Herbert Mason
Herbert Mason MC | |
---|---|
Born | Samuel George Herbert Mason 1891 Moseley, Birmingham, England |
Died | 20 May 1960 London, England | (aged 68–69)
Nationality | English |
Other names | Maj. Herbert Mason, Bertie, Garry, Werb |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1933–1955 |
Spouse |
First World War
|
Awards | Military Cross |
Samuel George Herbert Mason
Mason began his theatrical career at the age of 16 and appeared in several productions at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre[6] including Barry Jackson's The Christmas Party.[7] During the 1920s, he stage managed some of the largest shows in London,[2] including many of André Charlot's musical revues, and began his film career with the arrival of sound in motion pictures. Mason was the assistant director for I Was a Spy, which was very successful at the box office and voted best film of the year. He made his debut as director in 1936 with The First Offence. His most prominent film was A Window in London, a dark thriller set in the London Underground, which was a remake of the original French drama film Metropolitan. Another successful film included Take My Tip, in which he directed Jack Hulbert, whose "dances [were] beautifully staged".[8]
Several rising actors and actresses, including
His films were generally very well received, and some of them were marked out for the inventiveness of the plot, locations used for shooting[9] and humour. Some of his films are remembered for introducing rising actors and actresses to the screen before they became famous.[10]
Early life
Samuel George Herbert Mason was born in 1891, in
During the
While his unit was waiting in line, he occupied himself doing a
Career
Stage career in London (1918–27)
Mason resumed his career in the Theatre after the war. In the 1920s, he stage directed and stage managed many stage revues
Film career (1928–45)
In 1928, with the arrival of sound, Mason began to make his mark in the film industry by presenting stage shows for the
as a unit manager.In 1936, he made his first film as director,
In 1939, Mason directed The Silent Battle, a thriller set on the Orient Express. The film starred Rex Harrison and was the film debut of Megs Jenkins, who had a small role.[40] She later had roles in It's in the Bag and John and Julie.
Mason changed his pace from perky musicals to dark drama with A Window in London (Lady in Distress) about a man who believes he has witnessed a murder from a passing train.[11] However his films became lighter again including Back-Room Boy – a comedy set in a lighthouse starring Arthur Askey.[11] Robert Murphy describes the film as "the funniest if the least original of the Askey comedies" in his book Realism and Tinsel.[41] That view is shared with John Howard Reid, who mentions in his book that it "is also highly successful in delivering both laughs and thrills".[42]
Additionally, Michael Hodgson mentions in his book that "A Window in London was a dark and disturbing remake of Maurice Cam's French circular drama Metropolitain."[43][11] The film starred Michael Redgrave, who had previously played Christopher Drew in Fisher's comedy A Ship Comes Home at the St Martin's Theatre in May 1937.
Before World War II, Mason combined with some others to buy a country house, Cuffnells, the family home of Alice Liddell. They originally planned to convert it into an upmarket hotel, but when the war broke out in 1939, Cuffnells was requisitioned by the army. By the time the war ended it was in such poor condition that it had to be demolished. Filming for Dr. O'Dowd took place in the summer of 1939 and was completed after the war started. Dr. O'Dowd was the film debut for Peggy Cummins.[44] The film was successful and described as "one of the best films of Ireland ever made."[45] Felix Aylmer also appeared in Dr. O'Dowd, The Briggs Family and Once a Crook.[46][47]
Mason, like Basil Rathbone and many others, offered his service in the war but was turned down because he was too old. However, he was awarded a medal for his services as a member of the Home Guard. Despite moving into film-making, Mason continued to work in the theatre on some occasions. In 1940, Mason presented Peril at End House, which was written by Arnold Ridley and performed at the Vaudeville Theatre. It was an adaptation of the book by Agatha Christie and was Isabel Dean's London debut.[48][49] Two years later, he produced The Big Top, by Herbert Farjeon, which starred Beatrice Lillie, with whom Mason had previously appeared on stage.[50][51]
During the war, while shooting the film
Mason directed and produced the musical comedy Flight from Folly, which was his last directorial credit. It was also the last film made at Warner's Teddington Studios before it was bombed in 1944[2] and the film debut for Pat Kirkwood. In Italy, his career as director is known from only two films: East in Revolt (original title: His Lordship), an adventure film of 1936, and The Mystery Guest (original title: Strange Boarders) in 1938. After 1945, he moved into producing.[4]
Rest of his career (1945–60)
After directing Flight from Folly, Mason joined
Mason was with
Charles Allen Oakley says in his book that: "The post-war era ended for the British cinematograph industry almost indeterminately during 1952 and 1953."
