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Meet Me Tonight
''Meet Me Tonight'' is a 1952 omnibus British comedy film adapted from three one act plays by Noël Coward: ''Red Peppers'', ''Fumed Oak'' and '' Ways and Means''; which are part of his '' Tonight at 8.30'' play cycle. The film was released as ''Tonight at 8:30'' in the U.S. It was directed by Anthony Pelissier and starred Valerie Hobson, Nigel Patrick, Stanley Holloway, Ted Ray and Jack Warner. It earned billings of £97,000. Plot In "The Red Peppers", a husband and wife song and dance team (Kay Walsh, Ted Ray) bicker with each other, another performer (Martita Hunt), and the theatre manager (Frank Pettingell). In "Fumed Oak", a middle-aged man (Stanley Holloway) finally has enough of his wife, daughter, and mother-in-law ( Betty Ann Davies, Dorothy Gordon, and Mary Merrall respectively). Having saved enough money secretly, he announces to his stunned family that he is leaving, never to see them again. In the final segment, "Ways and Means", a husband (Nigel Patrick) and h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anthony Pelissier
Harry Anthony Compton Pelissier (27 July 1912 – 2 April 1988) was an English actor, screenwriter, producer and director. Biography Pelissier was born in Barnet and came from a theatrical family. His parents were the theatre producer H. G. Pelissier (who presented ''Pelissier's Follies'') and the actress Fay Compton. His uncle was Compton MacKenzie, who wrote '' Whisky Galore''. Pelissier began acting in the 1930s. In 1935 and 1936, he was featured in Noël Coward's play cycle, '' Tonight at 8.30'', both in Britain and on Broadway. He also played in Coward's ''Set to Music'' (1939) He began writing in 1937 and directing in 1949. He was the screenwriter and director of four popular films: ''The History of Mr Polly'' (1949), ''The Rocking Horse Winner'' (1950), ''Night Without Stars'' (1951), and ''Personal Affair'' starring Gene Tierney written by Lesley Storm. He also directed ''Encore'' (1951). He also directed Ealing's satire on television '' Meet Mr Lucifer'' (1953). He lat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fumed Oak
''Fumed Oak'' is a short play in two scenes by Noël Coward, one of ten that make up '' Tonight at 8.30'', a cycle written to be performed across three evenings. Coward billed the work as an "unpleasant comedy in two scenes". The play concerns a downtrodden, middle-aged salesman who, having saved up enough money to cut all ties, walks out on his wife, mother-in-law and "horrible adenoidal daughter", having first told all three what he thinks of them. In the introduction to a published edition of the plays, Coward wrote, "A short play, having a great advantage over a long one in that it can sustain a mood without technical creaking or over padding, deserves a better fate, and if, by careful writing, acting and producing I can do a little towards reinstating it in its rightful pride, I shall have achieved one of my more sentimental ambitions." The play was first produced in 1935 in Manchester and on tour and played in London (1936) and New York (1936–1937). It has enjoyed sever ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yvonne Furneaux
Yvonne Furneaux (born Elisabeth Yvonne Scatcherd; 11 May 1928) is a French-British retired actress. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she worked with notable filmmakers like Peter Brook, Federico Fellini, Roman Polanski, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Claude Chabrol, as well as in several genre productions. Early life Furneaux was born Elisabeth Yvonne Scatcherd to English parents living in Roubaix, France. Her Yorkshireman father, Joseph Scatcherd, was a director at a local branch of Lloyds Bank. Her mother, Amy Furneaux, was from Devon. She had a sister, Jeanne. The family moved to England prior to the outbreak of World War II, and Yvonne enrolled in St Hilda's College, Oxford in 1946 to study Modern Languages, where she was known as "Tessa Scatcherd". While studying at Oxford she became involved in university theatre groups, and after graduating enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Career Furneaux made her stage debut at the age of 24. She played ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mary Jerrold
