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Ernest Thesiger is a Actor British born on 14 january 1879 at London (United-kingdom)

Ernest Thesiger

Ernest Thesiger
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Birth name Ernest Frederic Graham Thesiger
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 14 january 1879 at London (United-kingdom)
Death 14 january 1961 (at 81 years) at London (United-kingdom)
Awards Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Ernest Frederic Graham Thesiger, CBE (15 January 1879 - 14 January 1961) was an English stage and film actor. He is especially well-remembered for his performance as Doctor Septimus Pretorius in James Whale's film Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

Biography

Early life and career
The grandson of the 1st Lord Chelmsford, Thesiger was born in London, England and was the first cousin once removed of the explorer and author Wilfred Thesiger (1910–2003), and the nephew of 2nd Lord Chelmsford, who, exactly a week after Ernest's birth, famously led his troops in battle against — and defeat at the hands of — a Zulu army at the Battle of Isandlwana.

Thesiger attended Marlborough College and the Slade School of Art with aspirations of becoming a painter, but quickly switched to drama, making his professional debut in a production of Colonel Smith in 1909. He enlisted in the armed forces at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, allegedly hoping to be assigned to a Scottish regiment because he wanted to wear a kilt, but was wounded in the field and sent home. (At a dinner party shortly after his return, someone asked him what it had been like in France, to which he is supposed to have responded "Oh, my dear, the noise! and the people!") In 1917, he married Janette Mary Fernie Ranken (1877-1970), sister of his close friend and fellow Slade graduate William Bruce Ellis Ranken. In her biography of Thesiger's friend, Ivy Compton-Burnett, Hilary Spurling suggests that Thesiger and Janette wed largely out of their mutual adoration of William, who shaved his head when he learned of the engagement. Another source states more explicitly that Thesiger made no secret of his homosexuality.

Thesiger moved in several artistic, literary and theatrical circles. At various times, he frequented the studio of John Singer Sargent, befriended Mrs. Patrick Campbell, visited and corresponded with Percy Grainger and worked closely with George Bernard Shaw, who wrote the role of the Dauphin in Saint Joan for him. Somerset Maugham, on the other hand, responded to Thesiger's inquiry as to why he wrote no parts for him with the quip, "But I am always writing parts for you, Ernest. The trouble is that somebody called Gladys Cooper will insist on playing them."


After the Great War
Thesiger's film debut was in 1916 in The Real Thing at Last, a spoof presenting Macbeth as it might be done by an American company, in which he did a drag turn as one of the Witches. Thesiger also played the First Witch in a 1941 production of Macbeth directed by John Gielgud. He performed more small roles in films during the silent era, but worked mainly on the stage.

In 1925, Thesiger appeared in Noël Coward's On with the Dance, again in drag, and later played the Dauphin in Shaw's Saint Joan. He wrote an autobiography Practically True, published in 1927, which covers his stage career. An unpublished memoir written near the end of his life is housed in the Ernest Thesiger Collection at the University of Bristol Theatre Collection.


Work with James Whale
When he appeared in a Christmas production of The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1919, Thesiger met and befriended James Whale. After Whale had moved to Hollywood and found success with the films Journey's End (1930) and Frankenstein (1931), the director was commissioned to direct the screen adaptation of J. B. Priestley's Benighted as The Old Dark House (1932), starring Charles Laughton in his first American film, together with Boris Karloff and Raymond Massey. Whale immediately cast Thesiger in the film as Horace Femm, launching his Hollywood career. The following year Thesiger appeared (as a Scottish butler) with Karloff in a British film The Ghoul.

When Whale agreed to direct Bride of Frankenstein in 1935, he insisted on casting Thesiger as Dr. Septimus Pretorius, instead of the studio's choice of Claude Rains. Partly inspired by Mary Shelley's friend John Polidori and largely based on the Renaissance physician and botanist Paracelsus, it became Thesiger's most famous role, in which he gives a fey, flamboyant performance as Baron Frankenstein's mentor.

Arriving in the United States for the filming of Bride of Frankenstein, Thesiger immediately set up a display in his hotel suite of all his needlework, each with a price tag, and during the making of the film he would work on needlework, one of his hobbies.


