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68-638: Presented by Sir Donald Sinden and described by The Stage newspaper as "Promises to be the most definitive guide to Theatreland", it features many of the West End's star actors, actresses and practitioners discussing the theatres that they are associated with, such as Anthony Andrews , Steven Berkoff , Simon Callow , Charles Dance , Roy Hudd , Gillian Lynne , Sir Cameron Mackintosh , Sir Ian McKellen , Martin Shaw and Samuel West . Directed and narrated by Marc Sinden , written and researched by Shaun McKenna , it

136-675: A book to coincide with his BBC TV series The English Country Church (1988) and a collection of "epitaphs and final utterances" titled The Last Word (1994). Sinden was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1979 and knighted in 1997. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in 1966 and received the Freedom of the City of London in 1997. On 12 July 2005, he

204-426: A charming sight. Before leaving camp on the first morning [of shooting] I had been told to report to the hair-dressing departments tent, where I found the make-up men armed with electric clippers: 'I have to remove the hair from your chest.' 'Whatever for?' I asked, 'Orders.' It transpired that Clark [Gable], whose chest was completely devoid of hair, had always insisted that no other actor should appear on film exposing

272-523: A great deal of success with color remakes of older films shot on location overseas, including King Solomon's Mines (1950) and Quo Vadis (1951). In August 1951, MGM announced it would make Mogambo , shot on location in Africa. The producer would be Sam Zimbalist who had made King Solomon's Mines , and the star would be Clark Gable. In February 1952, Zimbalist scouted locations in Africa for six weeks. In June, John Ford agreed to direct. Shelley Winters

340-530: A hirsute breast. This included any member of the crew not wearing a shirt as well. He considered it a slight on his masculinity. We now had to return to the MGM Studios in London to shoot all the interior scenes. Someone must have pointed out to Ford that he had been thoroughly foul to me during the entire location shoot and when I arrived for my first day's work I found that he had caused a large notice to be painted at

408-624: A musical soundtrack consisting entirely of actual African tribal music recorded in the Congo, the film was adapted by John Lee Mahin from the play Red Dust by Wilson Collison . The picture is a remake of Red Dust (1932), which was set in Vietnam and also starred Gable in the same role. Although the original trailer for the film explains that "Mogambo" means "the Greatest," in fact, the word "Mogambo" has no meaning at all. Producer Sam Zimbalist came up with

476-446: A remake of "Red Dust" one of his greatest hits of the '30s. Gable is virile as ever and makes lusty love to Ava Gardner as well as he did to Jean Harlow when he was a much younger man.” It has a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes , based on 12 reviews. Grace Kelly won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress , and the film was nominated for two Oscars : Best Actress (Gardner) and Best Supporting Actress (Kelly). The film also

544-550: A restaurant, summons a waiter and asks "Do you serve a ham salad?" the waiter replies "Yes, we serve salad to anyone". From 2001 to 2007, he played the part of senior judge (and father-in-law of the title character), Sir Joseph Channing in Judge John Deed and was the voice of Totally Viral . In 2008, he played Colonel Henry Hammond in the Midsomer Murders episode "Shot at Dawn." In 2010 he played Sir Henry Clithering in

612-686: A total of five weeks' unemployment between 1942 and 2008. In 2004, the purpose-built theatre located in the grounds of Homewood School at Tenterden in Kent was named the Sinden Theatre . Sinden was honorary president of the Garden Suburb Theatre , an amateur theatre group based in Hampstead Garden Suburb where he was resident from 1954 until 1997. On 9 October 2012, he celebrated his 89th birthday and his retirement after 30 years as

680-612: Is aggravated when Marswell reluctantly shoots a gorilla to save Donald, blowing a chance to capture a baby gorilla. Marswell goes back to camp, depressed, and begins drinking heavily in his tent. Honey Bear joins him. When Linda appears, she finds them cuddling. Marswell decides he can fix everything by making Linda hate him and makes a show of this cuddling followed by dismissive remarks about Linda's infatuation with "the White Hunter" to enrage her. Unfortunately, his ploy works too well when Linda shoots him with his own pistol, wounding him in

