James Mason broke into British films in 1935 after a few years working on the stage. For the rest of the decade, he alternated unsuccessful theatre ventures with increasingly important movies. Though he was a conscientious objector, he became one of the most popular British actors of the World War II era. He moved to Hollywood after the war and made 34 films between 1949 and 1962. Though success initially eluded him, he worked with some of the leading directors of the time and eventually won an Academy Award nomination for A Star is Born (1954). He worked steadily in the years that followed, appearing in nearly 50 feature films from 1963 until his death in 1984. While many of these films were undistinguished, he earned two additional Oscar nominations and was voted Cinema Actor of the Century by a panel of international critics in 1967. This reference book is a comprehensive guide to his life and career. The volume begins with a biography in narrative form that traces Mason's life. The biography is followed by a short chronology, which highlights the principal events of his life and career. An extensive annotated bibliography then reviews works by and about Mason. The sections that follow detail his many performances in film, radio, television, audio recordings, and the stage. Each section includes entries for individual productions, with entries providing extensive cast and credit information, plot summaries, excerpts from reviews, and critical commentary where available. The volume also lists additional information, such as Mason's awards and nominations.
Sarah Thomas's study moves beyond the image of the brooding, destructive man at odds with employers and his own star status to explore the complexity of Mason’s career and star persona. Her analysis is structured around three strands central to understanding stardom: the star persona, industry and power, and screen performance. Thomas addresses the incredible range of Mason’s star career – 1930s ‘quota quickies’; 1940s Gainsborough melodramas; the desperate IRA man in Carol Reed’s ‘Odd Man Out’ (1947); from the 1950s onwards, Hollywood classics including starring in Hitchcock’s ‘North by Northwest’ (1959) and playing Humbert Humbert in Kubrick’s ‘Lolita’ (1962). She also considers in depth his undervalued post-1962 career, off-screen celebrity status, non-film work, comic and vocal performances, and the star’s own self-commentary. In doing so, she offers a new perspective on such subjects as power and powerlessness; public image and national identity, contextualizing Mason's career in wider histories of British, American and European transnational filmmaking.
James Mason (1909–1984) was born to be an actor. He just didn’t know it. A Cambridge graduate with a degree in architecture, he arrived in London at a time when nothing was being built. With few prospects, he turned to the stage, where his modest experience proved enough to land him a spot in repertory theater. Those early performances led to film roles in which he was initially deemed "adequate" before finding his niche as a brooding, sophisticated villain—an identity that made him a star in British cinema. At the height of his fame and spurred on by his Hollywood-obsessed wife, Pamela, Mason made the leap to California. There, he built a successful career in films that are now deemed classics, like A Star Is Born and Lolita, while attempting to enjoy the trappings of Hollywood life—lavish parties, late nights on the town, and high-profile friendships. But in spite of a beloved collection of cats, whimsically captured in his own sketches in this volume, his sumptuous Beverly Hills house never truly felt like home. Surprising everyone—including Pamela—after Lolita’s New York premiere, Mason abruptly boarded a one-way flight to Switzerland, where he would spend the rest of his life, often travelling with his second wife to remote movie locations around the world, and settling happily into the role of character actor. James Mason: The Movie Star Hollywood Forgot explores the complexities of Mason’s life and career—a reluctant star whose refined demeanor and enigmatic choices made him one of cinema’s most intriguing figures. From British popularity to Hollywood prestige, from exile to final triumph, his story is one of artistry, reinvention, and quiet rebellion.
Few men are prominent chess players as well as esteemed chess writers. James Mason, in his lifetime, had the reputation of being both. This book chronicles Mason's early career in the United States, providing many details on his writings and annotations for The Spirit of the Times and The American Chess Journal, his participation in the Cafe Europa and Cafe International tournaments, his win in 1876's Fourth American Chess Congress, and his matches against chess greats like George H. Mackenzie, Eugene Delmar, Dion M. Martinez, Edward Alberoni, and Henry E. Bird. Mason's efforts to establish an American Chess Association and to arrange an international centennial congress in 1876 are also explored. In addition to the general index, the work also includes indexes of games, annotators, and openings.
A Personal Biography. Drawing on her own experience and interviews with those who knew him, including Alec Guinness, Margaret Lockwood, Deborah Kerr and many other actors, directors and writers, Diana de Rosso lets us into the real life of a truly great Englishman.
