niven
He's a very, very bad actor, but he absolutely loves doing it David Niven
David NIVEN | James David Graham Niven

* 01.03.1910, London, England, GB † 29.07.1983, Château-d'Oex, Vaud (Waadt), Schweiz

1928-30 Ausbildung an Royal Military College in Sandhurst * bis 1932 Dienst als lieutenant auf Malta und in England – danach zieht durch Kanada und USA * verschiedene Jobs * 1935 Vertrag mit Samuel Goldwyn & Filmdebüt * 1938/39 erste größere Erfolge mit The Dawn Patrol (als Kumpel von Errol Flynn) und Wuthering Heights * 1939-45 Kriegsdienst (als lieutenant colonel) - auch Auftritte in zwei britischen Kriegs-/Propagandafilmen * (nach Kriegsende) Rückkehr nach Hollywood * ab 1949 free-lance actor (freier Schauspieler) * Engagements beim Fernsehen und am Broadway (Nina, 1951/52) * 1952 (neben Ida Lupino, Charles Boyer & Dick Powell) Mitgründer der Produktionsgesellschaft Four Star Television * auf der Bühne in The Moon Is Blue (auch in Filmversion von Otto Preminger) * Auftritte in TV-Serien Four Star Playhouse (1952-56), Alcoa Theatre (1957/58), The Rogues (1964/65) und A Man Called Intrepid (1979) * host der TV-Programme The David Niven Show (1959) & David Niven's World (1976) * Anfang der 60er Jahre geht zurück nach Europa (Schweiz & Frankreich) * auch als Schriftsteller tätig - zwei (sehr erfolgreiche) Autobiografien und zwei Romane (Round the Rugged Rocks, 1951 & Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly, 1981) * Genres: Komödie / Drama / Romanze / Abenteuer / Kriegsfilm

