DAVID NIVEN

 

That David Niven landed in Hollywood in 1933 without any theatrical experience hardly proved an obstacle. Within a remarkably short period, he was appearing in supporting roles opposite such stars as Gary Cooper (Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife, The Real Glory), Errol Flynn (The Charge Of The Light Brigade, The Dawn Patrol), Ronald Colman (The Prisoner Of Zenda), and Laurence Olivier (Wuthering Heights).

 

By 1939, Niven was himself starring – Raffles. If the role wasn’t particularly demanding – a gentleman thief – it nonetheless established the David Niven persona – urbane, suave, witty, and very much the British gentleman. Raffles was also the forerunner of one of Niven’s most popular roles -- Charles Lytton, gentleman thief -- in The Pink Panther (1963). Given the Peter Sellers stamp on the Inspector Clouseau series, it’s perhaps forgotten today, but David Niven was in fact top-billed in The Pink Panther.

 

Niven was among the first British actors to return to England after Britain declared war on Germany in 1939. For the next six years, Niven served in the British Army, with time off twice to appear in morale-building British war films – Spitfire and Immortal Battalion. Splendid raconteur though he was, Niven rarely ever spoke about his harrowing WW II service.

 

Perhaps nothing better sums up the man than his comment on why he never spoke of the war: “I was asked by some American friends to search out the grave of their son near Bastogne. I found it where they told me I would, but it was among 27,000 others, and I told myself that here, Niven, were 27,000 reasons why you should keep your mouth shut after the war."

 

Niven hit the ground running in 1946 with his first post-war film, Stairway To Heaven. In this sublime British film, director Michael Powell revealed depths in David Niven’s acting about which earlier directors could only have dreamed. 
 

In 1950, theappeared brighter. Michael Powell selected Niven to be Sir Percey Blakney, aka the Scarlet Pimpernel, in his new film, The Elusive Pimpernel. On paper, David Niven would seem the ideal Pimpernel. But things went disastrously wrong with this misguided production and the film was a resounding failure.

 

It would be 1956 before Niven escaped the career doldrums, when director Michael Anderson guided Niven and an enormous roster of cameo stars through the very successful Academy Award-winning Best Picture, Around The World In 80 Days.

 

Niven’s performance as the ex-military officer in Separate Tables turns his urbane and witty British gentleman inside out. It’s a brilliant, understated performance. And, strangely, not truly appreciated even yet in certain circles.

Niven continued his solid run throughout the sixties and seventies, starting with the hugely successful WW II adventure, Guns Of Navarone, followed by such films as: 55 Days At Peking, Bedtime Story, Paper Tiger, and Death On The Nile.

This Sunday, September 9, at 8 pm ET, Jamie Niven, son of David Niven, discusses his father’s roller coaster of a career on ICONS Radio Hour. Jamie spent time on the sets of many of his father’s films (he was on set when the guns of navarone were actually blown up). Every bit the magnetic story-teller as his father, Jamie brings him to vivid life with delightful anecdotes about his films, his war years, and his father’s closest friends, including Deborah Kerr, Noel Coward, Gregory Peck, Lauren Bacall, and Errol Flynn.