Clifford Hardman "Clive" Brook (1 June 1887 – 17 November 1974) was an English stage and

film actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

. After making his first screen appearance in 1920, Brook emerged as a leading British actor in the early 1920s. After moving to the United States in 1924, Brook became one of the major stars for

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

in the late

silent era A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, wh ...

. During 1928–29 he successfully made the transition to

sound In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid. In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the br ...

and continued to be featured in many of

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

's most prestigious films. Career highlights include

Josef Von Sternberg Josef von Sternberg (; born Jonas Sternberg; May 29, 1894 – December 22, 1969) was an American filmmaker whose career successfully spanned the transition from the Silent film, silent to the Sound film, sound era, during which he worked with mos ...

's ''

Underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

'' (1927) and '' Shanghai Express'' (1932); as well as being the first actor to portray

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

in a '

talkie 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 befo ...

'. In the mid-1930s he returned to Britain where he appeared regularly in leading film roles until his retirement from movies in 1944.

Early life

Brook was born in

Islington Islington ( ) is an inner-city area of north London, England, within the wider London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's #Islington High Street, High Street to Highbury Fields ...

, London, the son of George Alfred Brook and Charlotte Mary Brook. He attended

Dulwich College Dulwich College is a 2-18 private, day and boarding school for boys in Dulwich, London, England. As a public school, it began as the College of God's Gift, founded in 1619 by Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn, with the original purpose of ...

because of his father's desire for him to be a lawyer, but family financial problems caused him to leave at age 15. He then studied elocution at a polytechnic. He served in the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

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 ...

, rising to the rank of

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

. Brook was tall and had brown hair with grey eyes. Before Brook went into acting, he worked as a journalist and an insurance clerk. He first appeared on stage in 1918 and also in films from 1919. He worked first in British films then in

Hollywood

Brook debuted on film in '' Trent's Last Case'' (1920). He was memorable in

Josef von Sternberg Josef von Sternberg (; born Jonas Sternberg; May 29, 1894 – December 22, 1969) was an American filmmaker whose career successfully spanned the transition from the Silent film, silent to the Sound film, sound era, during which he worked with mos ...

's ''

'' (1927) as an alcoholic ex-lawyer who is taken under the wing of a professional thief. Von Sternberg later featured him in one of Brook's best remembered appearances, playing opposite

Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however, Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...

in '' Shanghai Express'' (1932). He played

three times: ''The Return of Sherlock Holmes'' and ''Sherlock Holmes'' (in that order), and as part of an

anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film or a portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of three or more shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme, premise ...

, '' Paramount on Parade'' (1930). In 1934 he was voted one of the most popular stars at the British box office. At the end of his career, Brook appeared in a number of British television dramas, notably in the "ITV Play of the Week" strand on the fledgling Independent Television commercial channel. He returned to film one last time in '' The List of Adrian Messenger'' (1963).

Return to England

Brook returned to England in 1935 because of kidnapping threats toward his children. In 1943, he adapted the comedy ''On Approval'' by Frederick Lonsdale and wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film with

Beatrice Lillie Beatrice Gladys Lillie, Lady Peel (29 May 1894 – 20 January 1989) was a Canadian-born British actress, singer and comedy performer. She began to perform as a child with her mother and sister. She made her West End debut in 1914 and soon gain ...

Googie Withers Georgette Lizette "Googie" Withers (12 March 191715 July 2011) was an English entertainer. She was a dancer and actress, with a lengthy career spanning some seventy-three years in theatre, film, and television. She was a well-known actress and ...

and

Roland Culver Roland Joseph Culver, (31 August 1900 – 1 March 1984) was an English stage, film, and television actor. Early life After Highgate School, Culver joined the Royal Air Force and served as a pilot from 1918 to 1919. Career After considering ...

. The costumes were by

Cecil Beaton Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton (14 January 1904 – 18 January 1980) was a British fashion, portrait and war photographer, diarist, painter, and interior designer, as well as costume designer and set designer for stage and screen. His accolades ...

. In 1949 he presented the radio series ''The Secrets of Scotland Yard''. In 1956 he appeared on stage in ''One Bright Day'' at the

Apollo Theatre The Apollo Theatre is a listed building, Grade II listed West End theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster, in central London.

in London.

Broadway

Brook starred as Josiah Bolton in the comedy ''Second Threshold'' from 2 January 1951 until 21 April 1951.

Death

Brook died 17 November 1974 in

Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...

, London.

