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Mona Lisa arrives at the Cannes Film Festival

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:32:00 +0200

Leonardo DiCaprio may have opened the Cannes Film Festival this week with his latest movie, The Great Gatsby, but it has been Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, that has stolen the show. In the middle of this battle of the two Leonardos is veteran Hollywood producer, Larry A. Thompson, who announced that the mystery of the greatest art heist in history, the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa (La Gioconda), is about to be a major motion picture titled Missing Mona Lisa. On January 4, 2014, the Louvre Museum, France, and the world will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the painting’s return to the Louvre. The 2014 worldwide release of the movie will coincide with the Centennial Celebration. Thompson’s movie, based on an original screenplay by Mark J. Hudelson, is the romanticised true story of Vincenzo Peruggia, a lovable, grief-stricken, Italian simpleton, who, while working in the Louvre, becomes beguiled by Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. Believing in his heart she is homesick for Italy, and mistakenly thinking she was stolen from her homeland by Napoleon, he steals the painting and smuggles her home with him to Florence. What is a lovable, patriotic gesture by Peruggia turns into...

Hi-De-Hi! star dies

Theo Merz, PA — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:04:00 +0200

The Hi-de-Hi! actor Paul Shane has died at the age of 72 following a short illness, his agent said. The star of the 1980s BBC sitcom was surrounded by friends and family in a hospice in his home town of Rotherham, South Yorkshire. Linda Kremer, the actor’s agent for 15 years, said: “Paul Shane was a consummate professional, a true gentleman, a good friend, and a joy to work with. “He didn’t suffer fools, always maintained his sense of humour, never stinted on the time he gave to his fans. “He lightened my life and I’ll miss him enormously.” Shane was a coal miner before starting out as a cabaret act touring working men’s clubs in the 1960s. As well as Hi-di-Hi!, in which he played holiday camp host Ted Bovis, he starred in the TV series You Rang M’Lord and Oh, Dr Beeching! He also appeared in Holby City, Doctors, Coronation Street and A Touch of Frost. He is survived by three daughters and six grandchildren. His wife Dory died in 2001. People took to Twitter following the announcement of his death to share their favourite memories of the actor, with many posting links to a video of his enthusiastic rendition of You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling on Channel 4 in 1996. Comedian Ricky...