Pope Francis was hospitalized and gravely ill on the weekend it was announced Amazon MGM Studios had purchased, for $1-billion, the full rights to the storied 007 film franchise. How can these two major news events concerning the Pontiff and James Bond possibly be related?
The answer is Ralph Fiennes and the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge: Hollywood’s most historic hangout. It is inside what has been affectionately called, since 1912, the “pink palace” on Sunset Boulevard.
Even without the glitterati and power players who shine and dine there, the Polo Lounge is a special space. Its’ green-striped and white lattice interior décor highlights hidden corners and leads to an open-air courtyard filled with flowers and fauna. All of it is attended to by servers in white coats and black ties, while candles light the top of the piano and a mural-sized polo match is the panoramic photo behind the bar.
On a Saturday evening just before the Academy Awards, I was having a drink with syndicated radio star George Noory, who, like me, began his life and media career in Detroit. As two radio hosts who talk all week for a living, Noory and I spent more quiet time sipping than speaking since piano player Adolfo Jon Alexi was performing amidst the popular Polo Lounge’s usual busy buzz.
My chair at our small table beside the bar backed up to a banquette table along the wall. A casual glance caused me to realize a giant star was seated at the booth within arms’ length from me.
“George,” I said discreetly, “that is Ralph Fiennes right behind me.”
“Ralph?” Noory asked, leaning in.
“He pronounces it ‘Rayff,’” I responded.
Then I reminded Noory, off the top of my head, of the 62-year-old world class English actor’s extensive career. Fiennes’ filmography included travel-related movies such as “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and “The Menu.” But he’s most known for roles in Academy Award-winning films “Schindler’s List;” “The English Patient;” and “The Hurt Locker.” The versatile Fiennes even played Hanibal Lechter in “Red Dragon;” Hades in “Clash of the Titans;” and Lord Voldemort in the “Harry Potter” film series.
Most recently, he played 007’s boss “M” in the James Bond movie series. And, at that moment, Fiennes sat there as an Oscar nominee for his role as Thomas Lawrence, the Dean of the Cardinals in “Conclave,” the Best Picture-nominated film about the passing of a pope in which his character directs the secret deliberations to select a successor.
When I stood, I made unintended eye-contact with Fiennes. Given our proximity at cozy Polo Lounge, we inadvertently had our own “conclave.” So, standing in front of the seated Fiennes, I took a big chance:
“Your Eminence,” I began without even introducing myself, “it seems, with the Holy Father gravely ill, you sadly may be needed soon at The Vatican.”
Ralph Fiennes looked me square in the eye for a moment, slowly lowered his head a bit, and leaned forward while pressing his hands together in prayer. He then responded in a very slow, solemn fashion: “If I am indeed called upon, I shall certainly honor my duty to be there.”
Fiennes was fun! He played along and slipped right into his Oscar-nominated Cardinal Lawrence character!
Now that I had “invited myself to the party,” I pushed it a little more:
“But what if Jeff Bezos calls at the same time?” I asked, in reference to the Amazon MGM CEO’s new ownership of the 007 movie franchise.
“Bezos…” Fiennes countered in his other character’s cadence while squinting his eyes like a spy with a secret.
“Yes, ’M,’” I stated. “James Bond and MI6 also need you!”
Fiennes then arched an eyebrow, 007-style while lifting his glass to the future of the James Bond franchise. (By coincidence, Bezos, himself, sat nearby in the Polo Lounge corner table a few months earlier.)
If I am going to engage a notable person anywhere, I prefer chancing a quick, knowing, interesting gambit. It was a sassy 10-second exchange, but Ralph Fiennes wins my award for being a friendly and fun film star. And for letting me serve, suddenly, as his tableside supporting actor.
Contact Michael Patrick Shiels at MShiels@aol.com His new book: Travel Tattler – Not So Torrid Tales, may be purchased via Amazon.com Hear his radio talk show on WJIM AM 1240 in Lansing weekdays from 9 am – noon.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Shiels: An elegant enclave for a Ralph Fiennes conclave: The Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge
Reporting by For the Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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