Death of Body Snatchers star

Two significant figures in world cinema died over the past week. The obituary pages have, quite rightly, made much of the passing of Claude Chabrol at the age of 80. A founder of the French New Wave, the great Hitchcockian directed 55 films in a career that stretched over half a century.

Less attention was paid to the death of that fine character actor Kevin McCarthy. McCarthy, who made it to 96, will always be known primarily for the original Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1956), but also offered fine turns in The Misfitsand The Prize. Joe Dante (interviewed in next week's Ticket) used him in four films: The Howling, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Innerspaceand Looney Tunes: Back in Action.