748-419: Is extolling the virtues of one of his own favourite theatres, the pleasure is heightened. At his first entrance, he announces that he is "tingling with excitement" which is just what one wants from a tour guide. Soon enough, so are viewers." The Daily Telegraph ' s review states: " Great West End Theatres is a lovely documentary series, made by the director Marc Sinden . Its star, and – it transpires –

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816-409: Is financed privately, in order that artistic control can be maintained and this shows in every loving, angle-free moment. More money is now in the process of being raised from investors. It seems to me rather important that the series should be completed: this is popular history at its best." Donald Sinden Sir Donald Alfred Sinden CBE FRSA (9 October 1923 – 12 September 2014)

884-507: Is not colourful or flamboyant, yet he has his niche in public favour, as a recent poll proved: British women-folk voted him "The face we'd most like to see across our breakfast table." This defines with a certain accuracy the sure, dependable appeal of the man who, so far, has shared star billing with some other more boisterous male idols. He has usually been left, crestfallen and jilted, in the last reel. In 1949, he appeared in The Heiress at

952-778: Is produced by Jo Gilbert for Great Productions . The first ten episodes released in the series are (and feature interviews with): Adelphi • Aldwych • Ambassadors • Apollo • Apollo Victoria • Cambridge • Coliseum • Criterion • Dominion • Duchess • Duke of York’s • Fortune • Garrick • Gielgud • Harold Pinter • Her Majesty’s • London Palladium • Lyceum • Lyric • Noël Coward • Novello • Old Vic • Palace • Piccadilly • Phoenix • Playhouse • Prince Edward • Prince of Wales • Queen’s • Royal Court • Royal Opera House • Savoy • Shaftesbury • St Martins • Theatre Royal, Drury Lane • Theatre Royal, Haymarket • Trafalgar Studios • Vaudeville • Victoria Palace • Wyndham’s In their review of

1020-471: Is simply that more of them meant less of the animals.” James Bacon, writing a capsule review for the AP's Bob Thomas' Hollywood on September 16, 1953, had a similar reaction: “It seems everybody both here and around the country has been hoping Clark Gable would get a good picture. King Gable actually hasn't had one good movie since his return from World War II service. He's got it now in "Mogambo," even though it's

1088-750: The Agatha Christie's Marple episode "The Blue Geranium". He starred in the Walt Disney Productions family film The Island at the Top of the World (1974), playing Sir Anthony Ross, which was filmed at Disney's studios in Burbank, California . Sinden's distinctive voice was heard frequently on radio, including as Sir Charles Baskerville in a BBC Radio 4 adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes story The Hound of

1156-720: The Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts at the Guildhall , London, during the 2014 Theatre Awards UK ceremony, held on 19 October. The award was collected on his behalf by his son, Marc Sinden . Sinden was married to the actress Diana Mahony from 3 May 1948 until her death from stomach cancer aged 77 on 22 October 2004. The couple had two sons: actor Jeremy Sinden (1950-1996) who died of lung cancer , and actor and filmmaker Marc Sinden (born 1954). Sinden had four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Sinden

1224-582: The Kenyan Rift Valley and Fourteen Falls near Thika are seen as backdrops — Kagera River , Tanganyika ; Uganda . Samburu were filmed in front of Mount Sabachi near Archer's Post and Isiolo. Interiors were shot at the MGM-British Studios , in Borehamwood , Hertfordshire , England. Frank Allen and his wife were guides during the six week-safari that constituted location filming. The shoot

1292-501: The Rank Organisation at Pinewood Studios , recalled: "Ten White Hunters were seconded to our unit for our protection and to provide fresh meat. Among them were Viscount Mandeville and Marcus, Lord Wallscourt, a delightful man whom Ford treated abysmally - sometimes very sadistically. In Ford's eyes the poor man could do nothing right and was continually being bawled out in front of the entire unit (in some ways he occasionally took