FILMS

Without Regret (1935-USA * Harold Young / Bill Gage)
A Feather in Her Hat (1935-USA * Alfred Santell / Leo Cartwright)
Splendor (1935-USA * Elliott Nugent / Clancy Lorrimore)
Rose-Marie (1935-USA * W.S. Van Dyke / Teddy)
Palm Springs (1936-USA * Aubrey Scotto / George Brittel)
Thank You, Jeeves (1936-USA * Arthur Greville Collins / Bertie Wooster) 57m
Dodsworth (Zeit der Liebe, Zeit des Abschieds, 1936-USA * William Wyler / Clyde Lockert)
# The Charge of the Light Brigade (Der Verrat des Surat Khan, 1936-USA * Michael Curtiz ... Captain James Randall) (03-07; 3610)
Beloved Enemy (Geliebter Rebell, 1936-USA * H.C. Potter / Gerald Preston)
We Have Our Moments (1936/37-USA * Alfred L. Werker / Joe Gilling)
# The Prisoner of Zenda (Der Gefangene von Zenda, 1937-USA * John Cromwell ... Fritz von Tarlenheim) (Roman von Anthony Hope) (03-?; 3709)
Dinner at the Ritz (1937-GB * Harold Schuster / Paul de Brack)
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (Blaubarts achte Frau, 1937/38-USA * Ernst Lubitsch / Albert de Regnier)
Four Men and a Prayer (1938-USA * John Ford / Chris)
Three Blind Mice (1938-USA * William A. Seiter / Steve Harrington)
The Dawn Patrol (1938-USA * Edmund Goulding / Lt Scott)
Wuthering Heights (Sturmhöhe, 1938/39-USA * William Wyler / Edgar Linton)
Bachelor Mother (Die Findelmutter, 1939-USA * Garson Kanin / David Merlin)
Eternally Yours (Zauberer der Liebe, 1939-USA * Tay Garnett / Tony Halstead/der Große Arturo)
The Real Glory (Verrat im Dschungel, 1939-USA * Henry Hathaway / Lt McCool)
Raffles (1939-USA * Sam Wood / Raffles)
The First of the Few (1942-GB * Leslie Howard / Geoffrey Crisp)
The Way Ahead (1943/44-GB * Carol Reed / Jim Perry)
A Matter of Life and Death (Irrtum im Jenseits, 1945-GB * Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger / Peter D. Carter)
The Perfect Marriage (1946-USA * Lewis Allen / Dale Williams)
Magnificent Doll (Die wunderbare Puppe, 1946-USA * Frank Borzage / Aaron Burr)
The Other Love (Eine brennende Liebe, 1947-USA * André De Toth / Anthony Stanton)
The Bishop's Wife (Jede Frau braucht einen Engel, 1947-USA * Henry Koster / Henry Brougham)
Bonnie Prince Charlie (1947/48-GB * Anthony Kimmins / Charles Edward Stuart [Bonnie Prince Charlie])
Enchantment (Betrogene Jugend, 1948-USA * Irving Reis / Roland Dane)
A Kiss in the Dark (1948-USA * Delmer Daves / Eric Phillips)
The Elusive Pimpernel (Das dunkelrote Siegel, 1948/49-GB * Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger / Percy)
A Kiss for Corliss (1949-USA * Richard Wallace / Kenneth Maquis)
The Toast of New Orleans (Der Fischer von Louisiana, 1950-USA * Norman Taurog / Jacques Riboudeaux)
Happy Go Lovely (Glücklich und verliebt, 1950-GB * H. Bruce Humberstone / B.G. Bruno)
Soldiers Three (Drei auf Abenteuer, 1950/51-USA * Tay Garnett / Capt. Pindenny)
The Lady Says No (1951-USA * Frank Ross / Bill Shelby)
Appointment with Venus (1951-GB * Ralph Thomas / Valentine Morland)
The Moon Is Blue (Wolken sind überall, 1953-USA * Otto Preminger / David Slater)
The Love Lottery (1953-GB * Charles Crichton / Rex Allerton)
Happy Ever After (Ein neuer Geist auf Schloß Rathbarney, 1954-GB * Mario Zampi / Jasper O'Leary)
Carrington, V.C. (Major Carrington, 1954-GB * Anthony Asquith / Major Carrington)
The King's Thief (Des Königs Dieb, 1955-USA * Robert Z. Leonard / Herzog von Brampton)
The Birds and the Bees (Die falsche Eva, 1955-USA * Norman Taurog / Colonel Harris)
Around the World in Eighty Days (In 80 Tagen um die Welt, 1955-USA * Michael Anderson / Phileas Fogg)
The Little Hut (Die kleine Hütte, 1956-GB * Mark Robson / Henry Brittingham-Brett)
The Silken Affair (1956-GB * Roy Kellino / Roger Tweakham)
Oh, Men ! Oh, Women ! (1956/57-USA * Nunnally Johnson / Alan Coles)
My Man Godfrey (Mein Mann Gottfried, 1957-USA * Henry Koster / Godfrey [Gottfried])
Bonjour Tristesse (Bonjour Tristesse, 1957-USA * Otto Preminger / Raymond)
Separate Tables (Getrennt von Tisch und Bett, 1958-USA * Delbert Mann / Major Pollack)
Ask Any Girl (Immer die verflixten Frauen, 1958-USA * Charles Walters / Miles Doughton)
Happy Anniversary (Ehegeheimnisse, 1959-USA * David Miller / Chris Walters)
Please Don't Eat the Daisies (Meisterschaft im Seitensprung, 1959-USA * R: Charles Walters, B: Isobel Lennart, K: Robert Bronner, M: David Rose, D: Doris Day, DN-Lawrence Mackay) 111m-Komödie /Buch von Jean Kerr/
# The Guns of Navarone (Die Kanonen von Navarone, 1960-GB * J. Lee Thompson ... Corporal Miller) (Roman von Alistair MacLean) (6104)
I due nemici / The Best of Enemies (Liebenswerte Gegner, 1961-I/GB * Guy Hamilton / Major Richardson)
La città prigioniera (1962-I * Joseph Anthony / Peter Whitfield)
Guns of Darkness (Flucht aus dem Dunkel, 1961/62-GB * Anthony Asquith / Tom Jordan)
55 Days at Peking (55 Tage in Peking, 1962-USA * Nicholas Ray / Arthur Robertson)
# The Pink Panther (Der rosarote Panther, 1962/63-USA * Blake Edwards ... Sir Charles Lytton) (11-02; 6403)
Bedtime Story (Zwei erfolgreiche Verführer, 1964-USA * Ralph Levy / Lawrence Jamieson)
Lady L (Lady L, 1965-USA * Peter Ustinov / Lord Lendale [Dicky])
Where the Spies Are (Dolche in der Kasbah, 1965-GB * R: Val Guest, B: Wolf Mankowitz, Val Guest; James Leasor, K: Arthur Grant, M: Mario Nascimbene, D: DN-Dr. Jason Love, Francoise Dorleac) 113m-Spionagekomödie /Roman von James Leasor/
Eye of the Devil (Die schwarze 13, 1966-GB * J. Lee Thompson / Philippe de Montfaucon)
Casino Royale (Casino Royale, 1966-GB * J. Huston, K. Hughes, V. Guest, R. Parrish, J. McGrath / James Bond)
The Extraordinary Seaman (1967-USA * John Frankenheimer / Lt Commander Finchhaven)
Prudence and the Pill (Die Pille war an allem schuld, 1967-GB * Fielder Cook / Gerald Hardcastle)
The Impossible Years (Alles, was verboten ist, 1968-USA * Michael Gordon / Jonathan Kingsley)
Before Winter Comes (Bevor der Winter kommt, 1968-GB * J. Lee Thompson / Giles Burnside)
# Le cerveau (Das Superhirn, 1968-F/I * Gérard Oury ... Col. Carol Matthews ["Superhirn"]) (07-12; 6903)
The Statue (1970-GB * Rod/ney Amateau / Alex Bolt)
Herzbube / King, Queen, Knave (1971-D/USA * Jerzy Skolimowski / Charles Dreyer)
Vampira (Vampira, 1973-GB * Clive Donner / Graf Dracula)
Paper Tiger (Papiertiger, 1974-GB * Ken Annakin / Walter Bradbury)
No Deposit, No Return (Das große Ferienabenteuer, 1975-USA * Norman Tokar / J.W. Osborne)
Murder by Death (Eine Leiche zum Dessert, 1975-USA * Robert Moore / Dick Charleston)
Candleshoe (Abenteuer auf Schloß Candleshoe, 1977-USA * Norman Tokar / Priory)
Death on the Nile (Tod auf dem Nil, 1977/78-GB * John Guillermin / Colonel Race) (7803-BBFC)
Escape to Athena (Flucht nach Athena, 1978-GB * George Pan Cosmatos / Professor Blake)
A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (Die Superprofis, 1979-USA * Ralph Thomas / Ivan [Bernard Drew])
Rough Cut (Der Löwe zeigt die Krallen, 1979-GB * Don/ald Siegel / Cyril Willis)
# The Sea Wolves (Die Seewölfe kommen, 1979-GB; R: Andrew V. McLaglen, B: Reginald Rose, K: Tony Imi, M: Roy Budd, D: Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, DN-Colonel W.H. Grice, Trevor Howard) 118/22m-Kriegsabenteuer (Buch von James Leasor)
Better Late Than Never / Ménage à trois (Ein Opa kommt selten allein, 1981-GB * Bryan Forbes / Nick)
# Trail of the Pink Panther (Der rosarote Panther wird gejagt, 1982-GB/USA * Blake Edwards ... Sir Charles Litton) (02-?; 8212)
Curse of the Pink Panther (Der Fluch des rosaroten Panthers, 1982-GB * R: Blake Edwards, B: B. Edwards, G. Edwards, K: Dick Bush, M: Henry Mancini, D: Ted Wass, DN-Sir Charles Litton, Robert Wagner, Herbert Lom, Joanna Lumley) 110m-Krimikomödie