Arthur James Mason DD (4 May 1851 - 24 April 1928) was an English clergyman, theologian and classical scholar. He was Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Early life: The third son of George William Mason JP, of Morton Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire, by his marriage to Marianne Atherton Mitford (born 1821 in India), a daughter of Captain Joseph George Mitford (1791-1875), of the Madras Army, Mason was educated at Repton School and Trinity College, Cambridge. The third of four sons, his youngest brother, Charles Evelyn Mason, was killed in the Zulu War of 1879.His brother William Henry Mason was a High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. His sister, Harriet, was a poor law inspector and another sister, Agnes founded a religious community. Their grandfather, J. G. Mitford, was the son of Bertram Mitford (1748-1800) of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Career: Mason was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1873 and was a college tutor from 1874 to 1877, when he went to Cornwall as Canon of Truro. His departure from Cambridge was at the urging of his friend Edward White Benson, who had been appointed as Bishop of Truro and wanted Mason to act as diocesan missioner. In 1884, after Benson had been translated to Canterbury, Mason took up a benefice as Vicar of All Hallows-by-the-Tower, Barking, in the City of London, where he remained until 1895. That year he returned to Cambridge as Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity (1895-1903) and also became a Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. He was a Fellow of Jesus from 1896 to 1903, before serving as Master of Pembroke from 1903 to 1912. In 1908 he was elected Vice-Chancellor of the University, continuing in the post for two years. As well as works on theology and biography, Mason wrote and translated hymns. As "A. J. M.", he was a contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography. Private life: On 11 January 1899, Mason married Mary Margaret, a daughter of the Rev. G. J. Blore DD, Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral and a former Head Master of King's School, Canterbury. They had two sons, Paul and Lancelot, and a daughter, Mildred. Paul became a diplomat and was ambassador to the Netherlands in the 1950s, while Lancelot followed his father into the Church and was Archdeacon of Chichester from 1946 to 1973. Arthur James Mason died at Canterbury on 24 April 1928.
William Edward Collins (18 February 1867 - 22 March 1911) was an Anglican bishop, Bishop of Gibraltar from 1904 until his death. Biography: William Edward Collins was the second son of Joseph Henry Collins, a mining engineer and writer on geology. He was born in London, but his father moved to Cornwall while he was a child. One of his brothers was Arthur L. Collins, a mining engineer who was murdered in the United States. He was educated at Nuttall's and Chancellor's schools in Truro and at Selwyn College, Cambridge.Ordained in 1891, he began his career as a Curate at All Hallows-by-the-Tower in the City of London. After a short spell as a Lecturer at his old college he became Professor of Ecclesiastical History at King's College London where he remained until his elevation to the Episcopate. As Bishop of Gibraltar he worked from The Convent, which was the residence of the Governor of Gibraltar, although he had his own house in Malta. A Sub-Prelate of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, he died on 22 March 1911 in Constantinople.He is interred at the St. John the Evangelist's Anglican Church, Izmir in Turkey.Collins' life was described in a biography by Arthur James Mason.......... Arthur James Mason DD (4 May 1851 - 24 April 1928) was an English clergyman, theologian and classical scholar. He was Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Early life: The third son of George William Mason JP, of Morton Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire, by his marriage to Marianne Atherton Mitford (born 1821 in India), a daughter of Captain Joseph George Mitford (1791-1875), of the Madras Army, Mason was educated at Repton School and Trinity College, Cambridge. The third of four sons, his youngest brother, Charles Evelyn Mason, was killed in the Zulu War of 1879.His brother William Henry Mason was a High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. His sister, Harriet, was a poor law inspector and another sister, Agnes founded a religious community. Their grandfather, J. G. Mitford, was the son of Bertram Mitford (1748-1800) of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Career: Mason was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1873 and was a college tutor from 1874 to 1877, when he went to Cornwall as Canon of Truro. His departure from Cambridge was at the urging of his friend Edward White Benson, who had been appointed as Bishop of Truro and wanted Mason to act as diocesan missioner. In 1884, after Benson had been translated to Canterbury, Mason took up a benefice as Vicar of All Hallows-by-the-Tower, Barking, in the City of London, where he remained until 1895. That year he returned to Cambridge as Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity (1895-1903) and also became a Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. He was a Fellow of Jesus from 1896 to 1903, before serving as Master of Pembroke from 1903 to 1912. In 1908 he was elected Vice-Chancellor of the University, continuing in the post for two years. As well as works on theology and biography, Mason wrote and translated hymns. As "A. J. M.", he was a contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography. Private life: On 11 January 1899, Mason married Mary Margaret, a daughter of the Rev. G. J. Blore DD, Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral and a former Head Master of King's School, Canterbury. They had two sons, Paul and Lancelot, and a daughter, Mildred. Paul became a diplomat and was ambassador to the Netherlands in the 1950s, while Lancelot followed his father into the Church and was Archdeacon of Chichester from 1946 to 1973. Arthur James Mason died at Canterbury on 24 April 1928....................
