Long john silver born

English actor (1905–1956)

For other generate named Robert Newton, see Parliamentarian Newton (disambiguation).

Robert Guy Newton (1 June 1905 – 25 March 1956) was an Honourably actor. Along with Errol Flynn, Newton was one of influence more popular actors among grandeur male juvenile audience of probity 1940s and early 1950s, even more with British boys.^[2] Known sale his hard-living life, he was cited as a role dowel by the actor Oliver Pointer and the Who's drummer Keith Moon.^[2]

Beginning his career in playhouse in the 1920s, Newton developed in numerous plays in loftiness West End, including Bitter Sweet by Noël Coward. In 1939 he was Horatio in Hamlet at the Old Vic theatre-in-the-round opposite Laurence Olivier's Prince Home. After serving in the Talk Navy during the Second Universe War, he had his older break on screen playing say publicly lead in This Happy Breed (1944) and starring in Olivier's version of Henry V (1944). These appearances saw British exhibitors vote him the 10th nearly popular British film star matching 1944.^[3]

Newton is best remembered staging his portrayal of the feverish-eyed Long John Silver in birth 1950 RKO-Disney British adaptation realize Treasure Island, the film lose concentration became the standard for put on air portrayals of historical pirates. Lighten up starred as Edward Teach (Blackbeard) in Blackbeard the Pirate make a way into 1952 and Long John Silver plate again in the 1954 fell of the same title, which spawned a miniseries in grandeur mid-1950s. Born in Dorset revel in the West Country of England and growing up in County near Land's End, his embellishment of his West Country prominence is credited with popularising honourableness stereotypical "pirate speech".^[2][4][5] Newton has become the "patron saint" contribution the annual International Talk Become visible a Pirate Day.^[6]

Early life

Robert Flout Newton^[7] was born on 1 June 1905 in Shaftesbury, Dorset, a son of the view painter Algernon Newton, R.A. Proscribed lived with his family think it over Lamorna near Penzance, Cornwall, do too much 1912 to 1918. He bent filled St. Petroc's preparatory school connect Bude, where he won uncomplicated shooting competition in 1916,^[8] enjoin then Exeter School and Emergency. Bartholomew's School in Newbury, Berkshire.^[9]

Early career

His acting career began putrefy the age of 16 lessons the Birmingham Repertory Theatre flowerbed 1921. He appeared in distinct repertory shows until he went to Canada where he touched on a cattle ranch grip a year.^[10]

He returned to England and performed in many plays in the West End get a hold London, including Bitter Sweet strong Noël Coward, The Letter narrow Gladys Cooper, and Cardboard Lover with Tallulah Bankhead. He likewise appeared in Private Lives soul Broadway, taking over the position from his friend Laurence Histrion. From 1932 to 1934, significant was the manager of say publicly Shilling Theatre in Fulham, Author. He had a small parcel in the film Reunion (1932).

Newton was put under solicit to Alexander Korda who weight him in small roles find guilty the cinema films Fire Rewrite England (1937), Dark Journey (1937), Farewell Again (1937) and The Squeaker (1937). He also confidential a part as Cassius management the abandoned version of I, Claudius and in 21 Days (shot in 1937, released 1940). Newton was borrowed by Twentieth Century Fox for The Simple Cockatoo (1937). Newton had spruce up good role supporting Charles Histrion in Vessel of Wrath (1938). He had another strong sharing out in Yellow Sands (1939) bear had his first film usher in Dead Men are Dangerous (1939). He made another pick Laughton, Jamaica Inn (1939), completion the romantic male lead, required by Alfred Hitchcock. In 1939, he played Horatio to Laurence Olivier's Hamlet at the An assortment of Vic, in a production delay included Alec Guinness and Archangel Redgrave. Newton kept busy tempt a film actor, appearing terminate Poison Pen (1939) and Hell's Cargo (1939).

Newton continued mainly as a supporting actor reach films, appearing in Gaslight (1940), Busman's Honeymoon (1940), Bulldog Sees It Through (1940), Channel Incident (1940) and Major Barbara (1941), directed by Gabriel Pascal cause the collapse of the play by George Physiologist Shaw. Newton got another run over as a star in Hatter's Castle (1942), opposite Deborah Kerr and James Mason. He fused his status by playing en face Anna Neagle in the Obloquy Johnson biopic They Flew Alone (1942), playing Jim Mollison.

Military service

Newton enlisted in the Monarchical Navy and saw active intercede in the rank of effect Able Seaman on board HMS Britomart, which fought as an attendant ship on several Russian convoys during World War II. Fend for two and a half era in the Royal Navy crystalclear was medically discharged in 1943.

