George Anthony Armstrong Willis (1897–1976), known as Anthony Armstrong, was an Anglo-Canadian writer, dramatist and essayist. A humorist who contributed to '' Punch'' and ''

The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...

'' magazines, he wrote well-plotted crime plays including ''Ten Minute Alibi'' (1933).

Biography

Anthony Armstrong was the son of George Hughlings Armstrong Willis and Adela Emma Temple Frere. Although his parents were both English, he was born in

Esquimalt The Township of Esquimalt () is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is bordered to the east by the provincial capital, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria, to the south by the Strait of Jua ...

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

as a consequence of his father's career as a Paymaster Captain in the

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

. They returned to England before his brother's birth in 1900 in Dorset. He was educated at

Uppingham School Uppingham School is a public school (English fee-charging boarding and day school for pupils 13–18) in Uppingham, Rutland, England, founded in 1584 by Robert Johnson, the Archdeacon of Leicester, who also established Oakham School. ...

. His brother John Christopher Temple Willis (1900–1969) was Director-General of the Ordnance Survey 1953–1957, and a watercolourist. During the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Willis was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is the engineering arm of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces ...

in 1915. He was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

in 1916. From 1925 to 1933 Armstrong contributed a weekly column to ''Punch'' under the name "A. A." He married Frances Monica Sealy, and had three children: John Humfrey Armstrong Willis (1928–2012), Antonia Armstrong Willis (1932-2017), and Felicity Armstrong Willis (1936-2006). Antonia married the art expert and gallery owner

Jeremy Maas Jeremy Stephen Maas (31 August 1928 – 23 January 1997) was an English art dealer and art historian, best known for his expertise in Victorian painting. Early and private life Maas was born in Penang, then in British Malaya. His father, Oscar Hen ...

; one of their sons, Rupert, is also an art expert, notable for his appearances on the ''

Antiques Roadshow ''Antiques Roadshow'' is a British television programme broadcast by the BBC in which antiques appraisers travel to various regions of the United Kingdom (and occasionally in other countries) to appraise antiques brought in by local people ( ...

''. Jonathan, another of their sons, is the current intellectual property rights holder for Anthony Armstrong's works and can be reached via his London agents, Eric Glass Ltd. Armstrong contributed to the screenplay of

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. 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 featu ...

's ''

Young and Innocent ''Young and Innocent'', released in the US as ''The Girl Was Young'', is a 1937 British Crime film, crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Nova Pilbeam and Derrick De Marney. Based on the 1936 novel ''A Shilling for Candl ...

'' (1937). Several of his own works were adapted into films including ''

The Strange Case of Mr Pelham "The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham" is a 1940 short story (later expanded in book form in 1957) by English writer Anthony Armstrong about a man involved in a serious car accident. The man recovers only to find himself being stalked by a seemingly i ...

'', which was made into a first-season episode of ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (and directed by Hitchcock), and the film ''

The Man Who Haunted Himself ''The Man Who Haunted Himself'' is a 1970 British psychological thriller film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Roger Moore. It was written by Dearden, Michael Relph and Bryan Forbes based on the 1957 novel '' The Strange Case of Mr Pelham' ...

'' (1970).

Major works

Novels

* ''Lure of the Past'' (1920) * ''The Love of Prince Raameses'' (1921) * ''The Wine of Death: A Tale of the Lost Long-Ago'' (1925) * ''Patrick, Undergraduate'' (1926) * ''

Jimmie Rezaire ''Jimmie Rezaire'' is a 1927 thriller novel by the British author Anthony Armstrong. It was the first in a series of five novels featuring the title character, a former cocaine smuggler who changes sides and becomes a private detective on the rig ...

'' (1927) * ''The Secret Trail'' (1928) * ''The Trail of the Lotto'' (1929) * ''The Trail of the Black King'' (1931) * ''The Poison Trail'' (1932) * ''Britisher on Broadway'' (1932) * ''Easy Warriors'' (1932) * ''Ten Minute Alibi'' (1934) – novelization of his play, adapted as a 1935 film * '' Without Witness'' (1934) * ''Cottage into House'' (1936) * ''The End of the Road'' (1943) * ''When the Bells Rang: A Tale of What Might Have Been '' (1943) * ''No Higher Mountain'' (1951) * '' He Was Found in the Road'' (1952) – adapted as the 1956 film ''

The Man in the Road ''The Man in the Road'' is a 1956 British second feature thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Derek Farr, Ella Raines, Donald Wolfit and Cyril Cusack. It was written by Guy Morgan based on the 1952 novel '' He Was Found in t ...

'' * ''Spies in Amber'' (1956) * '' The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham'' (1957) – adapted as the 1970 film ''

'' * ''One Jump Ahead'' (1973)

Short story collections

* ''Apple and Percival'' (1931), humorous stories about Apple and his friend Percival. * ''The Prince Who Hiccupped and Other Tales: Being Some Fairy Tales for Grownups'' (1932) * ''The Pack of Pieces'' (1942) – more fairy tales for adults

Plays

* ''In the Dentist's Chair'' (1931) * '' Orders Are Orders'' (1932) * ''The Eleventh Hour'' (1933) * ''

Ten Minute Alibi ''Ten Minute Alibi'' is a 1935 British crime film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and starring Phillips Holmes, Aileen Marson and Theo Shall. It was made at Beaconsfield Studios.Wood p.84 The film's sets were designed by the art director Andrew Ma ...

'' (1933) * ''

Without Witness ''Without Witness'' (, translit. Bez svideteley) also known as Private Conversation is a 1983 Soviet drama film directed by Nikita Mikhalkov. It won the Prix FIPRESCI at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival. Plot The film is stage ...

'' (1933) * '' Mile-Away Murder'' (1937) * ''Here We Come Gathering'' (1951)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Armstrong, Anthony 1897 births 1976 deaths Canadian male novelists 20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century English novelists English dramatists and playwrights People from Esquimalt, British Columbia People educated at Uppingham School 20th-century Canadian novelists Canadian male dramatists and playwrights English male novelists 20th-century Canadian male writers Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Engineers officers British Army personnel of World War I 20th-century English male writers