After Bride
Originally cast to play the luddite sculptor Theotocopolous in H.G. Wells's Things to Come (1936), Thesiger's performance was deemed unsuitable by the author, and so was replaced by Cedric Hardwicke, although he was retained on the parallel production of Wells's The Man Who Could Work Miracles. Around this same time Thesiger published a book, Adventures in Embroidery, about needlework, which was his expert hobby.

The remainder of Thesiger's career was centred on the theatre but he did appear in supporting roles in films produced in Britain, prominent among which is The Man in the White Suit (1951), starring Alec Guinness. He plays "Sir John," the most powerful, the richest, and the oldest of the industrialists (jointly with the trade unions) trying to suppress Guinness's invention of a fabric that never wears out and never gets dirty.

Thesiger made several appearances on Broadway, notably as Jacques to Katharine Hepburn's Rosalind in the longest-running production of As You Like It ever produced on Broadway. Later films included The Horse's Mouth (1958) with Alec Guinness, Sons and Lovers (1960), and The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, with Vivien Leigh and Warren Beatty (1961). That same year he made his final stage appearance—a mere week before his death—in The Last Joke, with John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson.


Later life
In 1960, Thesiger was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). His last film appearance was a small role in The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1962). He died in his sleep shortly after completing it, from natural causes, on the eve of his 82nd birthday, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.