On 20 May 1960, Herbert Mason died in London at the age of 69.
Personal life and family
Mason was known to his friends as 'Werb.'[11] He was called "Bertie" by his family. His mother's brother was called Bertie Collins. Mason first met his future wife when they were both in a play about David Garrick with him taking the lead. Afterwards she and others called him 'Garry.'
Mason's family had lived in Birmingham for several generations (approximately from the end of the 18th Century). For a long time Mason's family worked at the brass foundry – a business, which Samuel Mason set up in the 1860s. In 1860 Thomas Lucas Birch and James Birch separated themselves from Yates and formed a partnership with Samuel Mason. Birch & Mason specialised in pewter goods and bar equipment. On 9 May 1862 the partnership was dissolved and Mason continued the business alone under Samuel Mason Ltd.[62] However the firm competed with a rival firm Gaskell & Chambers until it faced bankruptcy in 1910. Gaskell and Chambers then purchased Mason's bar fitting trade however Harry Mason (Samuel Mason's son) who had been running Samuel Mason Ltd, restarted it under the name of Harry Mason Ltd from about 1910.[63] It can be assumed that Harry Mason took over Samuel Mason Ltd after his nephew left to begin his career in the theatre. Today Harry Mason Ltd specialises in cellar equipment and beer.[64]
In 1914, before the outbreak of the First World War, Mason married Daisy Fisher, a chorus girl, actress, lyricist and singer, who also had a background in theatre and became a novelist and playwright.[3][4] She survived him with their daughter and son: Jocelyn Mason and Michael Mason (b. December 1924).[3][4] Their son Michael Mason became a senior radio producer at the BBC.[3][4]
Actor and theatre owner Edward Terry was a great-uncle.[65]
Mason was a keen fisherman and very interested in birds. He was a good artist, and once did a self-portrait of himself as a clown during the First World War. He dressed very stylishly, getting many of his clothes from
Legacy
Currently Dr. O'Dowd, It's in the Bag and Flight from Folly are three of the BFI 75 Most Wanted Films (list of 75 most sought – after British Future films not currently held in the BFI National Archive).[66] In May 2014 It's in the Bag was given a DVD commercial release by Renown Pictures Ltd however this version is 17 minutes shorter than the original version.[67] In 2015, for the first time in 75 years, A Window in London was made available for viewing to a wider audience. It is included on Britain on Film via the BFI Player.[68][69]
Filmography
Year | Film | Director | Producer | Other | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1933 | I Was a Spy | Yes | Assistant director | ||
Friday the Thirteenth | Yes | Unit Manager | |||
Aunt Sally | Yes | United Production Manager, Released as Along Came Sally in USA | |||
1934 | Evergreen | Yes | Unit Manager | ||
1935 | Things Are Looking Up | Yes | Associate Producer | ||
1936 | The First Offence | Yes | His directorial debut | ||
His Lordship | Yes | Released as Man of Affairs in USA | |||
East Meets West | Yes | ||||
1937 | Take My Tip | Yes | |||
1938 | Strange Boarders | Yes | |||
1939 | The Silent Battle | Yes | Released as Continental Express in USA | ||
1940 | A Window in London | Yes | Released as Lady in Distress in USA | ||
Dr. O'Dowd | Yes | ||||
The Briggs Family | Yes | ||||
1941 | A Yank in the RAF
|
Yes | directed RAF flying sequences | ||
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light | Yes | Short film | |||
Fingers | Yes | ||||
Once a Crook | Yes | ||||
1942 | Back-Room Boy | Yes | |||
1943 | The Night Invader | Yes | |||
1944 | It's in the Bag | Yes | |||
1945 | Flight from Folly | Yes | Yes | Last directorial credit and first film as producer | |
1948 | Bonnie Prince Charlie | Yes | (uncredited)[70] | ||
Anna Karenina | Yes | Associate Producer | |||
