Sonnie Hale
Encyclopedia
Sonnie Hale was an English theatre and cinema actor and director.
John Robert Hale-Monro was born in London
, the son of Robert Hale and Belle Reynolds. His father and sister, Binnie Hale
were actors. He worked chiefly in musical and revue
theatre, but also acted in several films with occasional screenwriting or directing credits. A major personal investment in a show to tour the country planned for late 1939 proved financially ruinous due to the outbreak of war and closure of most theatres.
He was married three times:
By his second marriage he had one son (died at birth) and one adopted daughter (born 1935); by his third marriage he had one son (born 1946) and a daughter. He also had an illegitimate daughter (born 1956) from a subsequent relationship.
He died from myelofibrosis
in London, aged 57.
John Robert Hale-Monro was born in 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...
, the son of Robert Hale and Belle Reynolds. His father and sister, Binnie Hale
Binnie Hale
Binnie Hale was an English actress and musician. Both her father, Robert Hale and younger brother, Sonnie Hale were actors. She married West End actor Jack Raine, with whom she had one daughter....
were actors. He worked chiefly in musical and revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
theatre, but also acted in several films with occasional screenwriting or directing credits. A major personal investment in a show to tour the country planned for late 1939 proved financially ruinous due to the outbreak of war and closure of most theatres.
He was married three times:
- The actress Evelyn LayeEvelyn LayeEvelyn Laye, CBE was an English theatre and film actress.-Early years and career:Born as Elsie Evelyn Lay in Bloomsbury, London, Laye made her first stage appearance in August 1915 at the Theatre Royal, Brighton as Nang-Ping in Mr...
(1926–1930). - The actress and dancer Jessie MatthewsJessie MatthewsJessie Matthews, OBE was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period.-Early life:...
(1931–1944). - Mary Kelsey (1945–1957)
By his second marriage he had one son (died at birth) and one adopted daughter (born 1935); by his third marriage he had one son (born 1946) and a daughter. He also had an illegitimate daughter (born 1956) from a subsequent relationship.
He died from myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis, also known as myeloid metaplasia, chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, osteomyelofibrosis and primary myelofibrosis is a disorder of the bone marrow...
in London, aged 57.
Selected theatre performances
- Little Nelly Kelly - 1923 ... as Sidney Potter
- Mercenary Mary - 1925 ... as Jerry Warner
- One Dam Thing After Another (revueRevueA revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
) - 1927 - This Year of GraceThis Year of GraceThis Year of Grace is a revue with a book, music, and lyrics by Noël Coward.It opened in London on March 22, 1928 at the London Pavilion and ran nearly ten months, with a cast featuring Sonnie Hale, Maisie Gay, Jessie Matthews, Sheilah Graham and Tilly Losch among others. Doris Zinkeisen was one of...
(revue) - 1928 - Wake Up and DreamWake Up and DreamWake Up and Dream is a musical revue with a book by John Hastings Turner and music and lyrics by Cole Porter and others. The most famous song from the revue is the Porter standard "What Is This Thing Called Love?"...
(revue) - 1929 - Ever GreenEver GreenEver Green is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and a book by Benn Levy, based on an idea by Rodgers and Hart. This was the last of three musicals written by Rodgers and Hart in London....
- 1930 ... as Tommy Thompson - Hold My Hand - 1931 ... as Pop Curry
- Come Out to Play (revue) - 1940
- Maid of the Mountains - 1942 ... as Tonio
- One, Two, Three (revue) - 1947
- The Perfect Woman - 1948 ... as Freddie Cavendish
- Rainbow Square - 1951 ... as Peppi
- Lady Be GoodLady Be Good (musical)Lady, Be Good is a musical written by Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson with music by George and lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was first presented on Broadway in 1924; the West End production followed in 1926...
- 1955 - The French Mistress - 1959 ... as John Crawley
Actor
- Happy Ever AfterHappy Ever After (1932 film)Happy Ever After is a 1932 German musical film directed by Paul Martin and Robert Stevenson, and starring Lilian Harvey, Jack Hulbert, Cicely Courtneidge, Sonnie Hale and Edward Chapman. A German language version was released under the title Un rêve blond...
