124-489: James David Graham Niven ( / ˈ n ɪ v ən / ; 1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983) was a British actor, soldier, memoirist, and novelist. Niven was known as a handsome and debonair leading man in Classic Hollywood films . He received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award . Born in central London to an upper-middle-class family, Niven attended Heatherdown Preparatory School and Stowe School before gaining
248-590: A work permit to reside and work in the United States. Since this required leaving the US, he went to Mexico , where he worked as a "gun-man", cleaning and polishing the rifles of visiting American hunters. He received his resident alien visa from the American consulate when his birth certificate arrived from Britain . He returned to the US and was accepted by Central Casting as "Anglo-Saxon Type No. 2,008." Among
372-680: A BAFTA nomination for Best Actor; Happy Ever After (1954), a comedy with Yvonne de Carlo , which was hugely popular in Britain. In Hollywood, he had a thankless role as the villain in an MGM swashbuckler, The King's Thief (1955). He had a better part in The Birds and the Bees (1956), portraying a conman in a remake of The Lady Eve (1941), in which Niven played a third-billed supporting role under American television comedian George Gobel and leading lady Mitzi Gaynor . Niven also appeared in
496-576: A Balloon , Niven wrote fondly of his childhood home: It became necessary for the house in London to be sold and our permanent address was now as advertised—a cottage which had a reputation for unreliability. When the East wind blew, the front door got stuck and when the West wind blew, the back door could not be opened—only the combined weight of the family seemed to keep it anchored to the ground. I adored it and
620-617: A Balloon , which was well received, selling over five million copies. He followed this with Bring On the Empty Horses in 1975, a collection of entertaining reminiscences from the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s. As more of a raconteur rather than an accurate memoirist, it seems that Niven recounted many incidents from a first-person perspective that actually happened to other people, among them Cary Grant . This liberal borrowing and embroidering of his personal history
744-557: A Balloon and related in various chat show appearances. In 1981 Niven published a second and much more successful novel, Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly , which was set during and after the Second World War, and which drew on his experiences during the war and in Hollywood. He was working on a third novel at the time of his death. While on leave in 1940, Niven met Primula "Primmie" Susan Rollo (18 February 1918 – 21 May 1946),
868-721: A European style of feudalism to Scotland along with an influx of people of French descent – by invitation, unlike England where it was by conquest. To this day, many of the common family names of Scotland can trace ancestry to Normans from this period, such as the Stewarts , the Bruces , the Hamiltons , the Wallaces and the Melvilles . The Northern Isles and some parts of Caithness were Norn -speaking (the west of Caithness
992-516: A bitch) and delivering, for the smallest mistake in Latin declension , backhanded slaps that knocked one off one's bench, delighted in saying, 'Show me the hand that wrote this' — then bringing down the sharp edge of a heavy ruler across the offending wrist. Years later, after joining the British Army, a vengeful Niven decided to return to the boarding school to pay a call on Mr Croome but he found
1116-709: A centre for Scottish migration in the 1930s. In 1961 a third of residents were born in Scotland, and in 2011 the figure was 12.7%. Other European countries have had their share of Scots immigrants. The Scots have emigrated to mainland Europe for centuries as merchants and soldiers. Many emigrated to France, Poland, Italy , Germany, Scandinavia, and the Netherlands. Recently some scholars suggested that up to 250,000 Russian nationals may have Scottish ancestry. A number of Scottish people settled in South Africa in
1240-467: A co-host of the 30th, 31st, and 46th Academy Awards ceremonies. After Niven had won the Academy Award, Goldwyn called with an invitation to his home. In Goldwyn's drawing-room, Niven noticed a picture of himself in uniform which he had sent to Goldwyn from Britain during the Second World War. In happier times with Goldwyn, he had observed this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Now years later,
1364-525: A connection to Scotland. This connection may be active through cultural, linguistic, friendship, or professional links, or who may simply be interested Scotland’s heritage or culture). The majority of Scotch-Irish Americans originally came from Lowland Scotland and Northern England before migrating to the province of Ulster in Ireland (see Plantation of Ulster ) and thence, beginning about five generations later, to North America in large numbers during
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#17327804057211488-767: A contract and established his career. For Goldwyn, Niven again had a small role in Splendor (1935). He was lent to MGM for a minor part in Rose Marie (1936), then a larger one in Palm Springs (1936) at Paramount. His first sizeable role for Goldwyn came in Dodsworth (1936), playing a man who flirts with Ruth Chatterton . In that same year he was again loaned out, to 20th Century Fox to play Bertie Wooster in Thank You, Jeeves! (1936), before finally landing
1612-762: A doctor-turned-secret agent – MGM hoped it would lead to a series, but this did not happen. After the horror film Eye of the Devil (1966), Niven appeared as James Bond in Casino Royale (1967), and is, with the exception of Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again , the only other man to ever portray Bond in a non- Eon Productions film. Niven had been Bond creator Ian Fleming 's first choice to play Bond in Dr. No . Casino Royale co-producer Charles K. Feldman said later that Fleming had written
1736-448: A dramatic piece, and the actors are said to play co-leads ; a large supporting role may be considered a secondary lead . Award nominations for acting often reflect such ambiguities. Therefore, sometimes two actors in the same performance piece are nominated Oscars for Best Actor or Best Actress —categories traditionally reserved for leads. For example, in 1935 Clark Gable , Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone were each nominated for
1860-638: A far better part in the British war film Appointment with Venus (1952), which was popular in England. The Lady Says No (1952) was a poorly received American comedy at the time. Niven decided to try Broadway, appearing opposite Gloria Swanson in Nina (1951–52). The play ran for only 45 performances but it was seen by Otto Preminger , who decided to cast Niven in the film version of the play The Moon Is Blue (1953). As preparation Preminger, who had directed
