robertdonats-stage:

Robert Donat accidentally breaks the fourth wall and for a split second looks directly into the camera in this scene from The Citadel, 1939.

robertdonats-stage:

A 24-year-old Robert in his first leading role in the theatre, in Paul Raynal’s The Unkown Warrior, May, 1929. Raynal’s play tells of a soldier coming home to snatch a few hours with his beloved before he returns to certain death. The poingancy for the audience is that they know he will become “the unkown soldier”. Robert received a ‘remarkable ovation’. His performance was described as an ‘intense and incisive portrayal of the tragic and doomed soldier’ (Liverpool Post, 30 May 1929).

Signed Burrell and Hardman, the expressionistic style and dramatic lighting suggest that these photographs were made by Margaret Hardman, rather than by the acclaimed photographer Edward Chambré Hardman, her husband. The play was staged in Liverpool, where Hardman had his studio.The register shows that at least one image from each negative was ordered and the price for all of them was £6.6.0. The negatives now belong to The National Trust.

cinemaocd:

Robert Donat with script, 1943, by Fred Daniels, in National Portrait Gallery

A C C U R A T E

cinemaocd:

idlesuperstar:

- D’you like herring?

hitchcock I love it when actors are domestic in movies I could watch donat butter bread all day also I have fridge envy hot men in kitchens - it could be a thing so yeah jenny when you threw the extreme giffableness of this film into conversation you knew this would happen damn you robert donat tuesday I’ve been slack this should make up for it

OMG!!!! Hooray!  I never imagined you would run off and make 39 Steps gifs.  But yeah, see what I mean?  It’s like every second of this film should be in gif form.  Also in this scene it’s “haddock” not herring.  Later in the film The Crofter asks if he “eats the herring” and then during the speech someone asks him about “the herring fisheries.”  It’s like someone had a bet that they could work three specific fish references into a feature film or something.  Anyway, Robert with his fish is one of my favorite moments.  Also I love how he can cut bread and pretend to smoke at the same time and how he wears his over coat through the whole thing and just on and on.  Sigh.  THANK YOU, from the bottom of my poor besotted hear. 

Robert Donat Tuesday: The Citadel

Thanks to Renata!

notluvulongtime:

Rupert Graves (from Maurice) next to his hero*, Robert Donat

*as discussed in the Bomb Magazine interview here.

robertdonats-stage:

The Young Mr. Pitt - 1942

Robert had the dual role of father and son, Pitt the Elder and Younger. The script was over-reverential in its treatment of Pitt. In one scene alone does any of Robert’s own humanity shine through, a delightful scene in which he has a pillow-fight with a crowd of children.The writers provided love interest in the relationship between Pitt and Eleonor Eden (Phyllis Calvert) but avoided any detailed exploration of his reasons for shunning marriage to her, namely his pledge to his father not to pass on the family strain of insanity to a further generation — a theme which would have given Robert something to act. Their scenes were played with great gentleness.

The film was intended as propaganda and was part of Robert’s war effort. Winston Churchill was the first person to be shown the film and gave it his approval.

New photos in the 39 Steps gallery at Robert-Donat.com.  Happy Tuesday!  Thanks to Renata for sending us the scans from her treasure trove. 

yesterdayswhisper:

cinemaocd wrote: YES!!! Perfect!!My Work here is done, RD makes the best reaction gifs, we need to make one of him collapsing in the Young Mr. Pitt.

OMG, YES!!! Your wish is my command…