1360-527: The Thames Television situation comedy, Never the Twain . He played snooty antiques dealer Simon Peel who lived next door to a competitor, Oliver Smallbridge (played by Windsor Davies ). The characters hated each other and were horrified when they discovered that their son and daughter were to be married – thus meaning they were related. The series was a TV ratings success and ran for 11 series until 1991. He

1428-528: The Theatre Royal, Haymarket opposite Ralph Richardson and Peggy Ashcroft , directed by John Gielgud . In his Sky Arts documentary series Great West End Theatres , Sinden said that the play ran for 644 performances (19 months) and he was the only member of the cast not to have missed a performance: "As the play is the longest run in the [Haymarket] theatre's history, I therefore gave more consecutive performances in this theatre than any other actor since it

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1496-523: The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art . Rejected for World War II naval service because of asthma , Sinden joined a theatrical company that entertained soldiers, sailors and airmen during the war. In 1942, in Hove , Sinden befriended Lord Alfred Douglas (known as "Bosie"), who had been Oscar Wilde 's lover. He is believed to have been the last surviving person to have known Douglas. After

1564-549: The commercial theatre included roles in productions such as There's a Girl in My Soup (1966); In Praise of Love (1973); An Enemy of the People (1975); Present Laughter (1981); The School for Scandal (1983); The Scarlet Pimpernel (1985); Major Barbara (1988); Diversions and Delights (one-man show as Oscar Wilde , 1989); She Stoops to Conquer (1993); That Good Night (1996) and Quartet (1999). Sinden

1632-715: The 1977 Evening Standard Award for Best Actor for King Lear , and starring in the sitcoms Two's Company (1975–79) and Never the Twain (1981–91). Sinden was born in St Budeaux , Plymouth , Devon on 9 October 1923, the middle child of chemist Alfred Edward Sinden and his wife Mabel Agnes ( née Fuller). His elder sister Joy became an English teacher at Claverham Community College in Battle, East Sussex , and younger brother Leon (1927–2015) became an actor. They grew up in Ditchling , East Sussex, where their home 'The Limes' doubled as

1700-522: The Baptist Church, Wittersham, were his grandson Hal Sinden, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Patrick Stewart . The eulogy was read by Lord Archer . An honorary life member and trustee of the Garrick Club in London, which he joined in 1960, Sinden was cremated in a coffin painted in the club's 'salmon and cucumber' colours. The lights on the marquees of the West End's theatres were dimmed in his honour, in

1768-704: The Baskervilles . He starred in multiple adaptations of John Dickson Carr 's Dr. Gideon Fell mysteries, including The House on Gallows Lane , The Hollow Man and Black Spectacles , To Wake the Dead , The Blind Barber and The Mad Hatter Mystery . Sinden wrote two autobiographical volumes: A Touch of the Memoirs (1982) and Laughter in the Second Act (1985), edited the Everyman Book of Theatrical Anecdotes (1987), wrote

1836-744: The Duke of York in The Wars of the Roses opposite Peggy Ashcroft as Queen Margaret. Other performances by Sinden for the company were Eh? by Henry Livings in 1964; as Lord Foppington in The Relapse in 1967; Malvolio in Twelfth Night (opposite Judi Dench as Viola) in 1969 and again with Dench and her husband Michael Williams in 1972, as Sir Harcourt Courtly in London Assurance ( New Theatre ). After

1904-493: The United States, who initially views her as disreputable. Marswell's business partner is plucky Englishman and big game hunter John Brown-Pryce, known as "Brownie." "Brownie" is sympathetic to Kelly, and believes that her "scars aren't visible, but they're there." Marswell also has a semi-hostile relationship with his employee, the gruff Russian Leon Boltchak. Kelly and Marswell later develop a mutual attraction and make love. Then

