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John Gregson
Harold Thomas Gregson (15 March 1919 – 8 January 1975), known professionally as John Gregson, was an English actor of stage, television and film, with 40 credited film roles. He was best known for his crime drama and comedy roles. He was credited in 40 films between 1948 and 1971, and on television from 1960 until his death. He was often cast as a police inspector or as a navy or army officer, or in comedy roles in Ealing and other British films. Biography Early life and military service Born in Liverpool of Irish descent, Gregson grew up in the city's Wavertree area, where he was educated at Greenbank Road Primary School and later at St Francis Xavier's College, Liverpool. He left school at 16, working first for a telephone company, then for Liverpool Corporation, as the city council was then known, before the Second World War. During this time, he became interested in amateur dramatics, joining first the local Catholic church theatre group at St Anthony's in Mossley Hil ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dinah Sheridan
Dinah Sheridan (born Dinah Nadyejda Ginsburg; 17 September 1920 – 25 November 2012) was an English actress with a career spanning seven decades. She was best known for the films ''Genevieve'' (1953) and ''The Railway Children'' (1970); the long-running BBC comedy series '' Don't Wait Up'' (1983–1990); and for her distinguished theatre career in London's West End. Early life and career Sheridan was born Dinah Nadyejda Ginsburg in Finchley,Brian McFarlane, "Sheridan, Dinah ée Dinah Nadyejda Ginsburg(1920–2012)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, Jan 201available online Retrieved 26 August 2020. London, to Charlotte Lisa Ginsburg (née Everth; 1893–1966) and James Ginsburg (1893–1958).Barker, DennisDinah Sheridan ''The Guardian'', film obituary. Retrieved 26 November 2012 [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Liverpool Playhouse
The Liverpool Playhouse is a theatre in Williamson Square in the city of Liverpool, England. It originated in 1866 as a music hall, and in 1911 developed into a repertory theatre. As such it nurtured the early careers of many actors and actresses, some of whom went on to achieve national and international reputations. Architectural changes have been made to the building over the years, the latest being in 1968 when a modern-style extension was added to the north of the theatre. In 1999 a trust was formed, joining the management of the Playhouse with that of the Everyman Theatre. History The present theatre on the site was designed by Edward Davies, and opened in 1866. It replaced an earlier theatre called the Star Concert Hall. The present theatre was originally named the Star Music Hall. In 1895 its name was changed to the Star Theatre of Varieties. The theatre was improved in 1898 by Harry Percival with a new auditorium and foyer, and electricity was installed. In 1911 th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Joan Greenwood
Joan Mary Waller Greenwood (4 March 1921 – 28 February 1987) was an English actress. Her husky voice, coupled with her slow, precise elocution, was her trademark. She played Sibella in the 1949 film ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'', and also appeared in ''The Man in the White Suit'' (1951), ''Young Wives' Tale'' (1951), ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' (1952), '' Stage Struck'' (1958), '' Tom Jones'' (1963) and ''Little Dorrit'' (1987). Greenwood worked mainly on the stage, where she had a long career, appearing with Donald Wolfit's theatre company in the years following World War II. Later, after the war, her appearances in Ealing comedies are among her memorable screen appearances: '' Whisky Galore!''; as the seductive Sibella in the black comedy ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949); and in ''The Man in the White Suit'' (1951). She opened ''The Grass Is Greener'' in the West End in 1952 and played Gwendolen in a film version of ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' released in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Saraband For Dead Lovers
''Saraband for Dead Lovers'' (released in the United States as ''Saraband'') is a 1948 British historical drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger and Joan Greenwood. It is based on the 1935 novel by Helen Simpson. Set in seventeenth-century Hanover, it depicts the doomed romance between Philip Christoph von Königsmarck and Sophia Dorothea of Celle, the wife of the Elector of Hanover. The saraband mentioned in the title is a type of Spanish dance. Jim Morahan, William Kellner and Michael Relph were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction - Set Decoration, Color. It was the first Ealing Studios film shot in colour. Plot summary In 1682, Sophie Dorothea (Joan Greenwood) has an arranged marriage at age sixteen to Prince George Louis of Hanover and both parties are very unhappy with this political tryst. She seeks solace from dashing Count Philip Konigsmark (Stewart Granger) when her husband Prince George Louis (Peter Bull), later to b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, in central London.English Heritage listing accessed 28 April 2007 Designed by the architect Lewin Sharp for owner , it became the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street when it opened its doors on 21 February 1901, with the American '' [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seagulls Over Sorrento (play)
''Seagulls Over Sorrento'' is a play by the writer Hugh Hastings, an Australian who had served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. It was first staged for a single performance at the Comedy Theatre in London's West End in 1949 before embarking on a lengthy run of 1,551 performances between 14 June 1950 and 13 March 1954 mainly at the Apollo Theatre and then transferring briefly to the Duchess Theatre. The West End cast included John Gregson (replaced by Gordon Jackson), Nigel Stock, Bernard Lee, Ronald Shiner and William Hartnell. Shiner and Hartnell, in particular, were singled out for praised by critics A Broadway version ran for only 12 performances at the John Golden Theatre. Film adaptation It was made into the 1954 film ''Seagulls Over Sorrento'' by MGM British, directed by Boulting Brothers and starring Gene Kelly, John Justin and Bernard Lee John Bernard Lee (10 January 190816 January 1981) was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the fir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hugh Hastings (playwright)
