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Harry Parr-Davies
Harry Parr-Davies (24 May 1914 – 14 October 1955) was a Welsh composer and songwriter. He was born Harry Parr Davies in Briton Ferry, eath, South Wales, and was educated at Neath Grammar School. He was considered a musical prodigy, having composed entire operettas by the time he was in his teens. He came to the attention of composer Sir Walford Davies, who encouraged him to study music at Oxford or Cambridge. However, his early professional success meant that this opportunity was not pursued. By the age of fourteen, he had already composed six songs and soon left Wales to build on his early achievements. Rex Walford'Harry Parr Davies' ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', 2004. ccessed 21 August 2011/ref> In 1931, in an uncharacteristic moment of assertiveness, he managed to gain access to the dressing room of the singing star Gracie Fields at London’s Winter Garden Theatre. Starting in 1934, he worked as Fields' accompanist. He also wrote songs for Jack B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sing As We Go
''Sing As We Go'' is a 1934 British musical film starring Gracie Fields, John Loder and Stanley Holloway. The script was written by Gordon Wellesley and J. B. Priestley. Considered by many to be British music hall star Gracie Fields' finest vehicle, this film was written for her by leading novelist J.B. Priestley. In this morale-boosting depression movie, set in the industrial north of England, Fields stars as a resourceful, determined working class heroine, laid off from her job in a clothing mill, who has to seek work in the seaside resort of Blackpool. This gives her the opportunity both to fall into many misadventures and, of course, to sing. The decision to film on location brings the film a life and immediacy all too absent from most films of the period. The film provides us with a snapshot of life in a seaside resort in the 1930s. The final scene of the millworkers returning to the re-opened mill while Fields leads them in the rousing title song has become an almost ico ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Perforated Ulcer
A perforated ulcer is a condition in which an untreated ulcer has burned through the mucosal wall in a segment of the gastrointestinal tract (e.g., the stomach or colon) allowing gastric contents to leak into the abdominal cavity. Signs and symptoms A perforated ulcer can be grouped into a stercoral perforation which involves a number of different things that causes perforation of the intestine wall. The first symptom of a perforated peptic ulcer is usually sudden, severe, sharp pain in the abdomen. The pain is typically at its maximum immediately and persists. It is characteristically made worse by any movement, and greatly intensifies with coughing or sneezing. Causes Causes include alcohol, smoking, consuming highly acidic foods and beverages (such as coffee), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Diagnosis The ulcer is known initially as a peptic ulcer before the ulcer burns through the full thickness of the stomach or duodenal wall. A diagnosis is made by taki ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Glorious Days
''The Glorious Days'' is a 1952 British musical composed by Harry Parr Davis and Harold Purcell from a book by Robert Nesbitt and Miles Malleson. It was designed as a vehicle for Anna Neagle, showcasing her in several roles throughout history including two Nell Gwynn and Queen Victoria which she had played in films. After premiering at the Palace Theatre in Manchester it transferred to London's West End where it ran for 256 performances at the Palace Theatre on Charing Cross Road between 28 February and 7 November 1953. As well as Neagle the cast included Patrick Holt, Peter Graves and Lesley Osmond. Synopsis In Second World War London an actress is knocked unconscious following an explosion during an air raid. In her dreams she is transported to historical settings, encountering Charles II and Prince Albert. Adaptation In 1954 it was adapted into a film ''Lilacs in the Spring'' directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Neagle, Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn ( ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dear Miss Phoebe
''Dear Miss Phoebe'' is a musical with a book by Christopher Hassall and music by Harry Parr-Davies. It is based on the play '' Quality Street'' by J.M. Barrie. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham before transferring to the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End, where it ran for 283 performances between 13 October 1950 and 16 June 1951. The original London cast included Carol Raye, Peter Graves, Olga Lindo, Moya Nugent, Gretchen Franklin and Noel Dyson Elsie Noël Dyson (23 December 1916 – 29 June 1995) was an English character actress Dyson played a number of roles in theatre, television and films (including in telemovies) but is best remembered as a versatile character actress in TV seri .... The song "I Leave My Heart in an English Garden" from it is particularly well-known. References Bibliography * Wearing, J. P. ''The London Stage 1950-1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel''. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. 1950 musicals British m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cicely Courtneidge
Dame Esmerelda Cicely Courtneidge, (1 April 1893 – 26 April 1980) was an Australian-born British actress, comedian and singer. The daughter of the producer and playwright Robert Courtneidge, she was appearing in his productions in the West End by the age of 16, and was quickly promoted from minor to major roles in his Edwardian musical comedies. After the outbreak of the First World War, her father had a series of failures and temporarily withdrew from production. No other producers offered the young Courtneidge leading roles in musical comedies, and she turned instead to the music hall, learning her craft as a comedian. In 1916 she married the actor and dancer Jack Hulbert, with whom she formed a professional as well as a matrimonial partnership that lasted until his death 62 years later. They acted together on stage and screen, initially in a series of revues, with Hulbert frequently producing as well as performing. Courtneidge appeared in 12 British films in the 1930s, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Her Excellency (musical)
