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{{Short description|English stage and film actress and singer (1904–1986)}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} |
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{{Use British English|date=May 2012}} |
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}} |
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{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
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| honorific_prefix = [[Dame]] |
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| name = Anna Neagle |
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| honorific_suffix = <small>[[Order of the British Empire|DBE]]</small> |
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| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} |
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| image = Neagle.jpg |
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| image = Anna-neagle 1935.jpg |
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| caption = Neagle in 1935 |
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| birth_name = Florence Marjorie Robertson |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date|1904|10|20|df=y}} |
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| birth_place = [[Forest Gate]], Essex, England |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|6|3|1904|10|20|df=y}} |
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| death_place |
| death_place = [[West Byfleet]], Surrey, England |
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| restingplace = City of London Cemetery, |
| restingplace = [[City of London Cemetery]], [[Manor Park, London]], England |
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| restingplacecoordinates = |
| restingplacecoordinates = |
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| occupation = |
| occupation = Actress, singer |
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| years_active |
| years_active = 1917–1986 |
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| spouse = [[Herbert Wilcox]] |
| spouse = {{Marriage|[[Herbert Wilcox]]|1943|1977|end=died}} |
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| relatives = [[Nicholas Hoult]]<br />(grand-nephew) |
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}} |
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'''Dame |
'''Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} (''née'' '''Robertson'''; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as '''Anna Neagle''', was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. |
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[[File:Sunny (1941 film) still 1.jpg|thumb|right|Neagle with [[Paul Hartman]] and [[Ray Bolger]] in the film [[Sunny (1941 film)|''Sunny'']]]] |
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Neagle proved to be a box-office sensation in British films for over 25 years and was voted the most popular star in Britain in 1949. She was noted for providing glamour and sophistication to [[World War II|war-torn]] London audiences with her lightweight musicals, comedies and historical dramas. She won several awards as Britain's favourite actress and biggest female box-office draw. Almost all of her films were produced and directed by [[Herbert Wilcox]], whom she married in 1943. |
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She was a successful box-office draw in British cinema for 20 years and was voted the most popular star in Britain in 1949. She was known for providing glamour and sophistication to [[Second World War|war-torn]] London audiences with her lightweight musicals, comedies, and historical dramas. Almost all of her films were produced and directed by [[Herbert Wilcox]], whom she married in 1943. |
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In her historical dramas, Anna Neagle was renowned for her portrayals of real-life British heroines, including [[Nell Gwynn]] (''Nell Gwynn'', 1934), [[Queen Victoria]] (''Victoria the Great'', 1937, and ''Sixty Glorious Years'', 1938) and [[Edith Cavell]] (''Nurse Edith Cavell'', 1939). |
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In her historical dramas, Neagle was renowned for her portrayals of British historical figures, including [[Nell Gwyn]] (''Nell Gwyn'', 1934), [[Queen Victoria]] (''Victoria the Great'', 1937 and ''Sixty Glorious Years'', 1938), [[Edith Cavell]] (''Nurse Edith Cavell'', 1939), and [[Florence Nightingale]] (''The Lady with a Lamp'', 1951). |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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=== Early life === |
=== Early life === |
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Neagle was born in [[Forest Gate]], then in [[Essex]], now part of the [[London Borough of Newham]], daughter to Herbert Robertson, a [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] captain, and his wife, the former Florence Neagle.<ref>Springer, John, and Jack Hamilton. ''They Had Faces Then''. Castle Books. p. 319.</ref> Her older brother was the bass-baritone and actor Stuart Robertson (1901-1958).<ref>Pearl Records, ''The Mikado'', sleeve notes.</ref> Robertson attended primary school in [[Glasgow]] and then [[St Albans High School for Girls]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} She made her stage debut as a dancer in 1917, and later appeared in the chorus of C.B. Cochran's [[revue]]s and also André Charlot's revue ''Bubbly''. While with Cochran she understudied [[Jessie Matthews]].<ref>Vermilye, Jerry. ''The Great British Films.'' Secuacus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1978. p. 21.</ref> |
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Florence Marjorie Robertson was born in [[Forest Gate]], [[Essex]], the daughter of [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]] captain Herbert William Robertson and Florence, née Neagle.<ref>{{cite ODNB | url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-39943 | doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/39943 | title=The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | date=2004 }}</ref><ref>Springer, John, and Jack Hamilton. ''They Had Faces Then''. Castle Books. p. 319.</ref> Her elder brother was the bass-baritone and actor Stuart Robertson (1901–1958).<ref>Pearl Records, ''The Mikado'', sleeve notes.</ref> She made her stage debut as a dancer in 1917, and later appeared in the chorus of C.B. Cochran's [[revue]]s and also André Charlot's revue ''Bubbly''. While with Cochran, she understudied [[Jessie Matthews]].<ref>Vermilye, Jerry. ''The Great British Films''. Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1978. p. 21.</ref> |
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[[File:Anna Neagle 1931.jpg|thumb|left|Anna Neagle in a 1931 portrait.]] |
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In 1931 she starred in the West End musical ''Stand Up and Sing'' |
In 1931, she starred in the West End musical ''Stand Up and Sing'' with actor [[Jack Buchanan]], who encouraged her to take a featured role. For this play, she began using the professional name Anna Neagle (the surname being her mother's maiden name).<ref name="fandango">{{cite web |url=http://www.fandango.com/annaneagle/biographies/p52015 |title=''Fandango'' Biography. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102164107/http://www.fandango.com/annaneagle/biographies/p52015 |archive-date=2 January 2013}}</ref> The play was a success with a total run of 604 performances.<ref name="fandango" /> ''Stand Up and Sing'' provided her big break when film producer and director [[Herbert Wilcox]] caught the show to consider Buchanan for an upcoming film, but also took note of her cinematic potential.<ref name="britishpictures">[http://www.britishpictures.com/stars/Neagle.htm ''British Pictures'' Profile and Reviews.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216175734/http://www.britishpictures.com/stars/Neagle.htm |date=16 December 2007 }}</ref> |
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=== Cinematic beginnings === |
=== Cinematic beginnings === |
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{{Quote box |
{{Quote box |
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| quote = "Naturally enough when I was a young dancer, I was terribly anxious to get ahead, and to get ahead quickly. I was impatient with all those older people who talked of the long grind to the top, who turned me down for jobs I knew I could do." |
| quote = "Naturally enough when I was a young dancer, I was terribly anxious to get ahead, and to get ahead quickly. I was impatient with all those older people who talked of the long grind to the top, who turned me down for jobs I knew I could do." |
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| source = Anna Neagle<ref> |
| source = Anna Neagle<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/anna_neagle.html|title=Anna Neagle Quotes|website=Brainyquote.com}}</ref> |
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Forming a professional alliance with Wilcox, Neagle played her first starring film role in the |
Forming a professional alliance with Wilcox, Neagle played her first starring film role in the musical ''[[Goodnight, Vienna]]'' (1932), again with Jack Buchanan. With this film, Neagle became an overnight favourite. Although the film cost a mere £23,000 to produce, it was a hit at the box office, with profits from its Australian release alone being £150,000.<ref name="bfireleases">[https://secure.bfi.org.uk/about/media/releases/2004/2004-08-12-neagle.pdf]{{dead link|date=October 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}: ([[Portable Document Format|PDF]] file).</ref> |
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After her starring role in ''The Flag Lieutenant'' |
After her starring role in ''[[The Flag Lieutenant (1932 film)|The Flag Lieutenant]]'' (also 1932), directed by and co-starring [[Henry Edwards (actor)|Henry Edwards]], she worked exclusively under Wilcox's direction for all but one of her subsequent films,<ref name="fandango"/> becoming one of Britain's biggest stars. |
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She continued in the musical genre, co-starring with Fernand |
She continued in the musical genre, co-starring with Fernand Gravey (later known as Fernand Gravet) in ''[[Bitter Sweet (1933 film)|Bitter Sweet]]'' (1933). This first version of [[Noël Coward]]'s tale of ill-fated lovers was later obscured by the better-known [[Jeanette MacDonald]]–[[Nelson Eddy]] remake in 1940.<ref name="fandango"/> |
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Neagle had her first major success with ''[[Nell Gwyn (1934 film)|Nell Gwyn]]'' (1934), which Wilcox had previously shot as a [[silent film|silent]] starring [[Dorothy Gish]] in 1926. Neagle's performance as [[Nell Gwyn|Gwyn]], who became the mistress of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] (played by [[Cedric Hardwicke]]) prompted some [[censorship in the United States]]. The [[Hays Office]] had Wilcox add an (historically false) scene featuring the two leads getting married and also a "framing" story resulting in an entirely different ending.<ref>Vermilye, p. 23</ref> [[Graham Greene]], then a film critic, said of ''Nell Gwyn'': "I have seen few things more attractive than Miss Neagle in breeches".<ref name="bfireleases"/> |
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[[File:Annaneagle.jpg|thumb|160px|left|Neagle had her first major film success in the title role of ''Nell Gwynn'' (1934).]] |
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Two years after ''Nell Gwyn'', she followed up with another real-life figure, portraying Irish actress [[Margaret Woffington|Peg Woffington]] in ''[[Peg of Old Drury]]'' (1936). That same year, she appeared in ''[[Limelight (1936 film)|Limelight]]'', a backstage film musical in which she played a chorus girl. Her co-star was [[Arthur Tracy]], who had gained fame in the United States as a radio performer known as the Street Singer. The film also featured Jack Buchanan in an uncredited cameo.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027888/fullcredits IMDb listing for ''Limelight'']</ref> performing "Goodnight Vienna".<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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Neagle had her first major success with ''Nell Gwyn'' (1934), which Wilcox had also shot in 1926 as a [[silent film|silent]] starring [[Dorothy Gish]]. Neagle's performance as [[Nell Gwyn|the woman]] who became the mistress of [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] ([[Sir Cedric Hardwicke]]) prompted some censorship in the United States. The [[Hays Office]] had Wilcox add a (historically false) scene featuring the two leads getting married and also a "framing" story resulting in an entirely different ending.<ref>Vermilye, p. 23</ref> Noted writer [[Graham Greene]] said of ''Nell Gwynn'': "I have seen few things more attractive than Miss Neagle in breeches".<ref name="bfireleases"/> |