1984-538: A flight of stairs at a party. Goldwyn lent him to play Aaron Burr in Magnificent Doll (1946) opposite Ginger Rogers , then to Paramount for The Perfect Marriage (1947) with Loretta Young and Enterprise Productions for The Other Love (1947). For Goldwyn he supported Cary Grant and Young in The Bishop's Wife (1947). Niven returned to England when Goldwyn lent him to Alexander Korda to play
2108-422: A game of sardines . She had walked through a door believing it to be a closet, but instead, it led to a stone staircase to the basement. In 1948, Niven met and married Hjördis Paulina Tersmeden (née Genberg, 1919–1997), a divorced Swedish fashion model. He recounted their meeting: Leading man A leading actor , leading actress , or leading man or lady or simply lead ( / ˈ l iː d / ), plays
2232-438: A group of British actors in Hollywood which included Rex Harrison , Boris Karloff , Stan Laurel , Basil Rathbone , Ronald Colman , Leslie Howard , and C. Aubrey Smith . According to his autobiography, Errol Flynn and he were firm friends and rented Rosalind Russell 's house at 601 North Linden Drive as a bachelor pad. Niven graduated to star parts in "A" films with The Dawn Patrol (1938) remake at Warners; although he
2356-467: A highly successful TV production company. Niven is the only person to win an Academy Award at the ceremony he was hosting. He won the 1958 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Major David Angus Pollock in Separate Tables , his only nomination for an Oscar. Appearing on-screen for only 23 minutes in the film, this is the briefest performance ever to win a Best Actor Oscar. He was also
2480-508: A long estrangement between the two in the 1950s. Niven struggled for a while to recapture his former position. He supported Mario Lanza in a musical at MGM, The Toast of New Orleans (1950). He then went to England and appeared in a musical with Vera-Ellen , Happy Go Lovely (1951); it was little seen in the US but was a big hit in Britain. He had a support role in MGM's Soldiers Three (1951) similar to those early in his career. Niven had
2604-653: A museum, 'The Scots House' in the town of Veere was the only place outwith Scotland where Scots Law was practised. In Rotterdam, meanwhile, the doors of the Scots International Church have remained open since 1643. The first Scots to be mentioned in Russia's history were the Scottish soldiers in Muscovy referred to as early as the 14th century. Among the 'soldiers of fortune' was the ancestor of
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#17327804057212728-589: A non-speaking role in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 's Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). This helped him gain a contract with Samuel Goldwyn . Parts, initially small, in major motion pictures followed, including Dodsworth (1936), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), and The Prisoner of Zenda (1937). By 1938, he was starring as a leading man in films such as Wuthering Heights (1939). Upon
2852-675: A place at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst . After Sandhurst, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry . Upon developing an interest in acting, he found a role as an extra in the British film There Goes the Bride (1932). Bored with the peacetime army, he resigned his commission in 1933, relocated to New York, then travelled to Hollywood . There, he hired an agent and had several small parts in films through 1935, including
2976-473: A radio news and entertainment station for the Allied forces. Niven resumed his career while still in England, playing the lead in A Matter of Life and Death (1946), from the team of Powell and Pressburger . The film was critically acclaimed, popular in England and was selected as the first Royal Film Performance . Niven returned to Hollywood and encountered tragedy when his first wife died after falling down
3100-537: A short animation based on a story by Oscar Wilde . Niven's last sizeable film part was in Better Late Than Never (1983). In July 1982, Blake Edwards brought Niven back for cameo appearances in two final "Pink Panther" films ( Trail of the Pink Panther and Curse of the Pink Panther ), reprising his role as Sir Charles Lytton. By this time, Niven was having serious health problems . When
3224-711: A sizeable role as a soldier in The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936) at Warners, an Imperial adventure film starring his housemate at the time, Errol Flynn . Niven was fourth billed in Beloved Enemy (1936) for Goldwyn, supporting Merle Oberon with whom he became romantically involved. Universal used him in We Have Our Moments (1937) and he had another good supporting role in David O. Selznick 's The Prisoner of Zenda (1937). Fox Studios gave him
3348-643: A wartime adventure film. In 1974, while Niven was co-hosting the 46th Annual Oscars ceremony , a naked man ( Robert Opel ) appeared behind him, " streaking " across the stage. In what instantly became a live-TV classic moment, Niven responded "Isn't it fascinating to think that probably the only laugh that man will ever get in his life is by stripping off and showing his shortcomings?" That same year, he hosted David Niven's World for London Weekend Television , which profiled contemporary adventurers such as hang gliders, motorcyclists, and mountain climbers: it ran for 21 episodes. In 1975, he narrated The Remarkable Rocket ,
3472-533: Is Blue and a success at the box office; My Man Godfrey (1957), a screwball comedy; and Bonjour Tristesse (1958), for Preminger. Niven worked in television. He appeared several times on various short-drama shows and was one of the "four stars" of the dramatic anthology series Four Star Playhouse , appearing in 33 episodes. The show was produced by Four Star Television , which was co-owned and founded by Niven, Ida Lupino , Dick Powell and Charles Boyer . The show ended in 1955, but Four Star Television became
3596-660: Is often but not necessarily the lead. A lead role must also be differentiated from a starring role , which means that an actor is credited as a part of the main cast but not that they necessarily play the main character. This drama-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to film or motion picture terminology is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Scottish people Modern ethnicities The Scottish people or Scots ( Scots : Scots fowk ; Scottish Gaelic : Albannaich ) are an ethnic group and nation native to Scotland . Historically, they emerged in
3720-870: Is presented to the annual winners of the Women's Prize for Fiction . Niven's father, William Niven, was of Scottish descent; he was killed in the First World War serving with the Berkshire Yeomanry during the Gallipoli campaign on 21 August 1915. He is buried in Green Hill Cemetery , Turkey, in the Special Memorial Section in Plot F. 10. Niven's paternal great-grandfather and namesake, David Graham Niven, (1811–1884)
3844-616: Is still spoken by a small number of residents. Cape Breton is the home of the Gaelic College of Celtic Arts and Crafts . Glengarry County in present-day Eastern Ontario is a historic county that was set up as a settlement for Highland Scots , where many from the Highlands settled to preserve their culture as a result of the Highland Clearances. Gaelic was the native language of the community since its settlement in
