John Faulkner (actor)
Encyclopedia
John Faulkner was a British-Australian inventor and actor of theatre and film. He appeared in two early vehicles for sports star Snowy Baker, The Enemy Within
(1918) and The Lure of the Bush
(1918), as well as movies from directors Raymond Longford
, Franklyn Barrett
, Paulette McDonagh
and Beaumont Smith
.
, the first Governor General of England. When he was 13 he was sent to live with relatives in Ontario
, Canada. In 1893 he returned to England and worked for several years as a traveller for a brewery. He befriended a young Oscar Asche
and the two of them travelled the English countryside selling a fridge that Faulkner had invented. In the early 1900s he was a drinking companion to John Barrymore
.
He started to act, formed his own theatre company and toured South America and North America. While in New York he received an offer to act opposite Ethel Barrymore
but turned it down to return to England, where he started making films. He continued to make money on the side by inventing things, such as a elastic-sided shoe. A meeting with Roy Redgrave
who had just toured Australia successfully prompted him to move to that country in 1914. He settled in Australia for the next few years, apart from a 1916 visit to Hollywood were he befriended Charlie Chaplin
.
Faulkner began acting in Australian silent films, starting with The Enemy Within
(1918). Historian Graham Shirley wrote that "as an actor, his most distinctive roles were those of the refined heavy, but he also played a gallery of indulgent or put-upon fathers. His appearance was more suited to the villains than fathers."
He lived in England for a few years in the 1920s before returning to Australia in 1924. He produced a documentary about a kangroo cull, On the Trail of the Kangaroo (1925), and acted in two films for the McDonagh sisters, The Far Paradise
(1928)
and The Cheaters
(1930). His work in silent film impressed executives at MGM in Hollywood enough to offer him a contract, but it was conditional on a medical test and by that stage he had had two strokes and his blood pressure was high.
He married twice, the second time to dancer Sheia Whytock, and became a father at a late age to a son, the future actor Trader Faulkner. His son later claimed that Faulkner started drunking heavily from 1932 onwards and suffered major financial difficulties. He made and sold his own whiskey at home to earn some extra money.
He suffered a third stroke on September 7, 1934 and died six days later in the Many District Hospital. His son later wrote that "the family were relieved he had gone, except for me." He added that, "My father's friends later told me that he was a brilliant raconteur and wit, and a wonderful companion. His genius - like that of his old friend Jack Barrymore - had evidently flourished in the bar. If there was tragedy in his life, it was neglect. He was pushed out to fend for himself when he was just 13. Between then and his marriage, he acquired enormous talent, but had no family life, no purpose, no dicipline. Like those he helped in Australian films, he had to learn as he went along."
The Enemy Within (1918 film)
The Enemy Within is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker in his first screen role. He plays a secret agent battling saboteurs based on the International Workers of the World...
(1918) and The Lure of the Bush
The Lure of the Bush
The Lure of the Bush is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker.-External links:* at the National Film and Sound Archive...
(1918), as well as movies from directors Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford
Raymond Longford was a prolific Australian film director, writer, producer and actor during the silent era. Longford was a major director of the silent film era of the Australian cinema. He formed a production team with Lottie Lyell...
, Franklyn Barrett
Franklyn Barrett
Walter Franklyn Barrett , better known as Franklyn Barrett, was an Australian film director and cinematographer.-Select Filmography:*The Christian - cinematographer, director...
, Paulette McDonagh
Paulette McDonagh
Paulette de Vere McDonagh , was an Australian film director, who often worked in collaboration with her sisters Phyllis and Isabella.-Select Filmography:*The Mystery of the Hansom Cab - extra*Those Who Love...
and Beaumont Smith
Beaumont Smith
Frank Beaumont Smith , was an Australian film director, producer and exhibitor, best known for making low-budget comedies. After a career in theatre production, including managing a midget circus, he made his first film in 1917, Our Friends, the Hayseeds. He went on to become one of the most...
.
Biography
Faulkner was born in Ashby-de-la-Zouche, Leicestershire, England, the 5th of ten children. He was a descendant of Warren HastingsWarren Hastings
Warren Hastings PC was the first Governor-General of India, from 1773 to 1785. He was famously accused of corruption in an impeachment in 1787, but was acquitted in 1795. He was made a Privy Councillor in 1814.-Early life:...
, the first Governor General of England. When he was 13 he was sent to live with relatives in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada. In 1893 he returned to England and worked for several years as a traveller for a brewery. He befriended a young Oscar Asche
Oscar Asche
John Stange Heiss Oscar Asche , better known as Oscar Asche, was an Australian actor, director and writer, best known for having written, directed, and acted in the record-breaking musical Chu Chin Chow, both on stage and film, and for acting in, directing, or producing many Shakespeare plays and...
and the two of them travelled the English countryside selling a fridge that Faulkner had invented. In the early 1900s he was a drinking companion to John Barrymore
John Barrymore
John Sidney Blyth , better known as John Barrymore, was an acclaimed American actor. He first gained fame as a handsome stage actor in light comedy, then high drama and culminating in groundbreaking portrayals in Shakespearean plays Hamlet and Richard III...
.