1952 | Time Gentlemen, Please! | Yes | |||
1953 | Background | Yes | Released as Edge of Divorce in USA, July 1954 | ||
1954 | Conflict of Wings | Yes | |||
Child's Play | Yes | ||||
1955 | Cast a Dark Shadow | Yes | |||
John and Julie | Yes | ||||
The Blue Peter | Yes | Released as Navy Heroes in USA, December 1957 |
Stage
Stage appearances
Year | Title | Role | Director | Playwright(s) | Theatre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1913–14 | The Critic | Richard Brinsley Sheridan | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | ||
1914 | The Christmas Party | Barry Jackson | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | ||
1921 | Pot Luck! | Ronald Jeans | Vaudeville Theatre, London | ||
1927 | The Cave Man | Shipwright | Daisy Fisher and Harold Simpson | Theatre Royal (first performance) and Savoy Theatre, London |
Theatre
Year | Title | Theatre(s) | Stage manager | Stage director | Producer | Other | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1912 | The Follies | Apollo | Yes | [71] | |||
1920 | The Shop Girl | Gaiety Theatre, London | Yes | [72] | |||
1921 | Fun of the Fayre | London Pavilion | Yes | ||||
Pot Luck! | Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | |||||
1922 | London Calling!
|
Duke of York's Theatre, London | Yes | ||||
Snap | Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | |||||
1923 | Rats | Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | Yes | |||
Yes! | Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | |||||
1924 | Puppets | Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | ||||
Our Cabaret[73] | Victoria Palace Theatre, London | Yes | Yes | Presenter | |||
1924–25 | The Punch Bowl | Duke of York's Theatre, His Majesty's Theatre, London and Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | Yes | Choreographer and proprietor | ||
1924–25 | Charlot's Revue [74] | Prince of Wales Theatre, London | Yes | ||||
1925 | Bubbly! | Duke of York's Theatre, London | Yes | Yes | Choreographer | ||
1925–26 | Still Dancing | London Pavilion | Yes | Assistant producer | |||
1926–27 | Yvonne | Dalys Theatre , London
|
Yes | ||||
1926–27 | Vaudeville Vanities[28] | Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | Yes | Choreographer | ||
1927 | The Cave Man | Theatre Royal (first performance) and Savoy Theatre, London | Yes | Yes | Presenter | ||
1940 | Peril at End House | Vaudeville Theatre, London | Yes | Presenter | |||
1942 | The Big Top | His Majesty's Theatre, London | Yes | ||||
It's About Time[75] | The Comedy Theatre , London
|
Yes | |||||
1948 | Lend Me Robin | Embassy Theatre, London | Yes | Yes | Playwright (with Daisy Fisher) | ||
1951 | Dangerous Woman | Wimbledon Theatre , London
|
Yes | Playwright (with Daisy Fisher) |
See also
References
- ^ "Herbert Mason". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h McFarlane, 2005, p. 462
- ^ a b c d e Daniel Snowman Obituary: Michael Mason The Guardian 13 July 2014
- ^ a b c d e f g "Michael Mason - obituary". telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph. 3 July 2014.
- ^ "Tuesday 17 September 2002 Supplement No. 1". The London Gazette. 17 September 2002. p. 11146. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ^ Kemp, 1943, p. 142
- ^ Kemp, 1943, p. 132
- ^ "Herbert Mason". britmovie.co.uk. Britmovie.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ "A Window in London". player.bfi.org.uk. BFI Player. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
Herbert Mason's unjustly neglected film deserves viewing not just for its engaging plot but also for its fine location shooting
- ^ Tom Vallance (12 October 1998). "Obituary: Megs Jenkins". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
She entered films with a small role in Herbert Mason's exciting thriller...the first of over 50 films in which she was featured
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Quinlan, 1999, p. 225
- ISBN 9781481769419.