1972-547: The Waves ; The Black Tent ; Eyewitness ; Doctor at Large ; The Siege of Sidney Street and Twice Round the Daffodils . Sinden became associated with his character of "Benskin" in the Doctor film series as the duffel-coated medical student, regularly failing his finals and spending most of his time chasing pretty nurses, accompanied by his trade-mark "wolf-growl". Sinden

2040-400: The advancement of the romance, which itself is hot stuff, for what it is, several capable actors do entertaining jobs. Mr. Gable is beautifully commanding, in his vicious, sardonic way, and Miss Gardner, as we say, is as enticing as any calculated vampire can be. …Grace Kelly as the stuffy English dame, Donald Sinden as her pip-pip hubby and Eric Pohlmann as a hand are all right, too. The trouble

2108-450: The agreed route by his assistant, despite the Nordleys' protests. Honey Bear rejoins the group after the steamer suffers engine failure and subsequently runs aground. Marswell rescues Linda from a panther, and Honey Bear sees that they are attracted to one another. After Marswell talks to Linda privately, he agrees to take the Nordleys into gorilla country, while also taking Honey Bear part of

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2176-433: The arm. Honey Bear lies to the others, telling them that Marswell had been making advances to Linda for some time, finally forcing Linda to shoot him in his drunken state. The next day, the party breaks camp to head back, leaving Marswell behind to try to capture young gorillas to pay for the safari. Marswell, acknowledging to himself his feelings for Honey Bear, asks her to stay and then proposes to her, but she rebuffs him. As

2244-576: The best documentary frontman of all time, is his actor-father: Sir Donald Sinden, 90 years old next month. Sir Donald has been let loose and the effect is enchanting beyond belief. It is also, at times, incredibly funny. One has the sense of a lifetime spent in this world, being poured out for our delight like glasses of vintage champagne." Sinden appeared in ITV 's 1960 adaptation of The Mystery of Edwin Drood , starring as John Jasper. No audio or video recordings of

2312-432: The best documentary frontman of all time, is his actor-father: Sir Donald Sinden, 90 years old next month. Sir Donald has been let loose, offering anecdotes and memories apparently as they occur to him and the effect is enchanting beyond belief. It is also, at times, incredibly funny. One has the sense of a lifetime spent in this world, being poured out for our delight like glasses of vintage champagne. Great West End Theatres

2380-499: The butler's role. In 1979, Sinden presented a documentary series on BBC2 (later repeated in 1981 on BBC1), Discovering English Churches inspired by his grandfather's architectural drawings and watercolours. Over ten episodes, Sinden explored the unique history of the English church, and the influences that shaped the development of 16,000 churches, showing the history of two or three churches in each episode. From 1981, Sinden starred in

2448-512: The canoes set off, however, she suddenly jumps into the water and wades her way back to him. In 1946, the Los Angeles Times reported MGM was considering remaking Red Dust with Marilyn Maxwell as a possible star. In March 1948, Marie McDonald reportedly screen tested for the Jean Harlow part. In May 1949, Maxwell and Gene Kelly were being considered for lead roles. The studio had

2516-523: The critical and financial success of his first screen leading role in The Cruel Sea (1953), made by Ealing Studios , in which he co-starred and received top-billing with Jack Hawkins , Sinden was contracted for seven years to the Rank Organisation at Pinewood Studios and subsequently had prominent roles in 23 movies during the 1950s and early 1960s, including Mogambo ; Doctor in the House ; Above Us

2584-444: The daytime and filming the show at the studio in front of a live audience on Sunday evenings. He claimed "RSC money isn't very good compared with a normal commercial theatre rate. I was on their 'star' salary, which meant it worked out at about £47 per performance! You work for them 'for the honour' of doing the greatest classical plays, not for the money, so you have to make up the financial short-fall somewhere". In 1979, he played

