Russell Thorndike
Encyclopedia
Arthur Russell Thorndike (6 February 1885, Rochester, Kent
– 7 November 1972) was a British actor and novelist, best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh
novels. Lesser known than his sister Dame Sybil Thorndike
but just as versatile, Russell Thorndike's first love was for the pen and, following service in World War I
, he devoted himself to writing.
He was born in Rochester, Kent, where his father had recently taken the position of canon
at the cathedral
. A student at St George's School, Windsor Castle
, he was a chorister
of St George's Chapel
, an experience he later recounted in his book Children of the Garter (1937). At his suggestion, both he and Sybil (who once aspired to be a concert pianist) tried acting as a career in 1903. They became students at Ben Greet's Academy and two years later accompanied fellow members of the company on a North American tour, which included New York
. He remained three-and-a-half years with the company, once giving three performances as Hamlet
in three different versions of the text on the same day. He also toured in South Africa
and Asia
.
Around this time he completed his first novel of romantic adventure on Romney Marsh
entitled Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh
. In 1914 he enlisted. His brother Frank, who once performed on stage, was killed in action. Russell was severely wounded at Gallipoli
and discharged. He rejoined Ben Greet's theatre company and his sister at the Old Vic
in 1916 where played in the Shakespearean classics -- King John, Richard II, and King Lear. Sybil played the Fool. Thorndike also acted with Sybil and her husband, Lewis Casson
, in their touring repertory of melodramas. In 1922 he was applauded for his performance in Henrik Ibsen
's first professional production of Peer Gynt
at the Old Vic.
Thorndike married Rosemary Dowson, a daughter of the well-known actress Rosina Filippi, in 1918.
In film, Thorndike's appearances were infrequent. He played Macbeth
(1922) in a silent version of the play opposite Sybil's Lady and also played leads in silent versions of other classic plays including Scrooge (1923) as Old Ebenezer, and The School for Scandal
(1923) as Sir Peter Teazle. He ended his film career in minor priest roles for Laurence Olivier in Hamlet
(1948) and Richard III
(1955). Although Russell Thorndike appeared on the stage over four decades (including playing his own Dr. Syn character and entertaining audiences as Smee in ten revivals of Peter Pan
, including the famous Scala Theatre
version where Sir Donald Sinden doubled the roles of Mr Darling and Captain Hook), he felt a deeper fulfilment in writing, which would include the later work The House of Jeffreys.
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
– 7 November 1972) was a British actor and novelist, best known for the Doctor Syn of Romney Marsh
Doctor Syn
The Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn is the smuggler hero of a series of novels by Russell Thorndike. The first book, Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh was published in 1915. The story idea came from smuggling in the 18th century Romney Marsh, where brandy and tobacco were brought in at night...
novels. Lesser known than his sister Dame Sybil Thorndike
Sybil Thorndike
Dame Agnes Sybil Thorndike CH DBE was a British actress.-Early life:She was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire to Arthur Thorndike and Agnes Macdonald. Her father was a Canon of Rochester Cathedral...
but just as versatile, Russell Thorndike's first love was for the pen and, following service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he devoted himself to writing.
He was born in Rochester, Kent, where his father had recently taken the position of canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at the cathedral
Rochester Cathedral
Rochester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Norman church in Rochester, Kent. The bishopric is second oldest in England after Canterbury...
. A student at St George's School, Windsor Castle
St George's School, Windsor Castle
St George's School, Windsor Castle is a coeducational independent Preparatory School of some 410 children, aged from 3 to 13, in Windsor, near London....
, he was a chorister
Choirboy
A choirboy is a boy member of a choir, also known as a treble.As a derisive slang term, it refers to a do-gooder or someone who is morally upright, in the same sense that "Boy Scout" refers to someone who is considered honorable or conscientious.- History :The use of choirboys in Christian...
of St George's Chapel
St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle
St George's Chapel is the place of worship at Windsor Castle in England, United Kingdom. It is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter...
, an experience he later recounted in his book Children of the Garter (1937). At his suggestion, both he and Sybil (who once aspired to be a concert pianist) tried acting as a career in 1903. They became students at Ben Greet's Academy and two years later accompanied fellow members of the company on a North American tour, which included New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He remained three-and-a-half years with the company, once giving three performances as Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
in three different versions of the text on the same day. He also toured in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
.