(1932) - Tell Me Tonight (1932)
- Early to bedEarly to BedEarly to Bed is a 1928 short comedy silent film starring Laurel and Hardy. When the homeless pair learn that Hardy has inherited a fortune, they move into a mansion...
(1933) - Friday the ThirteenthFriday the Thirteenth (1933 film)Friday the Thirteenth is a 1933 British drama film directed by Victor Saville and starring Jessie Matthews, Sonnie Hale and Muriel Aked. The film depicts the lives of several passengers in the hours before they are involved in a bus crash.-Cast:...
(1933) ... as Alf the Conductor - EvergreenEvergreen (film)Evergreen is a 1934 Gaumont British musical film, starring Jessie Matthews as a music hall singer, based on the 1930 musical Ever Green, also starring Matthews. Matthews had a dual role as both mother and daughter....
(1934) ... as Leslie Benn - Wild BoyWild BoyWild Boy is a 1934 British, black-and-white, comedy, caper, crime, drama, sports film directed by Albert de Courville and starring Ronald Shiner as Bit and Bud Flanagan as Dick Smith...
(1934) - First a GirlFirst a GirlFirst a Girl is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Victor Saville and starring Jessie Matthews. First a Girl was adapted from the 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria written and directed by Reinhold Schünzel...
(1934) ... as Victor - It's Love AgainIt's Love AgainIt's Love Again is a 1936 British musical film directed by Victor Saville and starring Jessie Matthews, Robert Young and Sonnie Hale. A chorus girl masquerades as a big game hunter to try and boost her showbiz career.-Cast:...
(1934) ... as Freddie Rathbone - Are You a Mason? (1934)
- My Song for You (1934)
- Mon coeur t'appelleMon coeur t'appelleMon coeur t'appelle is a 1934 French musical film directed by Carmine Gallone and Serge Véber, written by Ernst Marischka, produced by Arnold Pressburger. The film stars Jan Kiepura, Danielle Darrieux and Lucien Baroux. The music score is by Robert Stolz...
(1934) - Marry the Girl (1935)
- First a GirlFirst a GirlFirst a Girl is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Victor Saville and starring Jessie Matthews. First a Girl was adapted from the 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria written and directed by Reinhold Schünzel...
(1935) - It's Love AgainIt's Love AgainIt's Love Again is a 1936 British musical film directed by Victor Saville and starring Jessie Matthews, Robert Young and Sonnie Hale. A chorus girl masquerades as a big game hunter to try and boost her showbiz career.-Cast:...
(1936) - The Gaunt StrangerThe Gaunt StrangerThe Gaunt Stranger is a 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Walter Forde and starring Sonnie Hale, Wilfrid Lawson, Louise Henry, Alexander Knox and Patrick Barr....
(1938) ... as Sam Hackett - Let's Be Famous (1939) ... as Finch
- Fiddlers ThreeFiddlers Three (1944 film)Fiddlers Three is a 1944 British black-and-white comedy with music. The film was produced by Michael Balcon and directed by Harry Watt. The cast included Tommy Trinder, Sonnie Hale, Frances Day, Francis L. Sullivan, Diana Decker, Elisabeth Welch and James Robertson Justice...
(1944) ... as The Professor - London Town (1946) ... as Charlie de Haven
Director
- Head Over HeelsHead Over Heels (1937 film)Head Over Heels is a 1937 British musical film directed by Sonnie Hale and starring Jessie Matthews, Robert Flemyng and Louis Borel. It was based on the play Pierre ou Jac by Francis de Croisset.-Cast:* Jessie Matthews - Jeanne Colbert...
(1937) - GangwayGangway (film)Gangway is a 1937 British musical film directed by Sonnie Hale and starring Jessie Matthews, Barry MacKay, Nat Pendleton and Alistair Sim. A young reporter goes undercover to unmask a gang of criminals who are planning a jewel heist.-Main cast:...
(1937) - Sailing AlongSailing AlongSailing Along is a 1938 British musical comedy film directed by Sonnie Hale and starring Jessie Matthews, Barry MacKay, Jack Whiting, Frank Pettingell, Noel Madison and Alastair Sim. A barge-owner's adopted daughter falls in love with his son, and gives up her chances of stardom to be with him....
(1938)