Remembering Dev Peck

The greatest ambition of Gregory Peck, the Hollywood great who died last week, was to essay a feature film role of Abraham Lincoln, with who...

The greatest ambition of Gregory Peck, the Hollywood great who died last week, was to essay a feature film role of Abraham Lincoln, with whom he had so much in common: a height of 6.4 feet, good looks, dark eyes, a measured speech and, above all, a reticence that comes with circumspection. Peck got his chance in 1982 in a mini-series, but his handsome face came in the way in spite of Hollywood8217;s best make-up artistes. However, his mastery over Lincolnspeak was amazing. When a fan offered a dozen apologies for knocking him down unintentionally, Peck replied like Abe: 8220;Just one is enough.8221;

Peck caused a stir wherever he went8212; including India. His greatest fan here was the singing star, Suraiya, who caused a sensation by stating that her greatest desire was to do a role with him. Dev Anand, who was said to be smitten by her, assiduously maintained his reputation of resembling Peck.

In the winter of 1954, Gregory Peck landed in Bombay where he stayed at the Wellington Club. Both Suraiya and Dev Anand lost no time in meeting him. The encounters, from all accounts, were brief but exclusive. It is said by those around then that Peck conducted himself with great dignity and Suraiya was the picture of grace. Sohrab Modi8217;s Mirza Ghalib was showing in Bombay, with Suraiya playing the role of the poet8217;s beloved. Peck was scheduled to see the film but the programme got cancelled at the last moment.

Peck was a voracious reader. Once, when asked while shooting in London, what his latest reading was, he is said to have produced a book from under his coat. It was the American classic, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson.

In 1956, a film by the same title was produced featuring Peck as the hero. At that time, I was a lecturer teaching history at the newly-opened Government College in Gurdaspur, which was where Dev Anand came from. Being his town, it was always filled with some rumour or the other about the man and his legendary romances. Although the truth was that Dev Anand modelled himself after Peck, in Gurdaspur everybody believed that he was streets ahead of his Hollywood counterpart.

It against this background that one of my students came to my home in great excitement with the news that an English film with Dev Anand as the hero was playing at nearby Pathankot. He had a car with him and two tickets. 8220;Sir, there is no time to lose,8221; he said. I accompanied him with further ado.

On reaching the theatre I realised that the film being shown was The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, with Gregory Peck as hero. The movie touched a chord and kindled noble sentiments in me. Fifty two years have passed since I saw it but I can still remember Peck on that grainy screen at Pathankot speaking of a new moral order where the strong are just and the weak secure.

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To my student, I owe a depth of gratitude 8212; for showing me an immortal film in which Dev Anand was 8220;the man in the gray flannel suit8221;!