The Versatiles By Alfred E. Twomey & Arthur F. McClure
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I have always been a film Fan, so combined with a passion for books it comes as no surprise that I have bookshelves groaning under the weight of film-related books.
But I have a special love for what I call 'buffet books', those titles you can dip in and out of for a few moments, it might entail looking up a particular film, or specific actors or directors whilst waiting for the kettle to boil.
With this in mind I bring to your attention The Versatiles, a book containing brief biographies of a selection of the most prolific supporting actors in film, those whose faces you are familiar with, but about whom you know little else.
Left: The Versatiles: Supporting Character Players in the Cinema 1930 - 1955. By Alfred E. Twomey & Arthur F. McClure
Names such as Lester Alvin 'Smiley' Burnette, who appeared in over 200 westerns, 81 of these with Gene Autry alone, at the same time penning over 300 songs, many of which were used in the films he appeared in, usually providing comic relief for the likes of Roy Rogers.
Wonderful names such as Adeline de Walt Reynolds, who at 98 at the time of her death in 1961 was the oldest active member on the books of the Screen Actors Guild, having started her career at the tender age of 70, with titles to her credit ranging from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn to Pony Soldier!
Some supporting players stuck to tried and tested roles, George Zucco for example appearing as the villain in many films of note, or Blanche Yurka usually appearing in costume dramas.
Others names to conjure with include Guinn 'Big Boy Williams (dull witted comic roles in westerns), Minor Watson (authority figures - judges, school masters, army officers and the like), George Slim Somerville cornering the market in country 'hick' roles, appearing in 630 films in all, or Jack Norton, a lifelong tee totaller, who was forever cast as the loveable drunk, often following people under the influence in the street in order to copy and use their mannerisms in his many subsequent roles.
Many of the versatiles had resepected careers in other fields, perhaps as stage actors, but often used the phrase 'stage for art, film for eating'.
They came from many diverse backgrounds - Slim Pickens for example (wonderful name) was originally the USA's top rodeo clown, facing down 3,000 bulls in a career before films, where he was the highest paid 'bull buffoon' in American rodeo history, before famously riding the atom bomb to oblivion in the closing scenes of Dr Strangelove.
With backgrounds as diverse as Una O'Connor starting out with the famous Irish Abbey Players or Paul Tiny Newlan changing careers after a spell as a professional in both Basketball and Football, many were called to a career on the silver screen, maybe not as the star, but provided support in roles that could create magic moments for us all to enjoy.
This book puts names and details to faces you know so well, many 'buffet' books fall within the film category - History of the Oscars, History of Comedians etc.
Have fun dipping in for a taster.
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Contributed by Martyn.
(Published 17th Dec 2014)
