How to Research an Actor or Actress

[torinfan]

How to Research a Favorite Actor From Another Era

[GoggleboxUK]

Or there's the other method....

Stalking!

[MonicaMC]

How to Research a Favorite Actor From Another Era

Thanks for the link! Coincidentally, I just returned from the university drama library today. Other than the Who's Who/Who Was Who, there be slim pickin's. But the Anthony Curtis book Euryale posted about came in (I placed a hold on it a week ago, thinking that I wouldn't get it until it was due in July) -- rather a sympathetic brief account of John Raymond. I kind of feel for the fellow, actually, and he had a similar spiritual path to mine (Catholic convert) -- I daresay I might have liked him better than either of his parents.

[didi-5]

I quite the obvious US focus plus the implication that university libraries hold all the relevant reference sources. Also the assumption that IMDb is in any way authoritative when it comes to birth and death dates ...

[torinfan]

Thanks for the link! Coincidentally, I just returned from the university drama library today. Other than the Who's Who/Who Was Who, there be slim pickin's. But the Anthony Curtis book Euryale posted about came in (I placed a hold on it a week ago, thinking that I wouldn't get it until it was due in July) -- rather a sympathetic brief account of John Raymond. I kind of feel for the fellow, actually, and he had a similar spiritual path to mine (Catholic convert) -- I daresay I might have liked him better than either of his parents.

You're welcome! I like the "Motion Picture Almanac" as that includes personal stats of an actor (the really important info, LOL)

[torinfan]

I quite the obvious US focus plus the implication that university libraries hold all the relevant reference sources. Also the assumption that IMDb is in any way authoritative when it comes to birth and death dates ...

It's funny, because when I did research on Torin's films I came across a few errors that appeared in reference books (one which confused him with the British actress Heather Thatcher - have no idea how one can confuse the two of them heh heh) it takes a lot of work time and patience to reconcile various sources

[Moor Larkin]

It's funny, because when I did research on Torin's films I came across a few errors that appeared in reference books....................

The same happened for me with Patrick McGoohan - and it's still happening... notwithstanding all my various blogs and web activity.

it takes a lot of work time and patience to reconcile various sources

I find that books reference one another, rather than genuine source material - thus perpetuating the same errors. It's quite annoying. There's still a credit for him on imdb for a show called "Tales of The Vikings". I've tried telling them it's a lulu, and there is no trace whatsoever in contemporary literature of his being in that show, but because I cannot prove a negative, it's so far proved impossible to get anyone to take action. It's odd because they have accepted several other corrections I've advised them of, over the last years, but presumably they got that *credit* from what they perceive as a reliable source. The trouble is that that credit will creep into a published paper book and then the circle of *proof* will be complete......

[torinfan]

The same happened for me with Patrick McGoohan - and it's still happening... notwithstanding all my various blogs and web activity.

I find that books reference one another, rather than genuine source material - thus perpetuating the same errors. It's quite annoying. There's still a credit for him on imdb for a show called "Tales of The Vikings". I've tried telling them it's a lulu, and there is no trace whatsoever in contemporary literature of his being in that show, but because I cannot prove a negative, it's so far proved impossible to get anyone to take action. It's odd because they have accepted several other corrections I've advised them of, over the last years, but presumably they got that *credit* from what they perceive as a reliable source. The trouble is that that credit will creep into a published paper book and then the circle of *proof* will be complete......

IMDB did the same with Torin, listing him as appearing in "Saboteur", as far as I know that isn't correct, but "Sabotage" is (it doesn't help that both titles sound similar). Part of the fun in research I have discovered is not just credits or biographical info but the photos. I recall telling myself "I'd love to see a publicity shot of him but that'll never happen" soon after I found one in a book on Broadway performances. Needless to say in 4 years time I've accumulated 300 different pictures and quite a scrapbook collection!

[MonicaMC]

You're welcome! I like the "Motion Picture Almanac" as that includes personal stats of an actor (the really important info, LOL)

Like height, colour of eyes?

[MonicaMC]

I quite the obvious US focus plus the implication that university libraries hold all the relevant reference sources. Also the assumption that IMDb is in any way authoritative when it comes to birth and death dates ...

I wonder if there is any rhyme or reason to the changes they make at all. They haven't altered the birth & death date and places I sent them on the 7th. I think it took them a few weeks, though, to incorporate the goofs I reported about Brief Encounter -- although they only adjudged one to be correct (I had submitted two).

