In Memoriam: Peter Ustinov

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• JIM LEHRER:

  Finally tonight, Peter Ustinov, who died yesterday. As an actor, he appeared in 90 movies, but he was also a playwright, screenwriter, novelist, mimic and director of operas, as well as a humanitarian who worked with children's charities. He won two Oscars for his acting as a supporting character, but here's a clip of him as the leading man, the star, in the 1970 comedy called "Viva Max!" Ustinov plays a Mexican general who, for reasons of love for a woman and for Mexico, retakes the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

  ( Music playing )

• ACTOR:

  All right, now. Is anyone wounded?

• ACTOR:

  No.

• ACTOR:

  What happened?

• ACTOR:

  Move back the car. Move back. Move out of the way. Come on you, out of the way.

• ACTOR:

  We cannot talk here.

• ACTOR:

  Si, senior. Nobody is hurt.

• ACTOR:

  I am.

• ACTOR:

  Try to stand up.

• ACTOR:

  I cannot. I sprain my ankle.

• ACTOR:

  It's nearly 5:00. ( Wailing )

• ACTOR:

  We'll have to carry him.

• ACTOR:

  I wasn't doing more than 20.

• ACTOR:

  Nor were we.

• ACTOR:

  Get this old lady out of here. Get her out of here!

• ACTOR:

  The bus. Stop the bus.

• ACTOR:

  Senor, you will take this men to the Alamo.

• ACTOR:

  This ain't no cross-town buddy. You got to go down to the next corner, catch the bus.

• ACTOR:

  I have a badly wounded man here, and it's a matter of life and death that you take this idiot to the Alamo.

• ACTOR:

  I don't go to the Alamo.

• ACTOR:

  You could take him to Island Park and then he could transfer to the number 11.

• ACTOR:

  You see? You could take him to Island Park and transfer to number… what was it?

• ACTOR:

  11.

• ACTOR:

  It's very kind of you. And if have you any trouble, ask the lady, island park.

• ACTOR:

  Come on, move the horse, will you buddy?

• JIM LEHRER:

  Peter Ustinov was 82 years old. And, in the interests of full disclosure, our selecting a scene from "Viva Max!" was no accident. The movie was based on a novel of mine by that same name.