Close Up of Leslie Banks
An intimate study of one of our leading
character actors who made his screen debut
in 1932 and has been busy ever since.
Picturegoer, October 3, 1942
In Leslie Banks, the British characteristic of understatement
is personified to perfection.
You will never hear him refer to himself otherwise than by way
of a joke.
He hates being interviewed, he will always try to wriggle out of
any conversation which concerns him personally.
Praise, in whatever shape or form only embarrasses him.
Yet there is nobody who can carry on a more lively and witty
conversation than Leslie himself.
An anecdote told in the "Banks" style automatically takes on
a flavour and colour of its own.
He is at his best in a small circle of friends, where one story
will lead to another and where he's never at a loss for quick,
witty repartee.
It is absolutely fascinating to hear him talk, imitate people,
dialects, animals, in short anything that will cross his mind.
His kindness and generosity, outstanding qualities of Leslie
the man, show up in conversation too. You will never hear him
run down anybody deliberately.
Early last year readers of PICTURE GOER were given a fine insight
into the character of Leslie Banks.
"Banks is one of the few people," said the editor, "who will talk
frankly and expect frank talk in return. He doesn't fish for
compliments, he doesn't pull his punches in criticising other
actors.
"Consequently, when he says he doesn't like another actor, you really
know that he does not like him; and when he says he admires somebody,
you know that his admiration is wholehearted.
His is just nature's greatest gift to see the amusing and funny aspects
of life and unlike so many others, he is not dependent on the
shortcomings and faults of his fellow men to be amusing.
[So when is he applying for sainthood? :)
The author of this article wasn't identified, was it Leslie's
agent? Or maybe his Mother! Whoever it was certainly loved him]
Born in West Derby, near Liverpool, fifty-two years ago, Leslie
originally intended to become a parson and studied at Oxford
with this idea.
However, he gave up the idea soon and got a job in a shipping
office.
[c.f. His role in
Red Ensign (1934)]
Again not for long; this job lasted exactly one day!
Leslie then became interested in painting, and at the same time played
a lot in amateur theatricals.
Many people suggested to him that he should take up the stage professionally,
and he joined the famous Benson Company playing Shakespeare. He made his
first appearance at the Town Hall, Brechin, in 1911, as Old Gobbo, in
"The Merchant of Venice".
He then went to the U.S.A. and Canada with H.V. Esmond and Eva Moore,
where he scored a great success in "The Dangerous Year".
Returning to London, he appeared in the West End. Then the first
World War broke out and he served with the Essex Regiment 1914-1918.
At the end of the war he started his stage career all over again,
and by 1921 he had re-established himself as a West End star.
Numerous crossings between London and New York won dual fame for
him and it was when he was in New York that Kenneth McGowan
persuaded him to go to Hollywood and make his stage debut in
The Hounds of Zaroff in 1932.
Since then Leslie has played in innumerable films, gaining a very fine
reputation for himself and he is today considered one of Britain's
leading character actors.
In private life Leslie is the proud father of three delightful
daughters. The eldest, Daphne, has inherited her father's talent
for painting and drawing and is a very gifted interior decorator.
The war is responsible for her working in a different field at
the moment. She is teaching arts and crafts to wounded soldiers
in a hospital in Oxford, the present home of the Banks.
His second daughter, Virginia, joined Britain's Land Army from
its very beginning, and the youngest, Evangeline, is still at school.
So far only "Baby" as Evangeline is affectionately known to the
family, has expressed the wish to follow in her father's footsteps
as an actress.
The Banks family have a wonderful knack for making up houses.
Their Oxford home overlooking the Isis river
[as the Thames is known in Oxford]
is a perfect dream, with lovely furniture against whitewashed
walls, an abundance of flowers and a selection of very good
modern paintings. To collect good pictures is Leslie's and his
wife's particular hobby.
Leslie has been incredibly busy lately, one play follows the other,
film companies are clamouring for him.
His latest part in films has been in Ealing Studios invasion picture,
Went the Day Well? produced by Michael Balcon, directed by
Cavalcanti.
Heading an unusually big start cast, Leslie plays the part of the
fifth columnist, whose careful preparations make the landing of disguised
German parachutists possible.
Leslie gives a brilliant performance of the quiet English squire,
who really is the local Quisling, and whose charming manners and
inconspicuous way of living endear him to the community.
Everybody likes him, all troubles and worries are put to him and
in all matters concerning the village he has the final say.
The subtle change from the quiet squire to the dangerous, scheming
Nazi agent is put over by Leslie in an extremely clever and polished
way.
This perfectly rounded character study shows Leslie at his very best
and is again proof of the versatility and abundant talent of this
accomplished artist.
