forget his multiple turns as Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot in films like Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun. The movies themselves aren’t always the best, but he brings Poirot to life.