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3968-497: Is the fourth most commonly nominated ancestry and represents over 8.9% of the total population of Australia. Significant numbers of Scottish people also settled in New Zealand. Approximately 20 per cent of the original European settler population of New Zealand came from Scotland, and Scottish influence is still visible around the country. The South Island city of Dunedin , in particular, is known for its Scottish heritage and
4092-553: The Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944, although he was sent to France several days after D-Day . He served in " Phantom ", a secret reconnaissance and signals unit which located and reported enemy positions, and kept rear commanders informed on changing battle lines. Niven was posted at one time to Chilham in Kent. Niven had particular scorn for those newspaper columnists covering
4216-645: The BBC and SHAEF to expand these broadcast efforts. He also worked extensively with Major Glenn Miller , whose Army Air Force big band, formed in the US, was performing and broadcasting for troops in England. Niven played a role in the operation to move the Miller band to France prior to Miller's December 1944 disappearance while flying over the English Channel. On 14 March 1944, Niven was promoted war-substantive major (temporary lieutenant-colonel). He took part in
4340-792: The Battle of the Bulge who had won the World Series in 1943 , he answered, "Haven't the foggiest idea, but I did co-star with Ginger Rogers in Bachelor Mother !" Niven ended the war as a lieutenant-colonel . On his return to Hollywood after the war, he received the Legion of Merit , an American military decoration. It honoured Niven's work in setting up the BBC Allied Expeditionary Forces Programme ,
4464-653: The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) , then jokingly wrote on the form, as his third choice, "anything but the Highland Light Infantry " (because that regiment wore tartan trews rather than the kilt ). He was assigned to the HLI, with which he served for two years in Malta and then for a few months in Dover . In Malta, he became friends with the maverick Michael Trubshawe , and served under Roy Urquhart , future commander of
4588-531: The Borders ( OE: Loðene ), a northern variety of Old English , also known as Early Scots , was spoken. As a result of David I, King of Scots' return from exile in England in 1113, ultimately to assume the throne in 1124 with the help of Anglo-Norman military force, David invited Anglo-Norman families from France and England to settle in lands he granted them to spread a ruling class loyal to him. This Davidian Revolution , as many historians call it, brought
4712-467: The British 1st Airborne Division . On 21 October 1956, in an episode of the game show What's My Line? , Niven, as a member of the celebrity panel, was reacquainted with one of his former enlisted men. Alexander McGeachin was a guest and when his turn in the questioning came up, Niven asked, "Were you in a famous British regiment on Malta?" After McGeachin affirmed that he was, Niven quipped, "Did you have
4836-711: The British Embassy advised most actors to stay. Niven was recommissioned as a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) on 25 February 1940, and was assigned to a motor training battalion. He wanted something more exciting, however, and transferred to the Commandos . He was assigned to a training base at Inverailort House in the Western Highlands . Niven later claimed credit for bringing future Major General Sir Robert Laycock to
4960-525: The Middle Ages . Craftsmen and tradesmen followed courtiers and in later centuries a brisk trade grew up between the two nations: Scotland's primary goods (wool, hides, salmon and then coal) in exchange for the luxuries obtainable in the Netherlands, one of the major hubs of European trade. By 1600, trading colonies had grown up on either side of the well-travelled shipping routes: the Dutch settled along
5084-563: The River Tweed to the south. They also occupied the southwest of Scotland up to and including the Plain of Kyle . Their language, Old English , was the earliest form of the language which eventually became known as Scots . Use of the Gaelic language spread through nearly the whole of Scotland by the 9th century, reaching a peak in the 11th to 13th centuries, but was never the language of
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5208-773: The United States and Canada . Scots have travelled internationally for centuries, helping to build Scotland's international reputation and the promotion of Scottish culture , music , literature and art . The Scottish Government uses the term "Scottish connections" when described Scottish diaspora, and recognises Scottish connections as people of Scottish heritage (by ancestry, marriage or other family connection), lived diaspora (those who moved to Scotland to permanently reside at any time for any reason), educational diaspora (alumni of Scottish educational institutions, and Scots studying or working in international institutions) and affinity (individuals who associate themselves with
5332-606: The early Middle Ages from an amalgamation of two Celtic peoples , the Picts and Gaels , who founded the Kingdom of Scotland (or Alba ) in the 9th century. In the following two centuries, Celtic-speaking Cumbrians of Strathclyde and Germanic-speaking Angles of Northumbria became part of Scotland. In the High Middle Ages , during the 12th-century Davidian Revolution , small numbers of Norman nobles migrated to
5456-622: The plantation of Ulster , resulted in a Presbyterian and Scottish society, which formed the Ulster-Scots community. The Protestant Ascendancy did not however benefit them much, as the ascendancy was predominantly Anglican . The number of people of Scottish descent in England and Wales is difficult to quantify due to the many complex migrations on the island, and ancient migration patterns due to wars, famine and conquest. The 2011 Census recorded 708,872 people born in Scotland resident in England, 24,346 resident in Wales and 15,455 resident in Northern Ireland. Northamptonshire town Corby became
5580-417: The ' New World ' lands of North and South America, Australia and New Zealand . The highest concentrations of people of Scottish descent in the world outside of Scotland are in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in Canada, Otago and Murihiku/Southland in New Zealand, the Falkland Islands , and Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. Canada has the highest level of Scottish descendants per capita in
5704-399: The 1800s and were known for their road-building expertise, their farming experience, and architectural skills. The largest population of Scots in Latin America is found in Argentina , followed by Chile , , Colombia and Mexico . It is said that the first people from the Low Countries to settle in Scotland came in the wake of Maud's marriage to the Scottish king, David I , during
