Anthony Ruthven Gethryn is a character depicted in novels by
Philip MacDonald and their cinematic counterparts.
History
Gethryn is the series detective for more than a dozen of
Philip MacDonald's murder mysteries, written between 1924 and 1959. He is an amateur detective who works closely with the police to pursue criminals.
In Macdonald's first Gethryn novel, ''
The Rasp'', Gethryn is presented as a British ex-secret service agent and newspaper reporter, who solves an intricate
locked room mystery
The "locked-room" or "impossible crime" mystery is a type of crime seen in crime and detective fiction. The crime in question, typically murder ("locked-room murder"), is committed in circumstances under which it appeared impossible for the perp ...
and meets his future wife.
Adaptations
Gethryn was portrayed by Claude Horton in the 1932 film version of ''The Rasp''.
In the 1939 film, ''
The Nursemaid Who Disappeared'', the character of Gethryn is played by
Arthur Margetson
Arthur Margetson (27 April 1887 – 13 August 1951) was a British stage and film actor and radio broadcaster. He was also a composer of music and lyrics, and an impersonator of performers such as G P Huntley, Alfred Lester, and Harry Weldon. ...
.
In the 1940 film, ''
Hangman's Noose
''Hangman's Noose'' (French: ''Le collier de chanvre'') is a 1940 French mystery film directed by Léon Mathot and starring Jacqueline Delubac, André Luguet and Annie Vernay.Oscherwitz & Higgins p.279 It is based on the 1932 novel ''Rope to Spar ...
'', adapted from Macdonald's ''Rope to Spare'',
André Luguet
André Luguet (15 May 1892 – 24 May 1979) was a French stage and film actor. He appeared in more than 120 films between 1910 and 1970. He was born in Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, and died in Cannes, France. His daughter Rosine Luguet became ...
plays the role of Gethryn.
The 1956 film, ''
23 Paces to Baker Street
''23 Paces to Baker Street'' is a 1956 American DeLuxe Color mystery thriller film directed by Henry Hathaway. It was released by 20th Century-Fox and filmed in CinemaScope on location in London. The screenplay by Nigel Balchin was based on the ...
'', based on the 1938 Gethryn novel, ''Warrant for X'', conflates Gethryn's character with that of the playwright who overhears the conversation which triggers the plot.
Van Johnson
Charles Van Dell Johnson (August 25, 1916 – December 12, 2008) was an American actor and dancer. He had a prolific career in film, television, theatre and radio, which spanned over 50 years, from 1940 to 1992. He was a major star at Metr ...
plays the role of Phillip Hannon, the blind playwright/detective.
George C. Scott
George Campbell Scott (October 18, 1927 – September 22, 1999) was an American actor. He had a celebrated career on both stage and screen. With a gruff demeanor and commanding presence, Scott became known for his portrayal of stern but complex ...
played Gethryn in the 1963 film ''
The List of Adrian Messenger'', based on MacDonald's 1959 novel of the same name.
Bibliography
* ''
The Rasp'' (1924)
* ''The White Crow'' (1928)
* ''The Link'' (1929)
* ''
The Noose'' (1930)
* ''The Polferry Riddle'' aka ''The Polferry Mystery'' aka ''The Choice'' (1931)
* ''The Wraith'' (1931)
* ''The Crime Conductor'' (1932)
* ''The Maze'' aka ''Persons Unknown'' (1932)
* ''Rope to Spare'' (1932)
* ''Death on My Left'' (1935)
* ''Warrant for X'' aka ''The Nursemaid Who Disappeared'' (1938)
* ''The List of Adrian Messenger'' (1959)
References
External links
*
Allen J. Hubin, ''Crime Fiction, 1749-1980: A Comprehensive Bibliography'', New York/London, Garland Publishing, 1984.
Martin Edwards "Do You Write Under Your Own Name? - Philip MacDonald" (2008-01-27)
Nick Fuller Review of ''The Noose'' (1930)Golden Age Detection: MacDonald, Philip
*
ttp://www.geocities.com/jjnevins/pulpsg.html Jess Nevins The Pulp Heroes: G
Fictional amateur detectives
Fictional British detectives
Novel series by featured character
Characters in British novels
Characters of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction
{{novel-char-stub