The late Percy Herbert

[wyrleymon]

We in Britain over the years have been "blessed" with a abundance of fabulous character actors/actreses, as soon as you think of one someone else comes to mind,but for me one of the best was without a doubt the late Percy Herbert.

[Freddy]

Agree with you there wyrleymon, I always remember him in the "Sea of Sand" with Michael Craig. Where they left him, wounded, with the machine gun to hold off the pursuing Germans. I was a child when I saw that with my Dad. A few days later I got some soldiers and one was sitting ala Percy Herbert with a machine gun. I still have it to this day some 40 years on and always think of that scene when I look at it.

regards

Freddy

[ollie]

I recently watched DOOMWATCH,that must have been one of percy's last roles??

cheers Ollie.

[Freddy]

Hi Ollie

re Doomwatch

Did you notice A young Pam St. Clements, who plays in eastenders in the scene near the end in the church hall.

Freddy

[Bob M.]

Percy Hebert... from Cliff Richard's dad in Serious Charge, to playing just about every non commisioned rank in the British army, one of the mainstays of Britfilms of the 50's and 60's. I always thought he deserved bigger roles and better parts, but then I say that about all Brit actors and actresses. I would like to know more about Percy Herbert, anyone help?

[Bob M.]

Freddy:

Agree with you there wyrleymon, I always remember him in the "Sea of Sand" with Michael Craig. Where they left him, wounded, with the machine gun to hold off the pursuing Germans. I was a child when I saw that with my Dad. A few days later I got some soldiers and one was sitting ala Percy Herbert with a machine gun. I still have it to this day some 40 years on and always think of that scene when I look at it.

regards

Freddy

Hey Freddy, Percy was also left in the jungle to face the Japs alone in "Too Late The Hero" Propped up against a tree with a sten gun (I think) and a packet of fags. The others heard him scream horribly and came back to find him... well you know. Poor od Percy.

[Freddy]

Evening all

Had a look at his career on IMDb, 68 films and 16 tv appearances in a span of thirty years which shows how well he was thought of. Anyhow, anybody who lets themselves be outmanoeuvered by the Carry on team in Carry on Jack is ok in my book.

regards

Freddy

[Bob M.]

Yep, and dress up as a red indian in C.O. Cowboy, must be an all round good egg!

[Freddy]

If Percy was sitting at a pub table, with a pint glass in front of him, ashtray being used, who do you think from the film world of his era would be sharing a pint, a cig and a chat with him.

I would like to opt for Victor Maddern

Freddy

[Jim]

What about Norman Rossington? He got shot with Percy whilst they were relieving some wartime bank of it's cash! Wasn't it with the Cocky Rocky Hudson and George Peppard. Of course Freddy, I could be mixing two very different films up!



Jim

[Freddy]

Nice one Jim

I take as my text the scrumptious IMDb without which I would be a real thicky!

The film was Tobruk and all four of them were on parade.

Norman Rossington, great bloke originally from Liverpool, my home town, as was Rex Harrison who was born in the same street as was an old girlfriend's father.

Norman's dad owned a pub.

regards

Freddy

ps how many war films did Percy survive?

[Bob M.]

Freddy, I think Percy survived the Cockleshell Heroes cos he banged his head in the sub and couldn't go on the raid. Bu t remember he was only there for the money cos of the kids.

BobM

[Hackett]

In real life he survived the Burma Railway. He turns up in a lot of other peoples autobiographys. Mostly for his wartime suffering. He gave David Lean the idea for the Colonel Bogey whistle in "THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI" 1957. Percy Herbert was a REAL war hero.

[Freddy]

Found this poster of the great man at filmcutts. . see memorabilia section in links

[bobs1900]

Hi,



If anyone's got a DVD copy of "THE WILD GEESE", they should listen to the commentary by Sir Roger Moore, he mentions Percy Herbert a few times during the film.



You should also watch a few other films including GUNS AT BATASI and TOO LATE THE HERO, and TUNES OF GLORY in particular.



He appeared in no less that 17 war/military films out of a total of 70 films.



What a great character actor.



They don’t make films or actors like that anymore

[hobbit]

Originally posted by brian@Jul 24 2004, 04:00 PM

We in Britain over the years have been "blessed" with a abundance of fabulous character actors/actreses, as soon as you think of one someone else comes to mind,but for me one of the best was without a doubt the late Percy Herbert.

As his Aussie nephew, know just a little of Percy through my also late dad. Interestingly, despite all Percy's war movies, he spent a good deal of the war in Changi Prison camp, being caught there when the Japanese invaded.

[AndrewLA]

I met Percy Herbert in the mid eighties when he was in Los Angeles and came in to audition for a small part in a television show. His daughter had married anm American and was living here, and he often came to visit. He had a green card, and was combining a little business with pleasure. I couldn't believe it when he walked through the door -- such a familiar face. A little bit of old England. Yet no one on the show knew him. I chatted with him for about ten minutes. A lovely man, with a cultured speaking voice -- totally unlike his image. I don't really remember the substance of our conversation, but will always remember his warmth and friendliness and modesty. He spoke glowingly of Attenborough, Lean and his great period of the fifties and sixties, didn't seem old at all (remarkably fit-looking), and enjoyed being a visiting granddad. He had a very healthy attitude to the passing of time and the inevitable drying up of parts, and was enjoying his life. He didn't get this particular part (a lawyer from the British Consulate) because the other producers felt he wasn't upper-crust enough, which frustrated the hell out of me, but at least I got to meet Percy...

[plasticjock]

Originally posted by hobbit@Jul 8 2005, 05:16 AM

As his Aussie nephew, know just a little of Percy through my also late dad. Interestingly, despite all Percy's war movies, he spent a good deal of the war in Changi Prison camp, being caught there when the Japanese invaded.

Hi Hobbit,

Welcome to have the forum.

Percy is well regarded by the BritMovie members as one of that extraordinary clan of British and Commonwealth talent that came out of WW2 and helped to shape what many consider to be the golden period of the late forties to the sixties for British films, stage, radio and television, with their dependable performances.



I remember reading that Percy and several other actors and extras were veterans of the Japanese POW system and during the filming of Bridge on the River Kwai, were of invaluable help to the makers. Apparently they were also quite mischevious on set.



We are quite an inquisitive bunch on this forum and I, at least, would welcome any background or anecdotal information about Percy that you'd care to tell us about.

[Bob M.]

Can anybody tell me where in Hertfordshire the great man lived? I've heard Hemel Hempstead, Harpenden and Radlett.

[ukwood]

Did you Percy Herbert who is /was my father was also put in solitary confinement in Changi for one year also for stealing a chicken, and also David Lean paid him five british pounds a week extra pay for being a consultant on Bridge on the River Kwai. Great Actor and in truth he died when his body gave in to all the parasites he caught in Changi that finally took him over. Just to be clear. Kate. ukwood