5828-444: The 1840s, Scots-born immigrants constituted 12% of the non-Aboriginal population. Out of the 1.3 million migrants from Britain to Australia in the period from 1861 to 1914, 13.5% were Scots. Just 5.3% of the convicts transported to Eastern Australia between 1789 and 1852 were Scots. A steady rate of Scottish immigration continued into the 20th century and substantial numbers of Scots continued to arrive after 1945. From 1900 until
5952-422: The 18th century although the number of speakers decreased as a result of English migration . As of the modern 21st century, there are still a few Gaelic speakers in the community. John Kenneth Galbraith in his book The Scotch (Toronto: MacMillan, 1964) documents the descendants of 19th-century Scottish pioneers who settled in Southwestern Ontario and affectionately referred to themselves as 'Scotch'. He states
6076-539: The 18th century as " Erse ") and the Inglis -speaking " Lowlanders " (a language later to be called Scots ). However, movement between the two regions increased over the last few centuries. Highlanders moved to major cities (e.g. Glasgow and Edinburgh) and regions bordering the southern Highlands (e.g. Lowland Stirlingshire and Perthshire). This is evidenced by people with traditional Gaelic surnames (including anglicised varieties) currently living in these areas. Lowlanders also settled in Highland regions such as Moray , which
6200-473: The 1950s, Scots favoured New South Wales, as well as Western Australia and Southern Australia. A strong cultural Scottish presence is evident in the Highland Games , dance, Tartan Day celebrations, clan and Gaelic-speaking societies found throughout modern Australia. According to the 2011 Australian census , 130,204 Australian residents were born in Scotland, while 1,792,600 claimed Scottish ancestry, either alone or in combination with another ancestry. This
6324-578: The AFPU, but both made with a firm view to winning support for the British war effort, especially in the United States. These were The First of the Few (1942), directed by Leslie Howard , and The Way Ahead (1944), directed by Carol Reed . Ustinov also played a large supporting role as a Frenchman in The Way Ahead . Niven was also given a significant if largely unheralded role in the creation of SHAEF 's military radio efforts conceived to provide entertainment to American, British and Canadian forces in England and Europe. In 1944 he worked extensively with
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#17327804057216448-605: The Best Actor Academy Award for Mutiny on the Bounty . There can even be controversy over whether a particular performance should be nominated in the Best Actor/Actress or Best Supporting Actor/Best Supporting Actress category; for instance, The Godfather 's Al Pacino boycotted the 45th Academy Awards ceremony since he was insulted at being nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor award; he noted that he had more screen time than his co-star and Best Actor winner Marlon Brando and so he should have received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. A title role
6572-400: The British romantic comedy The Silken Affair (1956) with Geneviève Page the same year. Niven's professional fortunes were restored when cast as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days (1956), a huge hit at the box office. It also won the Academy Award for Best Picture . He followed it with Oh, Men! Oh, Women! (1957); The Little Hut (1957), from the writer of The Moon
6696-430: The Commandos. Niven commanded "A" Squadron GHQ Liaison Regiment , better known as "Phantom". He was promoted to war-substantive captain on 18 August 1941. Niven also worked with the Army Film and Photographic Unit . His work included a small part in the deception operation that used minor actor M. E. Clifton James to impersonate General Sir Bernard Montgomery . During his work with the AFPU, Peter Ustinov , one of
6820-504: The Daisies (1960) with Doris Day , a big hit. Even more popular was the action film The Guns of Navarone (1961) with Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn . This role led to him being cast in further war and/or action films: The Captive City (1962); The Best of Enemies (1962); Guns of Darkness (1962); 55 Days at Peking (1963) with Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner . Niven returned to comedy with The Pink Panther (1963) also starring Peter Sellers , another huge success at
6944-463: The Lowlands. In the 13th century, the Norse-Gaels of the Western Isles became part of Scotland, followed by the Norse of the Northern Isles in the 15th century. In modern usage, "Scottish people" or "Scots" refers to anyone whose linguistic, cultural, family ancestral or genetic origins are from Scotland. The Latin word Scoti originally referred to the Gaels, but came to describe all inhabitants of Scotland. Considered pejorative by some,
7068-411: The Pill (1968) and The Impossible Years (1968). Less widely seen was The Extraordinary Seaman (1969). The Brain (1969), a French comedy with Bourvil and Jean-Paul Belmondo , was the most popular film at the French box office in 1969 but was not widely seen in English-speaking countries. He did a war drama Before Winter Comes (1969) then returned to comedy in The Statue (1971). Niven
7192-525: The Scots. The Russian census lists do not distinguish Scots from other British people, so it is hard to establish reliable figures for the number of Scots living and working in modern Russia. From as far back as the mid-16th century there were Scots trading and settling in Poland . A "Scotch Pedlar's Pack in Poland" became a proverbial expression. It usually consisted of cloths, woollen goods and linen kerchiefs (head coverings). Itinerants also sold tin utensils and ironware such as scissors and knives. Along with
7316-418: The South Island. All over New Zealand, the Scots developed different means to bridge the old homeland and the new. Many Caledonian societies were formed, well over 100 by the early twentieth century, that helped maintain Scottish culture and traditions. From the 1860s, these societies organised annual Caledonian Games throughout New Zealand. The Games were sports meets that brought together Scottish settlers and
7440-508: The World in 80 Days (1956), My Man Godfrey (1957), The Guns of Navarone (1961), Murder by Death (1976), and Death on the Nile (1978). He also earned acclaim and notoriety playing Sir Charles Lytton in The Pink Panther (1963) and James Bond in Casino Royale (1967). James David Graham Niven was born on 1 March 1910 at Belgrave Mansions , Grosvenor Gardens , London, to William Edward Graham Niven (1878–1915) and his wife, Henrietta Julia (née Degacher) Niven (1878–1932). He
7564-419: The adventure tale The Real Glory (1939), and Walter Wanger cast him opposite Loretta Young in Eternally Yours (1939). Finally, Goldwyn granted Niven a lead part, the title role as the eponymous gentleman safe-cracker in Raffles (1939). The day after Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Niven returned home and rejoined the British Army. He was alone among British stars in Hollywood in doing so;
