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John Loder (born William John Muir Lowe; 3 January 1898 – 26 December 1988) was established as a British film actor in Germany and Britain before migrating to the United States in 1928 for work in the new
talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed befor ...
. He worked in Hollywood for two periods, becoming an American citizen in 1947. After living also in Argentina, he became a naturalized British citizen in 1959.


Biography


Early life

Loder was born in 1898 in
Knightsbridge Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London, south of Hyde Park. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside the West End. Toponymy Knightsbridge is an ancient ...
, London. His father was W. H. M. Lowe, a British career army officer who achieved the rank of general.
Patrick Pearse Patrick Henry Pearse (also known as Pádraig or Pádraic Pearse; ga, Pádraig Anraí Mac Piarais; 10 November 1879 – 3 May 1916) was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist, republican political activist and revolutionary who ...
, the leader of the
1916 Easter Rising The Easter Rising ( ga, Éirí Amach na Cásca), also known as the Easter Rebellion, was an armed insurrection in Ireland during Easter Week in April 1916. The Rising was launched by Irish republicans against British rule in Ireland with the a ...
in
Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 cen ...
,
Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...
, surrendered to him. Both were present at the surrender. His mother was Frances Broster Johnson (née de Salvo; 1857–1942), daughter of Francesco de Salvo of
Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The city is noted for its h ...
, Sicily and his English wife Emma Broster. Frances was widowed when she married Lowe; she had been married to the late Captain Robert Harry Johnson of the 64th Foot Regiment. Loder had a younger sister, Elizabeth (born in 1900), who would later become a nun. He had also three older half-siblings from his mother's first marriage: Harry Cecil Johnson (1877–1915), Dorothy Johnson (1880–1971) and Gladys Frances McGrath (née Johnson; formerly Kingsmill; 1881-?). Loder was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst,
Berkshire Berkshire ( ; in the 17th century sometimes spelt phonetically as Barkeshire; abbreviated Berks.) is a historic county in South East England. One of the home counties, Berkshire was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II as the Royal County of Ber ...
.


World War One

Loder followed his father into the army, being commissioned into 15th Hussars as a
second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...
on 17 March 1915, during the First World War. He was immediately sent to Gallipoli, where he served until the British withdrawal. From 21 April until early May 1916, Loder was stationed in Ireland, serving as his father's ADC, and where they both witnessed the surrender of the leaders of the Easter Rising. He rejoined his regiment in
Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine in northern France. It is the prefecture of the region of Normandy and the department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe, the population o ...
, France, in May 1916, and was engaged in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. He was taken prisoner by the Germans on 21 March 1918 at the village of Roisel and transported to Le Cateau gaol and then by train to the first of several prisoner-of-war camps,
Rastatt Rastatt () is a town with a Baroque core, District of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located in the Upper Rhine Plain on the Murg river, above its junction with the Rhine and has a population of around 50,000 (2011). Rastatt was an ...
, in
Baden Baden (; ) is a historical territory in South Germany, in earlier times on both sides of the Upper Rhine but since the Napoleonic Wars only East of the Rhine. History The margraves of Baden originated from the House of Zähringen. Baden i ...
, Germany. Upon being released, Loder stayed in Germany where he was assigned military duties on behalf of the Inter-Allied Commission in Breslau and
Upper Silesia Upper Silesia ( pl, Górny Śląsk; szl, Gůrny Ślůnsk, Gōrny Ślōnsk; cs, Horní Slezsko; german: Oberschlesien; Silesian German: ; la, Silesia Superior) is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia, locate ...
.


Germany

Leaving the cavalry, Loder went into business with a German friend, Walter Becker, establishing a pickle factory in
Potsdam Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of ...
. Later he began to develop an interest in acting. He appeared at the British Theatre Guild in Berlin and enjoyed success in productions of '' The Last of Mrs Cheyney'', which had opened in London in 1925, and '' Loyalties''. He began appearing in bit parts in a few German films produced at the Tempelhof Film Studios including '' Dancing Mad'' (1925). He had a good part in '' Madame Wants No Children'' (1926), directed by
Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)The Last Waltz ''The Last Waltz'' was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group The Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. ''The Last Waltz'' was advertised as The Band's "farewell concert a ...
'', ''
The White Spider ''The White Spider'' (1959; with chapters added in 1964; original title: ''Die Weisse Spinne'') is a non-fiction book by Heinrich Harrer that describes the first successful ascent of the infamous north face (''Nordwand'') of the Eiger, a mountai ...
'', '' The Great Unknown'', all in 1927; and ''
Alraune ''Alraune'' ( German for ) is a novel by German novelist Hanns Heinz Ewers published in 1911. It is also the name of the female lead character. The book originally featured illustrations by Ilna Ewers-Wunderwald. Legend The basis of the story o ...
'', '' Fair Game'', '' When the Mother and the Daughter'', '' Casanova's Legacy'', '' The Sinner'', and ''
Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...
'', all released in 1928.


