The Expressions of Bernard Dudley (1920) 🇬🇧

The all-British stage star who has made a hit on the screen.

Bernard Dudley, although he has only appeared so far in a few photo-plays, has already achieved considerable popularity in the film world. As an impersonator of strong character parts he is in the front rank, and those who saw his tense, dramatic interpretation of the Wolf, “a rough” type of gipsy in “A Romany Lass,” did not hesitate to pronounce for him a brilliant career on the screen. This opinion has been amply confirmed by his realistic study of the title-role in The Man Who Forgot.

His Career.

Bernard was originally in the Civil Service, but sedentary occupation was not to his liking. He then secured a post in the House of Commons. The atmosphere of politics, however, did not appeal to him, and, being the possessor of a rich baritone voice, he decided to devote his attention to music, and went to Paris to study for opera. On his return to this country he quickly obtained an engagement under the late George Edwardes, in many of whose well-known productions lie appeared at Daly’s, the Apollo, the Princes, and other West-End theatres. Later, he went on the variety stage, and travelled all over the world.

In Chu Chin Chow.

He has appeared before many notabilities in Vienna, Dresden, Berlin, and Paris. His last engagement on the speaking stage was in Chu Chin Chow, in which he appeared as Abdulla. In this wonderfully successful production he also acted as understudy for Mr. Oscar Asche.

It is less than two years ago that Dudley was attracted to the screen. He made overtures to the Harma Company, and, after some tests, the producer came to the conclusion — rightly as it has since been proved — that he had made a “find.” Without any hesitation he was cast for the leading character in “The Great Impostor,” and when the film was shown the critics were unanimous in praise of the extremely fine work which he put in.

A Keen Athlete.

Dudley is a man of fine physique, stands over six feet in height, has dark hair and searching dark grey eyes. He is no mean athlete, and has a great liking for football and other outdoor hobbies, not the least of which is gardening. He manages to keep fit by attending a gymnasium for a couple of hours every morning in company with his great friend and screen partner, James Knight. Dudley has done a good deal for charity, and has sung at a good many functions arranged by society ladies, and it is more than probable that his magnificent voice will be heard at some of the London and provincial cinemas when The Man who Forgot is shown.

He has pretensions to authorship, and he has only recently finished a story which will figure among the Harma forthcoming productions.

A Joke Against Himself.

He has travelled a good deal in Spain, which country he considers to be, perhaps, the most interesting in Europe. On one occasion, as a result of an introduction to Mazzaritini, quite the most famous matador Spain has known, he was able to be present at a notable bullfight, and subsequently to explore the mysteries of the bull-ring. Whilst waiting to congratulate Mazzantini on having dispatched six fierce bulls with matchless skill — although it should be stated that Dudley is not a supporter of this so-called sport — he made his way to one of the exits, and then, to his intense dismay, he found his departure barred by the most ferocious beast that it had ever been his misfortune to gaze upon.

“I can assure you,” he says, “that I was soon across the ring and over the barrier; in fact, this was the first time I discovered I could cover a hundred yards in very little more than ten seconds. On stopping to recover my breath, and, on looking cautiously over the barrier, I was greeted with a roar of laughter from a crowd of peons and others, behind them stood Mazzantini himself, and then I saw that the cause of my precipitate flight was lying on the ground. As a matter of fact, one of the peons had donned the head and hide of a bull that had been dispatched that afternoon for my special edification. It was no doubt a good joke for them at my expense, and thinking I would like a souvenir of it, I secured the horns of my supposed ‘adversary,’ and these now serve as a hatstand.”

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Photo Captions:

• Just thinking.
• With his monocle.
• Listening intently.
• His thoughtful frown.
• A genial smile.

Collection: Picture Show Magazine, January 1920