James Mason

Biography

After studies of architecture to Cambridge, it moves towards the theater. It joined since 1931 the Old Vic under the direction of Sir Tyrone Guthrie. Its first attempt with the cinema is a failure when, in 1934, it is returned film set of a film carried out by Alexander Korda. It is at the time of a cocktail that it meets Albert Parker, American realizer, who will become a large friend. As of 1935, their first collaboration, Late Extra , gains a sharp success near the British public. Of 1935 with 1947, Mason manages to show its true talent of actor in films such as The Night Has Eyes , the Man in gray ( The Man in Grey ) or the Seventh Veil ( The Seventh Veil ).

In 1947, James Mason gains its first great international success with the film Eight hours of deferment ( Odd Man Out ) of Carol Reed. In this film, Mason interpète Johnny McQueen, the chief of a clandestine Irish organization which, after being wounded following a missed holdup, disappears, wandering in the streets of Belfast whereas he is sought by the police force. It is besides the preferred film of Mason which acknowledges itself that it is its best cinematographic interpretation.

Following the tears with the president of the cinematographic firm Rank (which it treated of salesman of flour) and of the contentions with justice (a lawsuit took place in 1947), it leaves the the United Kingdom for the the United States where there remain two years without turning (the lawsuit prohibiting to him to work in the cinematographic field). It is thus into 1949 that Mason makes its first American film Pris to the trap ( Caught ) of max Ophüls. Its Hollywood period propels it to the row of international high-speed motorboat of the big screen with films like Pandora (Pandora and the Flying Dutchman) , the Fox of the desert ( The Desert Fox ), Jules César ( Julius Caesar ), 20.000 miles under the seas ( 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ) or a star was born ( has Star is Born ) which will be worth to him its first nomination with the Oscars.

In 1956, Mason undertakes its first production with the film Behind the mirror ( Bigger Than Life ) of Nicholas Ray. Unfortunately, the film is a commercial failure in North America (what is not however the case in Europe, where it gains a sharp success). Nevertheless, James Mason quickly puts a term at this attempt and turns in great American productions such as Death to the cases ( North By Northwest ) of Alfred Hitchcock or Voyage in the center of the ground ( Journey to the Center off the Earth ).

In 1962, Mason turns, under the direction of Stanley Kubrick, Lolita which is worth a second nomination with the Oscars to him. The film, which tells the history of a amourachant himself writer of a 12 year old young girl, is made to the the United Kingdom, which makes it possible Mason to approach its British roots. In 1967, it leaves définitvement Hollywood for its native land, where it joins again with its British public with films like Georgy Girl , Great Expectations , Mandingo or Croix of iron ( Cross off Iron ).

It is in 1982, with the Verdict ( The Verdict ) of Sidney Lumet, that James Mason succeeds in gaining a Oscar. Of his last films, one can retain the Shooting party ( The Shooting Party ) in which it interprets a growing old British aristocrat.

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