Around this time he completed his first novel of romantic adventure on Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
entitled Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh
Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh
Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh is the first in the series of Doctor Syn novels by Russell Thorndike. In this story we are introduced to the complex Christopher Syn, the kindly vicar of the little town of Dymchurch. Syn seems pleasant but we soon learn that he has a sinister past...
. In 1914 he enlisted. His brother Frank, who once performed on stage, was killed in action. Russell was severely wounded at Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
and discharged. He rejoined Ben Greet's theatre company and his sister at the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
in 1916 where played in the Shakespearean classics -- King John, Richard II, and King Lear. Sybil played the Fool. Thorndike also acted with Sybil and her husband, Lewis Casson
Lewis Casson
Sir Lewis Thomas Casson MC was a British actor and theatre director and the husband of Dame Sybil Thorndike.-Early life:...
, in their touring repertory of melodramas. In 1922 he was applauded for his performance in Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
's first professional production of Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt
Peer Gynt is a five-act play in verse by the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen, loosely based on the fairy tale Per Gynt. It is the most widely performed Norwegian play. According to Klaus Van Den Berg, the "cinematic script blends poetry with social satire and realistic scenes with surreal ones"...
at the Old Vic.
Thorndike married Rosemary Dowson, a daughter of the well-known actress Rosina Filippi, in 1918.
In film, Thorndike's appearances were infrequent. He played Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
(1922) in a silent version of the play opposite Sybil's Lady and also played leads in silent versions of other classic plays including Scrooge (1923) as Old Ebenezer, and The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal
The School for Scandal is a play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on May 8, 1777.The prologue, written by David Garrick, commends the play, its subject, and its author to the audience...
(1923) as Sir Peter Teazle. He ended his film career in minor priest roles for Laurence Olivier in Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
(1948) and Richard III
Richard III (1955 film)
Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's historical play of the same name, also incorporating elements from his Henry VI, Part 3. It was directed and produced by Sir Laurence Olivier, who also played the lead role. The cast includes many noted Shakespearean actors,...
(1955). Although Russell Thorndike appeared on the stage over four decades (including playing his own Dr. Syn character and entertaining audiences as Smee in ten revivals of Peter Pan
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
, including the famous Scala Theatre
Scala Theatre
The Scala Theatre was a theatre in London, sited on Charlotte Street, off Tottenham Court Road, in the London Borough of Camden. The first theatre on the site opened in 1772, and the theatre was demolished in 1969, after being destroyed by fire...
version where Sir Donald Sinden doubled the roles of Mr Darling and Captain Hook), he felt a deeper fulfilment in writing, which would include the later work The House of Jeffreys.
Selected filmography
- The RoofThe Roof (1933 film)The Roof is a 1933 British crime film directed by George A. Cooper and starring Leslie Perrins, Judy Gunn, Russell Thorndike and Michael Hogan.-Cast:* Leslie Perrins - Inspector Darrow* Judy Gunn - Carol Foster* Russell Thorndike - Clive Bristow...
(1933) - Puppets of FatePuppets of FatePuppets of Fate is a 1933 British crime film directed by George A. Cooper and starring Godfrey Tearle, Isla Bevan, Russell Thorndike and Fred Groves.-Cast:* Godfrey Tearle - Richard Sabine* Isla Bevan - Joan Harding* Russell Thorndike - Doctor Munroe...
(1933) - A Shot in the DarkA Shot in the Dark (1933 film)A Shot in the Dark is a 1933 British mystery film directed by George Pearson and starring Dorothy Boyd, O. B. Clarence, Jack Hawkins and Michael Shepley. When a wealthy old man dies suddenly, a local reverend suspects something and begins to investigate....
(1933) - Henry VHenry V (1944 film)Henry V is a 1944 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The on-screen title is The Cronicle History of King Henry the Fift with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France . It stars Laurence Olivier, who also directed. The play was adapted for the screen by Olivier, Dallas...
(1944)
Selected Writings
- "Dr. Syn" (1915)
- "Dr. Syn Returns"
- "Dr. Syn On The High Seas"
- "The Shadow Of Dr. Syn"
- "Children Of The Garter"
- "The House Of Jeffreys"
- "Jet And Ivory"
- "Herod's Peal"
- "The Vandekkers"
- "Sybil Thorndike"
- "The Master Of The Macabre" (1946)