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Neagle and Wilcox followed with a [[circus]] [[trapeze]] fable ''[[Three Maxims]]'' (1937), which was released in the United States as ''The Show Goes On''. The film, with a script featuring a contribution from [[Herman J. Mankiewicz]] (later to co-write ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' with [[Orson Welles]]), had Neagle performing her own high-wire acrobatics.<ref name="bfireleases" /> Although now highly successful in films, Neagle continued acting on the stage. In 1934, while working under director Robert Atkins, she performed as Rosalind in ''[[As You Like It]]'' and Olivia in ''[[Twelfth Night]]''. Both productions earned her critical accolades, despite the fact that she had never performed [[William Shakespeare|Shakespearean]] roles before.<ref name="fandango" /> |
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Two years after ''Nell Gwynn'', she followed up with another true-life figure, portraying Irish actress [[Margaret Woffington|Peg Woffington]] in ''Peg of Old Drury'' (1936). That same year she appeared in ''Limelight'', a backstage musical in which she played a chorus girl. Her co-star was [[Arthur Tracy]], who had gained fame in the United States as a radio performer known as 'The Street Singer'. The film also featured Jack Buchanan in an unbilled cameo.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027888/fullcredits IMDb listing for ''Limelight'']</ref> performing "Goodnight Vienna".<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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In 1937, Neagle gave her most prestigious performance so far – as [[Queen Victoria]] in the historical drama ''[[Victoria the Great]]'' (1937), co-starring [[Anton Walbrook]] as [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]]. The script by [[Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart|Robert Vansittart]] and [[Miles Malleson]] (from [[Laurence Housman]]'s play ''Victoria Regina'') alternated between the political and the personal lives of the royal couple.<ref name="bfireleases" /> The [[Diamond Jubilee#Diamond Jubilee for Queen Victoria|Diamond Jubilee]] sequence that climaxed the film was shot in [[Technicolor]]. ''Victoria the Great'' was such an international success that it resulted in Neagle and Walbrook playing their roles again in an all-Technicolor sequel entitled ''[[Sixty Glorious Years]]'' (1938), co-starring [[C. Aubrey Smith]] as the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]]. While the first of these films was in release, Neagle returned to the London stage and entertained audiences with her portrayal of the title role in ''[[Peter Pan]]''.<ref name="fandango"/> |
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Neagle and Wilcox followed with a [[circus]] [[trapeze]] fable ''The Three Maxims'' (1937), which was released in the United States as ''The Show Goes On''. The film, with a script featuring a contribution from [[Herman J. Mankiewicz]] (who later co-wrote ''[[Citizen Kane]]'' with [[Orson Welles]]), had Neagle performing her own high-wire acrobatics.<ref name="bfireleases" /> Although now highly successful in films, Neagle continued acting on stage. In 1934, while working under director Robert Atkins, she performed as Rosalind in ''[[As You Like It]]'' and Olivia in ''[[Twelfth Night]]''. Both productions earned her critical accolades, despite the fact that she had never performed [[William Shakespeare|Shakespearean]] roles before.<ref name="fandango" /> |
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=== An American Excursion === |
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[[File:Victorianeagle.jpg|thumb|Neagle portrayed [[Queen Victoria]] in the highly successful ''[[Victoria the Great]]'' (1937).]] |
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In 1937 Neagle gave her most prestigious performance so far – as [[Queen Victoria]] in the successful historical drama ''[[Victoria the Great]]'' (1937), co-starring [[Anton Walbrook]] as [[Prince Albert]]. The script by [[Robert Vansittart, 1st Baron Vansittart|Robert Vansittart]] and [[Miles Malleson]] (from [[Laurence Housman]]'s play ''Victoria Regina'') alternated between the political and the personal lives of the royal couple.<ref name="bfireleases" /> The [[Diamond Jubilee#Diamond Jubilee for Queen Victoria|Diamond Jubilee]] sequence that climaxed the film was shot in [[Technicolor]]. ''Victoria the Great'' was such an international success that it resulted in Neagle and Walbrook playing their roles again in an all-Technicolor sequel entitled ''Sixty Glorious Years'' (1938), co-starring [[C. Aubrey Smith]] as the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]]. While the first of these films was in release, Neagle returned to the London stage and entertained audiences with her portrayal of the title role in ''[[Peter Pan]]''.<ref name="fandango"/> |
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[[File:News. Anna Neagle BAnQ P48S1P01531.jpg|thumb|Neagle giving a radio interview in Montreal in 1937]] |
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=== An American excursion === |
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The success of ''Victoria the Great'' and ''Sixty Glorious Years'' caused [[Hollywood]] studios to take notice. Neagle and Wilcox began an association with [[RKO Pictures|RKO Radio Pictures]]. Their first American film was ''[[Nurse Edith Cavell]]'' (1939), a remake of ''Dawn'', a Wilcox [[silent film|silent]] that starred [[Sybil Thorndike]]. In this, still another Neagle performance of a true-life British heroine, she played the role of [[Edith Cavell|the nurse]] who was shot by the [[Germany|Germans]] in World War I for alleged spying. The resulting effort had a significant impact for audiences on the eve of [[World War II|war]].<ref name="bfireleases" /> |
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The success of ''Victoria the Great'' and ''Sixty Glorious Years'' caused [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] studios to take notice. Neagle and Wilcox began an association with [[RKO Pictures|RKO Radio Pictures]]. Their first American film was ''[[Nurse Edith Cavell]]'' (1939), a remake of ''[[Dawn (1928 film)|Dawn]]'', a Wilcox [[silent film|silent]] that starred [[Sybil Thorndike]]. In this, another Neagle role based on an actual British heroine, she played the role of [[Edith Cavell|the nurse]] who was shot by the [[Germany|Germans]] in World War I for alleged aiding llied PoWs to escape and for spying. The resulting effort had a significant impact for audiences on the eve of the [[World War II|WWII]].<ref name="bfireleases" /> |
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[[File:Sunnyneagle.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Neagle co-starred with [[Ray Bolger]] (right) in ''[[Sunny (1941 film)|Sunny]]'' (1941), one of a handful of films that she made in the United States.]] |
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In a turnabout from this serious drama, |
In a turnabout from this serious drama, the couple followed with three musical comedies, all based on once-popular stage plays. The first of these was ''[[Irene (1940 film)|Irene]]'' (1940), co-starring [[Ray Milland]]. It included a Technicolor sequence, which featured Neagle singing the play's most famous song, "[[Alice Blue Gown]]". She followed this film with ''[[No, No, Nanette (1940 film)|No, No, Nanette]]'' (1940) with [[Victor Mature]], in which she sang "[[Tea for Two (song)|Tea For Two]]", and ''[[Sunny (1941 film)|Sunny]]'' (1941), with [[Ray Bolger]]. |
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Neagle and Wilcox's final American film was ''[[Forever and a Day (1943 film)|Forever and a Day]]'' (1943), a tale of a London family house from 1804 to the 1940 [[London blitz|blitz]]. This film boasts 80 performers (mostly British), including Ray Milland, C. Aubrey Smith, [[Claude Rains]], [[Charles Laughton]] and – among the few North Americans – |
Neagle and Wilcox's final American film was ''[[Forever and a Day (1943 film)|Forever and a Day]]'' (1943), a tale of a London family house from 1804 to the 1940 [[London blitz|blitz]]. This film boasts 80 performers (mostly expatriate British), including [[Ray Milland]], [[C. Aubrey Smith]], [[Claude Rains]], [[Charles Laughton]], and – among the few North Americans – [[Buster Keaton]]. Wilcox directed the sequence featuring Neagle, Milland, Smith, and Rains, while other directors who worked on the film included [[René Clair]], [[Edmund Goulding]], [[Frank Lloyd]], [[Victor Saville]], and [[Robert Stevenson (director)|Robert Stevenson]]. During the war, the profits and salaries were given to war relief. After the war, prints were intended to be destroyed, so that no one could profit from them, but this never occurred.<ref name="bfireleases" /> |
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=== Return to the UK === |
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Returning to Britain, Neagle and Wilcox commenced with ''They Flew Alone'' (1942; shot after but released before ''Forever and a Day''). Neagle added another real-life British heroines to her gallery, this time as aviator [[Amy Johnson]]. [[Robert Newton]]'s co-starred as Johnson's husband, Jim Mollison. The film, which was released a year after the aviator's death, was noted for inter-cutting the action with newsreel footage.<ref name="bfireleases" /> |
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Returning to the UK, Neagle and Wilcox commenced with ''[[They Flew Alone]]'' (1942; shot after but released before ''Forever and a Day''). Neagle this time played [[aviator]] [[Amy Johnson]], who had recently died in a flying accident. [[Robert Newton]] co-starred as Johnson's husband, [[Jim Mollison]]. The film intercut the action with newsreel footage.<ref name="bfireleases" /> |
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[[File:Yellow canary.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Neagle with [[Richard Greene]] for the [[World War II|war-time]] espionage thriller ''The Yellow Canary'' (1943).]] |
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Neagle and Wilcox married in August 1943 at |
Neagle and Wilcox married in August 1943 at London's [[Caxton Hall]].<ref name="westminster.gov.uk">City of Westminster green plaques {{cite web|url=http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/leisureandculture/greenplaques/ |title=Westminster City Council – Green Plaques Scheme |access-date=2011-07-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716210428/http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/leisureandculture/greenplaques/ |archive-date=16 July 2012 }}</ref> |
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They |
They continued with ''[[Yellow Canary (film)|Yellow Canary]]'' (1943), co-starring [[Richard Greene]] and [[Margaret Rutherford]]. In this spy story, Neagle plays a German-sympathiser (or at least that is what she seems to be at first), who is forced to go to Canada for her own safety. In reality, of course, she is working as an [[spy|undercover agent]] out to expose a plot to blow up [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax Harbour]] in [[Nova Scotia]]. ''Yellow Canary'' received positive comments for its atmospheric recreation of wartime conditions.<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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In 1945 Neagle appeared on stage in ''Emma'', a dramatisation of [[Jane Austen]]'s [[Emma (novel)|novel]]. That same year she was seen in the film ''[[I Live in Grosvenor Square]]'', co-starring [[Rex Harrison]]. She wanted Harrison for the lead in her next film, ''Piccadilly Incident'' (1946). However, he (as well as [[John Mills]]) proved to be unavailable at the time, so Wilcox cast [[ |
In 1945, Neagle appeared on stage in ''Emma'', a dramatisation of [[Jane Austen]]'s [[Emma (novel)|novel]]. That same year, she was seen in the film ''[[I Live in Grosvenor Square]]'', co-starring [[Rex Harrison]]. She wanted Harrison for the lead in her next film, ''[[Piccadilly Incident]]'' (1946). However, he (as well as [[John Mills]]) proved to be unavailable at the time, so Wilcox cast [[Michael Wilding]] in the lead. Thus was born what film critic [[Godfrey Winn]] called "the greatest team in British films".<ref name="bfireleases" /> The story – of a wife, presumed dead, returning to her (remarried) husband – bears a resemblance to the [[Irene Dunne]]–[[Cary Grant]] comedy ''[[My Favorite Wife]]''. ''Piccadilly Incident'' was chosen as ''[[Picturegoer]]'s'' Best Film of 1947. Despite the fact that Neagle was some eight years senior than Wilding, they proved to be an extremely bankable romantic pairing at the British box office. By now in her mid-40s, Neagle continued to have success in youthful and romantic lead roles. |
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Neagle and Wilding were reunited in ''The Courtneys of Curzon Street'' (1947), a period drama that became the year's top box-office attraction. The film featured Wilding as an upper |
Neagle and Wilding were reunited in ''[[The Courtneys of Curzon Street]]'' (1947), a period drama that became the year's top box-office attraction. The film featured Wilding as an upper-class dandy and Neagle as the maid he marries, only to have the two of them driven apart by [[Victorian morality|Victorian]] society.<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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The third pairing of Neagle and Wilding in the "London Films", as the series of films came to be called, was in ''[[Spring in Park Lane]]'' (1948). A |