Mary Jerrold (4 December 1877 – 3 March 1955) was an English actress. She was married to actor Hubert Harben, and mother of actress Joan Harben and celebrity chef Philip Harben. She made her London stage debut as Prudence Dering in ''Mary Pennington Spinster'' (1896); and played Martha Brewster for three and a half years in the original West End production of '' Arsenic and Old Lace'', opening in 1942. In 1922, in a stage production of Jane Austen's ''Pride and Prejudice'', Jerrold became one of the oldest actresses cast as Elizabeth Bennet, at age 44. In the play, she acted opposite her husband, cast as Mr. Collins. She appeared in Molly Keane's '' Ducks and Drakes'' in 1941. In 1946 she starred in the West End melodrama '' But for the Grace of God'' by Frederick Lonsdale. In 1951 she played the lead role in Kenneth Horne's comedy '' And This Was Odd'' at the Criterion Theatre. In 1953 she appeared in ''A Day by the Sea'' by N.C. Hunter. Partial filmography * ''Disraeli'' (1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Trubshawe
Michael Trubshawe (7 December 1905 – 21 March 1985) was a British actor and former officer in the Highland Light Infantry Regiment of the British Army. Trubshawe was very close friends with fellow British actor David Niven, serving with him at Malta and Dover. He was best man for both of Niven's weddings, and is constantly referred to in Niven's memoirs '' The Moon's a Balloon''. Niven refers to finding out he would be working with him in '' The Guns of Navarone'' as 'A lovely bonus for me.' Niven claims he lost touch with his army friend following Michael's marriage to Christian Scientist Margaret L McDougal, the daughter of flour magnate James Gladstone McDougall whose company joined Rank flours. Rank's owners had a Methodist background and the company formed Rank pictures to counter the loose morality of movie culture. Trubshawe was the son of architect Vyvian Trubshawe (1853–1924). Partial filmography * ''They Were Not Divided'' (1950) - Major Bushey Noble * ''Dance ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ian Wilson (actor)
Ian Macrae Hamish Wilson (2 July 1901 in Hampstead, London – December 1987 in Exeter, Devon) was an English small role actor who appeared in over 145 films during his career. Most were small uncredited roles often playing meek public servants, professional men or busy bodies. Film appearances included '' The Plank'' 1967, ''The Day of the Triffids'' 1962, ''Carry On Jack'' 1963, ''Two-Way Stretch'' 1960, '' Hell Drivers'' 1957, ''The Ugly Duckling'' 1959 and '' Rotten to the Core'' 1965. His first film appearance was in the silent '' A Master of Craft'' in 1922, and his last was in ''The Wicker Man'' in 1973. Several of his films were made by the Boulting brothers, who considered him a "good luck charm." Wilson died in December 1987 in Devon. Selected filmography * '' A Master of Craft'' (1922) * '' Through Fire and Water'' (1923) - Jimmy * ''The Fighting Gladiator'' (1926) - J.C. Heenan * '' Wait and See'' (1928) - Caddie * '' Shooting Stars'' (1928) - Reporter * ''What Ne ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toke Townley
John Antony Townley (6 November 1912 – 27 September 1984), known professionally as Toke Townley, was an English actor. Biography Townley was born on 6 November 1912 at Great Dunmow, Essex; his father was a vicar. His first name, "John", was changed to "Toke" shortly after his birth. After he left school he worked as a clerk in a factory, acting in his spare time. He did not become a professional actor until his early 30s, first appearing at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. He appeared in many BBC television programmes during the early pioneering days at Alexandra Palace. Between 1951 and 1970, in the heyday of the British studios, Townley appeared in almost thirty films, including ''Lady Godiva Rides Again'', '' Doctor at Sea'', ''The Quatermass Xperiment'', ''The Admirable Crichton'', '' Carry on Admiral'', '' Doctor in Distress'' and ''Scars of Dracula''. He went on to appear in many film and television roles over the years, including '' The Avengers''. He was also an accompli ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bill Fraser
