Miss Guided

Hello Y'all

I just know there will be experts out there to help fill in many gaps and add comment about an area close to my sqaure eyed heart. Represenatations of and depiction of people of black UK origin in TV and Film. Also need to know as much as possible about Black TV & Film actors from the UK - from the dawn of TV to the present day. Anything - no mater how trivial will be of help. In fact - let's start a forum???

X

Miss Guided
Friend to the stars of stage, screen and gutter.

Moor Larkin

In my meanderings through the Fifties and early Sixties I've been surprised how much 'blackness' there was around. There may have been a certain apartheidness about it at times - all black theatre shows and so forth but the world of showbiz certainly seemed welcoming, not to say intrigued!

I was interested by some comments Earl Cameron made about his early days in Britain, when he remarked that he hadn't had a sense of being a black actor looking for work, just an actor looking for a job.
"I have never thought of myself as the one of the first black actors, though there were not that many around. I didn't see myself as anything special in that sense, I was just a working actor. It was a great life. I've had a good innings." BBC NEWS | Wales | North West Wales | Actor returns for Prisoner's 40th

Danger Man had several episodes with almost all-black casts.

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sippog

I'd look into the career of Calvin Lockhart who featured in a lot of heavyweight 60's drama on film and tv (TALKING TO A STRANGER and LIGHT BLUE are my favourites)

For the 80's, two indie films: BURNING AN ILLUSION and BABYLON deal with specifically black issues. The first has been recently reissued

Steve Crook

Read Black in the British Frame by Stephen Bourne. That relates the story of many of them and tracks down some details about early appearances

Steve

batman

A few films that immediately spring to mind are ....

Flame in the Streets
Pool of London
Emergency Call
The Heart Within
Sapphire

And on TV. ....

A variety of BBC/ITV plays in series such as Play for Today/Armchair Theatre
Z Cars
Dixon of Dock Green

"Do you know why fattries are called fattries .... it's because they are big and people make things in them."

Mark O

An Actress called Cleopatra Sylvestre was usually cast as the 'token' Black Girl in many 1960's things, she was probably the first Black Girl in 'Coronation Street'!

Mark

DB7

Good choice to which I'd add To Sir, With Love.

Steve Crook

Many of the "people of colour" in the films mentioned were born in America or Africa. Earl Cameron was born in Bermuda.

There are a few other stars that were born in Britain, or British territories, like Merle Oberon, although she tried to hide her Sinhalese ancestry

But after that I think you have to go down to the supporting players like Eddie Whaley Jr., born in Brighton, he played 'Joseph Anthony' in Black Narcissus (1947). That had a lot of people of various races in that film as extras. Most of them were recruited from the London docks because they happened to be in port at the right time. But quite a few of the "Indian" roles were played by white actors, like Esmond Knight and Jean Simmons

Similar with films like The Thief of Bagdad (1940). That used Sabu and Rex Ingram but many of the extras in the market scenes were gathered from whoever happened to be in London at the time. People like Glynis Johns, Leslie Philips and Cleo Laine (and her brother ans sister) played the urchins in the market scenes.

Steve

Miss Guided

Hey - thanks so far you lot. I've had more positive response out of the members than 3 years studying film & TV... keep em coming.. and if any actors or practitioners wish to add there comments - please do.

Regards
MsG

Miss Guided
Friend to the stars of stage, screen and gutter.

JamesM

Cy Grant's career could be looked at. He has his own website:-

The Cy Grant Website

This page in particular should be of interest:-

The Cy Grant Website

judylou

I think "Secrets and Lies" was a fabulous film, incorporating so many issues between black and white.

billy bentley

A British racetrack chararacter named "Rass Prince Monolulul" claimed to be the first Black person on British TV. I have a cigarette card that describes him as an "Abyssinian Racing Tipster". His memoir (as told to Sydney White) "I Gotta Horse" was published in 1950 by Hurst & Blackett. I've never read it as it quite an expensive book. He also released a 78 rpm record on the Regal Zonophone label also titled "I Gotta Horse'. evidently his Higness' catchphrase.

O'Deon

A fascinating article about him here: jermynsavile: "I gotta horse!"

"I Gotta Horse" was indeed his catchphrase. He was a tipster who only ever tipped one horse per meeting.

John

Steve Crook

When we were kids we always used to go up to Epsom for Derby Day. Mainly for the funfair and the other attractions rather than the racing but we often saw Prince Monolulu and our Dad took photos of us with him a few times. "I Gotta Horse" was indeed his catchprase and he was a great showman and self-publicist. And very successful at it. Although he was actually born on the Caribbean island of St. Croix (now part of the United States Virgin Islands). The allusions to being an Abyssinian prince were just part of that self-publicity.

A great character

Steve

Rob Compton

I bought a tip from him once, when I was very young - my father took me to Sandown races. Didn't win!