- ^ "The London Gazette, December 26, 1893". The Gazette. The London Gazette. 26 November 1893. p. 7556. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
...,presented to the said Court by Samuel Mason and Samuel George Mason, trading as Samuel Mason, of Dale End, Birmingham.
- ^ "George Glazer Gallery – Antique Decorative Arts – S.S. Sirius Relic Souvenir Brass Rod Section". georgeglazer.com. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- ^ "Production of The Christmas Party". Theatricalia. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ "No. 29094". The London Gazette. 9 March 1915. pp. 2369–2369.
- ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 14th November 1916". The Gazette. The London Gazette. 14 November 1916. p. 11060. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
For conspicuous gallantry in action. He brought up machine-guns under intense fire, and organised the machine-gun section defence of each object as gained, displaying great courage and initiative. He greatly assisted our holding the position when gained.
- ^ Balcon, 1969, p. 74
- ^ Aaker, Everett, 2013, p. 40
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, pp. 249–250
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, p. 265
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, p. 137
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, p. 244
- ^ "The Punch Bowl". Cadbury Research Library Special Collections. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ a b Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920-1929, p. 384
- ^ "Yvonne: A Musical comedy". jazzageclub.com. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
- ^ J. P. Wearing (27 March 2014). The London Stage 1920-1929. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 440–441.
- ^ a b Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, p. 476
- ^ "Vaudeville Vanities". Cadbury Research Library Special Collections. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ "The Caveman". Cadbury Research Library Special Collections. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, p. 555
- ^ Balcon, 1969, pp. 74–75
- ^ Howard Reid, 2006, p. 135
- ^ Moseley, 2000, p. 69
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920-1929, p. 379
- ^ Moseley, 2000, p. 68
- ^ Neale, 2012, p. 138
- ^ Fells, 2004, p. 188
- ^ Arliss, 1940, p. 243
- ^ "Obituary: Megs Jenkins". independent.co.uk. The Independent. 12 October 1998. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ Murphy, 1989, p. 196
- ^ Reid, 2010, p. 225
- ^ Hodgson, 2013, p. 37
- ^ Hodgson, Michael (2013). Patricia Roc. pp. 47–8.
I was only young when I made Dr. O'Dowd, my first ever film...recalled Peggy Cummins
- ^ "Dr O'Dowd". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Kevin Rockett (1996). The Irish Filmography: Fiction Films, 1896-1996. Red Mountain Media. p. 145.
- ^ "Felix Aylmer". explore.bfi.org.uk. BFI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1940–1949, pp. 17–18
- ^ "Peril at End House". Cadbury Research Library Special Collections. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ "The Big Top". Cadbury Research Library Special Collections. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1940-1949, p. 72
- ^ Mackenzie, 2001, p. 48
- ^ Neame and Cooper, 2003, p. 52
- ^ American Film Institute, 1999, p. 464
- ^ "Lend Me Robin". Cadbury Research Library Special Collections. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1940-1949, pp. 484-485
- ^ Hobson, 1950, p. 89
- ^ "Hird, Thora". museum.tv. The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
- ^ Reid, 2005, p. 205
- ^ Reid, 2010, pp. 16–7
- ^ Oakley, 2013, p. 206
- ^ "The London Gazette, Issue 22624, 9 May 1862". The Gazette. The London Gazette. p. 2447. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
- ^ Shill, 2006, ebook
- ^ "Harry Mason Ltd". harrymason.co.uk. Masons. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ British Film and Television Yearbook Volume 8. British and American Film Press. 1958. p. 197.
MASON, HERBERT, M.C. , F.Z.S. Producer and director. Born London, the nephew of Edward Terry.
