Ronald Colman 125

[Joe Thompson]

Happy 125th birthday to actor Ronald Colman, who was born on 09-February-1891. I often tell people that I would be happy to borrow his wonderful voice.

He served in the London Scottish Regiment in World War One until he was seriously wounded in 1915. Claude Rains, Herbert Marshall, Cedric Hardwicke and Basil Rathbone also served in the London Scottish.

He appeared on the stage in Britain and America, and made his first movie in 1923. He was good in silents, but his voice made him even better in talkies.

I love many of his movies, including Bulldog Drummond, Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back, The Prisoner of Zenda and A Tale of Two Cities.

The poster is from http://listal.com.

[wich2]

And his voice served him very well in that other classic medium - Radio.

He did a great deal of work there, including hosting his own series, FAVORITE STORY. Hear here:

http://www.meredy.com/ronaldcolman/radio.html" target="_blank

Best,
-Craig

[Donald Binks]

Two of his films which have left a lasting impression on me - "The Prisoner of Zenda" and "Lost Horizon". I saw them both when I was about 12 or so - and they were both real Boy's Own stuff. Seeing them again later as an adult hasn't dimmed the appeal.

[wich2]

Donald, I don't know if you are a fan of the Theater of the Imagination, but Colman revisits both stories in the radio material linked above.

Best,
-Craig

[Joe Thompson]

One of Ronald Colman's most interesting radio roles on was as a frequent guest on The Jack Benny Show. Ronald Colman and his wife Benita Hume played Jack Benny's next-door neighbors who often ran into issues with him.

[Donald Binks]

Donald, I don't know if you are a fan of the Theater of the Imagination, but Colman revisits both stories in the radio material linked above.

Best,
-Craig

Thanks Craig - what with DVD's and CD's of broadcasts off the wireless - I shall have to live to 175 to get through all this stuff! But, thank you indeed for the notification.

[wich2]

Your most welcome, sir.

There's an art to audio drama acting; not all movie/stage folk have the gift. Colman did.

[WarrenHymersMoll]

Champagne For Caesar is a riot but I really enjoy the somewhat overlooked and underrated The Unholy Garden from 1931. Colman as a suave, sophisticated gentleman thief on the lam in the Sahara Desert along with his dame-crazy accomplice Warren Hymer (an odd pairing on paper but they make it work very well).