Off we go to the movies, but not a very scary one, for much as the above card this is a romantic ghost, played by the dashing Robert Donat, and kilted as well - which makes it all the more exciting. I will stop there.
Strangely the Scottish theme was added for the film - the original short story, "Sir Tristram Goes West", was written by Eric Keown in 1932, and it features an English castle. In addition the ghost of that of a soldier who was killed at the Battle of Naseby during the English Civil War in 1645. There seems no truth in any story that Robert Donat wanted to honour his Scottish heritage by changing the story for the film, for though he could claim genetic links to Poland, Germany, France, and England, he was he had no Scottish blood. He was also born in England, near Manchester, on March 18, 1905. And his actual name was Friedrich Robert Donat. But maybe he was attracted by the thought of a kilt....
One anomaly has turned up, on R & J Lea`s "Famous Film Stars" 33/54, which says he "was born . . . in Withington, Birmingham." This text also tells us that he was very shy as a boy and "stammered when meeting strangers. After receiving elocution lessons, was given a job by Sir Frank Benson. Later, joined the Liverpool Repertory Theatre." It also gives his first screen appearance as 1933.
The Trading Card Database / Robert Donat lists him on forty three cards, including ours. They put his first cartophilic appearances as the 1930-1939 American Caramel and De Beukaelaer issues, but the first that can be tied to a year as Abdulla "Stage and Cinema Beauties" (1935). It may seem odd to some of you to have male stars in a set of beauties, but beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder and should be irrespective of gender in a perfect world.
Our set was also issued by Ogdens, in the same year, 1936. I have no month of issue for either and it would be rather fun to see which came first. I suspect the Ogdens, for they were the parent. The artist is quoted as Alick P. F. Ritchie, but their full name was Alexander Penrose Forbes Ritchie. Our link reveals that he designed two other sets of cards, one, in 1926, you may guess quite easily, but the other one is quite a challenge to identify. Well done indeed if you can guess it before looking! And the answers appear at the end of this text
Our film also appears on other cards -
Godfrey Phillips "Famous Love Scenes" (11/36) where Robert Donat and Jean Parker appear in fond embrace. The card seems to suggest that this was as the result of an unanswerable riddle that she posed - "What is the difference between a thistle in the heather and a kiss in the dark?". I have no idea, so answers, via our contact form, if you fancy a go. If they pass the censor, for I fear some may not, they will appear in our newsletter on Saturday... And as an extra curiosity he also appears with Marlene Dietrich in the same set, but in "Knight Without Armour" (16/36) -
secondly on A. and M. Wix "Film Favourites" third series (30/100) also with Jean Parker, in trousers this time, whilst she is rather unsuitably clad in shorts, white ones too. Not much chance of keeping those clean whilst rolling in the heather, let alone the uncomfortability factor of hitting that thistle -
And lastly, possibly, on John Sinclair "Film Stars" 99/, because he is in Scottish attire, our film is mentioned on the back, and the front credits London Films. Not 100% certain though.
One of his last roles was in "The Winslow Boy", which appears on a Carreras Turf Slide (37/50)
And if you want to see all the cards in our set, check out Immortal Ephemera "Shots From The Films" (though it is the Ogdens version)
By the way the other Alick Ritchie sets are John Player "Straight Line Caricatures" and Wills "Animalloys"