http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/ For discussion on screen stars. en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:01:53 GMT vBulletin 120 http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/images/styles/brit/misc/rss.png http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/ http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115328-prunella-scales.html Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:59:08 GMT An article from the Guardian in their Family Values series, with Prunella talking about her family. ... An article from the Guardian in their Family Values series, with Prunella talking about her family.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...-family-values

Nick ]]> Actors and Actresses Nick Dando http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115328-prunella-scales.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115295-richard-todd.html Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:02:15 GMT To read this Life of the Day complete with a picture of the subject, visit http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/lotw/2013-06-11 *Richard Andrew... To read this Life of the Day complete with a picture of the subject,
visit http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/lotw/2013-06-11



Richard Andrew Palethorpe Todd (1919-2009), actor, was born on 11 June 1919 at 89 Lower Baggott Street, Dublin, Ireland, the son of Major Andrew William Palethorpe Todd (d. 1942), and his wife, Marvilla Rose (Vill), nee Agar-Daly (d. 1937). His father was a handsome army surgeon and athlete, and a rugby full-back, while his mother, 'a fragile little person, small-boned, shapely and with a typically Celtic beauty of features and colouring' (Todd, Caught in the Act, 11), led a life centred on horses and dogs. His relations with his parents were not notably easy and their marriage was a difficult one. Neither parent was much enamoured of his choice of career: according to one obituarist, 'His chosen career path ... led to a rift with his mother so deep that when he learned, aged 19, that she had committed suicide, he did not waste time grieving, having lost all affection for her' (Daily Telegraph, 5 Dec 2009).

Todd's was a peripatetic childhood and adolescence. When he was six months old the family relocated to India where his father had been posted by the British army, returning to Ireland in 1922. There they lived in his grandfather's house, Brecart, near the village of Toome in co. Antrim, and thereafter there were moves to co. Londonderry, Holsworthy in west Devon, a flat in Exeter, a house called West Moors in Dorset, and other places before the family settled at Clevedon Lodge, Wimborne. Todd's education was often disrupted, beginning with governesses, then Northwood School, Exeter, weekly boarding at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Wimborne, then enrolment at Shrewsbury School when aged twelve. Very soon after arriving at the latter he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and pericarditis, and was forced to leave the school for many months. On his return, although he acquitted himself quite well academically and in sporting activities, he found his real interest was in drama.

With the encouragement and financial support of his grandmother Todd enrolled at the Italia Conti Stage School in 1935, and during his time there he had walk-on parts in a season at the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, in 1937 and work as an extra in several films, including A Yank at Oxford (1938). He then joined Robert Thornley's Welsh Players, recalling decades later the kindness with which the company was treated in Abergavenny when funds ran low. In 1939 he was one of the co-founders of the Dundee Repertory Theatre, to which he returned after the Second World War.

In the first volume of his memoir, Caught in the Act (1986), Todd recorded his wartime experiences with precision and wit, eschewing bombast or jingoism. Desperate not to be assigned to ENSA, he suppressed all reference to his acting career, enlisted at the outbreak of war, and, after time spent at Sandhurst, in Iceland, and elsewhere, in the King's Own Yorkshire light infantry, trained for the Parachute regiment and eventually took part in the D-day landings on 6 June 1944. This first-hand knowledge no doubt fed into two of his most successful films: D-Day the Sixth of June (1956) and The Longest Day (1962), the latter a star-laden treatment of the same event, with Todd this time playing his real-life commanding officer, Major John Howard. There were also several other war films which helped to shape his screen image. Following demobilization he returned to Dundee Rep where he met his first wife, Catherine Stewart Crawford (Kitty) Bogle (1926-1997), the actress Catherine Grant-Bogle, with whom he co-starred in the American comedy Claudia. She was the daughter of William Grant Bogle, steel brass founder. They married at St Columba's Church, Pont Street, Chelsea, on 13 August 1949 and had a son, Peter, and a daughter, Fiona.

