David Niven Interview with Son Jamie Niven

Listen to the interview on www.iconsradio.com
Hosted by John Mulholland & Stephen Bogart
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.

Stairway To Heaven was a British film, made in Britain. Rather than remain in England, Niven returned to Hollywood after production was finished. And, once again was cast in supporting roles (The Bishop's Wife, Cary Grant), or in weak films unworthy of his talent. However, in 1950, the future suddenly appeared 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.

After this devastating flop, good roles were few and far between. Mediocrity reigned: Soldiers Three, Happy Go Lovely, The Lady Says No, The Birds And The Bees, etc. Interspersed with these foul pops was an occasional two bagger, i.e., The Moon Is Blue, Court-Martial.

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. And if Niven's role as Phineas Fogg wasn't much of a stretch, it nonetheless serves, even today, as a summation of the urbane, suave, witty David Niven persona. Audiences lapped it up.

Taking advantage of his sudden perch at the top, Niven became more selective. Interesting parts came his way: Bonjour Tristesse, Ask Any Girl (Niven's chance to go the older man/younger woman route that Cooper and Bogart, among others, had recently taken), and, most notably, Separate Tables.

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, Death On The Nile, A Man Called Intrepid, and, in an underrated horror gem, Eye Of The Devil.

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. ICONS RADIO HOUR is a weekly show co-hosted by Stephen Bogart, son of Hollywood legends Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall, and writer, director and film historian John Mulholland.

Category:

Entertainment

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• Niven
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[badhairlife01]

What a misleading title. This is a 43 second advertisement it is NOT an interview.

Stop dressing up commercials as something substantive.

Liars.

[stiglaa]

Erm...where is the interview?. Clearly states an interview in the title. This ticks me off so much, especially as it names his son. Bad sport dear boy, bad sport.

[Sansash01202]

@sclogse1 Yep .. already read it

[mburnhors]

@Sansash01202 - That's right.  You don't get knighted if you don't pay your British taxes. And, apparently, David Niven didn't.

[sclogse1]

Read Niv..a bio on NIven, a marvelous story about a great guy, who also had the best, funniest stories to tell. A complicated life, of course, but fascinating.

[TheJronaldo12]

FOUL!

[tenderberry]

It was from his book about Hollywood"bring on the empty horses" and it was the film director Edmund Goulding's funeral at Forest lawn in Hollywood where Michael Jackson was laid to rest. Very funny story.

[CoachProc]

One of the funniest stories and I don't remember which book it was in was about being the pallbearer at a terribly sadistic friend's funeral. Anybody else remember that?

[WINDHAMMAN]

all rightey then. I missed the interview thing.

good night

[Sansash01202]

I really envy you. Every time I read them I wish it were the first time .. they are so good. Buy yourself a big box of chocs on a rainy day and enjoy :))

Unfortunately the fiction book 'Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly' wasn't so good, but his autos are brilliant.