Talk:Bernard Lee on stage and screen

Technical review
I've just added a missing Dts, so the Selected stage credits sorts properly by date now. In each table, the row and column headers are properly identified and marked up, and there are no accessibility issues that I can find. The sorting works well in each table, and the use of list-defined references makes the wikitext in the tables much less cluttered and easier to read.

The only remaining question for me concerns the column widths in the tables. If the article is viewed on a HD wide-screen monitor (1920 px wide), the columns don't look balanced, particularly in the Television section where the Notes wrap onto two lines in some places while the Date, Role and Channel columns have lots of white-space. Just as a suggestion, it may be worth trying a mix of fixed-width and variable column widths to accommodate a wide variety of screen resolutions. I tried the following for the Television section and preferred these settings: ! scope="col" style="width: auto;" | Programme ! scope="col" style="width: 8em;" | Date ! scope="col" style="width: 11em;" | Role ! scope="col" style="width: 6em;" | Channel ! scope="col" style="width: auto;" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref. Those work better for me on Firefox 17, with standard windows fonts at resolutions from 1280x1024 upwards. It may be worth previewing some similar settings for the other tables as well, just to see if you can get a better balance on wider screens. None of this is vital though, and the current settings work fine on many resolutions. --RexxS (talk) 19:46, 4 January 2013 (UTC)
 * + Bernard Lee's television appearances

The Outsider - unknown movie role?
The British Film and Television Yearbook (1958) claims that Lee appeared in a film entitled The Outsider. It gives no year, and lists these early (pre-1940) films in random order. This film may either be The Outsider (1931 film) or The Outsider (1939 film). The guide also claims that he first appeared on stage in 1926 and was in HM Forces 1941-1946. Cite: - Fantr (talk) 19:21, 12 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I've added a note on the table about The Outsider. He appears in neither of the BFI listings, and the media searches I've re-done show nothing, so it's a slight mystery for the moment... - SchroCat (talk) 06:18, 13 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I had a look at a hardcopy of Gifford's British Film Catalogue today, which lists both films, with full cast credits, but no Lee. Halliwell doesn't even stretch as far as having either film! - SchroCat (talk) 11:05, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

Lee's role in Bons Baisers de Hong Kong
The list claims he plays Commander Cunningham. Other sources claim he plays "M". However in the film he's heard identifying himself as David Marton. - Fantr (talk) 20:04, 12 March 2013 (UTC)


 * It's Marton - just found it on YouTube. Thanks for letting me know. - SchroCat (talk) 20:53, 12 March 2013 (UTC)

Photo of Lee at the Sunshine Concert Party, Shanklin, 1934
Photo link. Lee is in the upper right hand corner. "Who's who in the Theatre" claims Lee was engaged with the "Sunshine" concert party - not sure what that is, here's a link - at the Summer Theatre, Shanklin from 1930 to 1932. The photo apparently is from 1934. I mention this in case SchroCat wants to add the information or photo (not sure about the copyright status) to the list or Lee's article. - Fantr (talk) 20:10, 12 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I'm by no means a copyright expert, but I think 1934 is too recent to claim 'free' status, and non-free works are pretty much a no-no on List articles, unfortunately, which is why there's nothing at the top of this one. I'll run some extra searches and see if I can find anything, but otherwise I'll add a few volumes of W-W-i-t-T onto my rather long "Things to order" list for my next British library jaunt! Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 06:25, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

Other stage appearances
I hate editing tables and I'm pressed for time now so I'll add new entries here with what available information there is. All entries are referenced unless otherwise noted.