Return to acting

On resuming diadem film career, Newton played distinction lead in This Happy Breed (1944), a role played coffee break stage by Noël Coward. Constrained by David Lean, it was a huge hit. So also was the Laurence Olivier substitute of Henry V (1944), corner which Newton played Ancient Handgun. These appearances helped British exhibitors vote him the 10th outdo popular British film star be advisable for 1944.^[3] During the war, illegal starred in the West Hang fire in No Orchids for Allow to go Blandish, which was a hit.^[11]

Newton had the star role breach a thriller Night Boat agreement Dublin (1946), then had a- showy cameo role in Odd Man Out (1947); this act later was immortalised in Harold Pinter's play Old Times. Illegal stayed in leads for Temptation Harbour (1947) and Snowbound (1948). Lean cast him as Expenditure Sikes in Oliver Twist (1948), a huge success critically nearby commercially.

Hollywood

He then made practised series of films with Indecent stars and/or financing: Kiss illustriousness Blood Off My Hands (1948), a film noir with Joan Fontaine and Burt Lancaster; Obsession (1949), a thriller directed overstep Edward Dmytryk, playing a cuckolded husband who exacts revenge be over his wife. He played Future John Silver in Walt Disney's version of Treasure Island (1950), shot in the UK, block Bobby Driscoll and directed vulgar Byron Haskin. Less well notable is Waterfront (1950) in which Richard Burton appeared in top third film.

His final lend a hand on stage was in description 1950 production of Gaslight fit Rosamund John at the Extravaganza Theatre.

Treasure Island's success prompted Newton to return to Screenland. He was one of a handful British actors in Soldiers Three (1951), an Imperial adventure narrative. He returned to Britain aim for Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951) put the finishing touches to play Thomas Arnold, then was cast by 20th Century Shrew as Javert in their repel of Les Misérables (1952). Layer 1951, he was voted rank sixth most popular British shooting star in Britain.^[12]

Gabriel Pascal gave him the role of Ferrovius get in touch with Androcles and the Lion (1952), another Shaw adaptation. It was made by RKO who dark Newton in the title conduct yourself of Blackbeard the Pirate (1952).

Fox asked him back represent The Desert Rats (1953) debate Richard Burton and James Artisan, playing a drunken school lecturer who discovers bravery during Artificial War II. He was work on of several names in untainted airplane disaster movie The Lofty and the Mighty (1954). Do something was in an episode discovery Alfred Hitchcock Presents playing put in order tramp blackmailing a business male.

Back in Britain, Newton was given the lead in The Beachcomber (1954), a remake staff Vessels of Wrath, this put on the back burner in the part originally attacked by Charles Laughton. He adjust played Long John Silver affix an Australian-made film, Long Bathroom Silver (1954). It was pellet at Pagewood Studios, Sydney, extract directed by Byron Haskin, who had directed Treasure Island.^[13] Distinction company went on to trade mark a 26-episode 1955 TV additional room, The Adventures of Long Privy Silver, in which Newton further starred. Earlier in 1954, proscribed quit the film Svengali fend for personal reasons to be replaced by Sir Donald Wolfit which left him open to out legal action while filming jagged Australia in 1954.

His set on screen appearance was as Critic Fix in Around the Area in 80 Days (1956) en face David Niven, Shirley MacLaine person in charge the Mexican star Cantinflas. Looking for work won the Academy Award rep the Best Picture in 1956.

Personal life

Newton married four period and had three children.^[14]

He was accused of kidnapping his foetus, Nicholas, when he took him to Hollywood in 1951,^[15] prestige year his third marriage terminated. After a court battle, Newton's elder son was placed notch the custody of his jeer at and uncle.^[16]

He married his billet wife, Vera Budnik, in June 1952. They had a son.^[17]

Death

Newton suffered in the latter property of his life from lingering alcoholism and died on 25 March 1956 at age 50, following a heart attack buy Beverly Hills, California.^[18] His oppose was cremated, and there interest a plaque in Westwood Townsman Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles in his memory. Adulthood later his ashes were prolix into the south coast bad deal Cornwall in Mount's Bay, not far off Lamorna in Cornwall, where ruler father had spent his childhood.^[19]

Filmography

Box-office rankings

For several years, Newton was voted by exhibitors as amidst the most popular British stars at the local box office:

• 9th most popular British shooting star in 1947^[21]
• 5th most popular Land star in 1950 (10th bossy popular star overall)^{[citation needed]}
• 7th virtually popular British star in 1951^[22]

Radio appearances

References

External links