Why is he "Sir" John Hurt?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — John Hurt
motter25420-153-699254 — 9 years ago(January 28, 2017 04:09 PM)
I mean, I like the guy, like many of his films, but people seriously get knighted for being.actors? I'd think you'd have to save a bus load of kids on a burning school bus or something, or prevent a plot to blow up thousands of people, or come up with a cure for a disease for that honor.
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ib011f9545i — 9 years ago(January 28, 2017 04:27 PM)
people get knighted for what they are good at,so painters or diplomats get knighted.
Mr Hurt was a great actor don't you think?
Some people get knighted automatically due to holding certain senior positions,that seems more wrong than giving an award to an outstanding actor. -
motter25420-153-699254 — 9 years ago(January 28, 2017 04:34 PM)
Mr Hurt was a great actor don't you think?
Did you even read my post? Let me remind you in case you missed it:
I mean, I like the guy, like many of his films,
and I will stand by what I initially said, no, I do not think actors should get knighted, nor was knighthood historically just about "being good" at something. -
mojo2004 — 9 years ago(February 07, 2017 06:32 AM)
and I will stand by what I initially said, no, I do not think actors should get knighted, nor was knighthood historically just about "being good" at something.
So in today's world someone needs to save a princess from a dungeon in a hostile country to be knighted? A little common sense here as to the way citizens are honored by the Queen for their contributions in many fields vs the way it was done say in the 18th century.
b68
The truth of life has been revealed. -
motter25420-153-699254 — 9 years ago(February 07, 2017 11:40 AM)
Oh gee, well let's see: How about a doctor that worked at a hospital for 30yrs and saved countless people's lives, maybe that might just be a tad more important than acting in a film?
How about power line operators - sound silly - do you know that's one of the most dangerous jobs? People can die if their power is not on, no heat in the winter, no A/C in the summer, heatstroke, or exposure to cold will kill people, but when does anyone thank them?
My goodness, I like movies, and I like actors, but some of you place waaaaay too much importance on 5b4these celebrities. -
ustayherepenny — 9 years ago(January 28, 2017 04:34 PM)
You can be knighted for services to the arts of which he certainly qualified, you can be knighted for other things too such as services to charity, another area he worked hard at, the man was an exemplary actor and an exemplary human being, for purely selfish reasons I wish he could have lived much, much longer.
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owenrcarpenter — 9 years ago(February 01, 2017 04:34 AM)
In what universe do people get knighted for thwarting 9/11-style terrorist attacks or saving a crowded school-bus from exploding in flames?
This is the 21st Century. In modern England a knighthood will generally cost you a 500.000 dotation to the ruling political party. If you are too cheap to fork out that much, then an OBE usually costs only half that amount. Of course, a real high-roller can write a cheque for a cool million. That buys a Life Peerage, which means a seat in the House of Lords and a possible post in the Cabinet someday.
Former Prime Ministers such as Tony Blair and David Cameron were notorious for their 'cash for honours' policy, and I doubt if things will improve under the current administration.
John Hurt earned his knighthood, and is most unseemly of anyone to begrudge him of it. -
ib011f9545i — 9 years ago(February 01, 2017 02:32 PM)
Owen I get your point but you are talking about bravery awards,people still get George medals and Victoria crosses and so on.
I assume that these awards are not always made public due to undercover agents and so on?
I strongly doubt that I would even be in the frame for any sort of award but would I take one if offered? I think I would and most people would. -
owenrcarpenter — 9 years ago(February 04, 2017 08:46 AM)
No, it was the OP who was talking about knighthoods for bravery.
If you read his post he claimed that John should not have knighted for services to the arts, but only for some heroic act straight out of 'Die Hard' or 'Speed'. There are various medals reserved for military and law-enforcement staff in such circumstances, but these are dished out in separate ceremonies from the New Year and Queen's Birthday honours.
The New Year honours are 'political' and are usually given to people who have licked the incumbent Prime Minister's arse loyally enough to qualify for a gong. A trade union baron who has swung his members behind the Labour Party leadership or a captain of industry who has convinced shareholders to bail the Conservative Party out of debt would be a good example.
The Queen's Birthday honours are 'national' and are generally awarded to those who have served their country in the field of charity work, medicine, sport or the arts. A winner of an Olympic gold medal or a distinguished actor would fit that particular bill.
You and I were in accord that John's award was merited by his body of work over the last half-century in the theatrical profession.
It was the OP who disputed this. -
motter25420-153-699254 — 9 years ago(February 11, 2017 02:15 PM)
No, it was the OP who was talking about knighthoods for bravery. but only for some heroic act straight out of 'Die Hard' or 'Speed'.
Talk about exaggerating, I was being a little sarcastic but most adults would know what I meant.
I did say it's silly and stupid to give out awards for "the arts", so yes, you have me on that one, and you've not a done a thing to support your claim that acting is somehow worthy of knighthood.
There are various medals reserved for military and law-enforcement staff in such circumstances
True, but I never suggested military and law enforcement were the only people worthy of knighthood. Likewise, there are TONS of awards given out to actors, far more than to military and law enforcement, so your argument is just contradictory anyhow. -
motter25420-153-699254 — 9 years ago(February 10, 2017 12:47 PM)
How did he earn it? By acting? I believe they already have plenty of awards for acting, not to mention the boatloads of cash they get, and people fawning all over them wherever they go.
If he earned it for charity work, that is something I'd definitely agree with, depending on what charity it is. Nothing "unseemly" at all about suggesting there are more worthy things in life to earn someone a knighthood aside from being in movies. -
Edward_de_Vere — 9 years ago(February 10, 2017 09:29 AM)
Since some people are effectively knighted just for the act of being born into the right family, I find it difficult to be outraged by actors, writers, or anyone else getting knighthood.
Along the same lines, I use the screen name Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford. I don't admire the man in the least for being an Earl, he did nothing to earn that. I admire him for being the probable author of "Shakespeare's" plays. -
motter25420-153-699254 — 9 years ago(February 10, 2017 12:48 PM)
I'm not debating there are plenty of people who get put on pedestals for the wrong reasons, that is still not relevant to my question. All of you saying times have changed and now people get knighted for being in the arts, well, guess if that's how it is, that's how it is, I just think actors get enough praise as it is and maybe there are more deserving people out there of this title.
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owenrcarpenter — 9 years ago(February 11, 2017 03:06 AM)
Since you casually dismiss honours for those in the arts but have not seen fit to address the issue of awarding knighthoods to well-connected billionaire parasites like 'Sir' Philip Green and a host of time-serving senior civil servants upon their retirement, I can only conclude that you are trolling.
I am blocking you - and suggest that others to the same.
Goodbye. -
motter25420-153-699254 — 9 years ago(February 11, 2017 02:09 PM)
awarding knighthoods to well-connected billionaire parasites like 'Sir' Philip Green and a host of time-serving senior civil servants upon their retirement, I can only conclude that you are trolling.
I have addressed that several times, I am not a troll, you're just a moron who can't read. "Blocking" me, what are you in 3rd grade?