JUST ASK

Sep 9 2007 Margret Campbell

Posers

Q HELP me track down a film shot in Ireland and starring Patrick McGoohan, Lee Van Cleef and Derek Lord, better known as Sneddon from High Road? Is it available on DVD? - Jack Smith, Pollok Juniors Football Club.

A THE fim is called The Hard Way and was originally made for TV in 1979. It was so wellreceived, it was given a cinema release the following year.

It is basically an Irish film noir with McGoohan playing a hitman coerced into taking on one last job by his gangster boss (Van Cleef). Edna O'Brien, as McGoohan's wife Kathleen, narrates the film, which also features a rare film appearance by Belfast-born Derek Lord. Sorry Jack but it does not seem to be available on DVD.

There is a 1991 film also called The Hard Way which is available on DVD but be warned, this is NOT a remake. The later film is a comedy about New York cops starring Michael J. Fox and James Woods.

Q WHY are the letters CH used to refer to Switzerland on car stickers, etc? - Mr A. McGill, Kilmarnock.

A SWITZERLAND is officially the Swiss Confederation - or Confoederatio Helvetica in Latin, hence the CH. The name is a bit of a misnomer though as the country is not a confederation - an alliance of autonomous entities - at all.

Since 1848 it has been a federation - a grouping of entities with a central authority. Switzerland is divided into 20 cantons (states) and there are four official languages - German, French, Italian and Romansh, a form of vulgar Latin.

Q WHAT was the 70s film which starred Anthony Quinn as an Eskimo hunter? - Phil, Holytown, Lanarkshire.

A THE film is called The Savage Innocents but it's a bit older than you remember, hitting cinema screens in 1960. Quinn was highly acclaimed for his role as hunter Inuk who gets in trouble after accidentally killing a missionary.

The film is also noted for an early screen appearance by Peter O'Toole, who teamed up with Quinn again for the epic Lawrence of Arabia just two years later.

The Savage Innocents is widely available on DVD from online retailers such as amazon.co.uk or play.com or auction site ebay.co.uk

Q What is the plural of fish - fish or fishes? - John Eadie, Houston, Renfrewshire.

A BOTH are right, John. Fish is the correct use when referring to the same types of fish and fishes should be used to refer to different species. So three salmon would be three fish but a herring, a plaice and a halibut would be three fishes.

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