The third pairing of Neagle and Wilding in the "London Films", as the series of films came to be called, was in ''[[Spring in Park Lane]]'' (1948). A comedy, this depicted the romance between a millionaire's niece and a footman (actually a nobleman who has seen better days). The script was written by [[Nicholas Phipps]], who also played Wilding's brother. Although not a musical, it contains a dream sequence featuring the song "The Moment I Saw You". ''Spring in Park Lane'' was the 1949 ''Picturegoer'' winner for Best Film, Actor, and Actress.<ref name="bfireleases" /> Neagle and Wilding were together for a fourth time in the Technicolor romance ''[[Maytime in Mayfair]]'' (1949). The plot is reminiscent of ''[[Roberta (musical)|Roberta]]'', as it had Wilding inheriting a dress shop owned by Neagle.<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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By |
By now, Neagle was at her peak as Britain's top box-office actress, and she made what reputedly became her own favourite film, ''[[Odette (1950 film)|Odette]]'' (1950), co-starring [[Trevor Howard]], [[Peter Ustinov]], and [[Marius Goring]]. As [[Odette Sansom]], she was the [[UK|Anglo]]-French [[resistance fighter]] who was pushed to the edge of betrayal by the Nazis.<ref name="bfireleases" /> In 1950, Neagle and Wilcox moved to the top-floor flat in Aldford House overlooking [[Park Lane]], which was their home until 1964.<ref name="westminster.gov.uk"/> She played [[Florence Nightingale]] in ''[[The Lady with a Lamp]]'' (1951), based on the 1929 play by [[Reginald Berkeley]]. |
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Returning to the stage in 1953, she scored a success with ''[[The Glorious Days]]'', which had a run of 476 performances. Neagle and Wilcox brought the play to the screen under the title ''[[Lilacs in the Spring]]'' (1954), co-starring [[Errol Flynn]]. In the film, she plays an actress knocked out by a bomb, who dreams she is Queen Victoria and Nell Gwyn, as well as her own mother. As she begins dreaming, the film switches from black-and-white to colour. In Britain, where Neagle had top billing, the film was reasonably successful. In the United States, however, where Flynn had top billing, the title was changed to ''Let's Make Up'', and it flopped, with limited bookings.<ref name="bfireleases" /><ref>Thomas, Tony, [[Rudy Behlmer]], and Clifford McCarthy. ''The Films of Errol Flynn.'' Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel, 1969. p. 201.</ref> |
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In 1950, Neagle and Wilcox moved to the top floor flat in Aldford House overlooking Park Lane, which would be their home until 1964.<ref name="westminster.gov.uk"/> |
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=== On the wane === |
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Going from this real-life British heroine, she went straight on to playing [[Florence Nightingale]] in ''The Lady with the Lamp'' (1951); [[Kay Francis]] had previously portrayed Nightingale in a 1936 American film, ''The White Angel''. |
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Neagle and Flynn reteamed for a second film, ''[[King's Rhapsody (film)|King's Rhapsody]]'' (1955), based on an [[Ivor Novello]] [[King's Rhapsody|musical]] and also starring [[Patrice Wymore]] (Flynn's wife at the time). Although Neagle performed several musical numbers for the film, most of them were cut from the final release, leaving her with essentially a supporting role. Shot in [[Eastmancolor]] and [[CinemaScope]] with location work near [[Barcelona]], Spain, ''King's Rhapsody'' was a major flop everywhere. Neagle's (and Flynn's) box-office appeal, it seemed, was fading.<ref>Thomas, Behlmer, and McCarthy. p. 206</ref> |
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[[File:lilacsinthespring.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Neagle appeared with [[Errol Flynn]] in ''[[Lilacs in the Spring]]'' (1954), the film adaptation of her stage success ''The Glorious Days.'']] |
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Neagle's last box-office hit was ''[[My Teenage Daughter]]'' (1956), which featured her as a mother trying to prevent her daughter ([[Sylvia Syms]]) from lapsing into juvenile delinquency.<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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Returning to the stage in 1953, she scored a major success with ''The Glorious Days'', which had a run of 476 performances. Neagle and Wilcox brought the play to the screen under the title ''Lilacs in the Spring'' (1954), co-starring [[Errol Flynn]]. In the film she plays an actress knocked out by a bomb, who dreams she is [[Queen Victoria]] and [[Nell Gwyn]] – as well as her own mother. As she begins dreaming, the film switches from black-and-white to colour. In Britain, where Neagle had top billing, the film was reasonably successful. In the United States, however, where Flynn had top billing, the title was changed to ''Let's Make Up'', and it flopped, with limited bookings.<ref name="bfireleases" /><ref>Thomas, Tony, [[Rudy Behlmer]], and Clifford McCarthy. ''The Films of Errol Flynn.'' Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel, 1969. p. 201.</ref> |
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Neagle and Syms worked together again on ''[[No Time for Tears (film)|No Time for Tears]]'' (1957), also starring [[Anthony Quayle]] and [[Flora Robson]]. As directed by [[Cyril Frankel]], this was the first film for over 20 years where Neagle was directed by someone other than Herbert Wilcox. Set in a children's hospital, the film features Neagle as a matron dealing with the problems of the patients and the staff, notably a nurse (Syms) infatuated with one of the doctors ([[George Baker (British actor)|George Baker]]).<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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=== On the wane === |
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Neagle and Flynn reteamed for a second flm together, ''King's Rhapsody'' (1955), based on an [[Ivor Novello]] [[King's Rhapsody|musical]] and also starring [[Patrice Wymore]] (Flynn's wife at the time). Although Neagle performed several musical numbers for the film, most of them were cut from the final release, leaving her with essentially a supporting role. Shot in [[Eastmancolor]] and [[CinemaScope]] with location work near [[Barcelona]], Spain, ''King's Rhapsody'' was a major flop everywhere. Neagle's (and Flynn's) box-office appeal, it seemed, was beginning to fade.<ref>Thomas, Behlmer, and McCarthy. p. 206</ref> |
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With her husband, Neagle began producing films starring [[Frankie Vaughan]], but these were out of touch with changing tastes, and lost money, resulting in Wilcox going heavily into debt. Neagle herself made her final film appearance in ''[[The Lady Is a Square]]'' (1959), also Wilcox's last film as director. |
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Neagle's last box-office hit was ''My Teenage Daughter'' (1956), which featured her as a mother trying to prevent her daughter ([[Sylvia Syms]]) from lapsing into juvenile delinquency.<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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Neagle was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' on two occasions, in February 1958 when she was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the BBC Television Theatre,{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} and in March 1983, when Andrews surprised her at London's Royal National Hotel.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} |
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Neagle and Syms worked together again on ''No Time For Tears'' (1957), also starring [[Anthony Quayle]] and [[Flora Robson]]. As directed by [[Cyril Frankel]], this was the first film for over 20 years where Neagle was directed by someone other than Herbert Wilcox. Set in a children's hospital, the film features Neagle as a matron dealing with the problems of the patients and the staff, notably a nurse (Syms) infatuated with one of the doctors ([[George Baker (actor)|George Baker]]).<ref name="britishpictures" /> |
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=== Final years === |
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With her husband, Neagle began producing films starring [[Frankie Vaughan]], but these were out of touch with changing tastes, and lost money, resulting in Wilcox going heavily into debt. Neagle herself made her final film appearance in ''The Lady is a Square'' (1957). |
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Herbert Wilcox was bankrupt by 1964, but his wife soon revived his fortunes. She returned to the stage the following year and made a comeback in the [[West End theatre|West End]] musical ''[[Charlie Girl]]''. In it, she played the role of a former "Cochran Young Lady" who marries a peer of the realm. ''Charlie Girl'' was not a critical success, but it ran for six years and 2,047 performances. It earned Neagle an entry in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' for her enduring popularity.<ref name="fandango" /> |
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She was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' on two occasions, in February 1958 when she was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at the BBC Television Theatre, and in March 1983, when Andrews surprised her at London's Royal National Hotel. |
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Two years after ''Charlie Girl'' – which she also performed in Australia and New Zealand – Neagle was asked to appear in a revival of ''[[No, No, Nanette]]'', at the [[Theatre Royal Drury Lane]], having appeared in the screen version three decades earlier. Later, in 1975, she replaced [[Celia Johnson]] in ''The Dame of Sark'' and, in 1978 (the year after her husband's death), she was acting in ''Most Gracious Lady'', which was written for the Silver Jubilee of [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leninimports.com/anna_neagle.html|title=anna neagle – biography – gallery|website=Leninimports.com}}</ref> |
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=== Final years === |
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Herbert Wilcox was bankrupt by 1964, but his wife soon revived his fortunes. She returned to the stage the following year and made a spectacular comeback in the [[West End theatre|West End]] musical ''[[Charlie Girl]]''. In it she played the role of a former "Cochran Young Lady" who marries a peer of the realm. ''Charlie Girl'' was a phenomenal success that ran for a staggering six years and 2,047 performances. It earned Neagle an entry in the [[Guinness Book of World Records]] for her enduring popularity.<ref name="fandango" /> |
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[[File:Anna Neagle Plaque Covent Garden.jpg|thumb|right|Memorial plaque to Neagle in [[St Paul's, Covent Garden]]]] |
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Although affected by [[Parkinson's disease]] in her last years, Neagle continued to be active. She appeared in [[Cameron Mackintosh]]'s revival of ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' and in 1985 she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in a pantomime of ''[[Cinderella]]'' at the [[London Palladium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.its-behind-you.com/gallery240.html|title=The Gallery – Playbills – Palladium Cinderella 1985|website=Its-behind-you.com}}</ref> |
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Two years after ''Charlie Girl'' – which she also performed in Australia and New Zealand – Neagle was asked to appear in a revival of ''[[No, No, Nanette]]'', which she had done onscreen three decades earlier. Later, in 1975, she replaced [[Celia Johnson]] in ''The Dame of Sark'' and, in 1978 (the year after her husband's death), she was acting in ''Most Gracious Lady'', which was written for the Silver Jubilee of [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>[http://www.leninimports.com/anna_neagle.html ''Lenin Imports'' Biography.]</ref> |