While at Dundee, Todd received a call from Robert Lennard, casting director for the Associated British Picture Corporation in London, which led to Todd's playing the lead in the sombre drama For Them that Trespass (1949). This film made little impact but fortuitously led to his breakthrough role as the dour, incurably ill Scot, Lachie, in The Hasty Heart (1949), based on a play in which he had previously played another role. The film was an enormous success for Todd, netting him an Oscar nomination, the attention of Alfred Hitchcock, who cast him as a murderer in Stage Fright (1950), and a Hollywood contract. Unfortunately his next few films were less striking, though they included leading roles opposite Glynis Johns in Flesh and Blood (1951) and the legendary beauty Merle Oberon in the dawdling romance 24 Hours of a Woman's Life (1952).

During the 1950s Todd became established as one of the cinema's best-known faces. Short, stocky, and agreeable-looking rather than conventionally handsome, he developed a film persona that combined physical agility and appealing directness, this sometimes effectively disguising more sinister tendencies, as in the excellent thriller, Chase a Crooked Shadow (1958). But his box-office potency really depended more on how convincingly he acquitted himself in such action pieces as those he made for the Disney Organization-The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952), The Sword and the Rose (1953), and Rob Roy: the Highland Rogue (1953)-and above all for his incarnation of Wing-Commander Guy Gibson VC in The Dam Busters (1955), the film for which he was probably best remembered, and a high spot of 1950s British cinema. He played other real-life figures in the American films A Man Called Peter (1955), as the inspirational preacher Peter Marshall, and The Virgin Queen (1955), as Sir Walter Raleigh, opposite Bette Davis in her second go at Elizabeth I.

As one observer wrote, Todd 'fought hard in the late 50s against his stereotyping as the stiff-upper-lipped hero, playing a worm-turning cosmetics salesman in Never Let Go (1960) ... [and] a womanising travel agent in Don't Bother to Knock (1961)' (Encyclopedia of British Film, 741). The 1960s saw him supporting American stars in such films as Operation Crossbow (1965) and The Battle of the Villa Fiorita (1965). Thereafter he turned increasingly to television, though without establishing a key identity there. Following the breakdown of his first marriage, on 30 April 1970 he married Virginia Anne Mailer (b. 1941), a model, and daughter of Colin Cotterell Rollo Mailer, dental surgeon. They had two sons, Andrew and Seumas. This marriage also ended in divorce, in 1992.

With the waning of his film career (and of the British film industry generally in the 1970s), Todd maintained a busy schedule of theatre and television appearances, but also turned to farming to support what had become an expensive lifestyle of large houses, staff, and cars. Indeed, in his second memoir, In Camera (1989), he wrote of his 'innate extravagance' (p. 89). In 1982 he played Stone in Richard Harris's The Business of Murder, which had an eight-year run at the Mayfair Theatre. He played 'the kind of part that is an actor's dream. Mr Stone was the play ... a shabby, seedy, devious little man', utterly at odds with the heroic image of the films of his heyday (ibid., 368). He also played in national tours of Sweet Revenge (1993), Brideshead Revisited (1995), and An Ideal Husband (1997). On television he appeared as H. G. Wells in Beautiful Lies (1992), Professor Newman in Silent Witness (2000), and in Midsomer Murders (2003), The Royal (2003), and Heartbeat (2007). In 1993 he was appointed OBE in recognition of a long and varied career. He died of pancreatic cancer at The Cedars nursing home, in Bourne, Lincolnshire, on 3 December 2009, and was survived by Fiona, the daughter of his first marriage, and Andrew, the elder son of his second. Tragically, one son from each of his marriages had committed suicide, Seumas in 1998 and Peter in 2006.

