My dad and Marlene Dietrich
Discussion
It's a publicity photograph. There were three Rollers there with three chauffeurs, all of whom were named Smith (the chauffeurs not the cars). My dad, pictured, was chauffeur to Michael Wilding, a film star of some fame before, during and immediately after the war. He married Liz Taylor - hardly putting him into an exclusive club I suppose.
My dad's roller was a sedanca de ville and it was the first car I rode in. The only trip I remember was driving down to Herne Bay, where Wilding's secretary lived, to pick her up. I was in the back all the way standing up holding onto the central division with my brother winding the glass up and down.
Wilding and Dietrich were friends and my father, who had a lovely tenor, sang for them on a journey to Portsmouth and she sent him a lovely letter and signed photograph to thank him. No money though.
The major benefit of being a chauffeur to a film star was that you ate at the studio canteen and could take a doggy bag home.
Wilding left this country for Hollywood in the early 50s where his career took a nosedive.
My father was in Wilding's last British film, Trent's Last Case, as a waiter serving tea.
Wilding's secretary went with him to the USA but returned in the mid 60s. I used to take girlfriends to see her as she knew everyone in Hollywood, one way or the other. Some of her stories were tremendous. Always impressed the girls.
My dad's roller was a sedanca de ville and it was the first car I rode in. The only trip I remember was driving down to Herne Bay, where Wilding's secretary lived, to pick her up. I was in the back all the way standing up holding onto the central division with my brother winding the glass up and down.
Wilding and Dietrich were friends and my father, who had a lovely tenor, sang for them on a journey to Portsmouth and she sent him a lovely letter and signed photograph to thank him. No money though.
The major benefit of being a chauffeur to a film star was that you ate at the studio canteen and could take a doggy bag home.
Wilding left this country for Hollywood in the early 50s where his career took a nosedive.
My father was in Wilding's last British film, Trent's Last Case, as a waiter serving tea.
Wilding's secretary went with him to the USA but returned in the mid 60s. I used to take girlfriends to see her as she knew everyone in Hollywood, one way or the other. Some of her stories were tremendous. Always impressed the girls.
Eric Mc said:
The earliest example of Photoshop in action?
I'm not sure they had Photoshop in those days.However, what they did have was massive ground glass screens. A publicity photograph would be projected onto it and any blemish masked by makeup. My mother used to do it. The screen would then be re-photographed. It was always done in black and white.
I've got quite a few of the old publicity photographs. I'm clearing out the loft of my house and came across them all.
Great story Derek. Love stories of the olden stars. It is also amusing/QI to see how some big names of the past just don't survive, and some do. Luck of the films they drew.
What are you going to do with the pictures?
My Grand Uncle was mates with Elvis and has cinefilm of him and the King somewhere (he had photographs but when he sent them to be maintained, the company he chose said they had lost them...also he has been threatened by the estate of Elvis several times). I do have some knick-knacks that came from the King though.
What are you going to do with the pictures?
My Grand Uncle was mates with Elvis and has cinefilm of him and the King somewhere (he had photographs but when he sent them to be maintained, the company he chose said they had lost them...also he has been threatened by the estate of Elvis several times). I do have some knick-knacks that came from the King though.
LordFlathead said:
Always thought she was a bit Madonna in the way she presented herself.
In what way?LordFlathead said:
Always thought she was a bit Madonna in the way she presented herself.
Not far off the mark. She did very well to be able to make herself attractive and desirable as a film lead all through World War 2 - considering she was German and always spoke with a heavy Gwrman accnent.
Derek Smith said:
I'm not sure they had Photoshop in those days.
You obviously aren't aware of Dietrich's secret visits to Bletchley Park where the British boffins were working on early versions of Photoshop. It was considered even more important than breaking the German codes. Of course, in those days, the equipment for early Photoshop took up two stately homes and three football pitches. LordFlathead said:
Always thought she was a bit Madonna in the way she presented herself.
She evidently had a bit of a hard time in Britain after the war, what with her being German and all. My father reckoned she was a bit of a character and liked her a lot. He said she treated him just as if he ws people, not the most common feature of film stars. She saw herself as American evidently.Dad used to drive the 'drunk tank' as he called the Roller, when Wilding and a film start called Stewart Granger went out on the town. Dietrich would go with them and any anti-German remarks were dealt with without fuss by Granger. My mother said that Granger's language was the worst she every heard. My father once took a converted MTB from the Port of London to Marseille via the Channel and the canals. It went all the way with the Roller strapped to the front. Granger was with them for long periods of time and my mother reckoned it took six months to get my father's vocab back to acceptable.
My dad was a bit prim and proper, his Irish ex-catholic upbringing. He once told me that he was shocked at what went on in the back of the Roller. One woman ordered him to 'avert the mirror'. My dad replied: I took it down many women ago.
Wilding wasn't amused.
A story just a little late for the Oscars:
The chauffeurs were lined up as a sort of guard of honour at a posh London hotel for some awards ceremony. Dad said they were all less than amused by the officious 'queen' who tried to organise all those involved, which included a couple of PCs, ex military chaps back from the war, as were most of the soldiers.
At one time someone partly famous left the hotel and went off up the road. The organiser ordered a police officer to go after him. The cahp made his feelings about the task obvious but without words then wandered in the general direction of the target. The organiser wasn't happy with this and called out after him: Go on, hurry. Hurry.
The police officer stopped in his tracks, turned slowly and ambled back. He went up to the chap and said: When I runs I comes back with a prisoner.
The organiser let out a little squeek and the PC wandered off.
The chauffeurs then left the steps, went round the back and started drinking the evening away.
Eric Mc said:
LordFlathead said:
Always thought she was a bit Madonna in the way she presented herself.
Not far off the mark. She did very well to be able to make herself attractive and desirable as a film lead all through World War 2 - considering she was German and always spoke with a heavy Gwrman accnent.When I read the title I thought of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SentQjMIioY
NSFW audio from Derek and Clive
NSFW audio from Derek and Clive
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