British films

Loder left Germany to return briefly to the United Kingdom. He had a support role in '' The First Born'' (1928), playing
Madeleine Carroll Edith Madeleine Carroll (26 February 1906 – 2 October 1987) was an English actress, popular both in Britain and America in the 1930s and 1940s. At the peak of her success in 1938, she was the world's highest-paid actress. Carroll is rememb ...
's love interest. That year he sailed to the United States on the , bound for Hollywood to try his luck in the new medium of "talkies".


First period in Hollywood

Loder was signed by
Paramount Studios Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production and distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldest film studio in the world, the second-oldes ...
. He appeared in '' The Case of Lena Smith'' (1929) directed by European
Josef Von Sternberg Josef von Sternberg (; born Jonas Sternberg; May 29, 1894 – December 22, 1969) was an Austrian-American filmmaker whose career successfully spanned the transition from the silent to the sound era, during which he worked with most of the major ...
. He made '' The Doctor's Secret'' (1929), Paramount's first talking picture, playing
Ruth Chatterton Ruth Chatterton (December 24, 1892 – November 24, 1961) was an American stage, film, and television actress, aviator and novelist. She was at her most popular in the early to mid-1930s, and in the same era gained prominence as an aviator, ...
's leading man. He appeared opposite Jack Holt in a Western, '' Sunset Pass'' (1929). But his very English persona in these roles did not win over viewers in the United States. He also appeared in '' Black Waters'' (1929), the first British talkie, which was made in the US by producer
Herbert Wilcox Herbert Sydney Wilcox CBE (19 April 1890 – 15 May 1977) was a British film producer and director. He was one of the most successful British filmmakers from the 1920s to the 1950s. He is best known for the films he made with his third wife ...
, and '' The Unholy Night'' (1929) at
MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
. Loder made some for Pathe: '' Her Private Affair'' (1929), ''
The Racketeer ''The Racketeer'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code drama film. Directed by Howard Higgin, the film is also known as ''Love's Conquest'' in the United Kingdom. It tells the tale of some members of the criminal class in 1920s America, and in particula ...
'' (1929), and '' Rich People'' (1930). Alexander Korda had also moved to Hollywood and cast Loder in '' Lilies of the Field'' (1930). This was produced by Warners Studio, who also used Loder in '' The Second Floor Mystery'' (1930), '' Sweethearts and Wives'' (1930), '' The Man Hunter'' (1931) (a
Rin Tin Tin Rin Tin Tin or Rin-Tin-Tin (September 1918 – August 10, 1932) was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. He was rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, L ...
film), and ''
One Night at Susie's ''One Night at Susie's'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film released by First National Pictures and directed by John Francis Dillon. The movie stars Billie Dove and features Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Helen Ware and Tully Marshall. Plot Susi ...
'' (1931). He went to Fox Studio for '' Seas Beneath'' (1931) directed by John Ford. That year he also appeared in a film for
Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter, ...
at MGM, '' On the Loose'' (1931).