Brian McFarlane

Sources R. Todd, Caught in the act (1986) + R. Todd, In camera: an autobiography continued (1989) + B. McFarlane, An autobiography of British cinema (1997) + B. McFarlane, ed., The encyclopedia of British film (2003) + Daily Mail (25 April 2006) + The Times (5 Dec 2009); (11 Dec 2009) + Daily Telegraph (5 Dec 2009) + The Guardian (5 Dec 2009) + The Independent (5 Dec 2009) + Sunday Times (6 Dec 2009) + WW (2009) + personal knowledge (2013) + private information (2013) + m. certs. + d. cert.
Archives FILM BFI NFTVA, This is your life, ITV, 23 Nov 1990 + BFI NFTVA, documentary footage + BFI NFTVA, light entertainment footage + BFI NFTVA, performance footage SOUND BL NSA, performance recordings + University of the West of England archives, interview with B. McFarlane, 1991
Likenesses photographs, c.1940-2008, Rex Features, London [see illus.] · photographs, 1948-95, Getty Images · F. Buckingham, bromide print, c.1950, NPG · Vivienne, vintage bromide print, 1950-56, NPG · photographs, 1952-62, PA Images, London · R. Sherriffs, ink, 1954, Bonhams · photographs, 1954-2004, Photoshot, London · N. Parkinson, group portrait, cibachrome print, 1985, NPG · D. Jones, photographs, 1998, PA Images, London · obituary photographs ]]> Actors and Actresses julian_craster http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115295-richard-todd.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115267-who-these-actors-entertainers.html Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:29:44 GMT The two footballers in the white shirts are members of a TV All Stars team which were playing at the Red Lion Football Ground Bloxwich.Walsall approx... The two footballers in the white shirts are members of a TV All Stars team which were playing at the Red Lion Football Ground Bloxwich.Walsall approx 1963 Can anyone indentify them?Also in the same team were Jess Conrad,Maurice Kaufman,Bernard Bresslaw and Michael Cox definatly,Ithink Dave King,Sir David Frost and Joe Brown Also participated.scan0006.jpg ]]> Actors and Actresses wyrleymon http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115267-who-these-actors-entertainers.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115265-jess-conrad.html Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:24:45 GMT Check out the Jess Conrad interview on Networkonair.com He talks about his career and making Konga! Check out the Jess Conrad interview on Networkonair.com
He talks about his career and making Konga! ]]> Actors and Actresses dicky2006 http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115265-jess-conrad.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115232-just-idle-thought.html Sun, 02 Jun 2013 05:59:34 GMT So often I have heard famous British actors and television writers or film directors, etc, talk about how they grew to love the world of actors and... So often I have heard famous British actors and television writers or film directors, etc, talk about how they grew to love the world of actors and performance by going along to various theatres and music halls in London when they were children or teens in the 1920's and 1930's, etc. An idle thought occurred to me. I wonder how often these young children were sitting in a London theatre with their families or friends, and in the next row or even beside them was another youngster who'd also go on to be big in the world of television, films and the theatre - little did they know then....

As I said, just a thought. ]]> Actors and Actresses Dave Homewood http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115232-just-idle-thought.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115228-lookalikes.html Sat, 01 Jun 2013 19:33:55 GMT Watching *The Vampire Lovers *last evening, I was struck by the similarity of the great Schnozzle Durante and the Irish character actor Charles... Watching The Vampire Lovers last evening, I was struck by the similarity of the great Schnozzle Durante and the Irish character actor Charles Farrell, well if not facially at least in their respective bugles..:lol:

Farrell.jpg Durante.jpg ]]> Actors and Actresses Tigon Man http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115228-lookalikes.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115189-help-identifying-these-1940s-actors.html Thu, 23 May 2013 17:13:21 GMT Can anyone help me identify any of these 1940's actors, they are autographed but very hard to read.

20130523_173913.jpg20130523_173817.jpg20130523_173738.jpg20130523_173831.jpg

Thanks In Advance. ]]> Actors and Actresses Butterworth http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115189-help-identifying-these-1940s-actors.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115183-judith-byfield.html Wed, 22 May 2013 21:49:39 GMT I've just watched the Dr Who adventure Time-Flight (not one of the Doctor's finest. In fact, Peter Davison once described it as "crap").

I wondered what became of actress Judith Byfield, who played Angela Clifford, so Googled her and found she died aged just 36. She did bits of telly, but I haven't been able to find much else about her.

