"French Without Tears (film) French Without Tears is a 1939 British comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Ray Milland. It was based on the play of the same name by Terence Rattigan who also co-wrote the script. An on-off working relationship between Asquith and Rattigan began with this film and continued over the next 15 years. The love affairs of three young Englishmen at a language ""cramming"" school in the south of France. Diana, the sister of one of the boys, arrives in town to flirt with all of her brothers' schoolmates. Sky Movies described a ""sparkling version"
"English Without Tears English Without Tears is a 1944 British comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Michael Wilding, Penelope Dudley-Ward and Lilli Palmer. It was released in the U.S. under the title Her Man Gilbey, as a reference to the classic Screwball comedy, ""My Man Godfrey"" (1936). An English aristocrat, Lady Christabel Beauclerk (Margaret Rutherford), is not only a British delegate at the League of Nations in Geneva but also a fanatical bird fancier. She takes a trip there with her nephew Sir Cosmo Brandon (Roland Culver), her niece Joan Heseltine (Penelope Dudley-Ward) and their faithful butler Tom"
"pond, ""Variety"" wrote that despite ""admirable direction and excellent photography, the story ambles along to no definite denouement. Therefore it's not a strong candidate for the American market. Smart dialog and witticisms galore are not sufficient to sustain so elemental a love story."" English Without Tears English Without Tears is a 1944 British comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Michael Wilding, Penelope Dudley-Ward and Lilli Palmer. It was released in the U.S. under the title Her Man Gilbey, as a reference to the classic Screwball comedy, ""My Man Godfrey"" (1936). An English aristocrat, Lady Christabel Beauclerk (Margaret Rutherford),"
"by Pink Floyd's David Gilmour. On 30 September 2012, the Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America unveiled a commemorative blue plaque to Karno at his former studios at 38 Southwell Road, Camberwell, in south London. Fred Karno Frederick John Westcott (26 March 1866 – 18 September 1941), best known by his stage name Fred Karno, was an English theatre impresario of the British music hall. As a comedian of slapstick he is credited with popularizing the custard-pie-in-the-face gag. During the 1890s, in order to circumvent stage censorship, Karno developed a form of sketch comedy without dialogue. Cheeky authority-defying"
"Oliver Wakefield Oliver Wakefield (born 29 May 1909, Mahlabitini, Zululand, South Africa; d. 30 June 1956, New York City), was a popular British actor and comedian active from the 1930s until his death in 1956. Often billed as ""The Voice of Inexperience"", Wakefield is best known for his idiosyncratic satirical monologues. Wakefield was educated in South Africa, then travelled to England, where he began acting with a Shakespearean repertory company. He then attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for further study, where he developed his distinctive style of humorous monologue. Wakefield created the stage persona of a nervous upper"
"Fred Karno Frederick John Westcott (26 March 1866 – 18 September 1941), best known by his stage name Fred Karno, was an English theatre impresario of the British music hall. As a comedian of slapstick he is credited with popularizing the custard-pie-in-the-face gag. During the 1890s, in order to circumvent stage censorship, Karno developed a form of sketch comedy without dialogue. Cheeky authority-defying playlets such as ""Jail Mum"" (1896) in which prisoners play tricks on warders and ""Early Birds"" (1903), where a small man defeats a large ruffian in London's East End, can be seen as precursors of movie silent"
"the West End hit play ""No Medals"" by Esther McCracken. Frederick Leister Frederick Leister (1 December 1885 – 24 August 1970) was an English actor. He began his career in musical comedy, and after serving in the First World War he played character roles in modern West End plays and in classic drama. He appeared in more than 60 films between 1922 and 1961. Leister was born in London, the son of George Leister and his wife Marie, ""née"" Le Capelain. He was educated at Dulwich and Worthing Grammar School. He was intended for a career as a lawyer, and"
"in Greenwich, England. Frederick Hobson Leslie Frederick George Hobson, known as Fred Leslie (1 April 1855 – 7 December 1892), was an English actor, singer, comedian and dramatist. Beginning his career in operetta, Leslie became best known for starring in, and writing (under the pseudonym A. C. Torr, a pun on the word ""actor""), popular burlesque plays and other comic works of theatre. Leslie was born in Woolwich, London. He was the youngest son of Charles Hobson, a wealthy military outfitter, and Sarah Hobson, ""née"" Pye. Leslie was educated in Woolwich, Lewisham and Pas-de-Calais. As a young man, he performed"
