One of my favorite actors, Alan Bates, has been elevated to the knightage in

the Queen’s New Year honours list. Among countless other roles, Bates was a

perfect Gabriel Oak in “Far From the Madding Crowd” (he was Gabriel Oak down

to the gaiters) and a creepy landlord in the movie version of Harold

Pinter’s only play, “The Caretaker.” (NB: Pinter later produced the same

play under numerous different titles…)