In Memoriam: Peter Ustinov

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.