Patrick Godfrey was awesome in this. Simcox is such a small role, but he does the innuendo and sneering so perfectly. Godfrey will always be Simcox to me.
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Heh. Reptilian. Nice description.
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Yes, I love him as Simcox (except his very strange hairdo, that is!). It took me a few viewings to get the full Simcox effect, though. This is one of those films that just gets better with repeat viewings, and I've caught so much more in the background each time I watch it. For instance, I didn't really catch Simcox's expression when Maurice first comes to Pendersley (maybe the fact that I hadn't purchased the DVD yet, and was watching it on YouTube, had something to do with it). And then again at Clive's wedding (and Alec was there in the background with his buddy!).
Movies about the class system in Britain at the time fascinate me. Gosford Park is another of my favorite movies, and it's such a great 'behind the scenes' as it were, of the whole upstairs/downstairs thing. Servants were supposed to be invisible to the upstairs people. In the background, not speaking unless spoken to, just there to do their jobs quietly, and that's it. But, the upstairs people don't seem to realize that, yes, the servants have eyes, ears, and brains, and do indeed know much, much more about what's going on in the house than they realize.
One of my favorite parts in Gosford is when Freddie (another great James Wilby role!) and Isobel are having a private conversation, and George the footman walks through the hall. Isobel is worried, but Freddie just says, "Don't worry, it's nobody". Nobody indeed!
You're right, it's easy to watch the film once through and hardly notice that Simcox is a character in his own right.
Interesting comparison to Gosford Park, which is another of my favourite films, too. Very Foresteresque with its interaction between the classes, now you mention it.
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Patrick Godfrey is great in 'A Room With A View', too: he was the supercilious 'The Reverend Mr. Eager, Chaplain of the Anglican Church in Florence'. He's 78 years old now, and still seems to be doing masses of work - but he'll always be first and foremost Simcox for me! (Call me shallow, but I also love the way Simcox looks as if he might be wearing rouge.)
One thing I've always loved in 'Maurice' is the brilliant but quite subtle use of innuendo throughout (even the banter between the pub landlady and the guardsmen, in the scene where Risley is about to be set up, is brilliant: 'Ends must meet' - 'And at the price of your beer, no wonder') – but PG's performance as Simcox elevates insinuation and disdain to a high art. Simcox putting the wind up Clive following Risley's arrest is classic ('They do say he was a Cambridge man, Sir. *Like yourself*, Sir'); as is the remark to Alec, as Simcox departs for the night, about there being 'only Mr Hall's pleasure to wait upon' (hmm ... indeed), and that nasty hollow laugh when Alec protests: 'Mr Hall's a gentleman!' But if I had to pick a favourite moment ... can anything beat the whole 'Mud on the carpet' scene?
Yes, he was quite wonderful and clearly understands that old adage 'less is more' is vital for this character. My favourite moment of his is just before the 'mud on the carpet' moment when he says to Maurice that 'the other servants feel we would be so honoured if you would captain us for the match'. Nicely judged note of sarcasm there.
shareYes, "less is more" sums it up perfectly. A lot of film actors don't get that, especially if they began their career on the stage.
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