George Grossmith

Born: 1874-05-11

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia George Grossmith Jr. (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935) was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also an important innovator in bringing "cabaret" and "revues" to the London stage. Born in London, he took his first role on the musical stage at the age of 18 in Haste to the Wedding (1892), a West End collaboration between his famous songwriter and actor father and W. S. Gilbert. Grossmith soon became an audience favourite playing "dude" roles. Early appearances in musicals included George Edwardes's hit A Gaiety Girl in 1893, and Go-Bang and The Shop Girl in 1894. In 1895, Grossmith left the musical stage, instead appearing in straight comedies, but after a few years he returned to performing in musicals and Victorian burlesques. Early in the new century, he had a string of successes in musicals for Edwardes, including The Toreador (1901), The School Girl (1903), The Orchid (1903), The Spring Chicken (1905), The New Aladdin (1906), The Girls of Gottenberg (1907), Our Miss Gibbs (1909), Peggy (1911), The Sunshine Girl (1912) and The Girl on the Film (1913). The lanky Grossmith was often comically paired with the diminutive Edmund Payne. At the same time, he developed a reputation as a co-writer of musicals and revues, usually adding jokes. Grossmith soon established himself as a major producer, together with Edward Laurillard, of such hits as Tonight's the Night (1914), Theodore & Co (1916) and Yes, Uncle! (1917). He wrote the long-running revue series that began with The Bing Boys Are Here (1916), scheduling these projects around his naval service in World War I. He then produced Eastward Ho! (1919) and produced, co-wrote, directed and sometimes starred in, Kissing Time (1919), A Night Out (1920), Sally (1921), The Cabaret Girl (1922), The Beauty Prize (1923) and Primrose (1924), many of these featuring Leslie Henson. He also continued to appear in other producers' shows, including The Naughty Princess (1920) and No, No, Nanette (1925). Later, he performed in such pieces as Princess Charming (1926) and appeared in at least ten films for London Film Productions Ltd., among other films, in the 1930s. He produced The Land of Smiles and Cavalcade (both in 1931), and in 1933, he played Touchstone in a production of As You Like It.


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Service for Ladies

as The King (Mr. Westlake)
Released: 1932-01-14

Max Tracey is the head waiter at a London hotel. He falls in love at first sight with Sylvia...

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Women Everywhere

as Aristide Brown
Released: 1930-06-01

Charles Jackson, an American sea-captain and singing soldier-of-fortune, is arrested by the...

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Wedding Rehearsal

as Birdie Wroxbury - Earl of Stokeshire
Released: 1932-10-01

The grandmother of a British nobleman, reluctant to marry, plays matchmaker. He outmaneuvers her...

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The Man with the Hispano

as uncredited
Released: 1933-03-24

The almost financially ruined French gentleman Gaston Dewalter spends several days in Biarritz...

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Princess Charming

as King Christian of Aufland
Released: 1934-04-24

Revolution breaks out in a small European kingdom, and a young princess is forced to flee for...

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Those Three French Girls

as Earl of Ippleton
Released: 1930-10-10

An addled Englishman's efforts to save three young women from eviction land them all in jail and...

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The Lady of Lebanon

as Le colonel Hobson
Released: 1934-01-01

The French and the English spy on each other, in this adventure set in post World War I colonial...

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The Girl from Maxim's

as General Paul Petypon
Released: 1933-08-22

A Doctor tries to pass off a singer as his wife in Paris in 1904.

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The Hawk

as uncredited
Released: 1933-11-17

The wife of a Hungarian gentleman tires of helping him cheat and becomes the mistress of a...

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