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#17327804057217688-599: The area around Edinburgh. Their descendants gradually occupied all of the Lowlands." Knox College 's Stuart Macdonald, who specialises in early modern Scottish history, writes that during the 18th and 19th centuries, the people of Scotland remained grouped into multiple ethnicities: To speak of Scots as a single ethnic group is also somewhat problematic. It would be more accurate in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to talk of two distinct Scottish ethnic communities divided by language and culture, and, at times, mutual antagonisms – Highlanders and Lowlanders. With regard to
7812-426: The best-known being James Wylie . The next wave of migration established commercial links with Russia. The 19th century witnessed the immense literary cross-references between Scotland and Russia. A Russian scholar, Maria Koroleva, distinguishes between 'the Russian Scots' (properly assimilated) and 'Scots in Russia', who remained thoroughly Scottish. There are several societies in contemporary Russia to unite
7936-481: The book was meant to give a true picture of life in the community in the early decades of the 20th century. By 1830, 15.11% of the colonies' total non-Aboriginal population were Scots, which increased by the middle of the century to 25,000, or 20–25% of the non-Aboriginal population. The Australian Gold Rush of the 1850s provided a further impetus for Scottish migration: in the 1850s 90,000 Scots immigrated to Australia, far more than other British or Irish populations at
8060-399: The book with Niven in mind, and therefore had sent a copy to Niven. Niven was the only actor who played James Bond mentioned by name in the text of a Fleming novel. In chapter 14 of You Only Live Twice , pearl diver Kissy Suzuki refers to Niven as "the only man she liked in Hollywood", and the only person who "treated her honourably" there. Niven made some popular comedies, Prudence and
8184-439: The box office. Less so was the comedy Bedtime Story (1964) with Marlon Brando . In 1964, Charles Boyer, Gig Young and top-billed Niven appeared in the Four Star series The Rogues . Niven played Alexander 'Alec' Fleming, one of a family of retired con-artists who now fleece villains in the interests of justice. This was his only recurring role on television, and the series was originally set up to more or less revolve between
8308-402: The daughter of London lawyer William H.C. Rollo. After a whirlwind romance, they married on 16 September 1940. A son, David Jr. , was born in December 1942 and a second son, James Graham Niven, on 6 November 1945. Primmie died at the age of 28, only six weeks after the family moved to the US. She fractured her skull in a fall in the Beverly Hills, California home of Tyrone Power , while playing
8432-412: The day he died; she was among the VIP guests at his London memorial service in 1983. In 1928, Niven attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst . He graduated in 1930 with a commission as a second lieutenant in the British Army . He did well at Sandhurst, which gave him the "officer and gentleman" bearing that was his trademark. He requested assignment to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders or
8556-433: The descendants of emigrants, often Gaelic-speaking, from the Maritime Provinces of Canada , from the 1880s onward. Americans of Scottish descent outnumber the population of Scotland, where 4,459,071 or 88.09% of people identified as ethnic Scottish in the 2001 Census. In the 2013 American Community Survey 5,310,285 identified as Scottish and 2,976,878 as of Scots-Irish descent. Americans of Scottish descent outnumber
8680-417: The eastern seaboard of Scotland; the Scots congregating first in Campvere —where they were allowed to land their goods duty-free and run their own affairs—and then in Rotterdam , where Scottish and Dutch Calvinism coexisted comfortably. Besides the thousands (or, according to one estimate, over 1 million) of local descendants with Scots ancestry, both ports still show signs of these early alliances. Now
8804-432: The eighteenth century. In the 2000 census, 4.8 million Americans self-reported Scottish ancestry, 1.7% of the total U.S. population. Over 4.3 million self-reported Scotch-Irish ancestry, for a total of 9.2 million Americans self-reporting some kind of Scottish descent. Self-reported numbers are regarded by demographers as massive under-counts, because Scottish ancestry is known to be disproportionately under-reported among
8928-446: The end of the lecture, the speaker (a major general) asked if there were any questions. Showing the typical rebelliousness of his early years, Niven asked, "Could you tell me the time, sir? I have to catch a train." After being placed under close-arrest for this act of insubordination, Niven finished a bottle of whisky with the officer who was guarding him: Rhoddy Rose (later Colonel R. L. C. Rose, DSO, MC). With Rose's assistance, Niven
9052-534: The famous Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov , called George Learmonth. A number of Scots gained wealth and fame in the times of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great . These include Admiral Thomas Gordon , Commander-in-Chief of Kronstadt , Patrick Gordon , Paul Menzies , Samuel Greig , Charles Baird , Charles Cameron , Adam Menelaws and William Hastie . Several doctors to the Russian court were from Scotland,
9176-767: The following: "The basic ethnic and cultural division in the British Isles has been that between the Anglo-Saxon peoples of England and the Scottish Lowlands and the Celtic peoples of Wales, Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. In 2014, historian Steven L. Danver, who specialises in indigenous ethnic research, wrote regarding Lowlands Scots and Gaelic Scots' unique ancestries: "The people of Scotland are divided into two groups - Lowland Scots in
9300-528: The headmaster." In 1928, while she was on holiday in Bembridge , 15-year-old Margaret Whigham (the future socialite and Duchess of Argyll ) had a sexual encounter with 18-year-old Niven, resulting in her pregnancy. Furious, her father rushed her to a London nursing home for a secret abortion. "All hell broke loose," remembered Elizabeth Duckworth, the Whigham family cook. Margaret Whigham adored Niven until
9424-530: The initial films in which he can be seen are Barbary Coast (1935) and Mutiny on the Bounty (1935). He secured a small role in A Feather in Her Hat (1935) at Columbia before returning to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a bit role, billed as David Nivens, in Rose Marie (1936). Niven's role in Mutiny on the Bounty brought him to the attention of independent film producer Samuel Goldwyn , who signed him to
9548-706: The lead in a B picture, Dinner at the Ritz (1938) and he again had a supporting role in Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (1938) directed by Ernst Lubitsch at Paramount. Niven was one of the four heroes in John Ford 's Four Men and a Prayer (1938), also with Fox. He remained with Fox to play the part of a fake love interest in Three Blind Mice (1938). Niven joined what became known as the Hollywood Raj,