"Anthony Marriott Anthony Marriott (17 January 1931, London, England – 17 April 2014) was a playwright and actor. As a playwright he was best known as the joint author, with Alistair Foot, of the farce ""No Sex Please, We're British"" which opened at the Strand Theatre, London, on 3 June 1971. It has been performed in 52 countries and which on 21 February 1979 became the longest running comedy in the history of world theatre. A film version starring Ronnie Corbett was released in 1973. Marriott also co-created the long-running British television series ""Public Eye"" with Roger Marshall. He lived"
"in ""Set to Music"" and subsequently appeared in ""Two for the Show (musical)"" (1940). Richard Haydn Richard Haydn (born George Richard Haydon, 10 March 1905 – 25 April 1985) was an English comic actor in radio, films and television. Some of his better known performances include his roles as Professor Oddley in ""Ball of Fire"" (1941), Roger in ""No Time for Love"" (1943), Thomas Rogers in ""And Then There Were None"" (1945), Emperor Franz Joseph in ""The Emperor Waltz"" (1948), the Caterpillar in ""Alice in Wonderland"" (1951), Baron Popoff in ""The Merry Widow"" (1952), William Brown in ""Mutiny on the"
"War II while serving in the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He acted in various stage productions until 11 May 1990. He acted in the West End of London when he was young, appearing in the Terence Rattigan play ""French Without Tears"", which proved to be his breakthrough role. He alternated appearances in London and New York in such plays as ""Bell, Book and Candle"" (1950), ""Venus Observed"", ""The Cocktail Party"", ""The Kingfisher"" and ""The Love of Four Colonels"", which he also directed. He won his first Tony Award for his appearance at the Shubert Theatre"
"New York home at 351 Park Avenue, aged 47. Oliver Wakefield Oliver Wakefield (born 29 May 1909, Mahlabitini, Zululand, South Africa; d. 30 June 1956, New York City), was a popular British actor and comedian active from the 1930s until his death in 1956. Often billed as ""The Voice of Inexperience"", Wakefield is best known for his idiosyncratic satirical monologues. Wakefield was educated in South Africa, then travelled to England, where he began acting with a Shakespearean repertory company. He then attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts for further study, where he developed his distinctive style of humorous monologue."
"Frederick Hobson Leslie Frederick George Hobson, known as Fred Leslie (1 April 1855 – 7 December 1892), was an English actor, singer, comedian and dramatist. Beginning his career in operetta, Leslie became best known for starring in, and writing (under the pseudonym A. C. Torr, a pun on the word ""actor""), popular burlesque plays and other comic works of theatre. Leslie was born in Woolwich, London. He was the youngest son of Charles Hobson, a wealthy military outfitter, and Sarah Hobson, ""née"" Pye. Leslie was educated in Woolwich, Lewisham and Pas-de-Calais. As a young man, he performed in amateur plays"
"Alfred Lester Alfred Leslie Lester (25 October 1874 – 6 May 1925) was an English actor and comedian. Born into a theatrical family, he learnt his craft touring in melodramas, as a young man, but made his reputation as a comedian in musical comedy, music hall and, later, revue. Lester's gloomy stage persona was seen to its quintessential comic effect in the long-running musical ""The Arcadians"" (1909) in which he delivered optimistic lyrics in a lugubrious manner. Among his other hit shows were ""The New Aladdin"" (1906), ""Havana"" (1908) and ""The Bing Boys Are Here"" (1916). His co-stars included George"
"George Graves (actor) George Windsor Graves (1 January 1876 – 2 April 1949) was an English comic actor. Although he could neither sing nor dance, he became a leading comedian in musical comedies, adapting the French and Viennese ""opéra-bouffe"" style of light comic relief into a broader comedy popular with English audiences of the period. His comic portrayals did much to ensure the West End success of ""Véronique"" (1904) ""The Little Michus"" (1905; for which he invented the Gazeka), and ""The Merry Widow"" (1907). In addition to musical comedy, operettas and revues, Graves specialised in pantomime and music hall. Later"
"Philip Friend Philip Wyndham Friend (20 February 1915 in Horsham, Sussex – 1 September 1987 in Chiddingfold, Surrey) was a British film and television actor. Friend went to Bradfield College where he became interested in acting. He began appearing in musical comedies in 1935, and was soon working on the West End. He was in a production of ""French Without Tears"" that was on Broadway. He returned to London and was busy on the stage until war broke out after which he joined the Royal Fusiliers. Friend had small roles in British films like ""Inquest"" (1939), ""The Midas Touch"" (1940),"