Usually with

Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Ernest Thesiger (55 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Bride of Chucky, 1h29
Directed by Ronny Yu
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Horror comedy, Romantic comedy, Horror, Black comedy, Romance, Slasher
Themes Pregnancy films, Jeu, Transport films, Films about automobiles, Child's Play (film series), Serial killer films, Films about toys, Road movies, Comedy horror films
Actors Jennifer Tilly, Ed Gale, Brad Dourif, Katherine Heigl, Nick Stabile, Alexis Arquette
Rating56% 2.806852.806852.806852.806852.80685
Shortly after the events of the previous film, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly), a former girlfriend and accomplice of serial killer Charles Lee Ray (voice of Brad Dourif), acquires the remains of Chucky from a police evidence locker after bribing and then murdering a police officer with access to the locker. Assuming that Ray's soul still inhabits the doll, Tiffany takes it back to her place. She crudely stitches Chucky back together and reenacts the voodoo ritual which instilled Ray inside the doll ten years ago.
Terror in the Aisles, 1h24
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Fantastic, Documentary, Anthology film, Horror
Themes Films about films, Documentary films about business, Documentary films about the film industry, Documentary films about films
Actors Donald Pleasence, Nancy Allen, Bud Abbott, Michael Ironside, Fred Asparagus, Brooke Adams
Roles Dr. Pretorius (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rating62% 3.148153.148153.148153.148153.14815
Director Andrew J. Kuehn has excerpted brief segments of terror and suspense in a wide variety of suspenseful (including humorously so, ex. Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, Saturday the 14th) films and strung them together with added commentary, as well as some enacted narrative, to create a compilation of fright-inducing effects. Halloween actor Donald Pleasence and Dressed to Kill star Nancy Allen provide the commentary on topics such as "sex and terror" (Dressed to Kill, Klute, Ms. 45, The Seduction, When a Stranger Calls), loathsome villains (Dracula, Frankenstein, Friday the 13 1 and/or 2, Halloween I and II, Marathon Man, Nighthawks, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Touch of Evil, Vice Squad, Wait Until Dark, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?), "natural terror" (Alligator, The Birds, Frogs, Jaws 1 and 2, Nightwing) and the occult (An American Werewolf in London, Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Omen, Carrie, The Shining). In one segment of the anthology, legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock presents his concepts of how to create suspense in a clip from Alfred Hitchcock: Men Who Made The Movies.
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, 1h43
Directed by José Quintero, Peter Yates
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Romance
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays, Adaptation d'une pièce de théâtre de Tennessee Williams
Actors Vivien Leigh, Warren Beatty, Lotte Lenya, Jill St John, Coral Browne, Jeremy Spenser
Roles Stefano
Rating64% 3.2000753.2000753.2000753.2000753.200075
Karen Stone (Vivien Leigh), an acclaimed American stage actress, and her businessman husband are off on holiday to Rome. On the plane, her husband suffers a fatal heart attack. Karen decides to stay in Italy and rent a luxury apartment in Rome. The Contessa Magda Terribili-Gonzales (Lotte Lenya) soon introduces her to a young Italian man, Paolo (Warren Beatty), who is actually a highly professional gigolo. Karen and Paolo begin an affair, but it soon becomes obvious that Paolo is in it only for personal gain. He is soon bored by Mrs. Stone, and leaves her to pursue a young American film actress (Jill St. John). Ridiculed by the Contessa, chastised by her friend Meg (Coral Browne) and abandoned by Paolo, Mrs. Stone is soon utterly debased enough to surrender herself to a ragged, mysterious young man who has been following her obsessively. In the end, it seems as if Mrs. Stone has literally given up her life.
The Battle of the Sexes, 1h24
Directed by Charles Crichton
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Peter Sellers, Robert Morley, Constance Cummings, Donald Pleasence, Jameson Clark, Michael Goodliffe
Roles Old Macpherson
Rating65% 3.2991853.2991853.2991853.2991853.299185
A timid accountant in a Scottish Tweed weaving company (Sellers) cleverly bests the brash modern American efficiency expert (Cummings) whose ideas threaten his way of life. The film opens with Martin (Sellers) in Edinburgh buying whisky and cigarettes on the Royal Mile. We then see him at work as a head accountant in a very old-fashioned firm in the New Town. The Justerini & Brooks premises on George Street serves as their shop in the film.
Sons and Lovers, 1h43
Directed by Jack Cardiff, Peter Yates
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Actors Trevor Howard, Dean Stockwell, Wendy Hiller, Mary Ure, Conrad Phillips, Donald Pleasence
Roles Mr. Hadlock
Rating70% 3.541233.541233.541233.541233.54123
A young man with artistic talent who lives in a close-knit, English coal-mining town during the early 20th century finds himself inhibited by his emotionally manipulative, domineering mother — a literary, psychological interpretation of the Oedipus story. Gertrude Morel, miserable in her marriage, puts her hope into her son, Paul. In her attempt to manipulate Paul's life she jealously attempts to prevent Paul from having a relationship with any woman. However, Paul goes to the city for a job and becomes enchanted with self-actualized and "liberated" feminist co-worker, Mrs. Clara Dawes, who is married. Paul and Clara become involved sexually and Clara realizes that Paul's emotional attachment, as with her own, lies with another person — in Paul's case, his mother. Gertrude learns of Paul's involvement with Clara, and she slips into a morose depression and physical sickness. Paul flees to his mother, to care for her and sit by her side. After his mother's death, Paul meets the girlfriend of his youth, Miriam, and tells her that because of his codependency with his mother he intends to live the rest of his life without any serious relationship with another woman — in essence fulfilling his mother's desire and objective.
The Horse's Mouth, 1h37