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Neagle's grand-nephew is actor [[Nicholas Hoult]],<ref name="cite1">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3662564/Teen-player.html|title=Teen player|last=Shoard|first=Catherine|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|access-date=13 May 2018|date=14 January 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303154849/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3662564/Teen-player.html|archive-date=3 March 2011}}</ref> through Hoult's father's side.<ref name="irishtimes">{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Donald|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/from-skins-to-mad-max-nicholas-hoult-knows-how-to-pick-a-role-1.2410353|title=From Skins to Mad Max, Nicholas Hoult knows how to pick a role|location=London|newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]|date=30 October 2015|access-date=20 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031123918/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/from-skins-to-mad-max-nicholas-hoult-knows-how-to-pick-a-role-1.2410353|archive-date=31 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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Although plagued by [[Parkinson's disease]] in her later years, Neagle continued to be active. In 1985 she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in a production of ''[[Cinderella]]'' at the [[London Palladium]].<ref>[http://www.its-behind-you.com/gallery240.html ''The Gallery'' Playbill for ''Cinderella'' (1985).]</ref> |
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<!--- |
<!---1971–1972. Charlie Girl in Australia & New Zealand, where it broke both theatres all time records. |
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1973 Theatre Royal Drury Lane, No No Nannette, with Tony Britton |
1973 Theatre Royal Drury Lane, No No Nannette, with Tony Britton |
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1974/5 Duke of Yorks Theatre, London, The Dame Of Sark, with Tony Britton. Also national UK tour and Canada. |
1974/5 Duke of Yorks Theatre, London, The Dame Of Sark, with Tony Britton. Also national UK tour and Canada. |
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| Line 117: | Line 119: | ||
1977 Shaftesbury Theatre, London, Maggie, with Barry Sinclair, preceded by national UK tour. |
1977 Shaftesbury Theatre, London, Maggie, with Barry Sinclair, preceded by national UK tour. |
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1978 Theatre Royal Windsor and national UK tour, Most Gracious Lady. An entertainment about the queens of England from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II. 1978 Three months at the English Theatre in Vienna in Noël Coward's, Relative Values. |
1978 Theatre Royal Windsor and national UK tour, Most Gracious Lady. An entertainment about the queens of England from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II. 1978 Three months at the English Theatre in Vienna in Noël Coward's, Relative Values. |
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1979 Adelphi Theatre London, My Fair Lady, directed by its lyricist, Alan Jay Lerner, with Tony Britton, Liz Robertson, Peter Bayliss, Betty Paul and Richard Caldicot with choreography and staging by Gillian Lynne, designs by Tim Goodchild. With the pre and post London tours, this made a total of some four years in the UK,followed by a season in Toronto, Canada. |
1979 Adelphi Theatre London, My Fair Lady, directed by its lyricist, Alan Jay Lerner, with Tony Britton, Liz Robertson, Peter Bayliss, Betty Paul and Richard Caldicot with choreography and staging by Gillian Lynne, designs by Tim Goodchild. With the pre and post London tours, this made a total of some four years in the UK, followed by a season in Toronto, Canada. |
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1983 Connaught Theatre Worthing, a season in Noël Coward's Relative Values. |
1983 Connaught Theatre Worthing, a season in Noël Coward's Relative Values. |
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1983 Cinderella at The Richmond Theatre, London. |
1983 Cinderella at The Richmond Theatre, London. |
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| Line 124: | Line 126: | ||
1985 London Palladium, guest on The Royal Variety Show. |
1985 London Palladium, guest on The Royal Variety Show. |
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1986 Cinderella at The London Palladium |
1986 Cinderella at The London Palladium |
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1986 11 May The Week's Good Cause, BBC Radio 4. |
1986 11 May The Week's Good Cause, BBC Radio 4.---> |
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Neagle died aged 81 from breast cancer on 3 June 1986.<ref name="ODNB">{{Cite ODNB|id=39943|title=Neagle, Dame Anna [real name Florence Marjorie Robertson] (1904–1986)}}</ref> A memorial service at [[Westminster Abbey]] followed on 20 October 1986. She was interred alongside her husband in the [[City of London Cemetery]].<ref name="imdbbio">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0623554/bio|title=Anna Neagle|website=IMDb}}</ref> Their grave was recommemorated by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal on 6 March 2014. |
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Anna died aged 81 years on 3 June 1986. A Memorial service at Westminster Abbey followed on 20 October 1986.---> |
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Some sources state that Neagle was suffering from cancer at the time of her death. She was interred alongside her husband in the [[City of London Cemetery]].<ref name="imdbbio">[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0623554/bio ''IMDb'' Biography.]</ref> Their grave was recommemorated by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal on 6 March 2014. |
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A memorial plaque on her former home at Aldford House, [[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]] was unveiled on 30 May 1996, by [[Princess Anne]] and [[Lana Morris]]. |
A memorial plaque on her former home at Aldford House, [[Park Lane (road)|Park Lane]] was unveiled on 30 May 1996, by [[Princess Anne]] and [[Lana Morris]].<ref name="westminster.gov.uk"/> She also has a memorial plaque in [[St Paul's, Covent Garden|St Paul's Church]], the Actors' Church in [[Covent Garden]]. |
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<ref name="westminster.gov.uk"/> |
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A street named in her honour, Anna Neagle Close,<ref>Anna Neagle Close London, Greater London E7 0HH, UK. Source: [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Anna+Neagle+Close,+London&aq=0&oq=anna+neagle+close&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=7.491149,14.128418&vpsrc=6&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Anna+Neagle+Close,+London+E7+0HH,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.554368,0.023861&spn=0.015396,0.027595&z=15&iwloc=A Google Maps]</ref> is situated in [[Forest Gate]], London. |
A street named in her honour, Anna Neagle Close,<ref>Anna Neagle Close London, Greater London E7 0HH, UK. Source: [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Anna+Neagle+Close,+London&aq=0&oq=anna+neagle+close&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=7.491149,14.128418&vpsrc=6&t=h&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Anna+Neagle+Close,+London+E7+0HH,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.554368,0.023861&spn=0.015396,0.027595&z=15&iwloc=A Google Maps]</ref> is situated in [[Forest Gate]], east London. |
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==Awards== |
==Awards== |
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Neagle was created a [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in 1952 <ref>British Pathe News http://www.britishpathe.com/video/palace-investitures-aka-anna-neagle-investiture/query/Spencer</ref> and, for her contributions to the theatre, a [[Order of the British Empire|Dame of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in 1969. |
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Neagle was created a [[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[1952 New Year Honours]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishpathe.com/video/palace-investitures-aka-anna-neagle-investiture/query/Spencer|title=Palace Investitures Aka Anna Neagle Investiture|first=British|last=Pathé|website=Britishpathe.com|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> and, for her contributions to the theatre, a [[Order of the British Empire|Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in the [[1969 Birthday Honours]]. |
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==Filmography== |
==Filmography== |
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The following list contains all of Neagle's acting credits in feature-length films with the exception of ''Queen Victoria'' (1942), which is actually a compilation of two earlier films, ''Victoria the Great'' and ''Sixty Glorious Years''. |
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All of her films were directed by [[Herbert Wilcox]] and produced in the United Kingdom unless otherwise noted. |
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The following list contains all of Neagle's acting credits in feature-length films with the exception of ''Queen Victoria'' (1942), which is actually a compilation of two earlier films, ''Victoria the Great'' and ''Sixty Glorious Years''. All of her films were directed by Herbert Wilcox and produced in the United Kingdom unless otherwise noted. |
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In addition, Neagle also appeared briefly as herself in a documentary short entitled ''The Volunteer'' (1943), and served as narrator for the films ''The Prams Break Through'' (1945) and ''Princess's Wedding Day'' (1947). Neagle also produced, but did not appear in, three films starring [[Frankie Vaughan]]: ''These Dangerous Years'' (1957), ''Wonderful Things'' (1957) and ''The Heart of a Man'' (1959). |
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In addition, Neagle also appeared briefly as herself in a documentary short entitled ''The Volunteer'' (1943), and served as narrator for the films ''The Prams Break Through'' (1945) and ''Princess's Wedding Day'' (1947). Neagle also produced, but did not appear in, three films starring [[Frankie Vaughan]]: ''These Dangerous Years'' (1957), ''Wonderful Things'' (1957), and ''The Heart of a Man'' (1959). |
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{|class=wikitable |
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{|class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" |
|||
! Year |
! Year |
||
! Title |
! Title |
||
! Role |
! Role |
||
! Notes |
! class="unsortable"|Notes |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1929 |
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| [[1929 in film|1929]] || ''[[Those Who Love (1929 film)|Those Who Love]]'' || Bit part (uncredited) || Directed by H. Manning Haynes |
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| ''[[Those Who Love (1929 film)|Those Who Love]]'' |
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| bit part |
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| directed by H. Manning Haynes<br />uncredited |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1930.1|1930}} |
|||
| rowspan=3|[[1930 in film|1930]] || ''[[The Chinese Bungalow (1930 film)|The Chinese Bungalow]]'' || Charlotte || Directed by Arthur Barnes and J.B. Williams |
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| ''{{sort|sch|[[The School for Scandal (1930 film)|The School for Scandal]]}}'' |
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| Flower Seller |
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| directed by Maurice Elvey, filmed in [[Raycol color process]], [[lost film]]<br />uncredited |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1930.2|1930}} |
|||
| ''[[The School for Scandal (1930 film)|The School for Scandal]]'' || Flower Seller (uncredited) || Directed by Maurice Elvey. Filmed in Raycol. |
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| ''{{sort|chi|[[The Chinese Bungalow (1930 film)|The Chinese Bungalow]]}}'' |
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| Charlotte |
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| directed by Arthur Barnes and J.B. Williams |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1930.3|1930}} |
|||
| ''[[Should a Doctor Tell? (1930 film)|Should A Doctor Tell?]]'' || Muriel Ashton || Directed by H. Manning Haynes |
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| ''[[Should a Doctor Tell? (1930 film)|Should A Doctor Tell?]]'' |
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| {{sort|Ashton|Muriel Ashton}} |
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| directed by H. Manning Haynes |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1932.1|1932}} |
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|rowspan=2|[[1932 in film|1932]] || ''[[Goodnight, Vienna]]'' || Viki || Neagle's first collaboration with director [[Herbert Wilcox]] |
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| ''[[Goodnight, Vienna]]'' |
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| Viki |
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| Neagle's first collaboration with director [[Herbert Wilcox]] |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1932.2|1932}} |
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| ''[[The Flag Lieutenant (1932 film)|The Flag Lieutenant]]''|| Hermione Wynne || Directed by [[Henry Edwards (actor)|Henry Edwards]]. |
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| ''{{sort|flag|[[The Flag Lieutenant (1932 film)|The Flag Lieutenant]]}}'' |
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| {{sort|Wynne|Hermione Wynne}} |