Does anyone have any info, or can anyone shed any light on her early death? http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0125858/ ]]> Actors and Actresses chuffnobbler http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115183-judith-byfield.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115171-actor-20-questions-murder-mystery.html Wed, 22 May 2013 05:23:25 GMT Does anybody know who the actor in the middle of the first grab is? He's on the left in the second grab.

]]> Actors and Actresses Christopher Matheson http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115171-actor-20-questions-murder-mystery.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115165-terrys-girlfriend.html Tue, 21 May 2013 09:14:09 GMT This has been bugging me for a while. I'm not bad at recalling actors' names & faces but I'm struggling to remember the

name of an actress who played one of Dennis Waterman's girlfriends in "Minder".

She's a Londoner I think & she's attractive with brown or reddish hair. I think she did a nude scene in one episode.

The actress is not Rula Lenska & I have a feeling she moved to Australia at one stage. Any ideas? ]]> Actors and Actresses wadsy http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115165-terrys-girlfriend.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115158-great-actresses-their-early-40s.html Sun, 19 May 2013 13:01:28 GMT does anyone on here have favorite actresses in their early 40's? ]]> Actors and Actresses matt black http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115158-great-actresses-their-early-40s.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115154-amanda-abbington.html Sat, 18 May 2013 16:52:28 GMT Actress and partner of John Simm,she is best known and loved for her delightfully funny Malteser adverts. Ta Ta Marky B:thumbsup: Actress and partner of John Simm,she is best known and loved for her delightfully funny Malteser adverts.
Ta Ta
Marky B:thumbsup: ]]> Actors and Actresses Marky B http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115154-amanda-abbington.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115130-christopher-reeve.html Tue, 14 May 2013 16:40:28 GMT With the soon to be release of the latest Superman fillm,Man Of Steel, with British actor Henry Cavill playing Clark Kent's alter ego,there is an excellent article in the June edition of Empire about the late and lamented Christopher Reeve. It is interesting to note that those short listed for the role of Superman for the 1970's epic were Al Pacino,Dustin Hoffman,Clint Eastwood,Steve McQueen,Robert Redford and..............wait for it.................Muhammad Ali. There are also pictures of Nicolas Cage dressed as the super hero for the Tim Burton's doomed take on Superman.
Ta Ta
Marky B:thumbsup: ]]> Actors and Actresses Marky B http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115130-christopher-reeve.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115113-good-roles-made-bad-lousy-actors.html Sun, 12 May 2013 01:04:14 GMT George Peppard in The Blue Max. A good aviator, maybe. A mediocre actor, certainly. George Peppard in The Blue Max. A good aviator, maybe. A mediocre actor, certainly. ]]> Actors and Actresses Deb Leibowitz http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115113-good-roles-made-bad-lousy-actors.html http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115095-curious-case-paul-antrim.html Thu, 09 May 2013 08:59:11 GMT Paul Antrim was an Irish actor who appeared in many films and TV series: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031549/ On several websites it says that... Paul Antrim was an Irish actor who appeared in many films and TV series:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031549/

On several websites it says that Paul died in Sept. 1990 and beyond that there didn't seem to be much personal information about him available. However I came across an interview with him published on 27th December 1991 in the New Straits Times, a Malaysian English language newspaper. Clearly Paul is very much alive at the time this article was written. One possible explanation is that the interview was a syndicated feature and the newspaper wasn't aware that Paul had died over 12 months before they published it.

The article tells us that Paul's real name was Patrick Morgan, that he was a businessman and had inherited several companies from his late father. Also that he was married twice and widowed, and had a daughter who was clearly an adult when this article was written. The interview gives plenty of other information about Paul - his education etc; - but it hasn't enabled me so far to get any further with establishing his birth/death (?) dates, whom he married and so on. Perhaps we'll find more details eventually.

This is the article - hope it's fairly legible as I've had to splice two halves together:

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E. ]]> Actors and Actresses Euryale http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/actors-actresses/115095-curious-case-paul-antrim.html