Latest news with #Ben-Hur
Local France
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Local France
French Word of the Day: Superproduction
Why do I need to know superproduction? Because your French cinephile friends might invite you to see one this summer – if only to spend some time in an air-conditioned room out of the scorching sun. What does it mean? Superproduction – yes, its two words glued together, and pronounced soo-pair-prodd-ucc-syon – is the French term for a big-budget movie, usually involving plenty of action and big-bang special effects, and refers to the significant financial and material resources needed to bring it to the silver screen. The anglophone term blockbuster – which has crossed the English-French linguistic barrier – surfaced in the 1940s and takes its inspiration from the Second World War bombs capable of destroying entire blocks of buildings. Advertisement Although the term has been around since the 40s, it only really gained traction in 1975 – when Jaws smashed box office expectations – taking in an astonishing $470 million globally on a budget of $7 million. Ever since, 'blockbuster' has also included recognition of a movie's commercial success. But the linguistically correct French term for a Hollywood blockbuster would be superproduction hollywoodienne. Use it like this Les Trois Mousquetaires a été un superproduction français qui a rapporté 100 millions de dollars – The Three Musketeers was a $100 million French blockbuster « Les Dix Commandements », de Cecil B DeMille, « Ben-Hur », de William Wyler, sont des superproductions – Cecil B DeMille's 'The Ten Commandments' and William Wyler's 'Ben-Hur' are blockbuster films.
Elle
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
Lola Bute and Stella Maxwell Celebrate Aquazzura and Mytheresa With a Glamorous Night in Italy
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Aquazzura and Mytheresa sure know how to serve up a Roman holiday. On Thursday, the duo teamed up for a spectacular soirée to toast Aquazzura's exclusive new capsule collection—and their long-standing partnership—in seriously cinematic style: right on the steps of Cinecittà Studios' legendary ancient Roman temple set. With delicious food, a chic crowd, and a rainbow-hued meadow made up of 300 pairs of Aquazzura shoes, the night was pure magic. 'It felt like a dream come true to make a party with Mytheresa, one of our first clients, and an incredible supporter through the years of Aquazzura, in Rome with friends and family, and on one of the most magical sets where they filmed Ben-Hur and Cleopatra,' Edgardo Osorio, founder and creative director of Aquazzura, exclusively tells ELLE. Taking inspiration from Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita, the evening channeled the glitz and glamour of 1960s Italy. To kick off the two-part event, Osorio and Michael Kliger, CEO of Mytheresa, invited an international array of It girls, royalty, actors, and close friends. Attendees included Lola Bute, Kitty Spencer, Diane Kruger, Princess Eugenia von Hannover, Stella Maxwell, and more. The long table was a vision of romantic elegance, adorned with lush floral arrangements of jatropha, peonies, and celosia. After dinner, guests danced the night away—a scene fit for any Fellini fantasy. The following morning began with a leisurely brunch at the brand-new Aquazzura Bar, tucked inside the iconic Hotel de Russie and just a stone's throw from the historic Spanish Steps. After a night of celebration and a morning of relaxation, the glamorous Roman getaway came to a perfect close. Alexandra Hildreth is the Fashion News Editor at ELLE. She is fascinated by style trends, industry news, shake-ups, and The Real Housewives. Previously, she attended the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Following graduation, she moved back to New York City and worked as a freelance journalist and producer.
Metro
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Coronation Street legend ‘set to return' just months after exit
Coronation Street legend Dame Maureen Lipman is set to return to her role as Evelyn Plummer in the near future after taking a break from the ITV soap earlier this year. The character left the cobbles when she decided to attend university to read law, after being encouraged to pursue her passion by best friend Roy Cropper (David Neilson) Last year, Maureen announced that she would be taking a 'gap year' from the show, explaining that Evelyn would be 'in and out' so that the actress could 'have a bit of a life'. She last appeared on screen in March after learning that daughter Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) had been cast out by the locals after being caught out for drugging and stealing from Ken Barlow (William Roache). When she learnt that Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) had tempted Cassie with drugs, she decided to stand by her, even considering dropping out of university. Metro understands that Evelyn will be back on our screens for a few weeks in the near future as Maureen returns to filming. 'As Evelyn went off to uni, it makes sense for her to pop back in from time to time,' a source told The Sun. Co-star Claire Sweeney previously spoke to Metro about her hopes that Maureen would soon return to the show, saying: '[Maureen's] dipping in and out now. Whenever she goes, we had a few drinks with her the other day and we were like: 'You'll be back, we'll see you soon.' 'She goes off to do a play or whatever she's doing but hopefully she'll be back.' Last year, Maureen took a swipe at Corrie's dark storylines, and harked back to its formative years – a time when many scripts were penned by her late husband, prolific screenwriter Jack Rosenthal. 'We've come to a point in Corrie now where people are getting murdered in knicker factories' she told the Beyond the Title podcast. 'We're having domestic abuse. Anything that ticks the box of social problems in the 21st century is going to be in your local soap.' More Trending She continued: 'Whereas back then you had the freedom to put Martha [Longhurst], Minnie [Caldwell] and Ena [Sharples] in the snug and have a conversation about Ben-Hur. 'It's never been political but I always like it when the women sit down and go, 'Ooh, Donald Trump, ain't his hair shocking.'' View More » 'People talk like that, and we recognise it as true.'