Return to Britain

Loder returned to Britain. He starred in a comedy for Herbert Wilcox, '' Money Means Nothing'' (1932), and was reunited with Korda in '' Wedding Rehearsal'' (1933). Loder pursued
Merle Oberon Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress who began her film career in British films as Anne Boleyn in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). After her success in ''The Scarle ...
in '' The Battle'' (1933) and had the star role in '' Money for Speed'' (1933) opposite
Ida Lupino Ida Lupino (4 February 1918Recorded in ''Births Mar 1918'' Camberwell Vol. 1d, p. 1019 (Free BMD). Transcribed as "Lupine" in the official births index – 3 August 1995) was an English-American actress, singer, director, writer, and producer. T ...
. He was in '' You Made Me Love You'' (1933), and that year had a small part in Korda's hugely successful ''
The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur Wimperis for London ...
'' (1933), playing the love interest of
Elsa Lanchester Elsa Sullivan Lanchester (28 October 1902 – 26 December 1986) was a British-American actress with a long career in theatre, film and television.Obituary ''Variety'', 31 December 1986. Lanchester studied dance as a child and after the Fir ...
's Anne of Cleeves. Loder had lead roles in low-budget, quota quickies such as '' Paris Plane'' (1933) and '' Rolling in Money'' (1934) as well as the romantic male lead in the
Gracie Fields Dame Gracie Fields (born Grace Stansfield; 9 January 189827 September 1979) was an English actress, singer, comedian and star of cinema and music hall who was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the hi ...
vehicle, '' Love, Life and Laughter'' (1934). Loder specialised in leading man parts in '' Warn London'' (1934); '' Java Head'' (1934) with
Anna May Wong Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress, considered the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood, as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain inter ...
; '' Sing As We Go'' (1934) with Fields again, and a big hit; ''
My Song Goes Round the World ''My Song Goes Round the World'' is a 1934 British musical film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Joseph Schmidt, John Loder and Charlotte Ander. It was an English-language version of the 1933 German film '' A Song Goes Round the World'', ...
'' (1934); ''
Lorna Doone ''Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor'' is a novel by English author Richard Doddridge Blackmore, published in 1869. It is a romance based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in Devon and Somerset, particularly a ...
'' (1934), as John Ridd; and ''
18 Minutes ''18 Minutes'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Monty Banks and starring Gregory Ratoff, John Loder and Benita Hume. It was shot at Walton Studios near London. Plot A lion tamer adopts an orphaned girl and marries her, only to find tha ...
'' (1935). He was top billed in ''
The Silent Passenger ''The Silent Passenger'' is a British black-and-white mystery film produced in 1935 at Ealing Studios, London. It is based on an original story written by Sayers specifically for the screen. Her amateur sleuth was portrayed as a somewhat eccentr ...
'' (1935) and '' It Happened in Paris'' (1935) and supported in the
Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...
biopic, '' Whom the Gods Love'' (1936). Loder was reunited with Gracie Fields in '' Queen of Hearts'' (1936) and starred in an IRA drama, '' Ourselves Alone'' (1936). He had a part in ''
Guilty Melody ''Guilty Melody'' is a 1936 British drama film directed by Richard Pottier and starring Don Alcaide, Gitta Alpar and John Loder. It was based on a short story by Hans José Rehfisch. In the film, a British spy falls in love with a singer whos ...
'' (1936) and supported
Boris Karloff William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff (), was an English actor. His portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in the horror film ''Frankenstein'' (1931) (his 82nd film) established h ...
in ''
The Man Who Changed His Mind ''The Man Who Changed His Mind'' is a 1936 British science fiction horror film starring Boris Karloff and Anna Lee. It was directed by Robert Stevenson and was produced by Gainsborough Pictures. The film was also known as ''The Brainsnatcher'' ...
'' (1936). Loder played the heroic investigator in
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
's ''
Sabotage Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a ''saboteur''. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identitie ...
'' (1936), replacing
Robert Donat Friedrich Robert Donat (18 March 1905 – 9 June 1958) was an English actor. He is best remembered for his roles in Alfred Hitchcock's '' The 39 Steps'' (1935) and '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' (1939), winning for the latter the Academy Award for ...
before taking on the role of Sir Henry Curtis, the male romantic interest in the 1937 original film version of ''
King Solomon's Mines ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1885) is a popular novel by the English Victorian adventure writer and fabulist Sir H. Rider Haggard. It tells of a search of an unexplored region of Africa by a group of adventurers led by Allan Quatermain for th ...
'', romancing
Anna Lee Anna Lee, MBE (born Joan Boniface Winnifrith; 2 January 1913 – 14 May 2004) was a British actress, labelled by studios "The British Bombshell". Early life Anna Lee was born Joan Boniface Winnifrith in Ightham, (pronounced 'Item'), Kent, th ...
. He romanced
Margaret Lockwood Margaret Mary Day Lockwood, CBE (15 September 1916 – 15 July 1990), was an English actress. One of Britain's most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, her film appearances included ''The Lady Vanishes'' (1938), '' Night Train to Munic ...
in '' Doctor Syn'' (1937), supporting
George Arliss George Arliss (born Augustus George Andrews; 10 April 1868 – 5 February 1946) was an English actor, author, playwright, and filmmaker who found success in the United States. He was the first British actor to win an Academy Award – which he ...
. He and Lee were reunited in ''
Non-Stop New York ''Non-Stop New York'' (also known as ''Lisbon Clipper Mystery'') is a 1937 British science fiction crime film directed by Robert Stevenson and starring John Loder, Anna Lee and Francis L. Sullivan. It is based on the 1936 novel ''Sky Stewa ...
'' (1937), and he took on
Erich von Stroheim Erich Oswald Hans Carl Maria von Stroheim (born Erich Oswald Stroheim; September 22, 1885 – May 12, 1957) was an Austrian-American director, actor and producer, most noted as a film star and avant-garde, visionary director of the silent era. H ...
in ''
Under Secret Orders ''Under Secret Orders'', also known as ''Mademoiselle Doctor'', is a 1937 British spy film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Erich von Stroheim, John Loder, Dita Parlo and Claire Luce. It is an English-language version of the Fren ...
'' (1937). Loder and Lockwood romanced again in support of a crusty old actor in '' Owd Bob'' (1938), before he went to France to appear in '' Katia'' (1938) with
Danielle Darrieux Danielle Yvonne Marie Antoinette Darrieux (; 1 May 1917 – 17 October 2017) was a French actress of stage, television and film, as well as a singer and dancer. Beginning in 1931, she appeared in more than 110 films. She was one of France's g ...
, in which he played
Alexander II of Russia Alexander II ( rus, Алекса́ндр II Никола́евич, Aleksándr II Nikoláyevich, p=ɐlʲɪˈksandr ftɐˈroj nʲɪkɐˈlajɪvʲɪtɕ; 29 April 181813 March 1881) was Emperor of Russia, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Finlan ...
. He returned to Britain and starred in thrillers '' Anything to Declare?'' (1939), '' The Silent Battle'' (1939) with
Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey "Rex" Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play ''French Without Tears'', in what ...
, and '' Murder Will Out'' (1939). He had the title role in '' Meet Maxwell Archer'' (1940).


