Private Widdle

Has anyone got a little more biography info about this fine supporting actor. I'm writing a short parish article for my regimental association newsletter about Sam Kydd, Percy Herbert and Victor Maddern - all stalwarts of many British war films in the 1950's and 1960's.

I would like to know if Victor actually served in any of the armed forces - he was born in 1926 so he may just have served during the Second World War or just after as a national serviceman.

Also is there any truth in the story that Victor Maddern made a second living out of buying up film props and that he purchased many of those used in the 1963 Burton/Taylor version of Cleopatra and subsequently leased them to Peter Rogers in order to make Carry On Cleo?

Any help would be appreciated.

batman

IIRC Victor was also involved in a burglar alarm business.

I wish I had claws.

CaptainWaggett

The Carry on Cleo story is one told by Maddern himself in Robert Ross' The Carry on Companion though it actually relates to a stage Caligula Maddern had been in rather than the Burton/Taylor Cleopatra. He is wearing Burton's old costume in Carry On Cleo though

Windthrop

VM owned a printing business and also gave voice and public speaking lessons (often to politicians). Being a proud tory he have special discounts to card-carrying Conservatives.

That's the joke that killed the Music Hall

wearysloth

In later life Mr Maddern always seemed to be hatching schemes, seldom a week went by without him getting a column in the local paper the wonderful Thurrock Gazette...

He also made the statement that he had turned down several substantial blockbuster movie roles because they were not wholesome family entertainment...

his home featured in several episodes of Softly, Softly according to:
Thurrock Council | Thurrock Heritage | Heritage Factfile Details