''Her Excellency'' is a musical comedy composed by Manning Sherwin and Harold Purcell from a book by Archie Menzies and Max Kester. A couple of the songs were composed by Harry Parr-Davies. The story takes place entirely in the British Embassy in the fictional San Barcellos. After premiering at the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow, the show transferred to London's West End enjoying a run of 252 performances between 22 June 1949 and 28 January 1950, initially at the London Hippodrome before switching to the Saville Theatre. It was written as a starring vehicle for Cicely Courtneidge and produced by her husband Jack Hulbert. The cast also included Patrick Barr, Austin Trevor, Thorley Walters, Billy Dainty and Tucker McGuire Anne Tucker McGuire (29 January 1913 in Winchester, Virginia, USA - 3 August 1988 in London, England) was an American-born actress who appeared largely in British films and television. She married actor Tom Macaulay. She appeared in the 1949 We ....Wearing, p. 44 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jenny Jones (musical)
''Jenny Jones'' is a 1944 musical composed by Harry Parr-Davies based on a book by Ronald Gow with lyrics by Harold Purcell. It is set in a Welsh village. It premiered at the Brighton Hippodrome before transferring to begin a run of 153 performances at the London Hippodrome between 2 October 1944 and 22 January 1945. The original London cast included Carole Lynne and Jimmy James. It was produced by the impresario An impresario (from the Italian ''impresa'', "an enterprise or undertaking") is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film or television producer. Hist ... Edward Black.Wearing p.168 References Bibliography * Wearing, J.P. ''The London Stage 1940-1949: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel''. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. 1944 musicals British musicals West End musicals {{musical-theat-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
ENSA
The Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) was an organisation established in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War II. ENSA operated as part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. It was superseded by Combined Services Entertainment (CSE) which now operates as part of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC). The first big wartime variety concert organised by ENSA was broadcast by the BBC to the Empire and local networks from RAF Hendon in north London on 17 October 1939. Among the entertainers appearing on the bill were Adelaide Hall, The Western Brothers and Mantovani. A newsreel of this concert showing Hall singing "We're Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line" accompanied by Mantovani and His Orchestra exists. Many members of ENSA later had careers in the entertainment industry after the war, including actors Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers and Kenneth Connor. Ta ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Lisbon Story (musical)
''The Lisbon Story'' is a 1943 British musical composed by Harry Parr-Davies with a Book by Harold Purcell. It was produced by Edward Black. The plot is a wartime spy thriller set in Lisbon and Paris during the summer of 1942. It premiered at the Imperial Theatre, Brighton before transferring to the West End where it ran for 493 performances at the London Hippodrome from 17 June 1943 to 8 July 1944. The original cast included Patricia Burke, Albert Lieven, Jack Livesey, Noele Gordon, Reginald Long and George Hayes. The song "Pedro the Fisherman" became a particular hit and was subsequently recorded by various artists including Richard Tauber, Gracie Fields and Julie Andrews. Film Adaptation In 1946 it was adapted into a film '' Lisbon Story'' produced by British National Films. Directed by Paul L. Stein Paul Ludwig Stein (4 February 1892 – 2 May 1951) was an Austrian-born film director with 67 films to his credit. Stein began his career in Berlin in 1918 and work ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tessie O'Shea
Teresa Mary "Tessie" O'Shea (13 March 1913 – 21 April 1995) was a Wales, Welsh entertainer and actress. Early life O'Shea was born in Plantagenet Street in Riverside, Cardiff to newspaper wholesaler James Peter O'Shea, who had been a soldier and who was the son of Irish emigrants, and his wife Nellie Theresa Carr. O'Shea was reared in the British music hall tradition and performed on stage as early as age six, billed as "The Wonder of Wales". Convalescing after a serious illness in Weston-super-Mare, one day on the beach, the young O'Shea wandered off from her mother into the tent of a troupe of travelling performers and was only discovered when her mother recognised her singing Ernie Mayne's "An N'Egg and some N'Ham and some N'Onion" Career By her teens she was known for her BBC Radio broadcasts and appeared on stages in Britain and South Africa. She frequently finished her act by singing and playing a banjolele in the style of George Formby. While appearing in Blackpool ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Edward Heyman
Edward Heyman (March 14, 1907October 16, 1981) was an American lyricist and producer, best known for his lyrics to " Body and Soul," "When I Fall in Love," and " For Sentimental Reasons." He also contributed to a number of songs for films. Biography Heyman studied at the University of Michigan where he had an early start on his career writing college musicals. After graduating from college, Heyman moved back to New York City where he started working with a number of experienced musicians like Victor Young ("When I Fall in Love"), Dana Suesse ("You Oughta Be in Pictures") and Johnny Green (" Body and Soul," " Out of Nowhere," "I Cover the Waterfront" and "Easy Come, Easy Go"). From 1935 to 1952, Heyman contributed songs to film scores including '' Sweet Surrender'', ''That Girl from Paris'', ''Curly Top'', '' The Kissing Bandit'', ''Delightfully Dangerous'' and ''Northwest Outpost''. Arguably Heyman's biggest hit is his lyric to " Body and Soul", written in 1930, which was often ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
