Now we know that Ralph Richardson did smoke a pipe in real life, therefore this is probably not a scene from a movie. His first film was "The Ghoul" and his second "Friday the Thirteenth" - both of those were released in 1933. At the time this picture was taken he was working steadily, and in 1939 he appeared in five movies ("Q Planes", "The Four Feathers", "Smith", "The Night of the Fire", "The Lion Has Wings").
In the last of these films he played Wing Commander Richardson. This leads rather nicely to a pair of often misquoted facts. Firstly, whilst it is often reported that at the outbreak of the Second World War he had joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, he was in fact a pilot for them, and he had also flown before the war, just for fun. And secondly, before any comparison between his real rank (of Lieutenant Commander) and his film rank (of Wing Commander) it must be noted that the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy is actually equivalent to that of Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force.
This set first appears as an anonymous issue in our original British Trade Index, which became known later as part I. It comes as part of a very extensive "Film Star Grouping" of which our section (ZJ4-15) covers Bridgewater and De Beukaelaer issues as well as anonymous cards in a similar style whose issuer was not yet known.
Since we appear not to have featured Bridgewater cards as a Card of the Day before, this will be the home page for their Film Star cards, and will host the entire listing, which reads :
SET ZJ4-15. FILM AND RADIO STARS - BRIDGEWATER/BEUKELAER STYLE (A). See D.102. Many special albums issued. ... ZJ4-15
1. Bridgewater issues. All photos. Min 48-49 x 28 except (9) [which is larger].
1. 1932 Film Stars, 1st Series. Black. Nd. CE1/96. See D102-5.1
2. 1933 Film Stars, 2nd Series. Black. Nd. E1/96. See D102-5.2
3. 1934 Film Stars, 3rd Series. Black. Nd. 1/96. See D102-5.11
4. 1935 Film Stars, 4th Series. Brown, coloured.. Nd. (48) See D102-2.1
5. 1935 Radio Stars, 1st Series. Black. Nd. (48) See D102-5.12
6. 1936 Radio Stars, 2nd Series. Brown, coloured. Nd. (48). See D102-3.1
7. 1937 Film Stars, 5th Series. Brown, (a) coloured (b) uncoloured. Nd. (48). See D102-2.2
8. 1938 Film Stars, 6th Series. Brown, coloured. Nd. F1/48. See D102-1.2
9. 1939 Film Stars, 7th Series. Sm. 67 x 35. Nd. (48). Black. See D102-1.1
10. 1940 Film Stars, 8th Series. Black. Nd. (48). See D102-3.11
Because it might be a bit wordy to add them all in here, those D references will only be added on the link pages to each set, as they appear. Therefore the one for our set, which comes under Group one of the D102 listing of the "Anonymous Miniature Card Grouping", reads :
GROUP 1 - Photos Without Borders - Number, Caption, and Name of Film Company in Base Panel (as card illustrated)
1.1 - Small, 67 x 35 m/m. Black, glossy. Numbered 1/48. "Film Stars". Issued by Bridgewater, 1939. Card illustrated at Fig. D102 is No.27 in this Set ZJ4-15.1 (9) - Bonita Granville.
There then follows a list of all the cards in the set, which will be scanned.
By the time of our updated British Trade Index the sets have been retrieved from the back of the book and been listed under Bridgwater. That listing reads :
BRIDGEWATER.
Biscuits. Issued 1930s, except the advert card [of Queen Victoria, issued much earlier]. Believed albums issued with all Film Star and Radio Stars sets.
FILM STARS (A) 1932. 48 x 28. 1st Series. White borders. Black photos. Nd. CE1/CE96. Two different subjects at No.45, but no No.47. No.54 has no "CE". Plain back. Anonymous. Also issued with and without numbers - some hand coloured, in Europe, with "CE" on No.54, and with printed backs by Lorrain and Moreuil. ... BRI-040.
FILM STARS (A) 1933. 48 x 28. 2nd Series. White borders. Black photos. Nd. E1/E96. Plain back. Anonymous. Also issued with printed backs, as above ... BRI-050.FILM STARS (A) 1934. 48 x 28. 3rd Series. White borders. Black photos. Nd. 1/96. Studio name BELOW caption. Plain back. Anonymous. ... BRI-060.
FILM STARS (A) 1935. 48 x 28. 4th Series.Brown coloured. Nd. 1/48. Listed at HB-163 as this set and BRI-080 are identical format. Plain back. Anonymous. ... BRI-070.
[the Radio Stars are not listed in this volume until after the final film star set]
FILM STARS (A) 1937. 48 x 28. 5th Series. Brown, (a) coloured (b) uncoloured. Nd.1/48. As above, listed at HB-163, for identification Plain back. Anonymous. ... BRI-080
FILM STARS (A) 1938. 48 x 28. 6th Series. Brown, glossy, hand coloured. Nd. F1/48. Album issued inscribed "6th Series". Plain back. Anonymous. ... BRI-090.
FILM STARS (A) 1939. 67 x 35. 7th Series. No borders. Black glossy photos. Nd. (48). No., caption and Studio name in base panel. Plain back. Anonymous. ... BRI-100.
FILM STARS (A) 1940. 48 x 28. 8th Series. Black photos. Nd. (48). No. and Studio name at front base. See HB-164. Plain back. Anonymous. Listed to assist identification ... BRI-110