2652-541: The entrance to our sound stage in capital letters reading "BE KIND TO DONALD WEEK". He was as good as his word - for precisely seven days. On the eighth day he ripped the sign down and returned to his normal bullying behaviour." The music featured in the film was performed by local native tribes (except for Gardner accompanied by player piano), unusual for Hollywood, and the film records a traditional Africa and safari style . Francoist Spanish censors would not allow adultery to be shown onscreen. For this reason, they changed

2720-704: The film Mogambo ) at the Théâtre Princesse Grace , Monte Carlo . Joining the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre company in 1946, Sinden was an Associate Artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) from 1967. Outstanding among his many stage appearances for the RSC, both at Stratford-upon-Avon and in London's West End (usually at the Aldwych Theatre ), was his performance in 1963 as

2788-416: The film “has a great deal more to do with the low-down romantic maneuvering of two colorful and popular stars than with the thrills of adventuring in Africa, …Some handsome color shots of open country are slipped in from time to time, ... But the interest is basically centered in the civilized stalking of the stars. And it is meant as no insult to Mr. Gable to say that he is the most important gorilla bagged. In

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2856-464: The heat off me). None of us could understand the reason for this appalling treatment, which the dear kind man in no way deserved. He himself was quite at a loss. Several weeks later we discovered the cause from Ford's brother-in-law: before emigrating to America, Ford's grandfather had been a labourer on the estate in Ireland of the then Lord Wallscourt: Ford was now getting his own back at his descendant. Not

2924-474: The history and stories associated with each of 40 London theatres . Directed and produced by his son Marc , it was to be released as a 40-part DVD and Sky Arts TV series, with the first 10 episodes showing on Sky Arts 2 during the autumn of 2013. In their review of the series, the British Theatre Guide said "Sir Donald's gorgeous plummy tones are a joy to listen to whatever he is saying but when he

2992-462: The local chemist's shop. After attending a number of private schools, Donald was sent to Hassocks Primary, and thence to Burgess Hill Secondary School after failing his 11-plus qualifying test. Sinden made his first stage appearance at the amateur Brighton Little Theatre (of which he later became president) in 1941, stepping into a part in place of his cousin Frank, who had been called up to war and so

3060-774: The longest-standing president of the Royal Theatrical Fund (founded by Charles Dickens in 1839) with a celebratory lunch for 350 guests at the Park Lane Hotel , London; this was compered by Russ Abbott , and the subsequent charity auction was conducted by Jeffrey Archer . Leading the tributes was Jean Kent , who had co-starred with Sinden in Bernard Delfont 's 1951 stage production of Froufrou ; letters from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Albert of Monaco were read out, and speeches given by Julian Fellowes , Ray Cooney and Gyles Brandreth . Sinden received, posthumously,

3128-787: The only previous relatives who were also members of the theatrical profession were the Victorian brother and sister act of Bert and Topsy Sinden , who were distant cousins. Topsy achieved "some fame as a ' skirt dancer ' and première danseuse at the Empire Theatre of Varieties in Leicester Square." Sinden died at his home in Wittersham on the Isle of Oxney , Kent, on 12 September 2014, aged 90, from prostate cancer diagnosed several years earlier. Speaking at his funeral, held on 19 September at St John

3196-547: The production are known to have survived. In 1963, he appeared in the Associated Rediffusion series Our Man at St. Mark's . His other television roles included The Colonel in an episode of The Prisoner (" Many Happy Returns ", 1967). After starring in the series The Organisation (1971), he co-starred in the London Weekend Television situation comedy Two's Company which debuted in 1975. Sinden

3264-606: The production transferred to New York in 1975, Sinden became the first recipient of the newly established Broadway Drama Desk Special Award . Sinden sought and received advice about the character's costume and mannerisms in the role from the Regency novelist Georgette Heyer . For the 1976 Stratford season and then at the Aldwych Theatre in 1977, Sinden won the Evening Standard Award as Best Actor for his performance in