Return to Hollywood

After Britain entered the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, Loder returned to the United States. He coasted into a career in
B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featu ...
roles, usually playing upper-crust characters. He also played one role onstage on Broadway, in 1947's For Love or Money opposite
June Lockhart June Lockhart (born June 25, 1925) is an American actress, beginning a film career in 1930s & 1940s in such films at ''A Christmas Carol'' and '' Meet Me in St. Louis''. She primarily acted in 1950s and 1960s television, and with performances on ...
. He was in '' Adventure in Diamonds'' (1940) and '' Diamond Frontier'' (1940). At
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...
he made ''
Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley was a collection of music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It originally referred to a specific place: West 28th Street ...
'' (1940), ''
Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs, but not the City of London, the square mile that forms London' ...
'' (1941), and ''
How Green Was My Valley ''How Green Was My Valley'' is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own person ...
'' (1941), in which he played a brother of
Roddy McDowall Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 4 October 1998) was a British actor, photographer and film director. He began his acting career as a child in England, and then in the United States, in '' How Green Was My Valley'' ( ...
's character. He also worked in such war films as ''
Confirm or Deny ''Confirm or Deny'' is a 1941 film made by 20th Century Fox, directed by Archie Mayo and Fritz Lang (uncredited), and starring by Don Ameche and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Jo Swerling, based on a story by Samuel Fuller and Hen ...
'' (1941), ''
One Night in Lisbon ''One Night in Lisbon'' is a 1941 American thriller film directed by Edward H. Griffith and starring Fred MacMurray, Madeleine Carroll and Patricia Morison. It was one of a cycle of pro-British films produced in Hollywood before the United S ...
'' (1941), and ''
Eagle Squadron The Eagle Squadrons were three fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed with volunteer pilots from the United States during the early days of World War II (circa 1940), prior to America's entry into the war in December 1941. Wi ...
'' (1941).


Warner Bros.

In ''
Now, Voyager ''Now, Voyager'' is a 1942 American drama film starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, and Claude Rains, and directed by Irving Rapper. The screenplay by Casey Robinson is based on the 1941 novel of the same name by Olive Higgins Prouty. Prouty bo ...
'' (1942), he played a wealthy widower engaged to
Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her p ...
's character. That was made by Warners who used Loder in '' Gentleman Jim'' (1942) as
Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian-American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Oliv ...
's love rival. Warners gave him a then-rare lead in a B, '' The Gorilla Man'' (1943), '' The Mysterious Doctor'' (1943), ''
Murder on the Waterfront ''Murder on the Waterfront'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and written by Robert E. Kent. The film stars Warren Douglas, Joan Winfield, John Loder, Ruth Ford, Bill Crago and Bill Kennedy. The film was released by ...
'' (1943), and ''
Adventure in Iraq ''Adventure in Iraq'' is a 1943 American adventure film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring John Loder, Ruth Ford, Warren Douglas and Paul Cavanagh. The film is based on the 1921 play '' The Green Goddess'' by William Archer. Plot Th ...
'' (1943). He was back with Davis in ''
Old Acquaintance ''Old Acquaintance'' is a 1943 American drama film released by Warner Bros. It was directed by Vincent Sherman and produced by Henry Blanke with Jack L. Warner as executive producer. The film was adapted from a screenplay by John Van Druten, ...
'' (1943) and supported
Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film Ins ...
in ''
Passage to Marseille ''Passage to Marseille'', also known as ''Message to Marseille'', is a 1944 American war film made by Warner Brothers, directed by Michael Curtiz. The screenplay was by Casey Robinson and Jack Moffitt from the novel ''Sans Patrie'' (''Men Withou ...
'' (1944). In the early 1940s, Loder was host of '' Silver Theater'', a dramatic anthology on
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
radio. He also starred in the programme's 11 June 1944 episode.