Directed by Ronald Neame
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Peinture
Actors Kay Walsh, Alec Guinness, Robert Coote, Michael Gough, Reginald Beckwith, Ernest Thesiger
Roles Hickson
Rating69% 3.4978853.4978853.4978853.4978853.497885
Eccentric painter Gulley Jimson (Alec Guinness) is released from a one-month jail sentence for telephone harassment of his sponsor, Mr Hickson (Ernest Thesiger). Nosey Barbon (Mike Morgan), who wants to be Jimson's protégé, greets Jimson at Wormwood Scrubs, but Jimson tries to discourage Nosey from pursuing painting for a living. Jimson steals Nosey's bike to make his way back to his houseboat, which his older lady friend Coker (Kay Walsh) has been maintaining in Jimson's absence.
Doctor at Large, 1h38
Directed by Ralph Thomas
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Romance
Actors Dirk Bogarde, Muriel Pavlow, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice, Shirley Eaton, Michael Medwin
Roles Examiner
Rating59% 2.99742.99742.99742.99742.9974
Back at St Swithin’s, Dr Simon Sparrow loses out to the self-important Dr Bingham for a job as senior house surgeon. Feeling that he has no future as a surgeon, he takes a general practice job in an industrial town. He finds that he has to do most of the work, including night calls, and is also the target of his partner’s flirty wife.
The Truth About Women, 1h47
Directed by Muriel Box
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy, Romance
Actors Laurence Harvey, Julie Harris, Marius Goring, Diane Cilento, Mai Zetterling, Eva Gabor
Roles Judge
Rating60% 3.0013353.0013353.0013353.0013353.001335
When his son-in-law comes to him with a woeful tale of an unhappy relationship and a belief that all women are impossible to love, elderly Sir Humphrey Tavistock calmly puts him straight.
Three Men in a Boat, 1h24
Directed by Ken Annakin
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Themes Seafaring films, Transport films
Actors Laurence Harvey, David Tomlinson, Jimmy Edwards, Shirley Eaton, Jill Ireland, Lisa Gastoni
Roles 3rd Old Gentleman
Rating53% 2.668142.668142.668142.668142.66814
The movie 'Three Men in a Boat' is set in the Edwardian era, Harris, Jerome, and George about-town want to get away from it all and decide to take a holiday boating up the River Thames to Oxford, taking with them their dog Montmorency. George is happy to get away from his job at the bank. Harris is glad to get away from Mrs. Willis who is pressing him to marry her daughter Clara; and 'J' is more than anxious to take a holiday from his wife, Etherbertha. George meets three girls, Sophie Clutterhouse and sisters Bluebell and Primrose Porterhouse, who are also taking a ride up the river, and he hopes to see them again. The travellers get into all kinds of complications with the weather, the river, the boat, food, Hampton Court maze, tents, rain, locks. They do connect with the girls again and when things appear to be becoming interesting for the men, Mrs. Willis and her daughter and Ethelbertha show up and things become even more interesting.
Who Done It?, 1h25
Directed by Basil Dearden
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Action
Actors Belinda Lee, Benny Hill, David Kossoff, Garry Marsh, Irene Handl, Ernest Thesiger
Roles Sir Walter
Rating57% 2.852882.852882.852882.852882.85288
One of the last Ealing Comedies has Benny Hill making his screen debut in this film about an ice rink sweeper, Hugo Dill, who dreams of being a private investigator. His dream comes true when he manages to capture a ring of Eastern Bloc spies.
Quentin Durward, 1h43
Directed by Richard Thorpe
Origin USA
Genres Swashbuckler, Adventure, Historical, Romance
Actors Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley, George Cole, Alec Clunes, Duncan Lamont
Roles Lord Crawford
Rating62% 3.1491153.1491153.1491153.1491153.149115
In 1465, honorable but penniless Scottish knight Quentin Durward (Robert Taylor) agrees to go to France to find out if the beautiful young heiress, Isabelle, Countess of Marcroy (Kay Kendall), would be a suitable wife for his aged uncle (that is, if she is as rich as is claimed). The marriage has been arranged by Charles, Duke of Burgundy (Alec Clunes) for his ward to cement an alliance with Scotland, but she wants nothing to do with it, so she runs away and seeks the protection of Charles' great rival, Louis XI (Robert Morley), King of France. Quentin pursues and manages to foil an attempted robbery by brigands under the command of Count William de La Marck (Duncan Lamont), though Isabelle continues on her way unaware of her protector's identity.
An Alligator Named Daisy, 1h28
Directed by J. Lee Thompson
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Musical, Romance
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Donald Sinden, Jeannie Carson, James Robertson Justice, Diana Dors, Stanley Holloway, Roland Culver
Roles Notcher (uncredited)
Rating51% 2.568872.568872.568872.568872.56887
Returning from a cricket match in Ireland, Peter Weston, an Englishman, is left a pet alligator by another passenger who abandons it to him. He is horrified and his first instinct is to get rid of it as soon as possible. However, he soon develops a bond with a young Irishwoman which appears to be centred almost entirely around the animal. He soon discovers that Daisy is very tame and domesticated, and seems to be the way to Moira's heart.
Value for Money, 1h30
Directed by Ken Annakin
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors John Gregson, Diana Dors, Susan Stephen, Derek Farr, Frank Pettingell, Charles Victor
Roles Lord Dewsbury
Rating59% 2.9582.9582.9582.9582.958
A wealthy young man (Gregson) from Yorkshire visits a London nightclub and meets a performer (Dors). She decides to take him for every penny he is worth, and he decides to let her.
Father Brown, 1h31
Directed by Robert Hamer
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy thriller, Crime
Themes Films about religion
Actors Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Peter Finch, Cecil Parker, Bernard Lee, Sid James
Roles The Vicomte
Rating66% 3.3438253.3438253.3438253.3438253.343825
Father Brown tries to transport an historically important cross to Rome engaging in battles of wits and faith with a thief and pursuing policeman. The thief, named Flambeau (Finch), is a master of disguise and is elusive, as Father Brown pursues him and tries to convince him to abandon his criminal career.