3332-598: The relationship of the characters of Linda Nordley (Kelly) and Donald Nordley (Sinden) from wife and husband to sister and brother in the dubbed version released in Spain, thus necessitating the removal of a bedroom scene in which only one bed is present. The film was a hit — according to MGM records it made $ 4,576,000 in the US and Canada and $ 3,692,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $ 2,026,000. In his October 2, 1953 review for The New York Times , Bosley Crowther observes that

3400-470: The river boat brings London couple Donald Nordley and his wife Linda. Honey Bear takes the steamer out with the British skipper at Marswell's urging, although she would prefer to stay with Marswell and he expresses some regret at their parting. The Nordleys wish to go on safari to record the cries of gorillas. Marswell declines to guide them there due to the difficulties involved and insists that they be guided on

3468-407: The series, the British Theatre Guide said "This film is as close as one can get to standing on the stage taking an ovation. This series is beautifully filmed and gets the balance exactly right between classy camera work, history, reminiscence and gossip." The Daily Telegraph , in its review, stated the "lovely documentary series is made by the director Marc Sinden. Its star, and – it transpires –

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3536-404: The theme tune for the opening credits to the programme, which received a BAFTA nomination. They each received a BAFTA nomination in 1979 for 'Best Light Entertainment Performance' and the show received two additional BAFTA nominations that year. In 1978, Sinden was the leading guest star in the first "special" of Thames Television 's The Morecambe & Wise Show , in which he carried on

3604-457: The title by altering the name of the Mocambo , a famous Hollywood nightclub. New York socialite Eloise "Honey Bear" Kelly arrives at a remote African outpost, looking for a rich maharaja acquaintance, only to find he has cancelled his trip owing to unrest in his realm. While waiting for the next river boat out, she spars with hardworking big game hunter and wild animal catcher Victor Marswell from

3672-462: The title role in Othello , directed by Ronald Eyre , becoming the last ' blacked-up white' actor to play the role for the RSC. Everyman editor and critic Gareth Lloyd Evans observed that his interpretation was "not…about colour or racialism" but one that illuminated the character's personal tragedy. In 2013, Sinden presented a documentary series called Great West End Theatres , which describes

3740-581: The title role of King Lear (with Michael Williams as the Fool). Meanwhile, he was also portraying in repertory , Benedick (regarded as "the most admired Benedick in living memory") opposite Judi Dench's Beatrice in John Barton 's highly acclaimed 'British Raj' revival of Much Ado About Nothing . At the same time he was also rehearsing the third season of the LWT sitcom Two's Company with Elaine Stritch during

3808-722: The traditional mark of respect to theatre's most notable contributors, on 12 September 2014. It was announced that his estate on his death was valued at £2.3 million. A blue plaque in his memory was attached to his former family home in Hampstead Garden Suburb in 2015 and another to his country home in Wittersham, Isle of Oxney, Kent, in 2021. Mogambo Mogambo is a 1953 Technicolor adventure / romantic drama film directed by John Ford and starring Clark Gable , Ava Gardner , and Grace Kelly , and featuring Donald Sinden . Shot on location in Equatorial Africa, with

3876-593: The way to join the district commissioner, who can then take her back to civilization. However, they find the commissioner mortally wounded by recently belligerent Samburu tribesmen. With reinforcements days away, the small party narrowly escapes, taking the commissioner with them. Meanwhile, a serious romance is developing between Marswell and Linda. Only Donald is blind to the situation. Marswell plans to tell him about how he and Linda feel, but has second thoughts after realizing how much Donald loves his wife and perhaps how she would be better off remaining with him. The situation

3944-496: Was colour blind and suffered from asthma , which prevented him from joining the armed forces during the Second World War and suffered from negative buoyancy , meaning that he was unable to float or swim in water, which was discovered while filming The Cruel Sea when the ship was sinking. Co-star Jack Hawkins saved him from drowning in the open-air water tank at Denham Studios . According to his second autobiography, while investigating his family genealogy he discovered that

