History Creator / JamesMason

* ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'' (1959)

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Mason was one of the few British stars of his generation without a long career in the stage or formal training as an actor. Indeed, he found greater fame, renown and success as an actor on film than he ever did on stage. He initially began his career making quota quickies in TheThirties, building a steady reputation as a dependable, and highly intelligent, actor who directors and technicians liked. Then in TheForties he appeared in more notable films until achieving his BreakthroughHit with ''The Seventh Veil''. The success of that film brought him to Hollywood and Mason would regularly make films in England, America as well as many other European productions. He was especially famous for his role as Captain Nemo in Disney's adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, as well as the self-destructive Norman Maine in Creator/GeorgeCukor's 1954 version of ''A Star Is Born'' opposite Creator/JudyGarland. Other notable roles include ''Odd Man Out'', ''Literature/{{Lolita}}'' (as Humbert Humbert[[note]]The joke is that Humbert in the book says he would have cast Mason to play him[[/note]]) and as the villain Vandamm in ''Film/NorthByNorthwest''.

Mason was one of the few British stars of his generation without a long career in the stage or formal training as an actor. Indeed, he found greater fame, renown and success as an actor on film than he ever did on stage. He initially began his career making quota quickies in TheThirties, building a steady reputation as a dependable, and highly intelligent, actor who directors and technicians liked. Then in TheForties he appeared in more notable films until achieving his BreakthroughHit with ''The Seventh Veil''. The success of that film brought him to Hollywood and Mason would regularly make films in England, America as well as many other European productions. He was especially famous for his role as Captain Nemo in Disney's adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, as well as the self-destructive Norman Maine in Creator/GeorgeCukor's 1954 version of ''A Star Is Born'' opposite Creator/JudyGarland. Other notable roles include ''Odd Man Out'', ''Literature/{{Lolita}}'' (as Humbert Humbert[[note]]The joke is that Humbert in the book says he would have cast Mason to play him[[/note]]) and as the villain Van Damme in ''Film/NorthByNorthwest''.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/james_mason.jpg]]

* ''Film/{{Lolita}}'' (1962)

Mason was one of the few British stars of his generation without a long career in the stage or formal training as an actor. Indeed, he found greater fame, renown and success as an actor on film than he ever did on stage. He initially began his career making quota quickies in TheThirties, building a steady reputation as a dependable, and highly intelligent, actor who directors and technicians liked. Then in TheForties he appeared in more notable films until achieving his BreakthroughHit with ''The Seventh Veil''. The success of that film brought him to Hollywood and Mason would regularly make films in England, America as well as many other European productions. He was especially famous for his role as Captain Nemo in Disney's adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, as well as the self-destructive Norman Maine in Creator/GeorgeCukor's 1954 version of ''Film/AStarIsBorn'' opposite Creator/JudyGarland. Other notable roles include ''Odd Man Out'', ''Literature/{{Lolita}}'' (as Humbert Humbert[[note]]The joke is that Humbert in the book says he would have cast Mason to play him[[/note]]) and as the villain Van Damme in ''Film/NorthByNorthwest''.

* ''Film/BiggerThanLife'' (1956, which he produced)

* ''Film/AStarIsBorn'' (1954)

* ''Film/HeavenCanWait'' (1979)

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/james_mason.jpg]]

James Neville Mason (15 May 1909 – 27 July 1984) was an English actor notable for a long and distinct career as leading man and character actor whose distinct looks, smooth voice and intense presence made him flexible to play roles ranging from hero to villain, as well as characters who are in between. He specialized in playing ByronicHero who are handsome, demanding, passionate and self-destructive.

Mason was one of the few British stars of his generation without a long career in the stage or formal training as an actor. Indeed, he found greater fame, renown and success as an actor on film than he ever did on stage. He initially began his career making quota quickies in TheThirties, building a steady reputation as a dependable, and highly intelligent, actor who directors and technicians liked. Then in TheForties he appeared in more notable films until achieving his BreakthroughHit with ''The Seventh Veil''. The success of that film brought him to Hollywood and Mason would regularly make films in England, America as well as many other European productions. He was especially famous for his role as Captain Nemo in Disney's adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, as well as the self-destructive Norman Maine in Creator/GeorgeCukor's Film/AStarIsBorn opposite Creator/JudyGarland. Other notable roles include ''Odd Man Out'', Film/{{Lolita}} (as Humbert Humbert[[note]]The usual joke is that the Humbert of the book would have cast Mason to play him[[/note]]) and as the villain Van Damme in Film/NorthByNorthwest.

!! Selected Filmography
* ''Film/{{The Scarlet Pimpernel|1934}}''

* ''The Seventh Veil''
* ''Odd Man Out''
* ''Caught''
* ''The Reckless Moment''

* ''Literature/TheTellTaleHeart'' (1954)(animated short, narration)

* ''Pandora and the Flying Dutchman''

In his long career, he appeared in several notable films, remaining prolific until his death in 1984 with his final appearances released posthumously. He was nominated three times for an Academy Award but never won the award but he is considered one of the greatest actors of his generation. He was especially known for his voice and often worked as a voiceover actor for many documentaries, including documentaries on films (Mason was [[TheMovieBuff a cinephile]]) on Creator/BusterKeaton[[note]]Whose films he rediscovered in a house[[/note]].

* ''Series/JesusOfNazareth'' (1977)(TV miniseries)

* ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'' (1982)(TV movie)

* ''Film/BiggerThanLife'' (which he produced)

* ''Film/AStarIsBorn''

* ''Film/CrossOfIron''

* ''Film/{{Five Fingers|1952}} (1952)

* ''Film/ColdSweat''

* ''Film/TheBoysFromBrazil''
* ''Film/HeavenCanWait''

* ''Film/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea''

* ''Film/NorthByNorthwest''
* ''Film/{{Lolita}}''
* ''Film/GeorgyGirl''

* ''Film/BiggerThanLife'' (which he produced).

Mason was one of the few British stars of his generation without a long career in the stage or formal training as an actor. Indeed, he found greater fame, renown and success as an actor on film than he ever did on stage. He initially began his career making quota quickies in TheThirties, building a steady reputation as a dependable, and highly intelligent, actor who directors and technicians liked. Then in TheForties he appeared in more notable films until achieving his BreakthroughHit with ''The Seventh Veil''. The success of that film brought him to Hollywood and Mason would regularly make films in England, America as well as many other European productions. He was especially famous for his role as Captain Nemo in Disney's adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, as well as the self-destructive Norman Maine in Creator/GeorgeCukor's Film/AStarIsBorn opposite Creator/JudyGarland. Other notable roles include Film/OddManOut, Film/{{Lolita}} (as Humbert Humbert[[note]]The usual joke is that the Humbert of the book would have cast Mason to play him[[/note]]) and as the villain Van Damme in Film/NorthByNorthwest.

In his long career, he appeared in several notable films, remaining prolific until his death in 1984 with his final appearances released posthumously. He was nominated three times for an Academy Award but never won the award.

* Film/TheSeventhVeil
* Film/OddManOut

* ''Film/GeorgyGirl''