#ronspam2k17
Ronald Colman playing the banjo.
An instrument he learnt when he joined the Bancroft Amateur Dramatic Society, where he “…acted Wilde, sang the English drinking songs, learned Gilbert and Sullivan and how to play the banjo.“
The last picture is from the set of The Magic Flame, where ”…he played a circus clown and a villainous count. He introduced the idea of the clown playing a banjo, being an old virtuoso from his amateur theatrical days, and serenaded the astonished company with his repertoire.“
Extracts from Ronald Colman: A very private person by J.B. Colman
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Happy Birthday Ronald Charles Colman (February 9, 1891 - May 19, 1958)
“He was born for motion pictures. He was that unique animal that had a face that was photogenically perfect; his eyes, the way light entered them, the bones and the skin. He was realistic and sharp, discreet, scrupulous, very careful about committing himself. He never did anything for money and yet he made plenty of money. His career was a masterpiece of discipline and management. That’s why it lasted so long. He made a success of everything - of his career and of his personal life. A lot of actors are talented, but very few are artists.” - George Cukor
“He was a wonderful friend; steady, true, full of wisdom and humour. He was generous and completely unbitchy unlike so many actors. A great actor, the master of the understated playing, and one many people (including me) tried hard to copy. A glorious speaking voice, dirty great brown ‘fan’ eyes, a smile that lit up the whole of Beverly Hills, and a man who could give a lame dog or a struggling actor a lift with never a thought of self-congratulation.” - David Niven
“Ronald Colman’s audience responded not only to his physical charms but to the part of himself that he brought to the screen. He truly was a gentleman to the core, incapable of any hint of vulgarity, graced with a voice to melt hearts and looks to match, plus he had a depth, maturity, intelligence and kindness, all of which jumped off the screen. We would probably all like to be kind, to strive and do better, and I think these aspirations resonated in his audience.” - daughter Juliet Benita Colman
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