50s starlets information wanted for BBC documentary!

[50sstarlet]

I am a BBC researcher for a series of 5 documentaries about the 1950s which will go out next April to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. I am currently researching a short film that will tell the story of the starlets of the 1950s and Arthur Rank's Charm school.

I am trying to get in contact with people who either attended Rank's charm school or have a strong interest in the starlets of the 50s.

If anyone has information or people to offer please respond to my post!

[CaptainWaggett]

Christopher Lee would be the person to contact...

[dremble wedge]

The DJ Pete Murray was there at the same time as Christopher Lee.

[Moor Larkin]

Eunice Gayson is still around.
She was a classic starlet of that *school*, and feisty with it.
I can't imagine Sir Christopher having much time for the twitterings of the starlets somehow..........

The Official Eunice Gayson Website



I hope Belinda Lee gets a mention too, as one of the biggest Box Office stars, snuffed out while alive, by Rank, due to her scandalous lifestyle choices; and then in tragic real-life due to the lack of seat-belts in open-top cars, back then.

[Steve Crook]

Don't forget Dame Joanie - I know we try to

Steve

[julian_craster]

Not all actors/actresses want to be filmed in their advancing years, I'm afraid......

[CaptainWaggett]

Not all actors/actresses want to be filmed in their advancing years, I'm afraid......

Fortunately Dame Joanie is always graciously willing to give of herself before the camera and she has an excellent memory

[Mr Sloane]

Fortunately Dame Joanie is always graciously willing to give of herself before the camera and she has an excellent memory

I bet she wished she could forget Can Hieronymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe And Find True Happiness? I Know I do.

[seanflynn76]

This sounds interesting, and certainly one to watch. 50sStarlet, if possible please send me a contact email address, and I will post details on my "Re-Introducing Diana Dors" Facebook Fan page, and hopefully one or two people maybe in a position to help.....

[Tigon Man]

Sadly there can't be that many left from that era, given that it was sixty odd years ago. One obvious source of information might be Donald Sinden, I'm pretty sure he was a Rank charmer. Others that are still with us include:

June Laverick
Conrad Phillips
Barbara Murray
Pat Goddard
Sheila Martin

I thought Dana Wynter was still with us, but she seems to have passed away in May. Some of these 'Charmers' such as Pat Goddard & Sheila Martin have long faded into obscurity, good luck in your search!

[Brief Encounter]

Do Susan Shaw and Bonar Colleano fit? They had interesting stories. Good luck with the documentaries, I like the sound of them!

[Brief Encounter]

Also, worth watching is the BBC documentary 'The Rank Charm School', first shown in 1982 I think.

[Brief Encounter]

Not all actors/actresses want to be filmed in their advancing years, I'm afraid......

I imagine many simply haven't been approached... who would have actually refused? Nova Pilbeam?

[Moor Larkin]

StephenPickard put a scan of the 1957 Rank brochure here:

http://www.britmovie.co.uk/forums/br...sary-57-a.html

A little after the heyday of the "starlet" era I suppose. I remember reading that the charming boys were referred to as "starlings".....

[seanflynn76]

Hope your having luck in your quest 50s Starlet? In my opinion one film I think best typified the whole starlet campaign is"Lady Godiva Rides Again", which had it's fair share of upcoming starlets - many of whom became household names in the 50's & 60's, Diana Dors, Simone Silva, Joan Collins, Pauline Stroud, Dana Wynter, Kay Kendall and Anne Heywood. I think it would be great to see this film feature as part of the documentry.....and hear any of the surviving players memories of making the film...

[Brief Encounter]

Pauline Stroud interviewed, please! Although, of course, that film wasn't made by Rank, so highly doubtful Pauline was contracted to them.

[julian_craster]

If you go to the Pathe site and search for FILM FANFARE
British Pathe

you will find quite a few 1950s interviews with starlets there : Joy Webster, Maya Koumani, Magda Miller etc etc.

Of course, broadcast rights don't come cheap !

[JamesM]

I can't imagine Sir Christopher having much time for the twitterings of the starlets somehow..........

The researcher is looking to interview anyone who 'attended' (was put through) the Rank Charm School. Christopher Lee was one of those people. The researcher has not stipulated that they are not interested in male actors who would have been put through Rank's Charm School. Odd that they are only interested in females when it comes to those groomed for stardom outside of Rank. Perhaps they had not realised that the Charm School was for both sexes.

Researcher, would it not be better if you tried to list at least some of the people you would like to reach who you are having difficulty locating?

[CaptainWaggett]

The researcher is looking to interview anyone who 'attended' (was put through) the Rank Charm School. Christopher Lee was one of those people. The researcher has not stipulated that they are not interested in male actors who would have been put through Rank's Charm School. Odd that they are only interested in females when it comes to those groomed for stardom outside of Rank. Perhaps they had not realised that the Charm School was for both sexes.

Researcher, would it not be better if you tried to list at least some of the people you would like to reach who you are having difficulty locating?

As so often the researcher has asked a question, received a lot of suggestions and not come back

[Moor Larkin]

Do you remember Belinda Lee? | De Montfort University - Leicester, UK

There seems a lot of it about just now...................