"many years in Osterley, West London and was a JP. Anthony Marriott Anthony Marriott (17 January 1931, London, England – 17 April 2014) was a playwright and actor. As a playwright he was best known as the joint author, with Alistair Foot, of the farce ""No Sex Please, We're British"" which opened at the Strand Theatre, London, on 3 June 1971. It has been performed in 52 countries and which on 21 February 1979 became the longest running comedy in the history of world theatre. A film version starring Ronnie Corbett was released in 1973. Marriott also co-created the long-running"
"to Margret Allworthy until his death in 2003 in Ipswich, Suffolk. He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's in Benhall, Suffolk. Guy Rolfe Guy Rolfe (born Edwin Arthur Rolfe, 27 December 1911 – 19 October 2003) was a British leading man and later character actor. Rolfe was born in Kilburn, London. Before turning to acting at the age of 24 he was a professional boxer and racing driver, making his stage debut in Ireland in 1935. Repertory theatre led to his screen debut in 1937 with an uncredited appearance in ""Knight Without Armour"". After the Second World War"
"success of his career as Sir John in ""Me and My Girl"" (1937). Graves' health deteriorated in 1949, and he was admitted to Guy's Hospital in the London Borough of Southwark. He died the same year at the age of 73 and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. George Graves (actor) George Windsor Graves (1 January 1876 – 2 April 1949) was an English comic actor. Although he could neither sing nor dance, he became a leading comedian in musical comedies, adapting the French and Viennese ""opéra-bouffe"" style of light comic relief into a broader comedy popular with English audiences"
"The musical score for this film was composed by Oscar Straus. The main songs are 'Simple Little Melody', 'Smile for Me', 'Heaven in a Song' and 'You must have Music', all of which were recorded by Tauber for Parlophone. Land Without Music Land Without Music is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Richard Tauber, Diana Napier and Jimmy Durante. It was made at Denham Studios. The film was one of a number of operetta films made in Britain during the decade. The film is also known by the alternative title Forbidden Music in the United"
"Richard Haydn Richard Haydn (born George Richard Haydon, 10 March 1905 – 25 April 1985) was an English comic actor in radio, films and television. Some of his better known performances include his roles as Professor Oddley in ""Ball of Fire"" (1941), Roger in ""No Time for Love"" (1943), Thomas Rogers in ""And Then There Were None"" (1945), Emperor Franz Joseph in ""The Emperor Waltz"" (1948), the Caterpillar in ""Alice in Wonderland"" (1951), Baron Popoff in ""The Merry Widow"" (1952), William Brown in ""Mutiny on the Bounty"" (1962), and Max Detweiler in ""The Sound of Music"" (1965). Haydn was born"
"as Endless in 'No Song no Supper,' and a third as Fustian in 'Sylvester Dangerwood' to the Dangerwood of Bannister. A portrait by Dewilde, engraved by Cawthorne, is in the National Art Library, South Kensington. Richard ""Dicky"" Suett Richard ""Dicky"" Suett (1755–6 July 1805), was an English comedian who was George III's favourite Shakespearean clown, and star at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for twenty-five years. Suett was born in Chelsea in 1755, and at ten years of age entered the choir at Westminster Abbey as a pupil of Benjamin Cooke. In 1769 he sang at the Ranelagh Gardens, the"
"(1973), ""The Best of Enemies"" (1976), ""Sister Dora"" (1977), and ""Star Over Bethlehem"" (1981). <br> <br> Christopher Fry Christopher Fry (18 December 1907 – 30 June 2005) was an English poet and playwright. He is best known for his verse dramas, notably ""The Lady's Not for Burning"", which made him a major force in theatre in the 1940s and 1950s. Fry was born as Arthur Hammond Harris in Bristol, the son of Charles John Harris, a master builder who retired early to work full-time as a licensed Lay Reader in the Church of England, and his wife Emma Marguerite Fry"
"of the ridiculous made him the pre-eminent cartoonist of the era. In early 19th century England, pantomime acquired its present form which includes slapstick comedy and featured the first mainstream clown Joseph Grimaldi, while comedy routines also featured heavily in British music hall theatre which became popular in the 1850s. British comedians who honed their skills at pantomime and music hall sketches include Charlie Chaplin, Stan Laurel, George Formby and Dan Leno. The influential English music hall comedian and theatre impresario Fred Karno developed a form of sketch comedy without dialogue in the 1890s, and Chaplin and Laurel were among"
"Land Without Music Land Without Music is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Richard Tauber, Diana Napier and Jimmy Durante. It was made at Denham Studios. The film was one of a number of operetta films made in Britain during the decade. The film is also known by the alternative title Forbidden Music in the United States. After discovering that her state is penniless because its citizens spend their time making music instead of money, a European Grand Duchess bans music in her domains. A New York journalist conspires with rogues to stage a concert."
