Star Of The Month- Alistair Sim

 

ALISTAIR SIM

BIRTH: October 9, 1900

DEATH: August 19, 1976

AGED: 75 years

DIED FROM: Cancer

MARRIED: Naomi Plaskitt from 1932 to 1976 ( his death)

CHILDREN: A daughter

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:  None!!

TALENT: his perfect diction. After seeing Sim in a stage play, Alec Guinness, used Sim’s diction and language style when he played the lead in “The Ladykillers”.

KNOWN FOR: His need for privacy. His good heart for children and teens opening up their home to help delinquent boys. His love of theatre and his love of language.

We all know this man from his, justifiably, most famous role as Ebeneezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”, but this man embodied so much more as an actor. He was greatest in comedic roles, but he could act in anything and was equally adept on the stage as on screen. He fell into acting later in the game but he made the most of it. Before his acting gig, he taught elocution since he always loved language and he became the Rector at Edinburgh University which he was most proud of. 

He met his wife when he started a drama school for children, she was ..um…12. With her mom’s permission, she became Alistair’s secretary before marrying him when she turned 18. Despite the ewww feeling this brings on, their marriage was a very happy and monogamous one. They opened up their home to delinquent teen boys helping them out of their dismal predicaments, finding a much better path. One such boy was George Cole who played the 20 something Scrooge in the famous film. George Cole always praised both and considered Alistair his mentor.

This man very, very rarely, gave interviews, never gave autographs and declined a knighthood because it would take away from his privacy! He was a man who loved language and diction teaching elocution in University and to many boys, like George Cole, who wanted to get rid of his Cockney accent. Boy! Do we need this man now considering how poorly kids speak today. He was a great actor, loved his wife and tried to help  many children with the gift of language, elocution and acting. He is one of my favourites and I need to see more of his films. 

FILMS - (Most favourite to films I still need to see)

1. A Christmas Carol-1951

2. Happiest Days Of Your Life-1950

3. Green For Danger-1946

4. The Belles of St. Trinian’s-1954

5. Laughters In Paradise-1951

6. An Inspector Calls-1954

7. Rogue Male-1976( his last role)

8. Stage Fright-1950

9. Blue Murder at St. Trinian’s-1957

10. Escapade-1955

P.S. I want to apologize, yet again, for not responding to your comments. I red them all and love them. I mark down films you have seen and I still need to. To be honest, I feel very drained when I come home from work and my brain is fried. I have been helping my friend who is in a horrible situation, although it seems unusually quiet right now plus I have been very, very tired. I have been falling asleep while at work, while writing, typing and even speaking! This is not good. I am dealing with my constant pain but I should not be this tired. I am not dealing with sleep apnea so the Dr figures it’s a bit of narcolepsy. I am going to try melatonin and ask my doc if that is aok to try. So, I do apologize and want to comment. I love all of your blogs and read them even if I don’t comment.