Person    | Male  Born 15/1/1893  Died 6/3/1951

Ivor Novello

Categories: Cinema, Music / songs, Theatre

Countries: Wales

Composer, singer and actor-manager. Born David Ivor Davies in Cardiff. Wrote 'Keep the Home Fires Burning', a big success in WW1. Appeared in over 20 movies. Worked at Gainsborough Film Studios. Briefly a writer in Hollywood where he wrote the dialogue for the 1932 'Tarzan the Ape Man' (the oft-misquoted "me Tarzan, you Jane"). An extremely good-looking gay man. Rumours are that even Winston Churchill could not resist his charms.

WW2 saw him in prison for misusing petrol coupons, where he met Mad Frankie Fraser. In 1913 he moved to the flat at 11 Aldwych, above the Strand Theatre, where he died. In 2005 the Strand Theatre was renamed the Novello Theatre. Played by Jeremy Northam in the 2001 film 'Gosforth Park'. Not part of the Novello family.

The Centre for International Film Research (CIFR) at the University of Southampton have an interesting post by Michael Williams about Novello in London. 

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Ivor Novello

Commemorated ati

Gainsborough Film Studios

Hackney owns up: "The plaque states that 'The Wicked Lady' was filmed at Gain...

Read More

Ivor Novello

Greater London Council Ivor Novello, 1893 - 1951, composer and actor manager...

Read More

Other Subjects

Sir Derek Jacobi

Sir Derek Jacobi

Actor. Born Derek George Jacobi in Leytonstone. He was invited by Sir Laurence Olivier to be a founder member of the Royal National Theatre. Probably best known for playing the eponymous lead in th...

Person, Cinema, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Vitagraph

Vitagraph

International film company.  Formed in Brocklyn by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith.  Bought by Warner Bros in 1925.

Group, Cinema, USA

1 memorial
Ernie Lotinga

Ernie Lotinga

Comedian and film actor.  Born Sunderland.  Best known for a series of films in which he played a character, Josser, in the 1930s.  T. S. Eliot was a big fan.  Died London. British Pathe have some...

Person, Cinema, Humour, Theatre

1 memorial
G.P.O. Film Unit

G.P.O. Film Unit

A subdivision of the former General Post Office, (The equivalent of the modern British Telecom/Post Office/Royal Mail). Headed by John Grierson, it was set up to produce documentary films mainly re...

Group, Cinema

1 memorial
José Collins

José Collins

Actress and singer. Born Josephine Charlotte Collins or Cooney in Whitechapel. She started her career as a child performer and went on to perform on stage and in films in Britain and America. Her g...

Person, Cinema, Music / songs, Theatre, USA

1 memorial