[torinfan]

Like height, colour of eyes?

Yes, lol Torin's eyes were listed as hazel (who knew?; it's hard to tell in black and white movies)

[MonicaMC]

Yes, lol Torin's eyes were listed as hazel (who knew?; it's hard to tell in black and white movies)

Well, I haven't been able to tell yet, even in the color films. All I know is, not brown.

Which reminds me -- I need to e-mail Stanley Morgan, who was in Night Train to Paris w/CR. He was about the same height..

It's a shame one cannot find (as yet) any decent birth certificates that list time of birth. I would like to do a chart, actually. (This, from a Catholic -- figure that out!)

P.S. It's so refreshing to be on the same page, so to speak!

[Moor Larkin]

Yes, lol Torin's eyes were listed as hazel (who knew?; it's hard to tell in black and white movies)

It's only in recent years that I have realised how red-haired Patrick McGoohan was, because I had never seen his old colour movies..... and we only had black and white TV until the 1980's.....

[torinfan]

Well, I haven't been able to tell yet, even in the color films. All I know is, not brown.

Which reminds me -- I need to e-mail Stanley Morgan, who was in Night Train to Paris w/CR. He was about the same height..

It's a shame one cannot find (as yet) any decent birth certificates that list time of birth. I would like to do a chart, actually. (This, from a Catholic -- figure that out!)

P.S. It's so refreshing to be on the same page, so to speak!

I know in the case of hazel eyes - they look different colors from different angles

[didi-5]

I wonder if there is any rhyme or reason to the changes they make at all. They haven't altered the birth & death date and places I sent them on the 7th. I think it took them a few weeks, though, to incorporate the goofs I reported about Brief Encounter -- although they only adjudged one to be correct (I had submitted two).

When I've submitted changes to the IMDb they've been pretty quick when I've referenced the changes. Less so if I just add them. I've had a couple of gos with material I know to be correct which was eventually added.

Curious as to the second Brief Encounter goof you spotted?

[didi-5]

It's funny, because when I did research on Torin's films I came across a few errors that appeared in reference books (one which confused him with the British actress Heather Thatcher - have no idea how one can confuse the two of them heh heh) it takes a lot of work time and patience to reconcile various sources

I haven't seen a film or TV book yet that doesn't have an error of some kind. I feel rather smug as I spot them!

[MonicaMC]

Curious as to the second Brief Encounter goof you spotted?

I have the Essential Art House edition of BE. The second gaffe is a boom mike appearance, which occurs in the scene with the children in bed, before the lighting goof that they did publish.

At 11:17 in my version, you see something squarish and black floating along the upper right hand portion of the screen. After Laura says, "If you don't go to sleep at once, I shall tell Daddy not to let you go to either," the mic floats over to the children at 11:22 when they mournfully groan, "Oh, Mommy."

I didn't see it in Netflix, but it's a slightly different resolution, and the picture is not as clear.

[MonicaMC]

How to Research a Favorite Actor From Another Era

Question(s) re: your tidbit about The Annual Obituary:

(1) Is there a difference between that and The Annual Biography and Obituary?

(2) Is this a yearly periodical that began (from what I can tell) in the 1820s and continues to date? (subquestion: where the dickens is the 1973 or 1974 volume? Worldcat was not helpful.)

(3) Isn't there some other periodical similar? I recall when I got into researching Deborah Kerr years ago, something called Biographical Index available in my own hometown public library's reference section. Somewhere in the 1947 edition there was a sweet little bio with picture.

[torinfan]

Question(s) re: your tidbit about The Annual Obituary:

(1) Is there a difference between that and The Annual Biography and Obituary?

(2) Is this a yearly periodical that began (from what I can tell) in the 1820s and continues to date? (subquestion: where the dickens is the 1973 or 1974 volume? Worldcat was not helpful.)

(3) Isn't there some other periodical similar? I recall when I got into researching Deborah Kerr years ago, something called Biographical Index available in my own hometown public library's reference section. Somewhere in the 1947 edition there was a sweet little bio with picture.

I am not familiar with "The Annual Biography and Obituary", "The Annual Obituary" was first published in 1981, edited by Janet Podell. There's an edition for 1982, nothing after that which I can see. You can try the New York Times for an obit on Cyril (I got one from them on Torin) I think it only costs a few bucks to get it from their archives online. If Cyril did some work in the theatre I recommend "Theatre Arts" and "Theatre World" as those would date back to his career period.