*St Martin's, May 1933: Pip; Love for Sale
 * Lyceum, Nov 1933, Ferdinand Fane; The Terror (also appeared in 1938 film in same role)
 * Kingsway, Feb 1934, Sir Thomas Seymour; The Queen Who Kept Her Head
 * Duke of York's, Mar 1934, Saunders; Without Witness
 * Phoenix, May 1934, Colin Derwent; Ten Minute Alibi
 * Kingsway, Jan 1935, Jimmy O'Bryan; Murder in Motley
 * Piccadilly, Apr 1935, Johnny Clayton The Shadow Man
 * Arts, Sept 1935, Antoine Duval; The Philanthropist (this entry exists in list but not name of character)
 * Embassy, Oct 1935, Felix Montague; Distinguished Gathering (ditto)
 * Embassy, Nov 1935, Walter Grainger; Murder Gang (ditto)
 * Queen's, Mar 1936, Private Whitman; Red Knight (ditto)
 * Ambassadors', Apr 1936, Anthony Pittman and Ben Manassey; The Future that Was (ditto)
 * Embassy, Oct 1936, Heartfree; The Provoked Wife
 * Savoy, Nov 1936, Stephen Horka; Young Madame Conti (ditto)

-Fantr (talk) 20:39, 12 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Many thanks for these - and for all the other bits of info in the above threads. I'll add these in shortly. - SchroCat (talk) 20:55, 12 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Fantastic—all added now. I'm sure there are probably more to be found in time too, as I refuse to believe that an actor of his generation didn't do a spell in rep at some point. Still, I'm hoping that as the British Library newspaper archive has more coming online all the time, that bits and pieces pop up. Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 05:43, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

All entries are referenced unless otherwise noted. Curiously, it doesn't include Tavern in the Town (February 1937).
 * That's the problem I've had all over the place: no one, single source covers everything, so I've been scraping together bits of info from all over the place. That's the problem with covering a subject with no (auto)biography in place! - SchroCat (talk) 06:03, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

* New, May 1937, Det-Inspector Kinneir in And the Music Stopped
 * Prince's, July 1937, Clarence, the Dodger, in The Gusher (our list claims August)
 * Mansfield, New York, Jan 1938, Arthur Blunt in If I Were You
 * New, London, May 1938, Henry Hayes in People of Our Class (our list claims April and at Manchester)
 * Arts, September 1938, Dr Frank Chavasse in Blind Man's Buff (our list claims October)
 * Aldwych, Dec 1938, Tray Bong Smith in Number Six
 * Richmond, June 1939, Hayland Marlow in Without Motive?
 * Oxford, March 1940, appeared in The Long Mirror (our list claims February and at Haymarket)
 * Is this Oxford the city, or the New Oxford Theatre? I'll leave it as plain Oxford and unlinked for the moment - SchroCat (talk) 06:50, 16 March 2013 (UTC)
 * It merely says "Oxford". The 1947 Samuel French copy of the play says "first produced in Oxford, 1940". It says BL played Michael Camber and is listed second last in the credits. cite:  - Fantr (talk) 17:54, 16 March 2013 (UTC)
 * Theatre World claims "March 4th is an important date, for the Oxford Repertory Players are appearing in the world premiere of The Long Mirror, by J. B. Priestley." The previous paragraph is titled Oxford (in bold and centre indented) and begins "Among the February attractions presented at the Playhouse, Oxford, were..." (I've added the character name and wikified the theatre for you.) However "World premiere" contradicts our list which claims it played at the Haymarket in February 1940. - Fantr (talk) 17:54, 16 March 2013 (UTC)
 * I know the ones we've already got in place are probably correct - the cites are nearly all from contemporary newspapers, so they won't be wrong on points like that, I suspect that Theatre World may have been writing from inaccurate press releease so similar when they put on the "world premiere" tag. - SchroCat (talk) 06:20, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

* Richmond, June 1940, Gordon in Penny Wise
 * Done down to here... rest to follow. - SchroCat (talk) 07:03, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

* reappeared on the stage, at the Saville, Feb 1946, David Kingsley in Stage Door
 * served in the Army 1940-5
 * toured, June 1946, in Fools Rush In
 * Fortune, September 1946, Paul in Fools Rush In
 * Lyric, July 1947, Fred Shattock in Peace In Our Time
 * Apollo, June 1950, Able Seaman Turner in Seagulls Over Sorrento
 * Hippodrome, Apr 1955, Dan Hilliard in The Desperate Hours
 * toured, Oct 1962, Detective-Superintendent in Act of Violence
 * Duchess, May 1963, Charlie in Norman (our list claims April and at Royal Court)
 * Richmond Theatre, June 1971, The General in Waltz of the Toreadors
 * Royal Court, 26 Septtember 1973 to 27 October 1973, Mr Slattery in The Farm, transferring to the...
 * Mayfair, 1 November 1973 to 8 December 1973, Mr Slattery in The Farm
 * Aldwych, Aug 1975, for RSC, Bernard in Jingo