Family

In 1920, Brook married Charlotte Elisabeth Mildred Evelyn. Their children,

Faith Faith is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept. In the context of religion, faith is " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". According to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, faith has multiple definitions, inc ...

and

Lyndon Lyndon may refer to: Places * Lyndon, Alberta, Canada * Lyndon, Rutland, East Midlands, England * Lyndon, Solihull, West Midlands, England United States * Lyndon, Illinois * Lyndon, Kansas * Lyndon, Kentucky * Lyndon, New York * Lyndon, Ohio * L ...

, were also actors.

Complete filmography

* '' Trent's Last Case'' (1920) - John Marlow * '' Kissing Cup's Race'' (1920) - Lord Rattlington * ''

Her Penalty ''Her Penalty'' is a 1921 British silent film, silent drama film directed by Einar Bruun and starring Stewart Rome, Pauline Peters and Clive Brook.Low p.380 Cast * Stewart Rome as James Fenwick * Pauline Peters as Vera Trenchard * Clive Brook ...

'' (1921) - Robert Trenchard * '' The Loudwater Mystery'' (1921) - Lord Loudwater * ''

Daniel Deronda ''Daniel Deronda'' is a novel by English author George Eliot, pen name of Mary Ann Evans, first published in eight parts (books) February to September 1876. It was the last novel she completed and the only one set in the Victorian society of ...

'' (1921) - Mallinger Grandcourt * '' A Sportsman's Wife'' (1921) - Dick Anderson * '' Sonia'' (1921) - David O'Raine * '' Christie Johnstone'' (1921) - Astral Hither * '' Vanity Fair'' (1922 short) - Rawdon Crawley * ''The Sheik'' (1922 short) - The Sheik * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

'' (1922 short) - Sydney Carton * '' Shirley'' (1922) - Robert Moore * ''

Married to a Mormon ''Married to a Mormon'' is a 1922 silent film, silent British drama film directed by H. B. Parkinson and starring Evelyn Brent, Clive Brook and George Wynn (actor), George Wynn. The film is Anti-Mormonism, anti-Mormon and involves the taking of ...

'' (1922) - Lionel Daventry * '' Stable Companions'' (1922) - James Pilkington * ''Rigoletto'' (1922 short) - Duke of Mantua * ''La traviata'' (1922 short) - Alfred Germont * ''The Parson's Fight'' (1922 short) - Parson * ''Sir Rupert's Wife'' (1922 short) - Sir Rupert Leigh * ''

The Experiment ''The Experiment'' is a 2002 BBC documentary series in which 15 men are randomly selected to be either "prisoner" or guard, contained in a simulated prison over an eight-day period. Produced by Steve Reicher and Alex Haslam, it presents the fi ...

'' (1922) - Vivian Caryll * ''Tense Moments with Great Authors'' (1922) - Rawdon Crawley (segment "Vanity Fair") / Sydney Carton (segment "Tale of Two Cities, A") * ''Tense Moments from Opera'' (1922) - Duke of Mantna / Alfred Germont (segments "Rigoletto", "La Traviata") * ''Love and a Whirlwind'' (1922) - Grifftih * '' A Debt of Honour'' (1922) - Walter Hyde * '' Through Fire and Water'' (1923) - John Dryden * '' This Freedom'' (1923) - Harry Occleve * '' Out to Win'' (1923) - Barraclough / Altar * '' The Royal Oak'' (1923) - Dorian Clavering * ''

The Reverse of the Medal ''The Reverse of the Medal'' is the eleventh historical novel in the Aubrey-Maturin series by Patrick O'Brian, first published in 1986. The story is set during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. Returning from the far side of the world ...

'' (1923 short) - General * '' Woman to Woman'' (1923) - David Compton / David Anson-Pond * ''

The Money Habit ''The Money Habit'' is a 1924 British silent film, silent crime film directed by Walter Niebuhr and starring Clive Brook, Annette Benson and Nina Vanna.Low p.411 It was based on a novel by Paul M. Potter. The screenplay concerns a man whose mist ...

'' (1924) - Noel Jason * '' The Recoil'' (1924) - Marchmont * '' The White Shadow'' (1924)Rare Alfred Hitchcock film footage uncovered
– BBC News, 3 August 2011, retrieved 4 August 2011. - Robin Field * '' The Wine of Life'' (1924) - Michael Strong * '' The Passionate Adventure'' (1924) - Adrien St. Clair * '' Christine of the Hungry Heart'' (1924) - Dr. Alan Monteagle * ''

Human Desires ''Human Desires'' is a 1924 British silent film, silent romance film directed by Burton George and starring Marjorie Daw (actress), Marjorie Daw, Clive Brook and Juliette Compton. It is also known by the alternative title of ''Love's Bargain''. ...