9672-696: The majority of mixed ancestry, and because areas where people reported "American" ancestry were the places where, historically, Scottish and Scotch-Irish Protestants settled in North America (that is: along the North American coast, Appalachia , and the Southeastern United States ). Scottish Americans descended from nineteenth-century Scottish emigrants tend to be concentrated in the West, while many in New England are
9796-410: The misfortune to have me as your officer?" At that point, Niven had a brief but pleasant reunion. Niven grew tired of the peacetime army. Though promoted to lieutenant on 1 January 1933, he saw no opportunity for further advancement. His ultimate decision to resign came after a lengthy lecture on machine guns, which was interfering with his plans for dinner with a particularly attractive young lady. At
9920-519: The naval entrance exam because of his difficulty with maths, Niven attended Stowe School , a newly created public school led by headmaster J. F. Roxburgh , who was unlike any of Niven's previous headmasters. Thoughtful and kind, he addressed the boys by their first names, allowed them bicycles, and encouraged and nurtured their personal interests. Niven later wrote, "How he did this, I shall never know, but he made every single boy at that school feel that what he said and what he did were of real importance to
10044-785: The outbreak of the Second World War , Niven returned to Britain and rejoined the army, being recommissioned as a lieutenant . In 1942, he co-starred in the morale-building film about the development of the renowned Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane, The First of the Few (1942). He went on to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Separate Tables (1958). Other notable films during this time period include A Matter of Life and Death (1946), The Bishop's Wife (1947), Enchantment (1948), The Elusive Pimpernel (1950), The Moon Is Blue (1953), Around
10168-704: The people, also known as the Gaels , in the Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the western edge of Scotland. Bede used the word natio (nation) for the Scots, where he often refers to other peoples, such as the Picts, with the word gens (race). In the 10th-century Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , the word Scot is mentioned as a reference to the "Land of the Gaels". The word Scottorum was again used by an Irish king in 1005: Imperator Scottorum
10292-483: The period spanning the 16th century to the 18th century, sociologist Ian Carter's research into marriage patterns found little intermarrying between the groups. Today, Scotland has a population of just over five million people, the majority of whom consider themselves Scottish. It is estimated around 40 million people worldwide claim Scottish ancestry, particularly in Australia , New Zealand , continental Europe ,
10416-489: The picture was still in exactly the same spot. As he was looking at the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances said, "Sam never took it down." With an Academy Award to his credit, Niven's career continued to thrive. In 1959, he became the host of his own TV drama series, The David Niven Show , which ran for 13 episodes that summer. He played the lead in some comedies: Ask Any Girl (1959), with Shirley MacLaine; Happy Anniversary (1959) with Mitzi Gaynor; and Please Don't Eat
10540-441: The place abandoned and empty. While attending school – as was customary for the time – Niven received many instances of corporal punishment owing to his inclination for pranks. It was this behaviour that finally led to his expulsion from his next school, Heatherdown Preparatory School , at the age of 10½. This ended his chances for Eton College , a significant blow to his family. After failing to pass
10664-598: The play in New York, insisted that Niven appear on stage in the West Coast run. The Moon Is Blue , a sex comedy, became notorious when it was released without a Production Code Seal of Approval; it was a big hit and Niven won a Golden Globe Award for his role. Niven's next few films were made in England: The Love Lottery (1954), a comedy; Carrington V.C. (1954), a drama that earned Niven
10788-415: The political practicalities of nation building . Academics have explored how 15th and 16th-century Scottish poets and orators, such as Blind Harry , constructed terms such as 'trew Scottis' in an effort to diminish differences between the ethnic groups living within Scotland in the popular consciousness. A 1974 International Political Science Association report defined this ethnic plurality in Scotland as
10912-515: The population of Scotland, where 4,459,071 or 88.09% of people identified as ethnic Scottish in the 2001 Census. The number of Americans with a Scottish ancestor is estimated to be between 9 and 25 million (up to 8.3% of the total US population), and "Scotch-Irish", 27 to 30 million (up to 10% of the total US population), but these subgroups overlap and are often not distinguishable. The majority of Scotch-Irish originally came from Lowland Scotland and Northern England before migrating to
11036-584: The preferred term is Scots . Many Scottish people find the term Scotch to be offensive when applied to people. The Oxford Dictionary describes Scotch as an old-fashioned term for "Scottish". In the Early Middle Ages , Scotland saw several ethnic or cultural groups mentioned in contemporary sources, namely the Picts , the Gaels , the Britons , and the Angles , with the last of these settling in
11160-511: The protection offered by King Stephen in the Royal Grant of 1576, a district in Kraków was assigned to Scottish immigrants. Records from 1592 mention Scots settlers who were granted citizenship of Kraków give their employment as traders or merchants. Fees for citizenship ranged from 12 Polish florins to a musket and gunpowder, or an undertaking to marry within a year and a day of acquiring
11284-676: The province of Ulster in Ireland (see Plantation of Ulster ) and thence, beginning about five generations later, to North America in large numbers during the 18th century. Several Presidents of the United States have claimed Scottish ancestry or Scotch-Irish ancestry, including James Monroe through his great-great-grandfather Patrick Andrew Monroe emigrated to America, Andrew Jackson , Theodore Roosevelt , Franklin D. Roosevelt , Harry S. Truman , Lyndon B. Johnson , Richard Nixon , Ronald Reagan , Bill Clinton , George W. Bush and Donald Trump , whose mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump ,
11408-602: The question and the numerous responses for "Canadian" do not give an accurate figure for numerous groups, particularly those of British Isles origins. Scottish-Canadians are the 3rd biggest ethnic group in Canada. Scottish culture has particularly thrived in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia ( Latin for "New Scotland"). There, in Cape Breton , where both lowland and highland Scots settled in large numbers, Canadian Gaelic
11532-462: The raw footage was reviewed, his voice was inaudible, and his lines had to be dubbed by Rich Little . Niven only learned of it from a newspaper report. This was his last film appearance. Niven wrote four books. The first, Round the Rugged Rocks (published simultaneously in the US under the title Once Over Lightly ), was a novel that appeared in 1951 and was forgotten almost at once. The plot
