A classic

It's that time of year again for one of my favorite classic Christmas movies!

It's in HD - so grab a cup of hot chocolate, put your feet up and ENJOY!

He was quite an interesting man!

Alastair Sim

Biography

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Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (2) | Spouse (1) | Trivia (18) | Personal Quotes (4)

Overview (4)

Date of Birth	9 October 1900, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Date of Death	19 August 1976, St. Pancras, London, England, UK  (lung cancer)
Birth Name	Alastair George Bell Sim
Height	6' (1.83 m)

Mini Bio (2)

The son of Alexander Sim JP and Isabella McIntyre, Alastair Sim was educated in Edinburgh. Always interested in language (especially the spoken word) he became the Fulton Lecturer in Elocution at New College, Edinburgh University from 1925 until 1930. He was invited back and became the Rector of Edinburgh University (1948 - 1951). His first stage appearance was as Messenger in Othello at the Savoy Theatre, London. He went on to create some of the most memorable (usually comedic) roles in British films from 1936 until his death in 1976.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Steve Crook <steve@brainstorm.co.uk>

He came to acting late being 30 when he started acting on the London stage and 35 when he made his film debut. In the late 30's he was inclined towards the sinister with such films as 'The Terror'(38) although he also appeared in the Crazy Gang's 'Alf's Button Afloat' (38) and with Jesse Matthews in 'Climbing High'(39). During the war he played Sergeant Bingham in the 'Inspector Hornleigh' films directed by Walter Forde. It was after the war that he found his true forte - comedy - in the films of Launder and Gilliat in particular playing a series of Dickensian eccentrics, rogues and pathological assassins although the sinister element often remained. Despite his many films his attachment to the theatre continued throughout his career, acting, directing and producing and with a strong association with James Bridie who wrote seven plays for him.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: tonyman5

Spouse (1)

Naomi Plaskitt

(1932 - 19 August 1976) (his death) (1 child)

Trivia (18)

He was awarded an honorary LLD by Edinburgh University at the end of his term as Rector.

He and Naomi had one daughter, Merlith McKendrick.

He never signed autographs.

He was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the Coronation Honours List of 1953. He was also offered a knighthood but turned it down because it would have impinged too much on his private life.

He was made the rector of Edinburgh University in 1948.

He appeared in 61 films and 46 West End productions.

He met his wife Naomi Plaskitt when they both appeared in a stage production of "The Land of Hearts Desire" by William Butler Yeats. He was 27, she was 12. They married when Naomi was 18.

When he was made Rector of Edinburgh University, he beat Harold Macmillan (the future Prime Minister) by 2078 votes to 802.

By 1950, he topped the cinemagoers popularity poll.

His performance in Dulcimer Street (1948) so impressed Alec Guinness that he based his performance in The Ladykillers (1955) on it. So much so that Alastair is often thought to have done it.

Played the lead in Pinero's "The Magistrate", opposite Patricia Routledge at the 1969 Chichester festival in what is often cited as his best stage performance.

Foster father and acting instructor of George Cole.

Between 1941 and 1968, he played "Captain Hook" in at least six different stage productions of J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan" (the non-musical version), but he never starred in a film of the play.

Near the end of his life he maintained a correspondence with Ray Bradbury.

He shares the distinction, along with Seymour Hicks and Basil Rathbone, of portraying "Ebenezer Scrooge" in more than one production of the classic Charles Dickens novel.

He worked with Alfred Hitchcock in Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright (1950), playing "Commodore Gill".

In 1950 he headed the British Cinema Exhibitors Poll.

He appeared in nine films with George Cole: Bombsight Stolen (1941), The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), Bikini Baby (1951), A Christmas Carol (1951), Folly to Be Wise (1952), An Inspector Calls (1954), The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954), The Green Man (1956) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957).

Personal Quotes (4)

As I passed imperceptibly from a beautiful child to a strong handsome lad, I wanted more than anything else in the world to be of all things, a hypnotist. I practised on gentle dogs...

I stand or fall in my profession by the public's judgement of my performances. No amount of publicity can dampen a good one or gloss over a bad one.

At first I was not sure if I liked films. The sequences are so disconnected and mechanical I thought I should have difficulty "getting into the skin" of the characters. But I soon found that the care, precision and concentrated energy that attends the photographing of each scene conspires to pitch one into the right frame of mind.

It was revealed to me many years ago with conclusive certainty that I was a fool and that I had always been a fool. Since then I have been as happy as any man has a right to be.

:o)