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James Mason was born in Yorkshire, England in 1909. He intended to become an architect, but while studying at Cambridge he did some theater, and after graduation he joined the Old Vic theatre. He performed on the stage, and was in many minor English movies in 1936 to 1939 (there was a law requiring a percentage of movies shown in English to be made there, so many "quota quickies" were filmed). He was a conscientious objector in WWII. During the early 1940s, he continued to make many movies, and the quality of his parts steadily increased. It was his performance in The Seventh Veil, as a handicapped musician involved in a bizarre romantic love triangle that made him a major star, and in 1947 he starred in Carol Reed's Odd Man Out, as an IRA member on the run from the law, and that made him an international star. He went to Hollywood, where he co-starred in Caught, as a doctor in another bizarre romantic love triangle. Despite his being 40, he was able to continue to play romantic leads, both because he had aged well and because of his beautiful speaking voice, and he starred in movies like Pandora and the Flying Dutchman and A Star Is Born (nominated for the Best Actor Academy Award for this film), but he also took memorable supporting roles, including as Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In the late 1950s, it appeared his career might be winding down, and he began doing TV as well as supporting roles in movies. But in 1959 he was a most memorable villain in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest, and that same year he starred as Professor Lindenbrook in Journey to the Center of the Earth! In 1962 he had one of the very best roles of his career, starring as Humbert Humbert in Stanley Kubrick's Lolita. He also was memorable in 1966 as the aging lothario pursuing "plain" young Lynn Redgrave in Georgy Girl (nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for this film). He continued acting through the 1970s and mid 1980s, playing Mr. Jordan in Heaven Can Wait and Dr. Watson in Murder by Decree. He was a delightful slimy lawyer in The Verdict (nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for this film) in 1982. He passed away from a heart attack in 1984 at the age of 75. James Mason was a superlative character actor who played many quirky leading roles over his long illustrious career. He took almost every role that was offered to him (he appeared in 150 movies!), and while they were not all "winners", I highly recommend all of the movies mentioned above!

Important Added Info: Note that this lobby card has been personally autographed (signed) by James Mason! We also don't know if this could possibly be a re-release lobby card. Also note that this German lobby card has been trimmed and it now measures 8" x 10" [20 x 25 cm].

About the Collection this Item Comes From
Note that this signed still (and 34 others) comes to us directly from the collection of Gary and Susan Svehla, who have been extremely active in the horror/sci-fi hobby for decades. Here is a brief biography of the Svehlas: In the summer of 1963, 13-year-old Gary Svehla published the first issue of his horror film fanzine, GORE CREATURES (which became MIDNIGHT MARQUEE in 1976 and continues to this day). By the end of 1963, Gary purchased his very first movie poster, an original Universal insert from GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN, for which he paid $3.00. That was the beginning of Gary collecting horror and sci-fi movie material as well as the beginning of his collection of stills bought at conventions and from other collectors, which he used to illustrate his magazine. In 1986 Gary and his wife Susan sponsored the first FANEX horror and science fiction movie convention, which continued for 19 years. FANEX featured the greatest celebrities (actors, directors, special effects masters, etc.) from the horror film genre. Beginning in 1995 MIDNIGHT MARQUEE PRESS, INC. was created by Gary and Susan, an independent book publisher, which by 2010 published well over 100 titles. They have also produced and directed two independent horror films as well as releasing Feb. 2011 a 4-hour documentary, Midnight Madness, The History of Horror, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Films, based on the guest interviews from FANEX. All of the signed items from the Svehlas' collection were either obtained from guests at their shows, or were purchased from longtime friends, and we feel certain this autograph is genuine (note that many of the signed items from their collection are personalized to one or both of them). Note that each of the 35 items from this consignor all have this paragraph on them.

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Bruce Hershenson,
306 Washington Avenue, West Plains, MO 65775