It being Australia Day tomorrow it got me thinking about Aussies in classic movies. Of course, everyone knows the most famous Aussie Errol Flynn, but are their any others?
Errol Flynn (Actor)
Born Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn, 20th June 1909,
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
Known For -
Captian Blood (1935), The Adventures Of Robin Hood (1938), The Sea Hawk (1940).
Rod Taylor (Actor)
Born Rodney Sturt Taylor, 11th January 1930,
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Known For -
The Time Machine (1960), The Birds (1963), The Glass Bottom Boat (1966).
Peter Finch (Actor)
Born Frederick George Peter Ingle-Finch, 28th September 1916, South Kensington, London, England, to Australian parents. He lived in India and France until the age of ten where he returned to Australia.
Known For -
Elephant Walk (1954), The Nun's Story (1959), The Flight Of The Phoenix (1965).
Orry-Kelly (Costume Designer)
Born John (Jack) Orry Kelly, 31st December 1897,
Kiama, New South Wales, Australia.
Known For -
The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1942), Arsenic And Old Lace (1944),
Harvey (1950).
Judith Anderson (Actor)
Born Frances Margaret Anderson-Anderson, 10th February 1897,
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Known For -
Rebecca (1940), Laura (1944), Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958).
Edward Ashley (Actor)
Born Edward Montague Ashley Cooper, 12th August 1904,
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Known For -
Pride And Predjudice (1940), The Black Swan (1942), The Court Jester (1955).
John Farrow (Director/ Screenwriter/ Producer)
Born John N.B. Villiers-Farrow, 10th February 1904,
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Known For -
The Big Clock (1948), Hondo (1953), Around The World In Eighty Days (1956).
Sir Robert Helpmann (Ballet Dancer/ Actor/ Director)
Born Robert Murray Helpman, 9th April 1909,
Mount Gambier, South Australia, Australia.
Known For -
Henry V (1944), The Red Shoes (1948), 55 Days At Peking (1963),
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).
Chips Rafferty (Actor/ Writer/ Producer)
Born John William Pilbean Goffage, 26th March 1909,
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
Known For -
The Desert Rats (1953), The Sundowners (1960), Mutiny On The Bounty (1962).
Robert Krasker (Cinematographer)
Born 13th August 1913, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Known for -
Brief Encounter (1945), The Third Man (1949), El Cid (1961).
If anybody knows of any other Australians in classic movies let me know in the comments below.
Happy Australia Day !
Hi Alyssa,
ReplyDeleteLove the Aussie appreciation!! Admittedly, I didnt realise most of these cinema figures were Australian - Orry-Kelly, Judith Anderson - and its amazing that the biggest film larrikin of them all was an Aussie. Happy Australia Day!!
Hi Emma,
DeleteI was surprised myself about Judith Anderson and came across most of the Aussies on the list by chance. They weren't easy to find. I think it might have to do with the convict taint still being present in those days. For instance Errol Flynn's studio preferred to say he was Irish.
Thanks for commenting.
I had no idea all those folks hailed from the Land Down Under. Of course, I didn't even know who all of them were, but, with the exception of Mr. Flynn, the ones I did know, I was unaware were Australian.
ReplyDeleteIn Celebration of Australia Day, I suggest a watching of some of those folks' films!
Alyssa, I have no idea if you are interested in another social network, but I am a member of The Golden Age of Hollywood, and I wanted to extend an invitation to you. I quite enjoy it there and have "met" some really great people. We play games, talk about films, share star photos, etc. And one of my friends there is an Aussie!
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, if you are interested, here is the link:
http://goldenageofhollywood.ning.com/
Have a great day,
Patti
Hi Patti,
DeleteThanks for the invite, it sounds fun. I will be looking into it soon.
I didn't know most of them were Australian either and thought what a shame that I didn't. Though I would still like to find out if there were more Aussie women represented in the golden age of hollywood.
Hope you have a great day,
Alyssa