Freelance

Loder freelanced as an actor. He had support roles in ''
The Hairy Ape ''The Hairy Ape'' is a 1922 expressionist play by American playwright Eugene O'Neill. It is about a beastly, unthinking laborer known as Yank, the protagonist of the play, as he searches for a sense of belonging in a world controlled by the rich ...
'' (1944), and '' Abroad with Two Yanks'' (1944), then had a lead part in some B films: '' The Brighton Strangler'' (1945), ''
Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgu ...
'' (1945), ''
A Game of Death ''A Game of Death'' is a 1945 American adventure film directed by Robert Wise and starring John Loder and Audrey Long. It is a remake of Richard Connell's 1924 short story "The Most Dangerous Game" about a madman who hunts human prey on his isla ...
'' (1945) (a remake of ''
The Most Dangerous Game "The Most Dangerous Game", also published as "The Hounds of Zaroff", is a short story by Richard Connell, first published in ''Collier's'' on January 19, 1924, with illustrations by Wilmot Emerton Heitland. The story features a big-game hunter ...
''), and ''
The Wife of Monte Cristo ''The Wife of Monte Cristo'' is a 1946 American adventure film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and starring John Loder and Lenore Aubert. It was successful at the box office. Plot Edmund Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo, returns in 1832, now acc ...
'' (1946). He supported in an A film, '' One More Tomorrow'' (1946) and appeared opposite then-wife
Hedy Lamarr Hedy Lamarr (; born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler; November 9, 1914 January 19, 2000) was an Austrian-born American film actress and inventor. A film star during Hollywood's golden age, Lamarr has been described as one of the greatest movie actresse ...
in ''
Dishonored Lady ''Dishonored Lady'' (also known as ''Sins of Madeleine'') is a 1947 American crime film directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Hedy Lamarr, Dennis O'Keefe and John Loder. It is based on the 1930 play ''Dishonored Lady'' by Edward Sheldon a ...
'' (1947). Loder then appeared in a minor Broadway hit in '' For Love or Money'' (1947–48). Around this time he began to focus increasingly on business as opposed to acting.


Later career

Loder's later film appearances included British films ''
The Story of Esther Costello ''The Story of Esther Costello'' is a 1957 British drama film starring Joan Crawford, Rossano Brazzi, and Heather Sears. The film is an exposé of large-scale fundraising. ''The Story of Esther Costello'' was produced by David Miller and Jack ...
'' (1957), '' Small Hotel'' (1957), and '' Gideon's Day'' (1958). His last film was '' The Firechasers'' (1971).


Personal life, marriages and children

He was unmarried when he fathered his first son. The boy followed his father to Eton and served in the
Grenadier Guards "Shamed be whoever thinks ill of it." , colors = , colors_label = , march = Slow: " Scipio" , mascot = , equipment = , equipment ...
. He later became a theatrical and literary agent, and was married three times. His last marriage was to British actress
Hilary Tindall Hilary Tindall (14 August 1938 - 5 December 1992) was an English stage and television actress. She is best remembered for the role of Ann Hammond in the BBC television series '' The Brothers''. Tindall trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic ...
(1938–1992). She played Ann Hammond in the 1970s BBC TV series '' The Brothers''. In 1932 Loder was named in the divorce proceedings of Wanda Holden and Charles Baillie-Hamilton, a former MP. Loder was married five times; two of his wives were actresses. *He first married French star Micheline Cheirel (married 1936–41 – they had one daughter together, who later married
Paul Meurisse Paul Meurisse (; 21 December 1912 – 19 January 1979) was a French actor who appeared in over 60 films and many stage productions. Meurisse was noted for the elegance of his acting style, and for his versatility. He was equally able to pl ...
). *Secondly, he wed Austrian-American actress
Hedy Lamarr Hedy Lamarr (; born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler; November 9, 1914 January 19, 2000) was an Austrian-born American film actress and inventor. A film star during Hollywood's golden age, Lamarr has been described as one of the greatest movie actresse ...
in the United States (married 1943–47). He and Lamarr had three children together: James Markey Loder (born 1939), when Lamarr was married to
Gene Markey Eugene Willford "Gene" Markey (December 11, 1895 – May 1, 1980) was an American writer, producer, screenwriter, and highly decorated naval officer. Biography Early life Markey was born in Michigan in 1895. His father, Eugene Lawrenc ...
; they adopted this boy and she said he was unrelated; Loder adopted him after their marriage; Denise (born 1945) and Anthony Loder (born 1947). Documentation found after Lamarr's death was reported in 2001 to reveal that James was born to Lamarr and Loder before their marriage. Loder's other wives were Sophie Kabel, Evelyn Auff Mordt, and finally, in 1958, the heiress Alba Julia Lagomarsino of Argentina. After their marriage, he lived on her 25,000-acre cattle ranch and spent much time at the
Jockey Club The Jockey Club is the largest commercial horse racing organisation in the United Kingdom. It owns 15 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham, Epsom Downs and both the Rowley Mile and July Course in Newmarket, among ...
in
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South Am ...
. After they divorced in 1972, Loder returned to London. He resided for some years in a house opposite
Harrods Harrods Limited is a department store located on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London, England. It is currently owned by the state of Qatar via its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority. The Harrods brand also applies to other ...
department store. In 1947, Loder had become an American citizen. In 1959, he became a naturalised citizen of the United Kingdom. Given his varied residencies, he had been considered of "uncertain nationality" by that time.


Later years

He published his autobiography, ''Hollywood Hussar'', in 1977. Loder's general health deteriorated in his eighties, and he was admitted in 1982 to the Distressed Gentlefolks Aid Association's Nursing Home in Vicarage Gate, Kensington. He went weekly by taxi to his London club, ' Bucks', in
Mayfair Mayfair is an affluent area in the West End of London towards the eastern edge of Hyde Park, in the City of Westminster, between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane. It is one of the most expensive districts in the world. ...
, for luncheon. He died in London, aged 90, in 1988.