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| directed by [[Henry Edwards (actor)|Henry Edwards]] |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1933.2|1933}} |
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| rowspan=2|[[1933 in film|1933]] || ''[[Bitter Sweet (1933 film)|Bitter Sweet]]'' || Sarah Millick ''and'' Sari Lind || |
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| ''{{sort|lit|[[The Little Damozel (1933 film)|The Little Damozel]]}}'' |
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| {{sort|Alardy|Julie Alardy}} |
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| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1933.2|1933}} |
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| ''[[The Little Damozel (1933 film)|The Little Damozel]]'' || Julie Alardy || |
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| ''[[Bitter Sweet (1933 film)|Bitter Sweet]]'' |
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| {{sort|Millick|Sarah Millick ''and'' Sari Lind}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1934.1|1934}} |
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|rowspan=2|[[1934 in film|1934]] || ''[[Nell Gwynn (1934 film)|Nell Gwyn]]'' || [[Nell Gwyn]] || Neagle's first major hit |
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| ''{{sort|que|[[The Queen's Affair]]}}'' |
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| {{sort|Nadia|Queen Nadia}} |
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| |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1934.2|1934}} |
|||
| ''[[The Queen's Affair]]'' || Queen Nadia || |
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| ''[[Nell Gwynn (1934 film)|Nell Gwynn]]'' |
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| {{sort|Gwyn|[[Nell Gwyn]]}} |
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| Neagle's first major hit |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1935 |
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| [[1935 in film|1935]] || ''[[Peg of Old Drury]]'' || [[Margaret Woffington|Peg Woffington]] || |
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| ''[[Peg of Old Drury]]'' |
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| {{sort|Woffington|[[Margaret Woffington|Peg Woffington]]}} |
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| |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1936.1|1936}} |
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| rowspan=2|[[1936 in film|1936]]|| ''[[Limelight (1936 film)|Limelight]]'' || Marjorie Kaye || |
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| ''[[Three Maxims]]'' |
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| Pat |
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| Franco-British production |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1936.2|1936}} |
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| ''[[Three Maxims]]'' || Pat || [[France|Franco]]–[[UK|British]] production. |
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| ''[[Limelight (1936 film)|Limelight]]'' |
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| {{sort|Kaye|Marjorie Kaye}} |
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| |
|||
|- |
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| {{sort|1937.1|1937}} |
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| ''[[London Melody]]'' |
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| Jacqueline |
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| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1937.2|1937}} |
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|rowspan=2|[[1937 in film|1937]]|| ''[[Victoria the Great]]'' || [[Queen Victoria]] || Finale filmed in [[Technicolor]] |
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| ''[[Victoria the Great]]'' |
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| [[Queen Victoria]] |
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| finale filmed in [[Technicolor]] |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1938 |
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| ''[[London Melody]]'' || Jacqueline || |
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| ''[[Sixty Glorious Years]]'' |
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| Queen Victoria |
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| filmed in Technicolor |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1939 |
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| [[1938 in film|1938]] || ''[[Sixty Glorious Years]]'' || Queen Victoria || Filmed in Technicolor |
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| ''[[Nurse Edith Cavell]]'' |
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| {{sort|Cavell|[[Edith Cavell]]}} |
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| Neagle's first American film |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1940.1|1940}} |
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| [[1939 in film|1939]]|| ''[[Nurse Edith Cavell]]'' || [[Edith Cavell]] || Neagle's first American film |
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| ''[[Irene (1940 film)|Irene]]'' |
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| {{sort|O'Dare|Irene O'Dare}} |
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| features one sequence in Technicolor, produced in the U.S. |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1940.2|1940}} |
|||
| rowspan=2|[[1940 in film|1940]]|| ''[[Irene (1940 film)|Irene]]'' || Irene O'Dare || Features one sequence in Technicolor; Produced in the U.S. |
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| ''[[No, No, Nanette (1940 film)|No, No, Nanette]]'' |
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| Nanette |
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| U.S. production |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1941 |
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| ''[[No, No, Nanette (1940 film)|No, No, Nanette]]'' || Nanette || U.S. production |
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| ''[[Sunny (1941 film)|Sunny]]'' |
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| {{sort|O'Sullivan|Sunny O'Sullivan}} |
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| U.S. production |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1942 |
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| [[1941 in film|1941]] || ''[[Sunny (1941 film)|Sunny]]'' || Sunny O'Sullivan || U.S. production |
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| ''[[They Flew Alone]]'' |
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| {{sort|Johnson|[[Amy Johnson]]}} |
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| |
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|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1943.1|1943}} |
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| [[1942 in film|1942]] || ''[[They Flew Alone]]'' || [[Amy Johnson]] || |
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| ''[[Forever and a Day (1943 film)|Forever and a Day]]'' |
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| {{sort|Trenchard|Susan Trenchard}} |
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| U.S. production |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| {{sort|1943.2|1943}} |
||
| ''[[Yellow Canary (film)|Yellow Canary]]'' |
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| {{sort|Maitland|Sally Maitland}} |
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| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1944 |
|||
| ''[[Forever and a Day (1943 film)|Forever and a Day]]'' || Susan Trenchard || U.S. production |
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| ''[[The Volunteer (1944 film)|The Volunteer]]'' |
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| herself, leaving Denham Studio |
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| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1945 |
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| [[1945 in film|1945]] || ''[[I Live in Grosvenor Square]]'' || Lady Patricia Fairfax || |
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| ''[[I Live in Grosvenor Square]]'' |
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| {{sort|Fairfax|Lady Patricia Fairfax}} |
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| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1946 |
|||
| [[1946 in film|1946]] || ''[[Piccadilly Incident]]'' || Diana Fraser || |
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| ''[[Piccadilly Incident]]'' |
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| {{sort|Fraser|Diana Fraser}} |
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| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1947 |
|||
|[[1947 in film|1947]] || ''[[The Courtneys of Curzon Street]]'' || Katherine O'Halloran || |
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| ''{{sort|cou|[[The Courtneys of Curzon Street]]}}'' |
|||
| {{sort|O'Halloran|Katherine O'Halloran}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1948.1|1948}} |
|||
| rowspan=2|[[1948 in film|1948]] || ''[[Elizabeth of Ladymead]]'' || Elizabeth || Filmed in Technicolor |
|||
| ''[[Spring in Park Lane]]'' |
|||
| {{sort|Howard|Judy Howard}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| {{sort|1948.2|1948}} |
|||
| ''[[Spring in Park Lane]]'' || Judy Howard || |
|||
| ''[[Elizabeth of Ladymead]]'' |
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| Elizabeth |
|||
| filmed in Technicolor |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1949 |
|||
| [[1949 in film|1949]] || ''[[Maytime in Mayfair]]'' || Eileen Grahame || Filmed in Technicolor |
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| ''[[Maytime in Mayfair]]'' |
|||
| {{sort|Grahame|Eileen Grahame}} |
|||
| filmed in Technicolor |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1950 |
|||
| [[1950 in film|1950]] || ''[[Odette (film)|Odette]]'' || [[Odette Sansom]] || |
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| ''[[Odette (1950 film)|Odette]]'' |
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| {{sort|Sansom|[[Odette Hallowes|Odette Sansom]]}} |
|||
| |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
| 1951 |
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| [[1951 in film|1950]] || ''[[The Lady with the Lamp (film)|The Lady With the Lamp]]'' || [[Florence Nightingale]] || |
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| ''{{sort|ladyw|[[The Lady with a Lamp]]}}'' |
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| {{sort|Nightingale|[[Florence Nightingale]]}} |
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| |
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|- |
|- |
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| 1952 |
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| [[1952 in film|1952]] || ''[[Derby Day (1952 film)|Derby Day]]'' || Lady Helen Forbes || |
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| ''[[Derby Day (1952 film)|Derby Day]]'' |
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| {{sort|Forbes|Lady Helen Forbes}} |
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| |
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|- |
|- |
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| 1954 |
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| [[1954 in film|1954]] || ''[[Lilacs in the Spring]]'' || Carole Beaumont / Lillian Grey /<br />[[Nell Gwynne]] / [[Queen Victoria]] || Filmed in Eastmancolor (aside from a black and white prologue) |
|||
| ''[[Lilacs in the Spring]]'' |
|||
| {{sort|Beaumont|Carole Beaumont / Lillian Grey /<br />[[Nell Gwynne]] / [[Queen Victoria]]}} |
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| filmed in Eastmancolor with a black-and-white prologue |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1955 |
|||
| [[1955 in film|1955]] || ''[[King's Rhapsody (film)|King's Rhapsody]]'' || Marta Karillos || Filmed in CinemaScope and Eastmancolor |
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| ''[[King's Rhapsody (film)|King's Rhapsody]]'' |
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| {{sort|Karillos|Marta Karillos}} |
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| filmed in CinemaScope and Eastmancolor |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1956 |
|||
| [[1956 in film|1956]] || ''[[My Teenage Daughter]]'' || Valerie Carr || |
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| ''[[My Teenage Daughter]]'' |
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| {{sort|Carr|Valerie Carr}} |
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| |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1957 |
|||
| rowspan=2|[[1957 in film|1957]] || ''[[The Man Who Wouldn't Talk]]'' || Mary Randall, Q.C. || |
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| ''[[No Time for Tears (film)|No Time for Tears]]'' |
|||
| {{sort|Hammond|Matron Eleanor Hammond}} |
|||
| directed by Cyril Frankel, filmed in Eastmancolor |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1958 |
|||
| ''[[No Time for Tears (film)|No Time for Tears]]'' || Matron Eleanor Hammond || Directed by Cyril Frankel; Filmed in Eastmancolor |
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| ''{{sort|man|[[The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1958 film)|The Man Who Wouldn't Talk]]}}'' |
