PETER USTINOV

     Peter Ustinov, who left us in 2004 at age 82, was a true renaissance man.  He acted, wrote and directed.  He worked tirelessly for UNICEF for over 30 years.  He made over 90 films, and the best of them are very good indeed.

     Mr. Ustinov first appeared on the radar of American film buffs in the Roman Empire epic Quo Vadis (1951). Despite the presence of Deborah Kerr and Robert Taylor, Mr. Ustinov frankly steals the movie as the mad emperor Nero, a character he defined for all time with this portrayal. 

     The Sundowners (1960) is one of those quiet little films that just hangs around because people keep liking it. Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr are Australian sheep ranchers and Peter Ustinov is their sidekick-foreman-best friend.  It is very much like an American western in its portrayal of pioneers trying to survive in a raw, hostile country. 

     Spartacus (1960) features Kirk Douglas (as leader of a slave revolt), Jean Simmons, Sir Lawrence Olivier, Tony Curtis and Charles Laughton.  But it was Peter Ustinov who won an Oscar for his supporting role as Batiatus, owner of a notorious school for gladiators.  Its history may be a little questionable, but there is no denying the spectacular sets, costumes and battle scenes of Spartacus. Oh, and there's the much featured scene where all the revolting slaves tell the Roman soldiers, "I am Spartacus."

     In the long roll-call of heist movies, few can approach the bright and wonderful Topkapi (1964) about a disparate and desperate band of small-time thugs determined to rob the big museum.  Once again Peter Ustinov is in august company: Melina Mercouri, Maximillian Schell, Robert Morley, Akim Tamiroff. And once again it is Mr. Ustinov copping the Oscar as the sleazy hood with all the answers. It is hard to imagine anyone else in this role, which pulls this movie up above dozens of other caper flicks.

     Perhaps the crowning glory of Peter Ustinov's cinematic career is the much underrated Billy Budd (1962).  A personal project Mr. Ustinov had dreamed of putting together for years, it is based on Herman Melville's novella and is a cautionary tale that pushes the limits of the morality vs. legality debate.  Mr. Ustinov wrote it, directed it, produced it and plays the key role of the captain. He must decide whether to follow the law to the letter, or do what seems right in his heart.  Terrence Stamp (in his first role) is incandescent as the innocent Billy, and Robert Ryan is superb as the villainous master-at-arms.

     All of the films in this article are available on DVD and for streaming.  All are for 10 and up.