11656-442: The role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word lead may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and leading actor may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with a respected body of work. Some actors are typecast as leads, but most play the lead in some performances and supporting or character roles in others. Sometimes there is more than one significant leading role in
11780-508: The script-writers, had to pose as Niven's batman . Niven explained in his autobiography that there was no military way that he, a lieutenant-colonel , and Ustinov, who was only a private , could associate, other than as an officer and his subordinate, hence their strange "act". In 1978, Niven and Ustinov would star together in a film adaptation of Agatha Christie 's Death on the Nile . He acted in two wartime films not formally associated with
11904-582: The south-east of the country. King Edgar divided the Kingdom of Northumbria between Scotland and England; at least, most medieval historians now accept the 'gift' by Edgar. In any case, after the later Battle of Carham the Scottish kingdom encompassed many English people, with even more quite possibly arriving after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. South-east of the Firth of Forth , then in Lothian and
12028-460: The southeast of the country. Culturally, these peoples are grouped according to language. Most of Scotland until the 13th century spoke Celtic languages , and these included, at least initially, the Britons , as well as the Gaels and the Picts . Germanic peoples included the Angles of Northumbria , who settled in south-eastern Scotland in the region between the Firth of Forth to the north and
12152-468: The southern part of the country and Highland Scots in the north - that differ from one another ethnically, culturally, and linguistically ... Lowlanders differ from Highlanders in their ethnic origin. While Highland Scots are of Celtic (Gaelic) descent, Lowland Scots are descended from people of Germanic stock. During the seventh century C.E., settlers of Germanic tribes of Angles moved from Northumbria in present-day northern England and southeastern Scotland to
12276-579: The term Scotch has also been used for Scottish people, now primarily outwith Scotland. People of Scottish descent live in many countries. Emigration, influenced by factors such as the Highland and Lowland Clearances , Scottish emigration to various locales throughout the British Empire , and latterly industrial decline and unemployment, have resulted in the spread of Scottish languages and culture . Large populations of Scottish people settled
12400-527: The three leads in various combinations (one-lead, two-lead and three-lead episodes), although the least otherwise busy Gig Young wound up carrying most of the series. The Rogues ran for only one season, but won a Golden Globe award. In 1965, Niven made two films for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer : the Peter Ustinov -directed Lady L , supporting Paul Newman and Sophia Loren, and Where the Spies Are , as
12524-746: The time. Literacy rates of the Scottish immigrants ran at 90–95%. By 1860, Scots made up 50% of the ethnic composition of Western Victoria , Adelaide , Penola and Naracoorte . Other settlements in New South Wales included New England , the Hunter Valley and the Illawarra . Much settlement followed the Highland Potato Famine , Highland Clearances and the Lowland Clearances of the mid-19th century. In
12648-651: The title role in Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948), a notorious box office flop. Back in Hollywood Niven was in Goldwyn's Enchantment (1948) with Teresa Wright . At Warner Bros he was in a comedy A Kiss in the Dark (1948) with Jane Wyman , then he appeared opposite Shirley Temple in the comedy A Kiss for Corliss (1949). None of these films was successful at the box office and Niven's career
12772-435: The war who typed out self-glorifying and excessively florid prose about their meagre wartime experiences. Niven stated, "Anyone who says a bullet sings past, hums past, flies, pings, or whines past, has never heard one – they go crack !" He gave a few details of his war experience in his autobiography, The Moon's a Balloon : his private conversations with Winston Churchill , the bombing of London , and what it
12896-540: The wider New Zealand public. In so doing, the Games gave Scots a path to cultural integration as Scottish New Zealanders. In the 1961 census there were 47,078 people living in New Zealand who were born in Scotland; in the 2013 census there were 25,953 in this category. Many people of Scottish descent live in other parts of the United Kingdom. In Ulster particularly the colonial policies of James VI , known as
13020-507: The words Scot and Scottish are applied mainly to inhabitants of Scotland. The possible ancient Irish connotations are largely forgotten. The language known as Ulster Scots , spoken in parts of northeastern Ireland, is the result of 17th- and 18th-century immigration to Ireland from Scotland. In the English language, the word Scotch is a term to describe a thing from Scotland, such as Scotch whisky . However, when referring to people,
13144-569: The world and the second-largest population of Scottish descendants, after the United States. Originally the Romans used Scotia to refer to Ireland. The Venerable Bede ( c. 672 or 673 – 27 May, 735) uses the word Scottorum for the nation from Ireland who settled part of the Pictish lands: " Scottorum nationem in Pictorum parte recipit ." This can be inferred to mean the arrival of
13268-788: Was Gaelic-speaking into the 20th century, as were some small communities in parts of the Central Highlands). From 1200 to 1500, the Early Scots language spread across the lowland parts of Scotland between Galloway and the Highland line, being used by Barbour in his historical epic The Brus in the late 14th century in Aberdeen. From 1500 on, Scotland was commonly divided by language into two groups of people, Gaelic-speaking " Highlanders " (the language formerly called Scottis by English speakers and known by many Lowlanders in
13392-576: Was Julia Caroline Smith, the daughter of Lieutenant General James Webber Smith CB . After her husband's death in Turkey in 1915, Henrietta Niven remarried in London in 1917 to Conservative politician and diplomat Sir Thomas Walter Comyn-Platt (1869–1961). David and his sister Grizel were close, and both loathed Comyn-Platt. The family moved to Rose Cottage in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight after selling their London home. In his 1971 biography, The Moon's
13516-414: Was actually Niven's biological father, a supposition that had some support among Niven's siblings. In a review of Lord's book, Hugh Massingberd from The Spectator stated photographic evidence did show a strong physical resemblance between Niven and Comyn-Platt that "would appear to confirm these theories, though photographs can often be misleading." Niven is said to have revealed that he knew Comyn-Platt