- ^ "BFI Most Wanted". bfi.org.uk. BFI. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "It's in the Bag". renownpicturesltd.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ^ "A Window in London". player.bfi.org.uk. BFI Player. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ Geoffrey Macnab (7 July 2015). "BFI launches Britain on Film archive". screendaily.com. Screen Daily. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
- ^ The Illustrated London News, Volume 209. Issues 5594–5619. Illustrated London News & Sketch Limited. 1946. p. 250.
... as Scottish clansman storm the rocky heights of Tor Choicht during the taking of a scene in "Bonnie Prince Charlie", a Korda film being made near Fort William, Scotland, under the direction of producer of Herbert Mason.
- ISBN 9780810893009. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, p. 15
- ^ "Our Cabaret". Cadbury Research Library Special Collections. University of Birmingham. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1920–1929, p. 320
- ^ Wearing, 2014, London Stage 1940–1949, p. 74
Bibliography
Primary sources
- Mason, Samuel George Herbert. (7 September 1916). Report by O.C. 59th M.G.Coy. Public Record Office, The National Archives in Kew
- "No. 29094". The London Gazette. 9 March 1915. pp. 2369–2369.
- "No. 29824". The London Gazette. 14 November 1916. pp. 11060–11060.
Secondary sources
- Aldgate, Anthony and I.B.Tauris& Co Ltd
- American Film Institute. (1999). AFI American Film Catalogue of Motion Pictures Produced in the United States. University of California Press
- Arliss, George. (1940). George Arliss. John Murray
- Hutchinson
- Blum, Daniel. (1955). Screen World Volume 6. Biblo & Tannen Publishers
- British Film and Television Yearbook. (1958). British and American Film Press
- Fells, Robert M. (2004). George Arliss: The Man Who Played God. Scarecrow Press
- Hobson, Harold. (1950). Theatre – Volume 2. Longmans, Green and Co
- Hodgson, Michael. (2013). Patricia Roc: the goddess of the Odeons. Author House
- Howard Reid, John. (2006). America's Best, Britain's Finest: A Survey of Mixed Movies. Lulu.com
- Howard Reid, John. (2010). British Movie Entertainments on VHS and DVD: A Classic Movie Fan’s Guide. Lulu.com
- Howard Reid, John. (2005). Hollywood's Miracles of Entertainment. Lulu.com
- Kemp, Thomas C. (1943). The Birmingham Repertory Theatre: The Playhouse and the Man. Cornish Brothers Limited
- McFarlane, Brian. (2005). The Encyclopedia of British Film. Methuen (2nd edition)
- Mackenzie, S.P. (2001). British War Films 1939–1945. Hambledon and London
- Moseley, Roy. (2000). Evergreen: Victor Saville in His Own Words. Southern Illinois University Press
- Murphy, Robert. (1989). Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain, 1939 – 1949. Routledge
- Murphy, Robert. (2006). Directors in British and Irish Cinema: A Reference Companion. BFI
- Neale, Steve. (2012). The Classical Hollywood Reader. Routledge
- Neame, Ronald. (2003). Straight from the Horse's Mouth. Rowman & Littlefield
- Oakley, Charles Allen. (2013). Where We Came In: Seventy Years of the British Film Industry. Routledge
- Quinlan, David. (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. BT Batsford Ltd
- Quinlan, David. (1999). Quinlan's Film Directors. BT Batsford Ltd (2nd edition)
- I.B.TaurisPublishers
- Shill, Ray. (2006). Workshop of the World: Birmingham's Industrial Legacy. The History Press
- Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1920 – 1929: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Education (2nd edition)
- Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1940 – 1949: A Calendar of Productions, Performers and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (2nd edition)
- (1946). The Illustrated London News, Volume 209. Issues 5594–5619. Illustrated London News & Sketch Limited
External links
- Herbert Mason at IMDb
- Herbert Mason at AllMovie
- Herbert Mason at the better source needed]
- Herbert Mason Britmovie | Home of British Films
- Herbert Mason Pot Luck! Theatre Collection, University of Bristol