AWARDS

Golden Globe für The Moon Is Blue (bester Darsteller – Kategorie Musical/Komödie, 1954)
New York Film Critics Circle Award für Separate Tables (bester Darsteller, 1958)
Academy Award (Oscar) für Separate Tables (bester Hauptdarsteller, 1959)
Golden Globe für Separate Tables (bester Darsteller – Kategorie Drama, 1959)

BOOKS

David Niven: The Moon's a Balloon: Reminiscenses. London: Coronet Books, 1973
David Niven: Bring On the Empty Horses. London: Hamish Hamilton, 1975


Karin J. Fowler: David Niven: A Bio-Bibliography. Westport: Greenwood Press, 1995

British-born David Niven began his acting career in 1935, appearing in movie classics that have stood the test of time. Immensely popular with moviemakers and fans alike, Niven's urbane wittiness and charm enamored him to them throughout his long career. After grieving the death of his young first wife and left to raise two small children, he developed his career and won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1958. He later attained success as a writer. This reference is a definitive guide to David Niven's fascinating career. The book begins with a short biography that summarizes his life and provides a context for his work. The following chapters are each devoted to Niven's work in a particular medium, such as film, stage, radio, and television. Each chapter includes entries for Niven's performances, which provide full production information, plot synopses, review excerpts, and commentary. Other portions of the book offer information on material written by Niven, his various awards, and an annotated bibliography of works about him. > Table of Contents : Preface * Acknowledgments * Biography * Chronology * Filmography * Stage Productions * Radio Productions * Discography * Television Productions * Books by David Niven * Awards * Bibliography * Index > 320 pages, photographs, hardcover

2005Graham Lord: Niv: The Authorised Biography of David Niven. London: Orion, 2003

For more than forty years, Niven portrayed on screen the impeccable values of a lost breed of English gentlemen - handsome, beautifully spoken, elegantly dressed, witty, with perfect manners and utterly charming. Niv, according to his friends, was much the same off-screen. Both men and women were enchanted by his charisma, humour and joie-de-vivre. Yet Niv's life was punctuated by tragedy. From the death of his father when Niven was five, to his mother's neglect and the stepfather he loathed, through to the death of his beloved first wife and his volatile and disturbing second marriage, unhappiness was never far away. Using new material from Niven's private papers, Graham Lord has written a fresh, revealing, funny and poignant portrait of a brave and brilliant man. > xii, 356 p., [32] p. of plates., col. ill., ports. (some col.), 24 cm, hbk | filmography: p. 332-339 * bibliography: p. 342-345 * includes index

Michael Munn: David Niven: The Man behind the Balloon. London: JR Books Ltd., 2009

Intimately detailing the incredible life and career of the highly respected "bogus gentleman" and famously dashing swashbuckler, this fascinating biography is a detailed portrayal of a classic screen legend. Revealing how he was insecure both privately and professionally, it relates Niven's outrageously wild friendship with Errol Flynn - and their irrevocable falling out - admissions of infidelity, Hollywood success with films such as Around the World in 80 Days and The Pink Panther, his failed suicide attempt, affairs with stars such as Ava Gardner, and the breakdown of his second marriage. Compassionately narrated and filled with bittersweet anecdotes of his on-screen persona and personal life as told by those who knew and loved him, this intriguing biography is essential reading for fans of the star and cinema in general. > 256 pages
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