"second wife, the actress Josephine Bowen. His best-known parts were Triplet in ""Masks and Faces"", Sir Peter Teazle in ""The School for Scandal"", Jacques in ""As You Like It"", and Graves in ""Money"". Charles Fisher (actor) Charles Fisher (1816 – June 11, 1891) was an Anglo-American comedian. He was born in Suffolk England, of a theatrical family. He made his debut in London at the Prince's Theatre in 1844. He moved to the United States and soon joined the company of William E. Burton of which he was a part for nine years (1852–61). He then performed in the company"
"Terry-Thomas Terry-Thomas (born Thomas Terry Hoar-Stevens; 14 July 19118 January 1990) was an English comedian and character actor who became known to a worldwide audience through his films during the 1950s and 1960s. He often portrayed disreputable members of the upper classes, especially cads, toffs and bounders, using his distinctive voice; his costume and props tended to include a monocle, waistcoat and cigarette holder. His striking dress sense was set off by a gap between his two upper front teeth. Born in London, Terry-Thomas made his film debut, uncredited, in ""The Private Life of Henry VIII"" (1933). He spent several"
"Cookham in Berkshire. He was buried beside his mother in Brompton Cemetery. Farren Soutar Joseph Farren Soutar (17 February 1870 – 23 January 1962) (billed as Farren Soutar) was an English actor and singer who became known for his performances in Edwardian Musical Comedies in the West End and on Broadway. Later he acted in some serious plays. His mother was Nellie Farren, the famous principal boy in Victorian burlesque. Born in Greenwich in London, he was the son of the actor, stage manager, and director Robert Soutar and the actress and singer Nellie Farren, known for her roles as"
"played by Martin Jarvis and Alistair McGowan respectively. Notes References Terry-Thomas Terry-Thomas (born Thomas Terry Hoar-Stevens; 14 July 19118 January 1990) was an English comedian and character actor who became known to a worldwide audience through his films during the 1950s and 1960s. He often portrayed disreputable members of the upper classes, especially cads, toffs and bounders, using his distinctive voice; his costume and props tended to include a monocle, waistcoat and cigarette holder. His striking dress sense was set off by a gap between his two upper front teeth. Born in London, Terry-Thomas made his film debut, uncredited, in"
"Ralph Lynn Ralph Clifford Lynn (8 March 1882 – 8 August 1962) was an English actor who had a 60-year career, and is best remembered for playing comedy parts in the Aldwych farces first on stage and then in film. Lynn became an actor at the age of 18 and very soon began to be cast in knut or ""silly ass"" roles. He played such parts as a supporting actor for more than two decades until 1922, when he was cast in the lead of a new West End farce, ""Tons of Money"", in which he achieved immediate stardom. After"
"Frank Randle Frank Randle (born Arthur Hughes, also known as Arthur McEvoy or Arthur Twist; 30 January 1901 – 7 July 1957) was an English comedian. A contemporary of fellow Lancastrians George Formby and Gracie Fields, he was regarded as more subversive, perhaps explaining why the immense popularity he enjoyed during his lifetime has not survived him. He was the leading actor in ten comedy films between 1940 and 1953 all of which had Randle's trademark subversive sense of humour. The first was Somewhere in England and the last It's a Grand Life. Randle was born in Aspull, near Wigan,"
"Gibbs"", by Will Evans and Guy Reeves, at the Garrick. Lewis continued to perform until 1925, appearing in the films ""Brown Sugar"" (1922) as the Earl of Knightsbridge, and as Sir Anthony Fenwick in ""The Happy Ending"" (1925), which starred Fay Compton and Jack Buchanan. He also wrote sketch comedies and short plays. Lewis died in Margate, Kent, in 1935 at the age of 79. Eric Lewis (actor) Frederic Lewis Tuffley (23 October 1855 – 1 April 1935), better known by his stage name, Eric Lewis, was an English comedian, actor and singer. In a career spanning five decades, he"
"16"". Further alterations and redecorations took place in 1902–03, when the theatre was closed for seven months. Between the world wars productions included ""Musical Chairs"" with John Gielgud and in 1936, ""French Without Tears"" which ran for 1,039 performances and launched the writing career of Terence Rattigan. During World War II, the Criterion was requisitioned by the BBC – as an underground theatre it made an ideal studio safe from the London blitz – and light entertainment programmes were both recorded and broadcast live. After the war, the Criterion repertoire included avant-garde works such as Samuel Beckett's ""Waiting for Godot""."