George Sanders had suffered a stroke in 1970, and thereafter lived a lonely and fearful life. He was devastated by the 1967 death of his beloved wife Benita Hume, the widow of fellow actor Ronald Colman, and it must have seemed fitting to end a screen career playing cads "in character," and getting top billing in a film about returning from the grave. Apart from his Jess Franco work, he finished up in British fare, with a distinct lack of screen time. Top billing in a tiny military role in 1969's "Invasion of the Body Stealers" was a waste, 1971's "Endless Night" was an underrated Agatha Christie thriller, where he was again limited in a small lawyer part, and 1972's "Doomwatch" was quite good, but again wasted him in a cameo as another military official. Small, unrewarding parts, but at least "Psychomania" proved to be easily the most substantial.
"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond
reply
share
babettegillette
14 years ago
It must be hell when a fine actor has to take limited roles to pay the bills. Age discrimaination is society's most practiced and acceptable discrimination.
reply
share
chongajuly
14 years ago
I remember George began his screen career in British films in 1936, before debuting in Hollywood with LLOYDS OF LONDON, and in 1960, he starred in two highly regarded British classics, BLUEBEARDS TEN HONEYMOONS and especially VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED. Surrounded in VILLAGE by a marvelous cast, Barbara Shelley, Michael Gwynn, Richard Vernon, he still towered over everyone else, and for an actor renowned for playing cads, was granted a moving death scene that was quite rare.
"I take pleasure in great beauty" - James Bond
reply
share