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Coronation Street star returns to soap in WEEKS as she makes U-turn on plans to ‘take a break'
A STAR of Coronation Street will make a huge return to the soap in just weeks. The actress has seemingly made a U-turn on her plans to 'take a break' from the long-running ITV serial drama. Advertisement 7 Dame Maureen Lipman will soon return to Coronation Street Credit: Getty 7 The veteran actress has played battleaxe Evelyn Plummer since 2018 In July last year, it was reported that the veteran actress At the time, her character was written out as she decided to embark on a new career and study law at University as a spokesperson confirmed she decided to take a sabbatical. As such, she moved away from the cobbles to concentrate as she sought out accommodation in university halls of residence at the age of 78. Advertisement READ MORE ON CORRIE Now a source has told The Sun that Evelyn will be back in Weatherfield, and fans only have a short time to wait. An insider told us: 'As Evelyn went off to uni, it makes sense for her to pop back in from time to time." Fans saw her But during a TV appearance with Advertisement Most read in Soaps Exclusive "It's good for you, it keeps you on your metal, my goodness me. I mean everything is still completely fascinating to me." Maureen Lipman's Coronation Street exit storyline confirmed as Evelyn Plummer makes announcement to grandson Tyrone However, in December last year, she told The Sun: "I'll be absent for a while, and then coming back. "I'm not going to die but then I'll be in and out of it because I want to have a bit of a life. Advertisement 'David and I are thinking of having a bit of a gap year.' However, Coronation Street Spoilers: News & Cast Updates The beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades. The show follows the lives of the residents as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles. Here's the latest on: Coronation Street spoilers Up-to-date news on our Where is The history of Coronation Street's iconic pub Speaking on the Beyond The Title podcast, she remarked: "We've come to a point in Corrie now where people are getting murdered in knicker factories. "We're having domestic abuse. Anything that ticks the box of social problems in the 21st century is going to be in your local soap. Advertisement "Whereas back then you had the freedom to put Martha [Longhurst], Minnie [Caldwell] and Ena [Sharples] in the snug and have a conversation about Ben-Hur. "It's never been political but I always like it when the women sit down and go, 'Ooh, Donald Trump, ain't his hair shocking.'" I'll be absent for a while, and then coming back. I'm not going to die but then I'll be in and out of it because I want to have a bit of a life. Dame Maureen Lipman The Sun She added: "All those wonderful expressions that your parents come out with. "Like my mother saying, 'Ooh, doesn't a black skirt cover a multitude of sins.' People talk like that, and we recognise it as true." Advertisement 7 It was previously announced she was taking a sabbatical on the soap last year Credit: Getty 7 Insiders have told The Sun that ITV viewers can expect to see her back on screens in just weeks Credit: ITV 7 Amid her first departure, the actress suggested that bosses should take a back to basics approach away from the dramatic storylines Credit: ITV 7 Evelyn left Weatherfield to study for a law degree at the age of 78 Advertisement 7 The star did confirm that she was not entirely done with the soap Credit: Getty Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX .
Edinburgh Live
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
BBC Blue Peter icon died penniless after dismissal from show for 'being difficult'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A Blue Peter legend sadly passed away penniless after a nine-year stint on the renowned BBC children's show. Christopher Trace embarked on his presenting journey at the tender age of 25 in 1958, and was the one to kick off the inaugural episode alongside co-host Leila Williams. His television career flourished as he secured a regular presenting gig on the BBC Schools programme Signpost in 1961, a role he held for four years. Before his Blue Peter tenure, Trace even dabbled in acting, featuring in films such as The Hound of the Baskervilles in 1959 and Urge to Kill in 1960. He also served as Charlton Heston's body double in the 1959 cinematic masterpiece Ben-Hur. Regrettably, things took a turn for the worse for the gifted star. By 1967, Blue Peter chiefs were reportedly eager to replace Christopher on the show, citing his challenging behaviour on set, according to the Express. His personal life also spiralled when his wife Margaret Cattrall sought divorce following Trace's infidelity with a 19 year old during a Blue Peter excursion to Norway, reports the Daily Record. Christopher and his wife Meg were parents to two children, Jonathan and Jessica. Trace bid farewell to Blue Peter in 1967 and gambled on a fresh business venture as a writer and production manager at a feature film company. Unfortunately, the job didn't pan out, resulting in the loss of his life savings. Trace was declared bankrupt in 1973, just two years after tying the knot with Prudence Da. He found himself pulling pints in a Norwich pub and driving taxis to make ends meet. Eventually, he managed to revive his television career by working on BBC's Nationwide, presenting regional programmes in East Anglia and hosting the breakfast radio show on BBC Norwich. A source from that time recalled: "I remember him being strong on screen on BBC East. "He was only there as his wife had kicked him out, he'd lost all his money and was drinking and eventually he went off to run a pub in Norwich." However, by the mid-1970s, Trace largely stepped back from his media career and dabbled in various odd jobs. One of these roles included a general manager position at an engineering factory. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community hereand get the latest news sent straight to your messages. While working there, he lost two toes in an industrial accident and stopped coming into work. Sadly, Trace passed away on 5 September 1992 at the age of 59 from oesophageal cancer, after battling the disease for the last five years of his life. At the time of his death, he was residing in Walthamstow and was dependent on benefits. In his final days, Trace was visited in hospital by fellow presenters Valerie Singleton and Biddy Baxter.