Thomas Cranmer (2 July 1489 - 21 March 1556) was a leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I. He helped build the case for the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which was one of the causes of the separation of the English Church from union with the Holy See. Along with Thomas Cromwell, he supported the principle of Royal Supremacy, in which the king was considered sovereign over the Church within his realm. During Cranmer's tenure as Archbishop of Canterbury, he was responsible for establishing the first doctrinal and liturgical structures of the reformed Church of England. Under Henry's rule, Cranmer did not make many radical changes in the Church, due to power struggles between religious conservatives and reformers. However, he succeeded in publishing the first officially authorised vernacular service, the Exhortation and Litany. When Edward came to the throne, Cranmer was able to promote major reforms. He wrote and compiled the first two editions of the Book of Common Prayer, a complete liturgy for the English Church. With the assistance of several Continental reformers to whom he gave refuge, he changed doctrine in areas such as the Eucharist, clerical celibacy, the role of images in places of worship, and the veneration of saints. Cranmer promulgated the new doctrines through the Prayer Book, the Homilies and other publications. After the accession of the Roman Catholic Mary I, Cranmer was put on trial for treason and heresy. Imprisoned for over two years and under pressure from Church authorities, he made several recantations and apparently reconciled himself with the Roman Catholic Church. However, on the day of his execution, he withdrew his recantations, to die a heretic to Roman Catholics and a martyr for the principles of the English Reformation. Cranmer's death was immortalised in Foxe's Book of Martyrs and his legacy lives on within the Church of England through the Book of Common Prayer and the Thirty-Nine Articles, an Anglican statement of faith derived from his work..... Arthur James Mason DD (4 May 1851 - 24 April 1928) was an English clergyman, theologian and classical scholar. He was Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Early life: The third son of George William Mason JP, of Morton Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire, by his marriage to Marianne Atherton Mitford (born 1821 in India), a daughter of Captain Joseph George Mitford (1791-1875), of the Madras Army, Mason was educated at Repton School and Trinity College, Cambridge. The third of four sons, his youngest brother, Charles Evelyn Mason, was killed in the Zulu War of 1879.His brother William Henry Mason was a High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. His sister, Harriet, was a poor law inspector and another sister, Agnes founded a religious community. Their grandfather, J. G. Mitford, was the son of Bertram Mitford (1748-1800) of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Career: Mason was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1873 and was a college tutor from 1874 to 1877, when he went to Cornwall as Canon of Truro. His departure from Cambridge was at the urging of his friend Edward White Benson, who had been appointed as Bishop of Truro and wanted Mason to act as diocesan missioner.....
""Favorite Cat Stories of Pamela and James Mason"" is a collection of heartwarming and amusing tales about the feline companions of actors Pamela and James Mason. The book features stories about the cats' personalities, quirks, and adventures, as well as their interactions with the Masons and other animals. From a mischievous kitten who causes chaos in the Mason household to a wise and loyal feline who helps a young girl overcome her fears, each story is sure to delight cat lovers of all ages. Written by Pamela Ostrer Mason, this charming book is a must-read for anyone who has ever been touched by the love and companionship of a cat.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
Arthur James Mason DD (4 May 1851 - 24 April 1928) was an English clergyman, theologian and classical scholar. He was Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity, Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge, and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. Early life: The third son of George William Mason JP, of Morton Hall, Retford, Nottinghamshire, by his marriage to Marianne Atherton Mitford (born 1821 in India), a daughter of Captain Joseph George Mitford (1791-1875), of the Madras Army, Mason was educated at Repton School and Trinity College, Cambridge. The third of four sons, his youngest brother, Charles Evelyn Mason, was killed in the Zulu War of 1879.His brother William Henry Mason was a High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. His sister, Harriet, was a poor law inspector and another sister, Agnes founded a religious community. Their grandfather, J. G. Mitford, was the son of Bertram Mitford (1748-1800) of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Career: Mason was elected a Fellow of Trinity College in 1873 and was a college tutor from 1874 to 1877, when he went to Cornwall as Canon of Truro. His departure from Cambridge was at the urging of his friend Edward White Benson, who had been appointed as Bishop of Truro and wanted Mason to act as diocesan missioner. In 1884, after Benson had been translated to Canterbury, Mason took up a benefice as Vicar of All Hallows-by-the-Tower, Barking, in the City of London, where he remained until 1895. That year he returned to Cambridge as Lady Margaret's Professor of Divinity (1895-1903) and also became a Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. He was a Fellow of Jesus from 1896 to 1903, before serving as Master of Pembroke from 1903 to 1912. In 1908 he was elected Vice-Chancellor of the University, continuing in the post for two years. As well as works on theology and biography, Mason wrote and translated hymns. As "A. J. M.", he was a contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography. Private life: On 11 January 1899, Mason married Mary Margaret, a daughter of the Rev. G. J. Blore DD, Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral and a former Head Master of King's School, Canterbury. They had two sons, Paul and Lancelot, and a daughter, Mildred. Paul became a diplomat and was ambassador to the Netherlands in the 1950s, while Lancelot followed his father into the Church and was Archdeacon of Chichester from 1946 to 1973. Arthur James Mason died at Canterbury on 24 April 1928............................