4012-419: Was a British actor. Sinden featured in the film Mogambo (1953), and achieved early fame as a Rank Organisation film star in the 1950s in films including The Cruel Sea (1953), Doctor in the House (1954), Simba (1955), Eyewitness (1956) and Doctor at Large (1957). He then became highly regarded as an award-winning Shakespearean and West End theatre actor and television sitcom star, winning

4080-472: Was a leading figure in the campaign to found the Theatre Museum in London's Covent Garden in the 1980s. In 2007, Sinden embarked on a UK, European and American theatre tour to talk about his life, work and anecdotes in An Evening with... Sir Donald Sinden . Produced by his son Marc , this included, on 8 November 2007 as part of Marc's British Theatre Season, Monaco , a performance in front of Prince Albert of Monaco (the son of Grace Kelly , his co-star in

4148-416: Was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of Leicester and, on 20 July 2011, an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Kent . In reply to a question from an audience member during a performance at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre of An Evening with... Sir Donald Sinden , he said he had worked out that, apart from "gaps before the next job started", he had only had

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4216-564: Was built in 1820." The management gave him an engraved silver ashtray as a present in recognition of the fact, which he showed in the episode. Theatre being his first "love", he was a noted farceur and won best actor awards for his appearances in the Ray Cooney farces Not Now, Darling (1967); Two into One (1984) and Out of Order (1990). In 1976, he was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Actor for his performance on Broadway as Arthur Wicksteed in Alan Bennett 's comedy Habeas Corpus . His other notable leading performances in

4284-442: Was cast in the role of an English butler, Robert, to Elaine Stritch 's American character, Dorothy. Much of the humour derived from the culture clashes between Robert's very stiff-upper-lip Britishness and Dorothy's devil-may-care New York view on life. Two's Company was well received in Britain and ran for four seasons until 1979. The programme was nominated for a 'Best Situation Comedy' BAFTA in 1977. Stritch and Sinden also sang

4352-404: Was difficult. There was a rumor Clark Gable was going to be assassinated by the Mau Mau, so John Ford moved a location. Two of the crew were revealed to be Mau Mau. The unit was plagued by rain and had a deleterious effect on the already poor quality of the roads. Three of the crew were killed in road accidents, including assistant director John Hancock. Donald Sinden , then a contract star for

4420-526: Was mentioned as a possible co-star. Patricia Neal also was discussed. In June 1952, Ava Gardner signed. Grace Kelly was not the first choice for the role of Linda Nordley. Gene Tierney withdrew because she did not want to leave Aly Khan in Paris. Gable arrived in Kenya on 1 November 1952 and was given an armed guard due to the Mau Mau Uprising . Filming started 17 November. It was done on location in Okalataka, French Congo ; Mount Kenya , Thika , Kenya — Mt Longonot , and Lake Naivasha , both in

4488-473: Was the recipient of several "audience-based" awards during this period, including "The actor who made most progress during 1954". In 1956, a profile was written on him which stated: In the three years since his début in The Cruel Sea , the un-temperamental Sinden has moved steadily up the British film ladder until people are noticing, not without surprise, that he is suddenly one of the country's prime box-office favourites. It's as though he arrived on tiptoe. He

4556-509: Was the subject of an extended edition of This Is Your Life in 1985 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while filming on location in Surrey. Sinden was regularly spoofed on Spitting Image , the 1980s British satirical television programme in which famous people were lampooned by caricatured latex puppets. Much of the Spitting Image humour was centred around Sinden being a "ham" actor, forever overacting and behaving in an overly theatrical way. For example, when his puppet, sitting in

4624-458: Was unable to appear. Offered a professional acting part by the Brighton impresario Charles F. Smith, he made his first professional appearance in January 1942, playing Dudley in a production of George and Margaret for the Mobile Entertainments Southern Area company (known as MESA) and in other modern comedies, playing to the armed forces all along the South Coast of England during the Second World War and later trained as an actor for two terms at

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