My father, the film star
Discussion
My father volunteered before the war started, so he was not entitled to get his old job back, as conscripts were. He started a two-man decorating business and worked on the London homes of some famous people. He and his partner split, due to the latter's drinking, and so he was left to decorate then star male actor, Michael Wilding's house on his own. They got on quite well, and my dad, you could have used his morals as a straight edge, pointed out that he was being conned by his chauffeur. Cue the offer of a job as handyman/chauffeur. He jumped at it, and became thrilled by driving various Rolls Royces and working with famous stars. I called Wilding uncle Michael and, for a short while, Liz Taylor became auntie Elizabeth. I already had an aunty Liz. Marlene Dietrich was a frequent visitor to our house for some reason and she became auntie Marly.
Wilding's last 'big' picture in the UK was Trent's Last Case. It was notable as my father's one appearance in a film. He was one for downplaying everything he did and he said, about his appearance, all he did was serve alcohol in the background when the actor who was supposed to do it went 'missing', ie drunk. He was asked to don a jacket and stand in the background.
The film was on Talking Pictures last night and, as I'd not seen it, I recorded it.
There, in an early bar scene, as promised, was my father, in the background, serving drinks to seated customers, exactly as he said. It was rather touching. There he was, obviously not used to ‘acting’, making a bit of a hash of it, as he promised. I played it a few times, and he got no better despite the extra experience.
My father, the film star. What might have been.
Anyone else whose relatives were famous international film stars?
Wilding's last 'big' picture in the UK was Trent's Last Case. It was notable as my father's one appearance in a film. He was one for downplaying everything he did and he said, about his appearance, all he did was serve alcohol in the background when the actor who was supposed to do it went 'missing', ie drunk. He was asked to don a jacket and stand in the background.
The film was on Talking Pictures last night and, as I'd not seen it, I recorded it.
There, in an early bar scene, as promised, was my father, in the background, serving drinks to seated customers, exactly as he said. It was rather touching. There he was, obviously not used to ‘acting’, making a bit of a hash of it, as he promised. I played it a few times, and he got no better despite the extra experience.
My father, the film star. What might have been.
Anyone else whose relatives were famous international film stars?
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Great story Derek.
But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
That quite literally is a "cool story Bro"! What were the circumstances?But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
For me, my brother went to stage school, so was in 3 films, Breaking Glass, The Mirror Cracked and Elephant Man. His best close up was in The Elephant Man, when he had a scene in a train station and there was a good 10 seconds, very close up of my brother. I went to see the filming of it and met John Hurt, in all his made up glory, I was about 8 at the time and he scared the s
t out of me.My brother was also one of the kids in the original Pink Floyd Brick in the Wall video.
Nearly - my mum went to stage school with Dennis Waterman, Anthony Valentine and a few others of their generation and had an audition for a part in ‘Village Of The Damned’, she was told she looked just a little bit too old and the part went to someone else. She went on to work in theatre for a while and suddenly jacked it all in, much to my grandad’s dismay as he’d put her through at great expense.
Her half sister is married to the guy who played the ginger kid in ‘Scum’ in 1979, and much earlier than that he appeared in ‘Scrooge’ with Albert Finley and did about a dozen or so TV commercials, he’s now a record producer, mixer and composer.
Her half sister is married to the guy who played the ginger kid in ‘Scum’ in 1979, and much earlier than that he appeared in ‘Scrooge’ with Albert Finley and did about a dozen or so TV commercials, he’s now a record producer, mixer and composer.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Great story Derek.
But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Do tell, just finished watching The Right Stuff and certainly colour me intrigued. But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Great story Derek.
But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
For some reason I read that in an Alan Bennett voice!But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
My dad worked in the casino business in the late 60’s early seventies. Initially for the Victoria Sporting Club and Crockfords. One of these supplied the casino equipment for the James Bond film Thunderball. Dad somehow managed to get a speaking part, serving Sean Connery with gambling chips on his entrance to the casino. Dads line I believe was “certainly sir”. Dad passed 5 years ago so it’s always nice to watch when it’s shown on tv.
Brilliant stories, cheered me up no end. No film stars in my family but a strange coincidence. My brother happened to be watching 'who do you think you are?', a programme he had never previously seen. I'm sure it was about Kate Humble's grandfather. My brother suddenly shouted to his girlfriend, thats my papa. And it was. The show showed pictures of prisoners of war released from the camps after VE day and there was a black and white photograph of my papa being repatriated after spending the war in a camp after being captured at Arnhem. My brother passed the programme details onto my dad and they were incredibly helpful, providing any photos they could etc. And all through a complete coincidence!
A collegues parents in law's niece married U2's Edge's son
Thats the nearest to anyone famous
My sister did make the front page of the daily mail (as I recall) after giving birth 2hrs after signing a 1bn deal in the US though.
I did get about three seconds on that BBC documentary about power recently
Thats the nearest to anyone famous
My sister did make the front page of the daily mail (as I recall) after giving birth 2hrs after signing a 1bn deal in the US though.
I did get about three seconds on that BBC documentary about power recently
I was in the crowd at the NIA when Songs of Praise did a millenium celebration thing, hosted by Don Maclean.
They got all the schools in birmingham together. and I was in the stands and for a split second I was on TV. Dancing like an idiot. I was about 10 years old though.
Found this when I was trying to remember Don Maclean: https://members.tripod.com/~John_Humphreys/bbc/NIA...
There was also a documentary last year about the Irish in Birmingham, my old RE teacher was on it along with a total tosser of an old English teacher who upped sticks to go to Canada. Surprised they let him in really, the absolute knobhead.
They got all the schools in birmingham together. and I was in the stands and for a split second I was on TV. Dancing like an idiot. I was about 10 years old though.
Found this when I was trying to remember Don Maclean: https://members.tripod.com/~John_Humphreys/bbc/NIA...
There was also a documentary last year about the Irish in Birmingham, my old RE teacher was on it along with a total tosser of an old English teacher who upped sticks to go to Canada. Surprised they let him in really, the absolute knobhead.
forrestgrump said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Great story Derek.
But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
Do tell, just finished watching The Right Stuff and certainly colour me intrigued. But no, none of my relatives were famous, and neither Liz Taylor nor Marlene Deitrich were frequent visitors.
I did come home from school once, in about 1978/9, to find former astronaut John Glenn sitting in my gran's kitchen with a cup of tea and a biscuit.
So I got home from school to find my gran having a cup of tea at the kitchen table with Rhodes and John Glenn. I was 15/16 I guess. So I walk into the kitchen and recognise Dr Boyson, and he introduces me to Senator Glenn. I twig immediately and, very uncooly shout "you're John Glenn, the astronaut!" and he smiles and shakes my hand. My gran, who is clueless about this type of stuff and not interested anyway says "Astronaut? You needn't have gone to the moon to see dust and rocks, just look at the state of those bloody communal gardens, you could of spent the time there"
FFS!!! Embarrassing or what. Christ knows what John Glenn must've thought. Probably "I've been into space, and somehow I've ended up in some crappy London flat with some loony woman and some stupid star struck kid"
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Thursday 7th January 15:13
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