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| {{sort|Randall|Mary Randall, Q.C.}} |
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| |
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|- |
|- |
||
| 1959 |
|||
| [[1958 in film|1958]] || ''[[The Lady Is a Square]]'' || Frances Baring || |
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| ''{{sort|ladyi|[[The Lady Is a Square]]}}'' |
|||
|}<ref>[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/486979/credits.html ''Screenonline'' Film Credits.]</ref> |
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| {{sort|Baring|Frances Baring}} |
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| |
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|}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/486979/credits.html |title=BFI Screenonline: Neagle, Anna (1904–1986) Credits |website=Screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> |
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==Recordings |
==Recordings== |
||
*''[[What More Can I Ask?]]'', with orchestra conducted by [[Ray Noble (musician)|Ray Noble]] |
|||
*"[[What More Can I Ask?]]", with orchestra conducted by [[Ray Noble (musician)|Ray Noble]] |
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:HMV B 4365 (matrix: 0B 4586-3) |
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:[[Gramophone Company|HMV]] B 4365 (matrix: 0B 4586-3) |
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:Recorded London 4 January 1933 |
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:Recorded London, 4 January 1933 |
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*''The Dream Is Over'', with orchestra conducted by [[Ray Noble (musician)|Ray Noble]] |
|||
*"The Dream Is Over", with orchestra conducted by [[Ray Noble (musician)|Ray Noble]] |
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:HMV B 4365 (matrix: 4587-4) |
:HMV B 4365 (matrix: 4587-4) |
||
:Recorded London 4 January 1933 |
:Recorded London, 4 January 1933 |
||
* |
*"Tonight", duet with Trefor Jones with [[Geraldo (bandleader)|Geraldo]] and his Orchestra |
||
:Columbia(England) DB 1316 (matrix: CA 14314-1) |
:[[Columbia Graphophone Company|Columbia (England)]] DB 1316 (matrix: CA 14314-1) |
||
:Recorded London 30 January 1934 |
:Recorded London, 30 January 1934 |
||
* |
*"Kiss Me Goodnight" |
||
:Decca(England) F 5649 (matrix: TB 1869) |
:[[Decca Records|Decca (England)]] F 5649 (matrix: TB 1869) |
||
:Recorded London 9 August 1935 |
:Recorded London, 9 August 1935 |
||
* |
*"A Little Dash of Dublin" |
||
:Decca(England) F 5649 (matrix: TB 1870) |
:Decca (England) F 5649 (matrix: TB 1870) |
||
:Recorded London 9 August 1935 |
:Recorded London, 9 August 1935 |
||
*"The Glorious Days" (medley) |
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:[[Philips Records]] (England) P.B.153 |
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:Recorded 1953 |
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==Box office popularity== |
==Box office popularity== |
||
Annual polls of British exhibitors for the ''Motion Picture Herald'' consistently listed Neagle as a leading box office star in her home country. |
Annual polls of British exhibitors for the ''Motion Picture Herald'' consistently listed Neagle as a leading box office star in her home country. |
||
* |
* 1936 – 14th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpictureher126unse#page/n309/mode/2up |title=Motion Picture Herald |website=archive.org |publisher=Quigley Publishing Co. |year=1937}}</ref> |
||
* |
* 1937 – 8th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article29211761 |title=Most Popular Stars of 1937. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=12 February 1938 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
||
* |
* 1938 – 8th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25589834 |title=FORMBY IS POPULAR ACTOR. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=25 February 1939 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
||
* |
* 1939 – 5th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17671871 |title=BOX OFFICE POLL. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=15 February 1940 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
||
* 1940 – 10th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpictureher142unse#page/n29/mode/2up |title=Motion Picture Herald |website=archive.org |publisher=Quigley Publishing Co. |year=1941}}</ref> |
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* 1945 – 8th most popular British star<ref>'Bloomer Girl' to Play Instead of Jolson Opus, ''Los Angeles Times'' (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 23 Mar 1946: A5.</ref> |
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* |
* 1941 – 7th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpictureher146unse#page/n41/mode/2up |title=Motion Picture Herald |website=archive.org |publisher=Quigley Publishing Co. |year=1942}}</ref> |
||
* |
* 1942 – most popular female British star<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26173215 |title=CROSBY and HOPE try their luck in Alaska. |newspaper=[[The Mercury (Hobart)|The Mercury]] |location=Hobart, Tasmania |date=2 March 1946 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=3 Supplement: The Mercury Magazine |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
||
* |
* 1944 – 9th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpictureher158unse#page/n51/mode/2up |title=Motion Picture Herald |website=archive.org |publisher=Quigley Publishing Co. |year=1945}}</ref> |
||
* 1945 – 8th most popular British star<ref>{{cite news|title='Bloomer Girl' to Play Instead of Jolson Opus|work=Los Angeles Times|date=23 March 1946|page=A5}}</ref> |
|||
* 1949 – most popular star – the first time since the polls started that the most popular star in Britain had been a local<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22805944 |title=SNAPSHOTS. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=21 January 1950 |accessdate=25 April 2012 |page=10 Supplement: The Argus Week-End Magazine |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
|||
* |
*1946 – 5th-most popular British star<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46266039 |title=FILM WORLD. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |location=Perth |date=28 February 1947 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=20|edition=SECOND|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
||
* |
* 1947 – 3rd-most popular star (2nd most popular British star)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27893195 |title=Anna Neagle Most Popular Actress. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=3 January 1948 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
||
* |
* 1948 – most popular British star (2nd overall)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18100225 |title=Bing Crosby Still Best Box-office Draw. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=31 December 1948 |access-date=11 July 2012 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
||
* 1949 – most popular star – the first time since the polls started that the most popular star in Britain was British<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22805944 |title=SNAPSHOTS. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=21 January 1950 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=10 Supplement: The Argus Week–End Magazine |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
|||
* 1950 – 3rd-most popular star – third year in a row as most popular British star<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59596342 |title=Actor father wants film career for his two sons. |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times (Western Australia)|The Sunday Times]] |location=Perth |date=14 January 1951 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
|||
* 1951 – 6th-most popular star (2nd most popular British star)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75335131 |title=British Film Favourites. |newspaper=[[The Central Queensland Herald]] |location=Rockhampton, Qld. |date=3 January 1952 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
|||
* 1952 – 8th-most popular British star – 6th year in a row as most popular female British star<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18504988 |title=COMEDIAN TOPS FILM POLL. |newspaper=[[The Sunday Herald (Sydney)|The Sunday Herald]] |location=Sydney |date=28 December 1952 |access-date=25 April 2012 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
|||
==Publications== |
==Publications== |
||
*''There's Always Tomorrow'' – Autobiography – 1974, ISBN 0-491-01941-6. |
|||
*''There's Always Tomorrow'' – Autobiography – 1974, {{ISBN|0-491-01941-6}}. |
|||
==Footnotes== |
==Footnotes== |
||
{{reflist |
{{reflist}} |
||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{Portal|Biography}} |
{{Portal|Biography}} |
||
*{{IMDb name | id=0623554 | |
* {{IMDb name | id=0623554 | name=Anna Neagle}} |
||
*{{Screenonline name|id=486979|name=Anna Neagle}} |
* {{Screenonline name|id=486979|name=Anna Neagle}} |
||
*[http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=331 Photographs of Anna Neagle] |
* [http://film.virtual-history.com/person.php?personid=331 Photographs of Anna Neagle] |
||
*[http://www.bigredbook.info/anna_neagle_1.html Anna Neagle's appearance on This Is Your Life] |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
||
{{Persondata<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> |
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|NAME= Neagle, Anna |
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|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Robertson, Florence Marjorie |
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|SHORT DESCRIPTION= [[Actress]], singer |
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|DATE OF BIRTH= 20 October 1904 |
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|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Forest Gate]], London, England |
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|DATE OF DEATH= 3 June 1986 |
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|PLACE OF DEATH= [[West Byfleet]], [[Surrey]], England |
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}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Neagle, Anna}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neagle, Anna}} |
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[[Category:1904 births]] |
[[Category:1904 births]] |
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[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in England]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:18, 26 November 2024
Anna Neagle | |
|---|---|
 Neagle in 1935 | |
| Born | Florence Marjorie Robertson 20 October 1904 Forest Gate, Essex, England |
| Died | 3 June 1986 (aged 81) West Byfleet, Surrey, England |
| Resting place | City of London Cemetery, Manor Park, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1917–1986 |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Nicholas Hoult (grand-nephew) |
Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox DBE (née Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer.
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She was a successful box-office draw in British cinema for 20 years and was voted the most popular star in Britain in 1949. She was known for providing glamour and sophistication to war-torn London audiences with her lightweight musicals, comedies, and historical dramas. Almost all of her films were produced and directed by Herbert Wilcox, whom she married in 1943.
In her historical dramas, Neagle was renowned for her portrayals of British historical figures, including Nell Gwyn (Nell Gwyn, 1934), Queen Victoria (Victoria the Great, 1937 and Sixty Glorious Years, 1938), Edith Cavell (Nurse Edith Cavell, 1939), and Florence Nightingale (The Lady with a Lamp, 1951).
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Florence Marjorie Robertson was born in Forest Gate, Essex, the daughter of Merchant Navy captain Herbert William Robertson and Florence, née Neagle.[1][2] Her elder brother was the bass-baritone and actor Stuart Robertson (1901–1958).[3] She made her stage debut as a dancer in 1917, and later appeared in the chorus of C.B. Cochran's revues and also André Charlot's revue Bubbly. While with Cochran, she understudied Jessie Matthews.[4]
In 1931, she starred in the West End musical Stand Up and Sing with actor Jack Buchanan, who encouraged her to take a featured role. For this play, she began using the professional name Anna Neagle (the surname being her mother's maiden name).[5] The play was a success with a total run of 604 performances.[5] Stand Up and Sing provided her big break when film producer and director Herbert Wilcox caught the show to consider Buchanan for an upcoming film, but also took note of her cinematic potential.[6]
Cinematic beginnings
[edit]"Naturally enough when I was a young dancer, I was terribly anxious to get ahead, and to get ahead quickly. I was impatient with all those older people who talked of the long grind to the top, who turned me down for jobs I knew I could do."