In popular culture

Loder is the focus of the play ''The Private View: Fairytales of Ireland 1916–2016'', written by Trevor White and directed by Gerard Stembridge. The play was staged by The Little Museum of Dublin as part of the
Dublin Theatre Festival The Dublin Theatre Festival is Europe's oldest specialised theatre festival. It was founded by theatre impresario Brendan Smith in 1957 and has, with the exception of two years, produced a season of international and Irish theatre each autumn. ...
in October 2015, and was performed at the
American Irish Historical Society The American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) is a historical society devoted to Irish American history that was founded in Boston in the late 19th century. Non-partisan and non-sectarian since its inception in 1897, it maintains the most complete ...
in November of the same year.


Filmography

* '' Dancing Mad'' (1925) as Dance extra (uncredited) * '' Madame Wants No Children'' (1926) as Dancer (uncredited) * ''
The Last Waltz ''The Last Waltz'' was a concert by the Canadian-American rock group The Band, held on American Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, at Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. ''The Last Waltz'' was advertised as The Band's "farewell concert a ...
'' (1927) * ''
The White Spider ''The White Spider'' (1959; with chapters added in 1964; original title: ''Die Weisse Spinne'') is a non-fiction book by Heinrich Harrer that describes the first successful ascent of the infamous north face (''Nordwand'') of the Eiger, a mountai ...
'' (1927) as Lord Gray * '' The Great Unknown'' (1927) as Dr. Ralf Hallam * ''
Alraune ''Alraune'' ( German for ) is a novel by German novelist Hanns Heinz Ewers published in 1911. It is also the name of the female lead character. The book originally featured illustrations by Ilna Ewers-Wunderwald. Legend The basis of the story o ...
'' (1928) as Der Vicomte * '' Fair Game'' (1928) as Oberleutnant von Rohnstedt * '' When the Mother and the Daughter'' (1928) * '' Casanova's Legacy'' (1928) * '' The Sinner'' (1928) as Armand * '' The First Born'' (1928) as Lord David Harborough * ''
Adam and Eve Adam and Eve, according to the creation myth of the Abrahamic religions, were the first man and woman. They are central to the belief that humanity is in essence a single family, with everyone descended from a single pair of original ancestors. ...
'' (1928) * '' The Case of Lena Smith'' (1929) (uncredited) * '' The Doctor's Secret'' (1929) as Hugh Paton * '' Sunset Pass'' (1929) as Ashleigh Preston * '' Black Waters'' (1929) as Charles * '' The Unholy Night'' (1929) as Capt. Dorchester * '' Her Private Affair'' (1929) as Carl * '' Love, Live and Laugh'' (1929) as Dr. Price * ''
The Racketeer ''The Racketeer'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code drama film. Directed by Howard Higgin, the film is also known as ''Love's Conquest'' in the United Kingdom. It tells the tale of some members of the criminal class in 1920s America, and in particula ...
'' (1929) as Jack Oakhurst * '' Rich People'' (1929) as Captain Danforth * '' Lilies of the Field'' (1930) as Walter Harker * '' The Second Floor Mystery'' (1930) as Fraser-Freer's Younger Brother * '' The Man Hunter'' (1930) as George Castle * '' Sweethearts and Wives'' (1930) as Sam Worthington * ''
One Night at Susie's ''One Night at Susie's'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film released by First National Pictures and directed by John Francis Dillon. The movie stars Billie Dove and features Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Helen Ware and Tully Marshall. Plot Susi ...
'' (1930) as Hayes * ''Are You There?'' (1930) as Bit Role (uncredited) * '' Seas Beneath'' (1931) as Franz Shiller * '' On the Loose'' (1931, short) as Mr. Loder * '' Money Means Nothing'' (1932) as Earl Egbert * '' Wedding Rehearsal'' (1932) as John Hopkins aka Bimbo * '' La bataille'' (1933) as Herbert Fergan * '' Money for Speed'' (1933) as Mitch * '' You Made Me Love You'' (1933) as Harry Berne * ''
The Private Life of Henry VIII ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' is a 1933 British film directed and co-produced by Alexander Korda and starring Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Merle Oberon and Elsa Lanchester. It was written by Lajos Bíró and Arthur Wimperis for London ...
'' (1933) as Peynell * '' Paris Plane'' (1933) * '' Rolling in Money'' (1934) as Lord Gawthorpe * '' Love, Life and Laughter'' (1934) as Prince Charles * '' Thunder in the East'' (1934) as Fergan * '' Warn London'' (1934) as Inspector Yorke / Barraclough * '' Java Head'' (1934) as Gerrit Ammidon * '' Sing As We Go'' (1934) as Hugh Phillips * ''
My Song Goes Round the World ''My Song Goes Round the World'' is a 1934 British musical film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Joseph Schmidt, John Loder and Charlotte Ander. It was an English-language version of the 1933 German film '' A Song Goes Round the World'', ...
'' (1934) as Rico * ''
