From the moment I saw Terry in It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World I fell for his humor and shady characters. What a delight it is to have him visit my movie room on occasion. Just recently I saw him turn up in an episode of The Persuaders series opposite Roger Moore and Tony Curtis. And yes, he stole every scene.
Enjoy the gallery sprinkled with quotes from his role as J. Algernon Hawthorne in It’s A Mad……….World.
” Look at yourself, and the way your wife and her strumpet of a mother push you through the hoop! As far as I can see, American men have been totally emasculated. They’re like slaves! They die like flies from coronary thrombosis, while their women sit under hairdryers, eating chocolates and arranging for every second Tuesday to be some sort of Mother’s Day! And this positively infantile preoccupation with bosoms. In all my time in this wretched Godforsaken country, the one thing that has appalled me most of all is this this preposterous preoccupation with bosoms. Don’t you realize they have become the dominant theme in American culture: in literature, advertising and all fields of entertainment and everything. I’ll wager you anything you like that if American women stopped wearing brassieres, your whole national economy would collapse overnight.”
“I must say, if I had the grievous misfortune to be a citizen of this benighted country, I should be the most hesitant at offering any criticism whatever of any other”
“I say: *Good show*!”
“You know, even for a policeman, your behavior was ruddy outrageous. ”
“Harvard? Rather not. I’m English.”
“Have a care, that chap’s run absolutely amok!”
“Whatever the outcome of the day I shall never forget that you hit me when I wasn’t even looking!”
Thank you Terry for that wonderful grin that has brought me so many tears of laughter over the years.
Mike's Take On the Movies 
I say!! This post is jolly good and the definition of LOL 😀 I read those quotes in his voice. Love how classy and dapper he was vs. shady and untrustworthy. Made for insanely funny moments.
Looking back he’s one of those guys I would look for when watching comedies or if he popped up I’d be like, there’s that guy with the space between his teeth, Mom!
“Shall we press on.”
Love Terry Thomas! Love him in I’M ALRIGHT JACK and SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS
I reviewed Jack early last year and it’s always been a favorite from that British era. School I havent seen. Have to fix that. He played the same character from Jack in Private’s Progress with Ian Carmichael as well. Like to see that one again but dont have a copy.
Never seen Private…is it even available on DVD?
I haven’t come across it in North America. Saw it years ago on TV. In Jack you’ll notice that Thomas already knows how Carmichael is a guy who can ruin things. That’s from the earlier military comedy. Attenborough as well.
Great quotes and pix from one of the finest British comic actors ever. I always liked him in School for Scoundrels – hard cheese 🙂
He knew his strenghts and how to play his roles perfectly. He was good in so many roles. How about his afternoon romp with Jayne Mansfield in A Guide for the Married Man. Panic sets in when he cant locate her bra.
Been ages since i saw that movie but yes, I remember that now. He played an absolute blinder in How to Murder Your Wife too.
I have Murder and was thinking of dong a post on it. Been years since I have seen it.
Do it! Lemmon. TT. Virna Lisi and Neal Hefti – what’s not to like?