Anna Neagle[7]
Forming a professional alliance with Wilcox, Neagle played her first starring film role in the musical Goodnight, Vienna (1932), again with Jack Buchanan. With this film, Neagle became an overnight favourite. Although the film cost a mere £23,000 to produce, it was a hit at the box office, with profits from its Australian release alone being £150,000.[8]
After her starring role in The Flag Lieutenant (also 1932), directed by and co-starring Henry Edwards, she worked exclusively under Wilcox's direction for all but one of her subsequent films,[5] becoming one of Britain's biggest stars.
She continued in the musical genre, co-starring with Fernand Gravey (later known as Fernand Gravet) in Bitter Sweet (1933). This first version of Noël Coward's tale of ill-fated lovers was later obscured by the better-known Jeanette MacDonald–Nelson Eddy remake in 1940.[5]
Neagle had her first major success with Nell Gwyn (1934), which Wilcox had previously shot as a silent starring Dorothy Gish in 1926. Neagle's performance as Gwyn, who became the mistress of Charles II (played by Cedric Hardwicke) prompted some censorship in the United States. The Hays Office had Wilcox add an (historically false) scene featuring the two leads getting married and also a "framing" story resulting in an entirely different ending.[9] Graham Greene, then a film critic, said of Nell Gwyn: "I have seen few things more attractive than Miss Neagle in breeches".[8]
Two years after Nell Gwyn, she followed up with another real-life figure, portraying Irish actress Peg Woffington in Peg of Old Drury (1936). That same year, she appeared in Limelight, a backstage film musical in which she played a chorus girl. Her co-star was Arthur Tracy, who had gained fame in the United States as a radio performer known as the Street Singer. The film also featured Jack Buchanan in an uncredited cameo.[10] performing "Goodnight Vienna".[6]
Neagle and Wilcox followed with a circus trapeze fable Three Maxims (1937), which was released in the United States as The Show Goes On. The film, with a script featuring a contribution from Herman J. Mankiewicz (later to co-write Citizen Kane with Orson Welles), had Neagle performing her own high-wire acrobatics.[8] Although now highly successful in films, Neagle continued acting on the stage. In 1934, while working under director Robert Atkins, she performed as Rosalind in As You Like It and Olivia in Twelfth Night. Both productions earned her critical accolades, despite the fact that she had never performed Shakespearean roles before.[5]
In 1937, Neagle gave her most prestigious performance so far – as Queen Victoria in the historical drama Victoria the Great (1937), co-starring Anton Walbrook as Prince Albert. The script by Robert Vansittart and Miles Malleson (from Laurence Housman's play Victoria Regina) alternated between the political and the personal lives of the royal couple.[8] The Diamond Jubilee sequence that climaxed the film was shot in Technicolor. Victoria the Great was such an international success that it resulted in Neagle and Walbrook playing their roles again in an all-Technicolor sequel entitled Sixty Glorious Years (1938), co-starring C. Aubrey Smith as the Duke of Wellington. While the first of these films was in release, Neagle returned to the London stage and entertained audiences with her portrayal of the title role in Peter Pan.[5]
An American Excursion
[edit]
The success of Victoria the Great and Sixty Glorious Years caused Hollywood studios to take notice. Neagle and Wilcox began an association with RKO Radio Pictures. Their first American film was Nurse Edith Cavell (1939), a remake of Dawn, a Wilcox silent that starred Sybil Thorndike. In this, another Neagle role based on an actual British heroine, she played the role of the nurse who was shot by the Germans in World War I for alleged aiding llied PoWs to escape and for spying. The resulting effort had a significant impact for audiences on the eve of the WWII.[8]
In a turnabout from this serious drama, the couple followed with three musical comedies, all based on once-popular stage plays. The first of these was Irene (1940), co-starring Ray Milland. It included a Technicolor sequence, which featured Neagle singing the play's most famous song, "Alice Blue Gown". She followed this film with No, No, Nanette (1940) with Victor Mature, in which she sang "Tea For Two", and Sunny (1941), with Ray Bolger.
Neagle and Wilcox's final American film was Forever and a Day (1943), a tale of a London family house from 1804 to the 1940 blitz. This film boasts 80 performers (mostly expatriate British), including Ray Milland, C. Aubrey Smith, Claude Rains, Charles Laughton, and – among the few North Americans – Buster Keaton. Wilcox directed the sequence featuring Neagle, Milland, Smith, and Rains, while other directors who worked on the film included René Clair, Edmund Goulding, Frank Lloyd, Victor Saville, and Robert Stevenson. During the war, the profits and salaries were given to war relief. After the war, prints were intended to be destroyed, so that no one could profit from them, but this never occurred.[8]
Return to the UK
[edit]Returning to the UK, Neagle and Wilcox commenced with They Flew Alone (1942; shot after but released before Forever and a Day). Neagle this time played aviator Amy Johnson, who had recently died in a flying accident. Robert Newton co-starred as Johnson's husband, Jim Mollison. The film intercut the action with newsreel footage.[8]
Neagle and Wilcox married in August 1943 at London's Caxton Hall.[11]
They continued with Yellow Canary (1943), co-starring Richard Greene and Margaret Rutherford. In this spy story, Neagle plays a German-sympathiser (or at least that is what she seems to be at first), who is forced to go to Canada for her own safety. In reality, of course, she is working as an undercover agent out to expose a plot to blow up Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia. Yellow Canary received positive comments for its atmospheric recreation of wartime conditions.[6]
In 1945, Neagle appeared on stage in Emma, a dramatisation of Jane Austen's novel. That same year, she was seen in the film I Live in Grosvenor Square, co-starring Rex Harrison. She wanted Harrison for the lead in her next film, Piccadilly Incident (1946). However, he (as well as John Mills) proved to be unavailable at the time, so Wilcox cast Michael Wilding in the lead. Thus was born what film critic Godfrey Winn called "the greatest team in British films".[8] The story – of a wife, presumed dead, returning to her (remarried) husband – bears a resemblance to the Irene Dunne–Cary Grant comedy My Favorite Wife. Piccadilly Incident was chosen as Picturegoer's Best Film of 1947. Despite the fact that Neagle was some eight years senior than Wilding, they proved to be an extremely bankable romantic pairing at the British box office. By now in her mid-40s, Neagle continued to have success in youthful and romantic lead roles.
Neagle and Wilding were reunited in The Courtneys of Curzon Street (1947), a period drama that became the year's top box-office attraction. The film featured Wilding as an upper-class dandy and Neagle as the maid he marries, only to have the two of them driven apart by Victorian society.[6]
The third pairing of Neagle and Wilding in the "London Films", as the series of films came to be called, was in Spring in Park Lane (1948). A comedy, this depicted the romance between a millionaire's niece and a footman (actually a nobleman who has seen better days). The script was written by Nicholas Phipps, who also played Wilding's brother. Although not a musical, it contains a dream sequence featuring the song "The Moment I Saw You". Spring in Park Lane was the 1949 Picturegoer winner for Best Film, Actor, and Actress.[8] Neagle and Wilding were together for a fourth time in the Technicolor romance Maytime in Mayfair (1949). The plot is reminiscent of Roberta, as it had Wilding inheriting a dress shop owned by Neagle.[6]
By now, Neagle was at her peak as Britain's top box-office actress, and she made what reputedly became her own favourite film, Odette (1950), co-starring Trevor Howard, Peter Ustinov, and Marius Goring. As Odette Sansom, she was the Anglo-French resistance fighter who was pushed to the edge of betrayal by the Nazis.[8] In 1950, Neagle and Wilcox moved to the top-floor flat in Aldford House overlooking Park Lane, which was their home until 1964.[11] She played Florence Nightingale in The Lady with a Lamp (1951), based on the 1929 play by Reginald Berkeley.
Returning to the stage in 1953, she scored a success with The Glorious Days, which had a run of 476 performances. Neagle and Wilcox brought the play to the screen under the title Lilacs in the Spring (1954), co-starring Errol Flynn. In the film, she plays an actress knocked out by a bomb, who dreams she is Queen Victoria and Nell Gwyn, as well as her own mother. As she begins dreaming, the film switches from black-and-white to colour. In Britain, where Neagle had top billing, the film was reasonably successful. In the United States, however, where Flynn had top billing, the title was changed to Let's Make Up, and it flopped, with limited bookings.[8][12]
On the wane
[edit]Neagle and Flynn reteamed for a second film, King's Rhapsody (1955), based on an Ivor Novello musical and also starring Patrice Wymore (Flynn's wife at the time). Although Neagle performed several musical numbers for the film, most of them were cut from the final release, leaving her with essentially a supporting role. Shot in Eastmancolor and CinemaScope with location work near Barcelona, Spain, King's Rhapsody was a major flop everywhere. Neagle's (and Flynn's) box-office appeal, it seemed, was fading.[13]
Neagle's last box-office hit was My Teenage Daughter (1956), which featured her as a mother trying to prevent her daughter (Sylvia Syms) from lapsing into juvenile delinquency.[6]
Neagle and Syms worked together again on No Time for Tears (1957), also starring Anthony Quayle and Flora Robson. As directed by Cyril Frankel, this was the first film for over 20 years where Neagle was directed by someone other than Herbert Wilcox. Set in a children's hospital, the film features Neagle as a matron dealing with the problems of the patients and the staff, notably a nurse (Syms) infatuated with one of the doctors (George Baker).[6]
With her husband, Neagle began producing films starring Frankie Vaughan, but these were out of touch with changing tastes, and lost money, resulting in Wilcox going heavily into debt. Neagle herself made her final film appearance in The Lady Is a Square (1959), also Wilcox's last film as director.
Neagle was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions, in February 1958 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre,[citation needed] and in March 1983, when Andrews surprised her at London's Royal National Hotel.[citation needed]
Final years
[edit]Herbert Wilcox was bankrupt by 1964, but his wife soon revived his fortunes. She returned to the stage the following year and made a comeback in the West End musical Charlie Girl. In it, she played the role of a former "Cochran Young Lady" who marries a peer of the realm. Charlie Girl was not a critical success, but it ran for six years and 2,047 performances. It earned Neagle an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for her enduring popularity.[5]
Two years after Charlie Girl – which she also performed in Australia and New Zealand – Neagle was asked to appear in a revival of No, No, Nanette, at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, having appeared in the screen version three decades earlier. Later, in 1975, she replaced Celia Johnson in The Dame of Sark and, in 1978 (the year after her husband's death), she was acting in Most Gracious Lady, which was written for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.[14]
Although affected by Parkinson's disease in her last years, Neagle continued to be active. She appeared in Cameron Mackintosh's revival of My Fair Lady and in 1985 she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in a pantomime of Cinderella at the London Palladium.[15]
Neagle's grand-nephew is actor Nicholas Hoult,[16] through Hoult's father's side.[17]
Neagle died aged 81 from breast cancer on 3 June 1986.[18] A memorial service at Westminster Abbey followed on 20 October 1986. She was interred alongside her husband in the City of London Cemetery.[19] Their grave was recommemorated by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal on 6 March 2014.