Lorna Doone ''Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor'' is a novel by English author Richard Doddridge Blackmore, published in 1869. It is a romance based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in Devon and Somerset, particularly a ...
'' (1934) as John Ridd * ''
18 Minutes ''18 Minutes'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Monty Banks and starring Gregory Ratoff, John Loder and Benita Hume. It was shot at Walton Studios near London. Plot A lion tamer adopts an orphaned girl and marries her, only to find tha ...
'' (1935) as Trelawney * ''
The Silent Passenger ''The Silent Passenger'' is a British black-and-white mystery film produced in 1935 at Ealing Studios, London. It is based on an original story written by Sayers specifically for the screen. Her amateur sleuth was portrayed as a somewhat eccentr ...
'' (1935) as John Ryder * '' It Happened in Paris'' (1935) as Paul * '' Whom the Gods Love'' (1936) as Prince Lobkowitz * '' Queen of Hearts'' (1936) as Derek Cooper * '' Ourselves Alone'' (1936) as Captain Wiltshire * ''
Guilty Melody ''Guilty Melody'' is a 1936 British drama film directed by Richard Pottier and starring Don Alcaide, Gitta Alpar and John Loder. It was based on a short story by Hans José Rehfisch. In the film, a British spy falls in love with a singer whos ...
'' (1936) as Richard Carter * ''
The Man Who Changed His Mind ''The Man Who Changed His Mind'' is a 1936 British science fiction horror film starring Boris Karloff and Anna Lee. It was directed by Robert Stevenson and was produced by Gainsborough Pictures. The film was also known as ''The Brainsnatcher'' ...
'' (1936) as Dick Haslewood * ''
Sabotage Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a ''saboteur''. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identitie ...
'' (1936) as Sergeant Ted Spencer * ''
King Solomon's Mines ''King Solomon's Mines'' (1885) is a popular novel by the English Victorian adventure writer and fabulist Sir H. Rider Haggard. It tells of a search of an unexplored region of Africa by a group of adventurers led by Allan Quatermain for th ...
'' (1937) as Sir Henry Curtis * '' Doctor Syn'' (1937) as Denis Cobtree * ''
Non-Stop New York ''Non-Stop New York'' (also known as ''Lisbon Clipper Mystery'') is a 1937 British science fiction crime film directed by Robert Stevenson and starring John Loder, Anna Lee and Francis L. Sullivan. It is based on the 1936 novel ''Sky Stewa ...
'' (1937) as Inspector Jim Grant * ''
Under Secret Orders ''Under Secret Orders'', also known as ''Mademoiselle Doctor'', is a 1937 British spy film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Erich von Stroheim, John Loder, Dita Parlo and Claire Luce. It is an English-language version of the Fren ...
'' (1937) as Lt. Peter Carr * '' Owd Bob'' (1938) as David Moore * '' Katia'' (1938) as Le tsar Alexandre II * ' (1938) as Émile Scheffer * '' Anything to Declare?'' (1938) as Capt. Rufus Grant * '' The Silent Battle'' (1939) as Bordier * '' Murder Will Out'' (1939) as Dr. Paul Raymond * ''
Threats A threat is a communication of intent to inflict harm or loss on another person. Intimidation is a tactic used between conflicting parties to make the other timid or psychologically insecure for coercion or control. The act of intimidation for co ...
'' (1940) as Dick Stone * '' Meet Maxwell Archer'' (1940) as Maxwell Archer * '' Adventure in Diamonds'' (1940) as Michael Barclay * '' Diamond Frontier'' (1940) as Dr. Charles Clayton * ''
Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley was a collection of music publishers and songwriters in New York City that dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It originally referred to a specific place: West 28th Street ...
'' (1940) as Reggie Carstair * ''
Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's 32 boroughs, but not the City of London, the square mile that forms London' ...
'' (1941) as Sir John Lasher * ''
One Night in Lisbon ''One Night in Lisbon'' is a 1941 American thriller film directed by Edward H. Griffith and starring Fred MacMurray, Madeleine Carroll and Patricia Morison. It was one of a cycle of pro-British films produced in Hollywood before the United S ...
'' (1941) as Cmdr. Peter Walmsley * ''
How Green Was My Valley ''How Green Was My Valley'' is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own person ...
'' (1941) as Ianto * ''
Confirm or Deny ''Confirm or Deny'' is a 1941 film made by 20th Century Fox, directed by Archie Mayo and Fritz Lang (uncredited), and starring by Don Ameche and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Jo Swerling, based on a story by Samuel Fuller and Hen ...
'' (1941) as Captain Lionel Channing * ''
Eagle Squadron The Eagle Squadrons were three fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed with volunteer pilots from the United States during the early days of World War II (circa 1940), prior to America's entry into the war in December 1941. Wi ...
'' (1942) as Paddy Carson * ''