'' (1924) - Georges Gautier * ''

The Mirage The Mirage is a defunct casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The 65-acre property included a casino and 3,044 rooms. Mirage Resorts, Golden Nugget, Inc., led by developer Steve Wynn, purchased the future lan ...

'' (1924) - Henry Galt * '' Declassée'' (1925) - Rudolph Solomon * '' Enticement'' (1925) - Henry Wallis * '' Playing with Souls'' (1925) - Matthew Dale Sr. * '' If Marriage Fails'' (1925) - Joe Woodbury * '' The Woman Hater'' (1925) - Miles - the Woman-hater * '' The Home Maker'' (1925) - Lester Knapp * ''

Compromise To compromise is to make a deal between different parties where each party gives up part of their demand. In arguments, compromise means finding agreement through communication, through a mutual acceptance of terms—often involving variations fr ...

'' (1925) - Alan Tahyer * '' Seven Sinners'' (1925) - Jerry Winters * '' The Pleasure Buyers'' (1925) - Tad Workman * '' When Love Grows Cold'' (1926) - Jerry Benson * '' Three Faces East'' (1926) - Valdar * '' Why Girls Go Back Home'' (1926) - Clifford Dudley * '' You Never Know Women'' (1926) - Norodin * '' For Alimony Only'' (1926) - Peter Williams * '' The Popular Sin'' (1926) - Jean Corot * ''

Afraid to Love ''Afraid to Love'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Edward H. Griffith and written by Doris Anderson, Francis de Croisset, Fred de Gresac, Alfred Hustwick and Joseph Jackson. The film stars Florence Vidor, Clive Brook, ...

'' (1927) - Sir Reginald Belsize * ''

Barbed Wire Roll of modern agricultural barbed wire Barbed wire, also known as barb wire or bob wire (in the Southern and Southwestern United States), is a type of steel fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the ...

'' (1927) - Oskar Muller * ''

'' (1927) - Rolls-Royce Wensel * ''

Hula Hula () is a Hawaiian dance form expressing chant (''oli'') or song (Mele (Hawaiian language), ''mele''). It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Native Hawaiians who settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the oli ...

'' (1927) - Anthony Haldane * ''

The Devil Dancer ''The Devil Dancer'' is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film directed by Fred Niblo and produced by Samuel Goldwyn. The film stars Gilda Gray. For his work on this film, '' The Magic Flame'' and '' Sadie Thompson'', cinematographer Geor ...

'' (1927) - Stephen Athelstan * ''

French Dressing French dressing is a creamy dressing in American cuisine based upon oil, vinegar, tomato, sugar, and other often finely chopped ingredients. Its composition was once regulated by the United States federal government, which withdrew its standard ...

, aka ''Lessons for Wives'' (1927) - Henri de Briac * '' Midnight Madness'' (1928) - Michael Bream * '' Yellow Lily'' (1928) - Archduke Alexander * '' The Perfect Crime'' (1928) - Benson * '' Forgotten Faces'' (1928) - Heliotrope Harry Harlow * ''

Interference Interference is the act of interfering, invading, or poaching. Interference may also refer to: Communications * Interference (communication), anything which alters, modifies, or disrupts a message * Adjacent-channel interference, caused by extra ...

'' (1928) - Sir John Marlay * '' A Dangerous Woman'' (1929) - Frank Gregory * '' The Four Feathers'' (1929) - Lt. Jack Durrance * ''

Charming Sinners ''Charming Sinners'' is a 1929 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Robert Milton and Dorothy Arzner (who was uncredited), with a screenplay by Doris Anderson adapted from the 1926 play '' The Constant Wife'' written by W. Somerset Maug ...

'' (1929) - Robert Miles * '' The Return of Sherlock Holmes'' (1929) -

* ''

The Marriage Playground ''The Marriage Playground'' is a 1929 American pre-Code drama film directed by Lothar Mendes, and written by Doris Anderson, J. Walter Ruben, and Edith Wharton. The film stars Mary Brian, Fredric March, Lilyan Tashman, Huntley Gordon, K ...

'' (1929) - On-Screen Trailer Host and Narrator (uncredited) * '' The Laughing Lady'' (1929) - Daniel Farr * '' Slightly Scarlet'' (1930) - Hon. Courtenay Parkes * '' Paramount on Parade'' (1930) - Sherlock Holmes (Murder Will Out) * '' Sweethearts and Wives'' (1930) - Reginald De Brett * ''

Anybody's Woman ''Anybody's Woman'' is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Dorothy Arzner and written by Zoe Akins and Doris Anderson, as based on the short story "The Better Wife", which had been written by Gouverneur Morris; the movie was form ...