Hugh Hastings (31 January 191726 November 2004) was an Australian writer best known for his play ''Seagulls Over Sorrento''. He moved to England in 1936 determined to break into theatre as an actor or writer. He served in the British Royal Navy for over five years during World War II. Life Hastings's ''Seagulls Over Sorrento'' made theatre history by running for 1,551 performances at London's Apollo Theatre. Only two other plays had then run longer in theatre history: Noël Coward's '' Blithe Spirit''; and R. F. Delderfield's ''Worm's Eye View''. Part of the play's appeal was that it was radical for the time. The play was set inside a Royal Navy research station near Scapa Flow. The play was not popular with everyone, and not everyone saw the humor in it. It elicited subdued laughs as well as frowns, depending on whether the audience was liberal or conservative. He estimated he made £50,000 from ''Sorrento''. The fortune grew to £100,000 when in 1954 a film version made by th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Macadam And Eve
''Macadam and Eve'' is a comedy play by the British writer Roger MacDougall. Adam arrives in modern Scotland still looking for his Eve. It premiered at the Q Theatre near Kew Bridge in London before transferring to the Aldwych Theatre in London's West End where it ran for 55 performances between 12 March and 28 April 1951. The original West End cast included John Gregson, John Laurie, Richard Pearson, Sheila Latimer, Beatrice Varley and Patricia Dickson.Wearing p.80 In 1956 it was adapted for an episode of the ''ITV Play of the Week ''Play of the Week'' is a 90-minute British television anthology series produced by a variety of companies including Granada Television, Associated-Rediffusion, ATV and Anglia Television. Synopsis From 1955 to 1967 approximately 500 episodes ...''. References Bibliography * Wearing, J.P. ''The London Stage 1950-1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel''. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. 1950 plays West End plays Comed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Roger MacDougall
Roger MacDougall (2 August 1910, in Glasgow – 27 May 1993) was a Scottish playwright, screenwriter and director. Biography MacDougall began writing the occasional screenplay in the late 30s, working both alone and in collaboration with others. Most of his plays were produced during the 50s. As a screenwriter, his best-known films are ''The Man in the White Suit'' (for which he received a 1952 Academy Award nomination) and ''The Mouse That Roared''. He was a cousin of Alexander Mackendrick. His 1952 play '' Escapade'' enjoyed a lengthy run in the West End and was subsequently adapted into a film of the same title. The Roger MacDougall diet In 1953, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis which eventually resulted in significant disability. Through disillusionment with orthodox medical treatments at the time, he developed a diet, loosely based on a paleolithic diet, that apparently returned him to good health and sustained remission. Following this experience, he p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Human Touch
''The Human Touch'' is a play by Dudley Leslie and J. Lee Thompson. After premiering at the Liverpool Playhouse in May 1948, it later had a West End run of 113 performances at the Savoy Theatre between February and June 1949. The cast included Alec Guinness, John Gregson, John Laurie, Milton Rosmer, Kynaston Reeves, Sophie Stewart and Adrienne Corri. Guinness starred as a doctor who pioneers the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic An anesthetic (American English) or anaesthetic (British English; see spelling differences) is a drug used to induce anesthesia — in other words, to result in a temporary loss of sensation or awareness. They may be divided into two ... during operations, but meets with huge resistance from established medical figures. ''Variety'' called it "an interesting study". A TV version with James Donald was shot at Elstree in 1952. References Bibliography * Wearing, J.P. ''The London Stage 1940-1949: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alec Guinness
Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. After an early career on the stage, Guinness was featured in several of the Ealing comedies, including ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949), in which he played nine different characters, ''The Lavender Hill Mob'' (1951), for which he received his first Academy Award nomination, and '' The Ladykillers'' (1955). He collaborated six times with director David Lean: Herbert Pocket in '' Great Expectations'' (1946), Fagin in '' Oliver Twist'' (1948), Col. Nicholson in ''The Bridge on the River Kwai'' (1957), for which he won both the Academy Award for Best Actor and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor, Prince Faisal in ''Lawrence of Arabia'' (1962), General Yevgraf Zhivago in ''Doctor Zhivago'' (1965), and Professor Godbole in ''A Passage to India'' (1984). In 1970 he played Jacob Marley's ghost in Ronald Neame's '' Scrooge''. He also portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in George Lucas's origi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre companies and one of its most consistently innovative. Today The Rep produces a wide range of drama in its three auditoria – ''The House'' with 825 seats, ''The Studio'' with 300 seats and ''The Door'' with 140 seats – much of which goes on to tour nationally and internationally. The company retains its commitment to new writing and in the five years to 2013 commissioned and produced 130 new plays. The company's former home, now known as "Old Rep", is still in use as a theatre. History Foundation and early years The origins of The Rep lie with the 'Pilgrim Players', an initially amateur theatre company founded by Barry Jackson in 1907 to reclaim and stage English poetic drama, performing a repertoire that ranged from the 16th cen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