Now, Voyager ''Now, Voyager'' is a 1942 American drama film starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, and Claude Rains, and directed by Irving Rapper. The screenplay by Casey Robinson is based on the 1941 novel of the same name by Olive Higgins Prouty. Prouty bo ...
'' (1942) as Elliot Livingston * '' Gentleman Jim'' (1942) as Carlton De Witt * '' The Gorilla Man'' (1943) as Captain Craig Killian * '' The Mysterious Doctor'' (1943) as Sir Henry Leland * ''
Murder on the Waterfront ''Murder on the Waterfront'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and written by Robert E. Kent. The film stars Warren Douglas, Joan Winfield, John Loder, Ruth Ford, Bill Crago and Bill Kennedy. The film was released by ...
'' (1943) as Lt. Cmdr. Holbrook * ''
Adventure in Iraq ''Adventure in Iraq'' is a 1943 American adventure film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring John Loder, Ruth Ford, Warren Douglas and Paul Cavanagh. The film is based on the 1921 play '' The Green Goddess'' by William Archer. Plot Th ...
'' (1943) as George Torrence * ''
Old Acquaintance ''Old Acquaintance'' is a 1943 American drama film released by Warner Bros. It was directed by Vincent Sherman and produced by Henry Blanke with Jack L. Warner as executive producer. The film was adapted from a screenplay by John Van Druten, ...
'' (1943) as Preston Drake * ''
Passage to Marseille ''Passage to Marseille'', also known as ''Message to Marseille'', is a 1944 American war film made by Warner Brothers, directed by Michael Curtiz. The screenplay was by Casey Robinson and Jack Moffitt from the novel ''Sans Patrie'' (''Men Withou ...
'' (1944) as Manning * ''
The Hairy Ape ''The Hairy Ape'' is a 1922 expressionist play by American playwright Eugene O'Neill. It is about a beastly, unthinking laborer known as Yank, the protagonist of the play, as he searches for a sense of belonging in a world controlled by the rich ...
'' (1944) as Tony Lazar * '' Abroad with Two Yanks'' (1944) as Aussie Sgt. Cyril North * '' The Brighton Strangler'' (1945) as Reginald Parker / Edward Grey * ''
Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgu ...
'' (1945) as Dr. David Brent * ''
A Game of Death ''A Game of Death'' is a 1945 American adventure film directed by Robert Wise and starring John Loder and Audrey Long. It is a remake of Richard Connell's 1924 short story "The Most Dangerous Game" about a madman who hunts human prey on his isla ...
'' (1945) as Don Rainsford * '' Woman Who Came Back'' (1945) as Dr. Matt Adams * ''
The Fighting Guardsman ''The Fighting Guardsman'' is a 1946 American adventure film directed by Henry Levin. It was a swashbuckler starring Willard Parker based on a novel by Alexander Dumas. Plot A French baron (Willard Parker) leads rebels like a Robin Hood, steali ...
'' (1946) as Sir John Tanley * ''
The Wife of Monte Cristo ''The Wife of Monte Cristo'' is a 1946 American adventure film directed by Edgar G. Ulmer and starring John Loder and Lenore Aubert. It was successful at the box office. Plot Edmund Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo, returns in 1832, now acc ...
'' (1946) as De Villefort, Prefect of Police * '' One More Tomorrow'' (1946) as Owen Arthur * ''
Dishonored Lady ''Dishonored Lady'' (also known as ''Sins of Madeleine'') is a 1947 American crime film directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Hedy Lamarr, Dennis O'Keefe and John Loder. It is based on the 1930 play ''Dishonored Lady'' by Edward Sheldon a ...
'' (1947) as Felix Courtland * ''
The Story of Esther Costello ''The Story of Esther Costello'' is a 1957 British drama film starring Joan Crawford, Rossano Brazzi, and Heather Sears. The film is an exposé of large-scale fundraising. ''The Story of Esther Costello'' was produced by David Miller and Jack ...
'' (1957) as Paul Marchant * '' Small Hotel'' (1957) as Mr. Finch * '' Woman and the Hunter'' (1957) as Mitchell Gifford * '' Gideon's Day'' (1958) as The Duke * ''The Secret Man'' (1958) as Maj. Anderson * ''Allá donde el viento brama'' (1963) * '' The Firechasers'' (1971) as Routledge (final film role)


References


External links

* *
John Loder
at Virtual History *
1977 interview
for the
British Forces Broadcasting Service The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides radio and television programmes for His Majesty's Armed Forces, and their dependents worldwide. Editorial control is independent of the Ministry of Defence and the armed forces themselv ...
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Loder, John 1898 births 1988 deaths People educated at Eton College American male film actors American male stage actors American male silent film actors English male film actors English male silent film actors English male stage actors 15th The King's Hussars officers British Army personnel of World War I Male actors from London Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst British emigrants to the United States 20th-century American male actors 20th-century English male actors British World War I prisoners of war World War I prisoners of war held by Germany