William Simpson Fraser (5 June 1908 – 9 September 1987) was a Scottish actor who appeared on stage, screen and television for many years. In 1986 he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance for his stage role in the play ''When We Are Married''. Early life Fraser was born in Perth and educated at Strathallan School. He began his career as a clerk in a bank before beginning to act. In the early days when acting work was scarce, Fraser was often penniless, frequently sleeping rough on the Embankment in London. Before the Second World War, he ran the Connaught Theatre in Worthing; when called up he served in a Royal Air Force Special Liaison Unit, reaching the rank of flight lieutenant, where he met and became friends with Eric Sykes. Just after the war a chance meeting in a London street led to Fraser's giving Sykes his first work as a writer for radio comedy and the two friends worked together many times over the following years. Fraser is also credited wit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jessie Royce Landis
Jessie Royce Landis (born Jessie Medbury, November 25, 1896 – February 2, 1972) was an American actress. Her name is also seen as Jesse Royce-Landis. She remains perhaps best-known for her mother roles in the Hitchcock films ''To Catch a Thief'' (1955) and ''North by Northwest'' (1959). Early life Jessie Royce Landis was born Jessie Medbury in Chicago, Illinois, to Paul, an orchestra musician, and Ella Medbury. As per Ancestry.com, "Royce" does not appear to have been her middle name by birth; her middle initial is cited as either "J." or "T". Her acting surname "Landis" derives from her first husband, although she was married twice more. A scholarship that Landis received when she was 14 enabled her to attend the Hinshaw Dramatic School, which led to her acting two years later with the Evanston Stock Company. Career Landis was a stage actress for much of her career. When her first husband's family encountered financial problems, she joined the North Shore Players as leadin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mary Merrall
Mary Merrall (5 January 1890 – 31 August 1973), born Elsie Lloyd, was an English actress whose career of over 60 years encompassed stage, film and television work. Stage career Merrall's stage career started in her teens, making her first stage appearance in 1907, as Queenie Merrall, and for the rest of her life she remained a well-known and respected stage actress. Although she was based in London, she often appeared in other prestigious venues in the UK such as the Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Glasgow. Among her most famous stage roles were Lady Macbeth in a controversial but influential 1928 modern-dress production by Barry Jackson which opened in Birmingham before transferring to London's Royal Court Theatre, and Mrs. Danvers in Daphne du Maurier's ''Rebecca'' at the Strand Theatre in 1940. Her stage career also took her to the United States, where she appeared in ''Canaries Sometimes Sing'' (Frederick Lonsdale) in New York and Chicago in 1930. F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dorothy Gordon (British Actress)
Dorothy Gordon (born Dorothy Sharp; 13 March 1924 – 18 April 2013) was a British actress. She was the daughter of actors Leonard Sharp and Nora Gordon ''Nora Gordon'' (29 November 1893, West Hartlepool, County Durham – 11 May 1970, London) was a British film and television actress. She was married to Leonard Sharp. Her daughter was the actress Dorothy Gordon. She also appeared in a number .... Filmography References External links * 1924 births 2013 deaths People from Camberwell Actresses from London English film actresses English television actresses {{UK-film-actor-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Betty Ann Davies
Betty Ann Davies (24 December 1910 – 14 May 1955) was a British stage and film actress active from the 1920s to the 1950s. Davies made her first stage appearance at the Palladium in a revue in 1924. The following year she joined Cochran's Young Ladies in revues such as ''One Dam Thing After Another'' and ''This Year of Grace''. Davies enjoyed a long and distinguished West End career which included ''The Good Companions'' (1934), '' Morning Star'' (1942), '' Blithe Spirit'' (1943) and '' Four Winds'' (1953). Her outstanding stage triumph was in the role of Blanche du Bois, which she took over from Vivien Leigh, in the original West End production of ''A Streetcar Named Desire''. Davies appeared in 38 films, most notably as the future Mrs Polly in '' The History of Mr. Polly'' and in the first of the St Trinian's films '' The Belles of St. Trinian's'', and was active in TV at the time of her death. She went into hospital on May 14th 1955 to have an operation for appendicitis, bu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