'' (1930) - Neil Dunlap * ''

Scandal Sheet Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism, which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as a half broadsheet. The size became associated with sensationalism, an ...

'' (1931) - Noel Adams * ''

East Lynne ''East Lynne, or, The Earl's Daughter'' is an 1861 English sensation novel by Ellen Wood, writing as Mrs. Henry Wood. A Victorian-era bestseller, it is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot centering on infidelity and dou ...

'' (1931) - Capt. William Levison * ''

Tarnished Lady ''Tarnished Lady'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Tallulah Bankhead and Clive Brook. The screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart is based on his short story, ''A Story of a New York La ...

'' (1931) - Norman Cravath * '' The Lawyer's Secret'' (1931) - Drake Norris * ''

Silence Silence is the absence of ambient hearing, audible sound, the emission of sounds of such low sound intensity, intensity that they do not draw attention to themselves, or the state of having ceased to produce sounds; this latter sense can be exten ...

'' (1931) - Jim Warren * '' 24 Hours'' (1931) - Jim Towner * '' Husband's Holiday'' (1931) - George Boyd * '' Shanghai Express'' (1932) - Captain Donald Harvey * '' The Man from Yesterday'' (1932) - Captain Tony Clyde * '' Make Me a Star'' (1932) - Himself (uncredited) * '' The Night of June 13'' (1932) - John Curry * ''

'' (1932) - Sherlock Holmes * ''

Cavalcade A cavalcade is a procession or parade on horseback, or a mass distance ride by a company of riders. Sometimes the focus of a cavalcade is participation rather than display and the participants do not wear costumes or ride in formation. ...

'' (1933) - Robert Marryot * ''

Midnight Club ''Midnight Club'' is a series of arcade-style racing video games developed by Rockstar San Diego and published by Rockstar Games. ''Midnight Club'' is similar to the '' Midtown Madness'' series (previously developed by Angel Studios), with a f ...

'' (1933) - Colin Grant * '' If I Were Free'' (1933) - Gordon Evers * '' Gallant Lady'' (1934) - Dan Pritchard * '' Where Sinners Meet'' (1934) - Mr. Latimer * ''

Let's Try Again ''Let's Try Again'' is a 1934 American melodrama film starring Clive Brook. It was known in Britain as ''Marriage Symphony''. It earned $183,000 at the box office at a time when a film of its budget was expected to earn $250,000.Richard Jewell a ...

'' (1934) - Dr. Jack Overton * '' The Dictator'' (1935) - Dr. Friedrich Struensee * '' Dressed to Thrill'' (1935) - Bill Trent * '' Love in Exile'' (1936) - King Regis VI * '' Lonely Road'' (1936) - Malcolm Stevenson * ''

Action for Slander ''Action for Slander'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by Tim Whelan and starring Clive Brook, Ann Todd and Googie Withers. The plot is about an army officer who is falsely accused at cheating at cards by a man whose wife he had an affa ...

'' (1937) - Maj. George Daviot * '' The Ware Case'' (1938) - Sir Hubert Ware * '' Return to Yesterday'' (1940) - Robert Maine * ''

Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

'' (1940) - Captain Armitage * '' Freedom Radio'' (1941) - Karl * ''

Breach of Promise Breach of promise is a common-law tort, abolished in many jurisdictions. It was also called breach of contract to marry,N.Y. Civil Rights Act article 8, §§ 80-A to 84. and the remedy awarded was known as heart balm. From at least the Middle ...

'' (1942) - Peter Conroy * '' The Flemish Farm'' (1943) - Maj. Lessart * '' The Shipbuilders'' (1943) - Leslie Pagan * '' On Approval'' (1944, also director, producer and screenwriter) - George, 10th Duke of Bristol * '' The List of Adrian Messenger'' (1963) - Marquis of Gleneyre

References

Bibliography

* Scott, Ian. ''From Pinewood to Hollywood: British Filmmakers in American Cinema, 1910–1969''. Palgrave MacMillan, 2010.

External links

*
Photographs of Clive Brook
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brook, Clive 1887 births 1974 deaths 20th-century English male actors Actors from the London Borough of Islington Artists' Rifles officers British Army officers British Army personnel of World War I English expatriate male actors in the United States English male film actors English male silent film actors English male stage actors Male actors from London Paramount Pictures contract players People educated at Dulwich College People from Islington (district)