13640-666: Was allowed to escape from a first-floor window. He then headed for the United States. While crossing the Atlantic , Niven resigned his commission by telegram on 6 September 1933. In New York City, Niven began a brief and unsuccessful career in whisky sales, followed by a stint in horse rodeo promotion in Atlantic City , New Jersey. After detours to Bermuda and Cuba , he arrived in Hollywood in 1934. When Niven presented himself at Central Casting , he learned that he needed
13764-550: Was also said to be the reason why he persistently refused to appear on This Is Your Life . Niven's penchant for exaggeration and embroidery is particularly apparent when comparing his written descriptions of his early film appearances (especially Barbary Coast and A Feather in her Hat ), and his Oscar acceptance speech, with the actual filmed evidence. In all three examples, the reality is significantly different from Niven's heavily fictionalised accounts as presented in The Moon's
13888-499: Was billed below Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone , it was a leading role and the film did excellent business. Niven was reluctant to take a supporting part in Wuthering Heights (1939) for Goldwyn, but eventually relented and the film was a big success. RKO borrowed him to play Ginger Rogers ' leading man in the romantic comedy Bachelor Mother (1939), which was another big hit. Goldwyn used him to support Gary Cooper in
14012-493: Was born in Tong on the Isle of Lewis . As the third-largest ethnic group in Canada and amongst the first Europeans to settle in the country, Scottish people have made a large impact on Canadian culture since colonial times. According to the 2011 Census of Canada , the number of Canadians claiming full or partial Scottish descent is 4,714,970, or 15.10% of the nation's total population. Many respondents may have misunderstood
14136-900: Was from St Martins , a village in Perthshire . A physician, he married in Worcestershire , and lived in Pershore . Niven's mother, Henriette, was born in Brecon , Wales. Her father was Captain (brevet Major) William Degacher (1841–1879) of the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot , who was killed at the Battle of Isandlwana during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. Although born William Hitchcock, in 1874, he and his older brother Lieutenant Colonel Henry Degacher (1835–1902), both followed their father, Walter Henry Hitchcock, in taking their mother's maiden name of Degacher. Henriette's mother
14260-638: Was happier there than I had ever been, especially because, with a rare flash of genius, my mother decided that during the holidays she would be alone with her children. Uncle Tommy [Comyn-Platt] was barred—I don't know where he went—to the Carlton Club I suppose. Literary editor and biographer, Graham Lord , wrote in Niv: The Authorised Biography of David Niven , that Comyn-Platt and Niven's mother may have been in an affair well before her husband's death in 1915 and that Comyn-Platt
14384-545: Was his real father a year before his own death in 1983. After his mother remarried, Niven's stepfather had him sent away to boarding school. In The Moon's a Balloon , Niven described the bullying, isolation, and abuse he endured as a six-year-old. He said that older pupils would regularly assault younger boys, while the schoolmasters were not much better. Niven wrote of one sadistic teacher: Mr Croome, when he tired of pulling ears halfway out of our heads (I still have one that sticks out almost at right-angles thanks to this son of
14508-583: Was in demand throughout the last decade of his life: King, Queen, Knave (1972); Vampira (1974); Paper Tiger (1975); No Deposit, No Return (1976), a Disney comedy; Murder By Death (1976), Candleshoe (1977), one of several stars in a popular comedy; Death on the Nile (1978), one of many stars and another hit; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1979); Escape to Athena (1979), produced by his son; Rough Cut (1980), supporting Burt Reynolds ; and The Sea Wolves (1980),
14632-663: Was like entering Germany with the occupation forces. Niven first met Churchill at a dinner party in February 1940. Churchill singled him out from the crowd and stated, "Young man, you did a fine thing to give up your film career to fight for your country. Mark you, had you not done so – it would have been despicable." A few stories have surfaced. About to lead his men into action, Niven eased their nervousness by telling them, "Look, you chaps only have to do this once. But I'll have to do it all over again in Hollywood with Errol Flynn!" Asked by suspicious American sentries during
14756-462: Was named David after his birth on St David's Day . Niven later claimed he was born in Kirriemuir , in the Scottish county of Angus in 1909, but his birth certificate disproves this. He had two older sisters and a brother: Margaret Joyce Niven (1900–1981), Henry Degacher Niven (1902–1953), and the sculptor Grizel Rosemary Graham Niven (1906–2007), who created the bronze sculpture Bessie that
14880-475: Was named as a tribute to Edinburgh by the city's Scottish founders. Scottish migration to New Zealand dates back to the earliest period of European colonisation, with a large proportion of Pākehā New Zealanders being of Scottish descent. However, identification as "British" or "European" New Zealanders can sometimes obscure their origin. Many Scottish New Zealanders also have Māori or other non-European ancestry. The majority of Scottish immigrants settled on
15004-465: Was plainly autobiographical (although not recognised as such at the time of publication), involving a young soldier, John Hamilton, who leaves the British Army , becomes a liquor salesman in New York, is involved in indoor horse racing, goes to Hollywood, becomes a deckhand on a fishing boat, and finally ends up as a highly successful film star. In 1971, he published his autobiography, The Moon's
15128-497: Was struggling. He returned to Britain to play the title role in The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) from Powell and Pressberger, which was to have been financed by Korda and Goldwyn. Goldwyn pulled out and the film did not appear in the US for three years. Niven had a long, complex relationship with Goldwyn, who gave him his first start, but the dispute over The Elusive Pimpernel and Niven's demands for more money led to
15252-454: Was the title given to Brian Bóruma by his notary, Mael Suthain, in the Book of Armagh . This style was subsequently copied by the Scottish kings. Basileus Scottorum appears on the great seal of King Edgar (1074–1107). Alexander I ( c. 1078 –1124) used the words Rex Scottorum on his great seal, as did many of his successors up to and including James VI . In modern times,
15376-408: Was traditionally Gaelic-speaking but replaced with Doric in the 19th century. Today, immigrants have brought other languages, such as Polish , Punjabi and Urdu , but almost every adult throughout Scotland is fluent in the English language. Historian Susan Reynolds has put forward how, since the Middle Ages , there have been attempts to obfuscate the ethnic plurality of Scottish people due to
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