He started to act, formed his own theatre company and toured South America and North America. While in New York he received an offer to act opposite Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore
Ethel Barrymore was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors.-Early life:Ethel Barrymore was born Ethel Mae Blythe in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the second child of the actors Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew...
but turned it down to return to England, where he started making films. He continued to make money on the side by inventing things, such as a elastic-sided shoe. A meeting with Roy Redgrave
Roy Redgrave
Roy Redgrave was an English stage and silent film actor. Redgrave was the founder of the Redgrave acting family.-Early life:...
who had just toured Australia successfully prompted him to move to that country in 1914. He settled in Australia for the next few years, apart from a 1916 visit to Hollywood were he befriended Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
.
Faulkner began acting in Australian silent films, starting with The Enemy Within
The Enemy Within (1918 film)
The Enemy Within is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker in his first screen role. He plays a secret agent battling saboteurs based on the International Workers of the World...
(1918). Historian Graham Shirley wrote that "as an actor, his most distinctive roles were those of the refined heavy, but he also played a gallery of indulgent or put-upon fathers. His appearance was more suited to the villains than fathers."
He lived in England for a few years in the 1920s before returning to Australia in 1924. He produced a documentary about a kangroo cull, On the Trail of the Kangaroo (1925), and acted in two films for the McDonagh sisters, The Far Paradise
The Far Paradise
The Far Paradise is a 1928 Australian silent film directed by Paulette McDonagh and starring Marie Lorraine the stage name of Isabel McDonagh. This is the second feature from the McDonagh sisters...
(1928)
and The Cheaters
The Cheaters (1930 film)
The Cheaters is a 1930 Australian silent film directed by Paulette McDonagh and starring Isabel McDonagh . Phyllis McDonagh worked as art director...
(1930). His work in silent film impressed executives at MGM in Hollywood enough to offer him a contract, but it was conditional on a medical test and by that stage he had had two strokes and his blood pressure was high.
He married twice, the second time to dancer Sheia Whytock, and became a father at a late age to a son, the future actor Trader Faulkner. His son later claimed that Faulkner started drunking heavily from 1932 onwards and suffered major financial difficulties. He made and sold his own whiskey at home to earn some extra money.
He suffered a third stroke on September 7, 1934 and died six days later in the Many District Hospital. His son later wrote that "the family were relieved he had gone, except for me." He added that, "My father's friends later told me that he was a brilliant raconteur and wit, and a wonderful companion. His genius - like that of his old friend Jack Barrymore - had evidently flourished in the bar. If there was tragedy in his life, it was neglect. He was pushed out to fend for himself when he was just 13. Between then and his marriage, he acquired enormous talent, but had no family life, no purpose, no dicipline. Like those he helped in Australian films, he had to learn as he went along."
Filmography
- The Enemy WithinThe Enemy Within (1918 film)The Enemy Within is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker in his first screen role. He plays a secret agent battling saboteurs based on the International Workers of the World...
(1918) - ₤500 Reward₤500 Reward-External links:* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1918) - The Lure of the BushThe Lure of the BushThe Lure of the Bush is a 1918 Australian silent film starring renowned Australian sportsman Snowy Baker.-External links:* at the National Film and Sound Archive...
(1918) - The Breaking of the DroughtThe Breaking of the DroughtThe Breaking of the Drought is a 1920 Australian silent film from director Franklyn Barrett based on the popular play by Bland Holt.-External links:* at Australian Screen Online...
(1918) - The Man from Snowy RiverThe Man from Snowy River (1920 film)The Man from Snowy River is a 1920 film made in Australia. The film was silent and filmed in black and white, and was based on the Banjo Paterson poem of the same name....
(1920) - Silks and SaddlesSilks and SaddlesSilks and Saddles is a 1921 Australian / American film set in the world of horse racing directed by John K. Wells.The film is also known as Queen o' Turf or Queen of the Turf in the USA.- Plot summary :...
(1921) - The Blue Mountains MysteryThe Blue Mountains MysteryThe Blue Mountains Mystery is a lost 1921 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford and co-directed by Lottie Lyell. The film was derived from the 1919 novel The Mount Marunga Mystery by Harrison Owen. Although now lost, at the time of its release The Blue Mountains Mystery fared well in...
(1921) - Birth of New Zealand (1921)
- On the Trail of the Kangaroo (1925) - documentary, producer only
- Peter Vernon's SilencePeter Vernon's SilencePeter Vernon's Silence is a 1926 Australian silent film directed by Raymond Longford.-External links:* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1926) - The Far ParadiseThe Far ParadiseThe Far Paradise is a 1928 Australian silent film directed by Paulette McDonagh and starring Marie Lorraine the stage name of Isabel McDonagh. This is the second feature from the McDonagh sisters...
(1928) - Odds OnOdds On (1928 film)Odds On is a 1928 Australian silent film starring Arthur Tauchert set in the world of horse racing. It was the first film as director from noted cinematographer Arthur Higgins.-External links:* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1928) - The Kingdom of TwilightThe Kingdom of TwilightThe Kingdom of Twilight is a 1929 film directed by British author and explorer Alexander MacDonald.-External links:* in the Internet Movie Database* at National Film and Sound Archive...
(1929) aka Tanami - The CheatersThe Cheaters (1930 film)The Cheaters is a 1930 Australian silent film directed by Paulette McDonagh and starring Isabel McDonagh . Phyllis McDonagh worked as art director...
(1930)
External links
- John Faulkner at IMDB
- John Faulkner at National Film and Sound ArchiveNational Film and Sound ArchiveThe National Film and Sound Archive is Australia’s audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting and providing access to a national collection of audiovisual materials and related items...