Parker's 1981 book claims he appeared in the four-part 1966 tv programme Talking to a Stranger which co-starred Judi Dench. It also lists the following: Recreations: Cricket, soccer, and golf. Club: Savage. Address: Savage Club. Fitzmaurice Place, London, W1.

I want to have another look at both lists here to check for discrepancies with our list. Probably do this tomorrow. - Fantr (talk) 00:40, 14 March 2013 (UTC)


 * The following cited book claims that the 1955 London production of The Desperate Hours, "A subsequent 1955 London production, featuring Bernard Lee as Dan Hilliard, played at the Hippodrome for 167 showings." cite: - Fantr (talk) 00:52, 14 March 2013 (UTC)


 * The 11 December 1937 New York Times reports that "Bernard Lee, well-know English player, arrives Monday on the Queen Diary to take a role in the Benn W. Levy-Paul Hervey Fox "If I Were You". It is possible that Constance Cummings (Mrs. Levy) will be in it." cite: According to, the 1938 New York production of If I Were You had 8 performances, 0 previews, opened on 24 January 1938 and closed on 1 February 1938. According to the website, this information is unverfied though it is correct. Several contemporary New York Times articles confirm the opening day, can't be bothered citing them. Theatre World, Volumes 29-30, 1938, p.33 confirms the show ran for only eight performances. - Fantr (talk) 20:06, 15 March 2013 (UTC)


 * Another RS claims Lee appeared in the New York production of Young Madam Conti. Scheduled to open 31 March 1937 at the Music Box Theatre (Broadway). cite: - Fantr (talk) 20:22, 15 March 2013 (UTC)


 * This website claims BL re-appeared in Ten Minute Alibi at the Phoenix (same theatre as before) in 1935. No month. It also claims BL re-appeared in And the Music Stopped at the Streatham Hill Theatre in 1937. No month . - Fantr (talk) 18:06, 16 March 2013 (UTC)
 * The site itself is not reliable, unfortunately, but I've found the info about And the Music Stopped elsewhere, so it's added. Ref Ten Minute Alibi, it's entirely possible that it was still going in 1935 - aee this for info about its 857 performances. - SchroCat (talk) 08:53, 18 March 2013 (UTC)


 * London's Regent Theatre, 9 November 1929 (for 58 performances); Captain Leslie in The Squeaker (based on Edgar Wallace novel The Squeaker, aka The Sign Of The Leopard, aka The Squealer) Full reference already appears in bibliography.

- Fantr (talk) 20:54, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

I've struck out all the ones I've done so far. I'll keep plugging away - and I've found a few more, but need to see where there are overlaps. Cheers - SchroCat (talk) 21:14, 17 March 2013 (UTC)


 * According to Kabatchnik's 2008 book, The Ghost Train was revived in London in 1930; BL played "Teddie". - Fantr (talk) 20:04, 18 March 2013 (UTC)

Animal Kwackers, or, IMDB strikes again
The IMDB claims Bernard Lee devised the 1975 children's program Animal Kwackers. Wrong Bernard Lee. The other Lee was a talent agent who managed singers: Bernard Lee Management in Surrey. I mention this in case someone adds it to the list. - Fantr (talk) 22:05, 13 March 2013 (UTC)

Radio plays?
According to http://www.elisabethbond.com/cv.html BL appeared in a play entitled Seawrack in 1978 on BBC1. I can find no other confirmation of this play or Lee's appearance in it. - Fantr (talk) 19:27, 16 March 2013 (UTC)

Bernard Lee interview in JBIFC (1980)
Graham Rye's fan club. link Interesting reading. Now I have to research that commercial he did with Rex Harrison. - Fantr (talk) 21:32, 18 March 2013 (UTC)