Guido Lorraine
Encyclopedia
Guido Lorraine was a Polish
-born actor
, musician
and singer, known primarily for his roles in war films. He was also sometimes known by the stage name
Guy Borucki. Lorraine appeared in twenty-eight films during his career, as well as many theater productions.
Lorraine was born Gwidon Borucki in present-day Kraków
, Poland
in 1912. He studied at the School of Foreign Trade in Lvov, where he sung in restaurants to earn money. He learned to play the accordion
and piano
as a child.
Lorraine founded a military theatre group during World War II
. He is credited as the first singer to perform the song, "Red Poppy Flowers of Monte Cassino", in public.
He adpoted the pseudonym
Guy Borucki after World War II and moved to London
. He appeared on BBC radio, television and film. His film credits during the era included Hotel Sahara
in 1951, 1955's The Colditz Story
and Blue Murder at St Trinian's
in 1957. He also starred in a number of musical comedies and other British productions during the 1950s.
Lorraine moved to Australia
in 1959 to pursue his acting career. Much of career centred on entertainment for the Polish community living in Australia
, including a series of theatre performances, revues and cabaret
s. he also hosted his own television show at one point.
Guido Lorraine died in Melbourne, Australia, on 31 December 2009, at the age of 97.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
-born actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and singer, known primarily for his roles in war films. He was also sometimes known by the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Guy Borucki. Lorraine appeared in twenty-eight films during his career, as well as many theater productions.
Lorraine was born Gwidon Borucki in present-day Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1912. He studied at the School of Foreign Trade in Lvov, where he sung in restaurants to earn money. He learned to play the accordion
Accordion
The accordion is a box-shaped musical instrument of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone family, sometimes referred to as a squeezebox. A person who plays the accordion is called an accordionist....
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
as a child.
Lorraine founded a military theatre group during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He is credited as the first singer to perform the song, "Red Poppy Flowers of Monte Cassino", in public.
He adpoted the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
Guy Borucki after World War II and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He appeared on BBC radio, television and film. His film credits during the era included Hotel Sahara
Hotel Sahara
Hotel Sahara is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Peter Ustinov and David Tomlinson.-Cast:* Yvonne De Carlo as Yasmin Pallas* Peter Ustinov as Emad* David Tomlinson as Captain Puffin Cheyne...
in 1951, 1955's The Colditz Story
The Colditz Story
The Colditz Story is a 1955 prisoner of war film starring John Mills and Eric Portman and directed by Guy Hamilton.It is based on the book written by P.R...
and Blue Murder at St Trinian's
Blue Murder at St Trinian's
Blue Murder at St Trinian's is British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the second of the series of five films and stars Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell, Lionel Jeffries and Richard...
in 1957. He also starred in a number of musical comedies and other British productions during the 1950s.
Lorraine moved to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1959 to pursue his acting career. Much of career centred on entertainment for the Polish community living in Australia
Polish Australian
Poland has been a source country of immigrants to Australia, in particular in the post-war period. Immigration from Poland has long tapered off, with Polish Australian population now part of the mainstream Australian community.-Demography:...
, including a series of theatre performances, revues and cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
s. he also hosted his own television show at one point.
Guido Lorraine died in Melbourne, Australia, on 31 December 2009, at the age of 97.
Selected filmography
- State SecretState SecretState Secret is a 1950 British drama film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns and Herbert Lom. It was released in the United States under the title The Great Manhunt.-Cast:...
(1950) - Hotel SaharaHotel SaharaHotel Sahara is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Yvonne De Carlo, Peter Ustinov and David Tomlinson.-Cast:* Yvonne De Carlo as Yasmin Pallas* Peter Ustinov as Emad* David Tomlinson as Captain Puffin Cheyne...
(1951) - The Red BeretThe Red BeretThe Red Beret is a 1953 British made Technicolor war film starring Alan Ladd, Leo Genn and Susan Stephen. It deals with the Parachute Regiment during the Second World War. It is notable as the first film made by Warwick Films with many of the crew working on various Warwick Films and Albert R....
(1953) - Father BrownFather Brown (film)Father Brown is a 1954 British mystery comedy film. Technically, the film is a remake of the 1934 Paramount picture Father Brown, Detective, starring Walter Connolly, Paul Lukas and Gertrude Michael, which was likewise based on "The Blue Cross," but confined the action to London...
(1954) - The Colditz StoryThe Colditz StoryThe Colditz Story is a 1955 prisoner of war film starring John Mills and Eric Portman and directed by Guy Hamilton.It is based on the book written by P.R...
(1955) - Break in the CircleBreak in the CircleBreak in the Circle is a 1955 British film directed by Val Guest and starring Forrest Tucker, Eva Bartok, Marius Goring and Guy Middleton. An adventurer is hired by a German millionaire to help a Polish scientist escape to the West....
(1955) - Above Us the WavesAbove Us the Waves (film)Above Us the Waves is a 1955 war film directed by Ralph Thomas. It tells the story of human torpedo and midget submarine attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz. It is based on true-life attacks on the Tirpitz, first using manned torpedoes , and then the Royal Navy's midget X-Craft submarines in...
(1955) - Gentlemen Marry BrunettesGentlemen Marry BrunettesGentlemen Marry Brunettes is a 1955 musical film produced by Russ-Field productions, starring Jane Russell and Jeanne Crain, and released by United Artists...
(1955) - Port AfriquePort AfriquePort Afrique is a 1956 British drama film based on the 1948 novel of the same name by Dr. Bernard Victor Dryer . The colour film was directed by Rudolph Maté and the adapted screenplay was written by John Cresswell...
(1956) - Blue Murder at St Trinian'sBlue Murder at St Trinian'sBlue Murder at St Trinian's is British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the second of the series of five films and stars Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell, Lionel Jeffries and Richard...
(1957) - That Woman OppositeThat Woman OppositeThat Woman Opposite is a 1957 British crime drama, directed by Compton Bennett and starring Phyllis Kirk, Dan O'Herlihy and William Franklyn...
(1957)