A memorial plaque on her former home at Aldford House, Park Lane was unveiled on 30 May 1996, by Princess Anne and Lana Morris.[11] She also has a memorial plaque in St Paul's Church, the Actors' Church in Covent Garden.
A street named in her honour, Anna Neagle Close,[20] is situated in Forest Gate, east London.
Awards
[edit]Neagle was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1952 New Year Honours[21] and, for her contributions to the theatre, a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 1969 Birthday Honours.
Filmography
[edit]The following list contains all of Neagle's acting credits in feature-length films with the exception of Queen Victoria (1942), which is actually a compilation of two earlier films, Victoria the Great and Sixty Glorious Years. All of her films were directed by Herbert Wilcox and produced in the United Kingdom unless otherwise noted.
In addition, Neagle also appeared briefly as herself in a documentary short entitled The Volunteer (1943), and served as narrator for the films The Prams Break Through (1945) and Princess's Wedding Day (1947). Neagle also produced, but did not appear in, three films starring Frankie Vaughan: These Dangerous Years (1957), Wonderful Things (1957), and The Heart of a Man (1959).
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | Those Who Love | bit part | directed by H. Manning Haynes uncredited |
| 1930 | The School for Scandal | Flower Seller | directed by Maurice Elvey, filmed in Raycol color process, lost film uncredited |
| 1930 | The Chinese Bungalow | Charlotte | directed by Arthur Barnes and J.B. Williams |
| 1930 | Should A Doctor Tell? | Muriel Ashton | directed by H. Manning Haynes |
| 1932 | Goodnight, Vienna | Viki | Neagle's first collaboration with director Herbert Wilcox |
| 1932 | The Flag Lieutenant | Hermione Wynne | directed by Henry Edwards |
| 1933 | The Little Damozel | Julie Alardy | |
| 1933 | Bitter Sweet | Sarah Millick and Sari Lind | |
| 1934 | The Queen's Affair | Queen Nadia | |
| 1934 | Nell Gwynn | Nell Gwyn | Neagle's first major hit |
| 1935 | Peg of Old Drury | Peg Woffington | |
| 1936 | Three Maxims | Pat | Franco-British production |
| 1936 | Limelight | Marjorie Kaye | |
| 1937 | London Melody | Jacqueline | |
| 1937 | Victoria the Great | Queen Victoria | finale filmed in Technicolor |
| 1938 | Sixty Glorious Years | Queen Victoria | filmed in Technicolor |
| 1939 | Nurse Edith Cavell | Edith Cavell | Neagle's first American film |
| 1940 | Irene | Irene O'Dare | features one sequence in Technicolor, produced in the U.S. |
| 1940 | No, No, Nanette | Nanette | U.S. production |
| 1941 | Sunny | Sunny O'Sullivan | U.S. production |
| 1942 | They Flew Alone | Amy Johnson | |
| 1943 | Forever and a Day | Susan Trenchard | U.S. production |
| 1943 | Yellow Canary | Sally Maitland | |
| 1944 | The Volunteer | herself, leaving Denham Studio | |
| 1945 | I Live in Grosvenor Square | Lady Patricia Fairfax | |
| 1946 | Piccadilly Incident | Diana Fraser | |
| 1947 | The Courtneys of Curzon Street | Katherine O'Halloran | |
| 1948 | Spring in Park Lane | Judy Howard | |
| 1948 | Elizabeth of Ladymead | Elizabeth | filmed in Technicolor |
| 1949 | Maytime in Mayfair | Eileen Grahame | filmed in Technicolor |
| 1950 | Odette | Odette Sansom | |
| 1951 | The Lady with a Lamp | Florence Nightingale | |
| 1952 | Derby Day | Lady Helen Forbes | |
| 1954 | Lilacs in the Spring | Carole Beaumont / Lillian Grey / Nell Gwynne / Queen Victoria |
filmed in Eastmancolor with a black-and-white prologue |
| 1955 | King's Rhapsody | Marta Karillos | filmed in CinemaScope and Eastmancolor |
| 1956 | My Teenage Daughter | Valerie Carr | |
| 1957 | No Time for Tears | Matron Eleanor Hammond | directed by Cyril Frankel, filmed in Eastmancolor |
| 1958 | The Man Who Wouldn't Talk | Mary Randall, Q.C. | |
| 1959 | The Lady Is a Square | Frances Baring |
Recordings
[edit]- "What More Can I Ask?", with orchestra conducted by Ray Noble
- HMV B 4365 (matrix: 0B 4586-3)
- Recorded London, 4 January 1933
- "The Dream Is Over", with orchestra conducted by Ray Noble
- HMV B 4365 (matrix: 4587-4)
- Recorded London, 4 January 1933
- "Tonight", duet with Trefor Jones with Geraldo and his Orchestra
- Columbia (England) DB 1316 (matrix: CA 14314-1)
- Recorded London, 30 January 1934
- "Kiss Me Goodnight"
- Decca (England) F 5649 (matrix: TB 1869)
- Recorded London, 9 August 1935
- "A Little Dash of Dublin"
- Decca (England) F 5649 (matrix: TB 1870)
- Recorded London, 9 August 1935
- "The Glorious Days" (medley)
- Philips Records (England) P.B.153
- Recorded 1953
Box office popularity
[edit]Annual polls of British exhibitors for the Motion Picture Herald consistently listed Neagle as a leading box office star in her home country.
- 1936 – 14th-most popular British star[23]
- 1937 – 8th-most popular British star[24]
- 1938 – 8th-most popular British star[25]
- 1939 – 5th-most popular British star[26]
- 1940 – 10th-most popular British star[27]
- 1941 – 7th-most popular British star[28]
- 1942 – most popular female British star[29]
- 1944 – 9th-most popular British star[30]
- 1945 – 8th most popular British star[31]
- 1946 – 5th-most popular British star[32]
- 1947 – 3rd-most popular star (2nd most popular British star)[33]
- 1948 – most popular British star (2nd overall)[34]
- 1949 – most popular star – the first time since the polls started that the most popular star in Britain was British[35]
- 1950 – 3rd-most popular star – third year in a row as most popular British star[36]
- 1951 – 6th-most popular star (2nd most popular British star)[37]
- 1952 – 8th-most popular British star – 6th year in a row as most popular female British star[38]
Publications
[edit]- There's Always Tomorrow – Autobiography – 1974, ISBN 0-491-01941-6.
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39943. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ Springer, John, and Jack Hamilton. They Had Faces Then. Castle Books. p. 319.
- ^ Pearl Records, The Mikado, sleeve notes.
- ^ Vermilye, Jerry. The Great British Films. Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1978. p. 21.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Fandango Biography". Archived from the original on 2 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g British Pictures Profile and Reviews. Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Anna Neagle Quotes". Brainyquote.com.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k [1][dead link]: (PDF file).
- ^ Vermilye, p. 23
- ^ IMDb listing for Limelight
- ^ a b c City of Westminster green plaques "Westminster City Council – Green Plaques Scheme". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ Thomas, Tony, Rudy Behlmer, and Clifford McCarthy. The Films of Errol Flynn. Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel, 1969. p. 201.
- ^ Thomas, Behlmer, and McCarthy. p. 206
- ^ "anna neagle – biography – gallery". Leninimports.com.
- ^ "The Gallery – Playbills – Palladium Cinderella 1985". Its-behind-you.com.
- ^ Shoard, Catherine (14 January 2007). "Teen player". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ Clarke, Donald (30 October 2015). "From Skins to Mad Max, Nicholas Hoult knows how to pick a role". The Irish Times. London. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ^ "Neagle, Dame Anna [real name Florence Marjorie Robertson] (1904–1986)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/39943. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ^ "Anna Neagle". IMDb.
- ^ Anna Neagle Close London, Greater London E7 0HH, UK. Source: Google Maps
- ^ Pathé, British. "Palace Investitures Aka Anna Neagle Investiture". Britishpathe.com. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Neagle, Anna (1904–1986) Credits". Screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "Motion Picture Herald". archive.org. Quigley Publishing Co. 1937.
- ^ "Most Popular Stars of 1937". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 12 February 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "FORMBY IS POPULAR ACTOR". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 25 February 1939. p. 5. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "BOX OFFICE POLL". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 February 1940. p. 22. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Motion Picture Herald". archive.org. Quigley Publishing Co. 1941.
- ^ "Motion Picture Herald". archive.org. Quigley Publishing Co. 1942.
- ^ "CROSBY and HOPE try their luck in Alaska". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 2 March 1946. p. 3 Supplement: The Mercury Magazine. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Motion Picture Herald". archive.org. Quigley Publishing Co. 1945.
- ^ "'Bloomer Girl' to Play Instead of Jolson Opus". Los Angeles Times. 23 March 1946. p. A5.
- ^ "FILM WORLD". The West Australian (SECOND ed.). Perth. 28 February 1947. p. 20. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Anna Neagle Most Popular Actress". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 January 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Bing Crosby Still Best Box-office Draw". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 December 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 11 July 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "SNAPSHOTS". The Argus. Melbourne. 21 January 1950. p. 10 Supplement: The Argus Week–End Magazine. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Actor father wants film career for his two sons". The Sunday Times. Perth. 14 January 1951. p. 20. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "British Film Favourites". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton, Qld. 3 January 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "COMEDIAN TOPS FILM POLL". The Sunday Herald. Sydney. 28 December 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 25 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
[edit]
- Anna Neagle at IMDb
- Anna Neagle at the BFI's Screenonline
- Photographs of Anna Neagle
Categories:
- 1904 births
- 1986 deaths
- English film actresses
- English musical theatre actresses
- Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Actresses awarded damehoods
- Actors from the London Borough of Newham
- Deaths from Parkinson's disease in England
- Deaths from kidney failure in the United Kingdom
- People educated at St Albans High School for Girls
- Actresses from Essex
- Musicians from Essex
- English people of Scottish descent
- 20th-century English actresses
- 20th-century English singers
- Singers from Essex
- English expatriate actresses in the United States
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- People educated at Queen's Park Secondary School
- People from Forest Gate
- People from West Byfleet