Dillinger would also oversee the massive upgrade to the game’s “Master Control Program,” which is voiced by Warner as well. Warner would play computer game character “Sark,” a character written in the real world by Ed Dillinger, also played by Warner. Next up would be Warner’s equally villainous role in the revolutionary and groundbreaking Disney foray into the then-new technology of CGI, “TRON” (1982). David Warner furthered his villain status with his role as “Sark” another embodiment of evil. “Time Bandits” affirmed Warner’s early 1980s status as a cult cinematic villain. What does stay in my memory is the absolute commitment with which David Warner threw himself into the role. While I certainly enjoyed “Time Bandits” when I first saw it, I don’t recall details of it as well as I should. The cast would include Gilliam’s Monty Python colleague John Cleese as Robin Hood, Sean Connery as Agamemnon, Ian Holm as Napoleon and Kenny Baker (R2-D2 himself) as one of the titular Time Bandits. In some ways, the movie is a visually imaginative throwback to 1960s Ray Harryhausen fantasies, but with the wonderful silliness one would expect from Gilliam’s longtime association with the Monty Python troupe. Graduating in status from a mere time-traveling serial killer, Warner would play ‘Evil Genius,’ aka evil incarnate. Warner’s run of villainy continued in another time travel fantasy writer/director Terry Gilliam’s “Time Bandits” (1981). From Jack the Ripper to “Evil” incarnate, in another time-traveling fantasy, Terry Gilliam’s “Time Bandits” (1981). This was one of the most memorable villains I would see Warner play, and it is also one of my favorite films of his diverse career. Warner plays the cooler Jack like a panther on the prowl, ironically slipping right into the late 20th century far better than his naive futurist friend, Herbert George Wells. In the final act, a visibly unstable Jack finds a valuable hostage in Wells’ newfound American girlfriend ( and future-past-ex wife) Amy Robbins (Mary Steenburgen). Later, as Wells chases him through time, Jack’s facade begins to slip into the psychosis that’s just beneath the surface. John Leslie Stevenson unflappable and respectable a pillar of London society, and a valued member of Wells’ eclectic circle of friends. Unfortunately, Herbert’s former friend and chess partner is always a step ahead–slaying women with a chilling freedom and ease he never knew in his native country and century. Since Wells cleverly held onto the vehicle’s return key, he is able to pursue Jack into the late 20th century. Wells (Malcolm McDowell) has created a working time machine ( the basis for his future novel), which Jack uses to flee justice in 1893 London, landing in the ‘brave new world’ of 1979 San Francisco, where the time machine currently resides in a touring exhibit of H.G. Stevenson as “chief of surgery at White Chapel.” Fortunately for ol’ Jack, his author/inventor friend H.G. John Leslie Stevenson, who is more infamously known as “Jack the Ripper.” A Scotland Yard inspector in the film wryly describes Dr. Warner really got to flex his villain-muscles as respected late 19th century London physician Dr. Next came one of my all-time favorite roles of Warner’s in Nicholas Meyer’s delightful sci-fi fantasy “Time After Time” (1979). David Warner’s increasingly unstable Jack the Ripper finds a valuable hostage in Mary Steenburgen’s Amy Robbins the future-past-ex-wife of H.G. “The Omen” isn’t a particular favorite of mine, though it certainly has moments, and features a terrific cast, including Warner, Gregory Peck, Lee Remick and Patrick Troughton. Sadly, the character is decapitated after coming this close to outing young Damien Thorn as the AntiChrist. The character is an unlikely ally to the cause of good, as his obsession makes him come off as a mite unhinged ( Warner’s natural intensity is well-used). Jennings suspected that the adopted son (Harvey Stevens) of US ambassador Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) was actually the son of Satan himself. While Warner’s career dates back to the early 1960s, the first role I recall seeing him in was 1976’s “The Omen,” where he played tenacious photographer Keith Jennings. An obsessive David Warner as photographer Keith Jennings in 1976’s “The Omen.” The actor’s range was his shield from typecasting, and he could play deeply sympathetic characters just as he could play the very embodiment of evil–all with complete believability. I’ve grown up as an admirer of his work for as long as I can remember, as he populated so many of the movies and TV shows I enjoyed in my youth. Sadly, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting David Warner, as I’d hoped to meet him at a convention a year ago, but he cancelled due to health reasons. This week saw the loss of renowned British actor David Warner at age 80, from cancer complications, just five days shy of his 81st birthday.
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