James Robertson Justice

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James Robertson Justice (born June 15, 1907 in Lewisham , Kent as James Harold Norval Robertson-Justice , † July 2, 1975 in Romsey , Hampshire ) was a British ornithologist and actor .

The dazzling career of James Robertson-Justice encompassed several professions and passions, of which his work as an actor in particular brought him international popularity, although he owed it by chance and never trained for it.

Early Careers: Journalist and Civil War Fighter

Although Wigtown in Scotland is often given as the birthplace of the mimes with the deep voice, the full beard and the imposing figure, the patriotic Scot James Robertson-Justice was born in the county of Kent. After graduating from the renowned Marlborough College , the polyglot Robertson-Justice, who was fluent in ten languages, began studying at the University of Bonn , where he was awarded a Dr. phil. received his doctorate. He then worked for the Reuters news agency for a while . In the Spanish Civil War , the staunch socialist fought on the side of the Spanish government against General Franco , after the outbreak of the Second World War he enlisted in the Royal Navy .

Film career

After completing his military service in 1943, Robertson Justice took on various jobs, including a. small roles in performances at the Players Theater in London. There he was discovered by the film director Harry Wyatt , who gave him a role in the comedy Fiddlers Three in 1944 . His theatrical breakthrough came four years later in the imaginative comedy Vice Versa by the young Peter Ustinov . From then on, his film career developed steadily and successfully without any acting training. He played in different genres, such as in partly historical adventure films like next to John Mills in Scott's last trip over the British polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott , with whose son he had a lifelong friendship, next to Fredric March in Christopher Columbus , Little John in Robin Hood and his daring journeymen and the faithful boatswain Quist in The King's Admiral based on Cecil Scott Forester with Gregory Peck in the leading role of Horatio Hornblower . He was also in Bible adaptations ( David and Bathsheba ), period films ( Land of the Pharaohs ), literary adaptations ( Les Miserables after Victor Hugo ), war films ( The cannons of Navarone after Alistair MacLean ), crime novels ( Dr. Crippen ), love dramas ( pillow with Brigitte Bardot ) and horror films ( Extraordinary Stories based on Edgar Allan Poe ).

Robertson-Justice often played, who himself unsuccessfully in 1950 as MP for the Labor Party had a candidate, grumpy and slightly gruff aristocrats and representatives of law and order, such as when Henry VIII. In A princess falls in love .

Robertson Justice achieved particular popularity in comedies. In 1954 he played in the hospital comedy Aber, Herr Doktor ... based on a novel by Richard Gordon, the grumpy surgeon Sir Lancelot Spratt , the boss of the main character Simon Sparrow (in the German version Herbert Sperling , played by Dirk Bogarde ). The film was so successful that six more parts followed by 1970. In a total of six films in this series , Robertson Justice played the chief doctor Spratt, only in Doctor Ahoi! he appeared in a different role (as captain). He represents the greatest continuity within the series, while Bogarde only appeared in five films as Dr. Sparrow acted. He also played alongside Margaret Rutherford in the Miss Marple film 4:50 p.m. from Paddington to Agatha Christie - again in the role of a choleric gentleman who is quite good-natured under his rough skin.

In addition, Robertson Justice also played in some German films such as alongside Nadja Tiller in The Ambassador , alongside Senta Berger in Long Legs - Long Fingers and the leading role of Captain Freytag in the Siegfried Lenz film adaptation The Lightship and in German-English co-productions such as alongside Christopher Lee in the horror film Me, Dr. Fu Man Chu and as Sir John alongside Brigitte Horney , Eddi Arent and Robert Morley in the Edgar Wallace film The Secret of the White Nun .

Academic career

In addition to his acting activities, James Robertson-Justice was an avid ornithologist and a founding member of the Wildfowl Trust . In 1948 he developed a method of capturing wild ducks using a rocket propelled net. As a falconer, he instructed Prince Charles in the arts of falconry. In addition, he has published several articles on topics of ornithology, economics, and conversation.

For two terms he also served as Rector of the University of Edinburgh , whose honorary doctorate he was also awarded in 1960.

Private life

James Robertson-Justice was married twice. The first marriage to a Welsh woman ended in divorce. In 1961 he met the German-Baltic actress Irene von Meyendorff , who became his second wife in 1975. In the last few years of his life, Robertson Justice experienced increasing financial and health problems. He suffered a number of strokes from which he never fully recovered. Irene von Meyendorff cared for him in the last few years until he died on July 2, 1975, just a few days after his 68th birthday.

Filmography (selection)

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personal data
SURNAME Robertson Justice, James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Robertson-Justice, James Norval Harold
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British actor and ornithologist
DATE OF BIRTH June 15, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH London Borough of Lewisham
DATE OF DEATH 2nd July 1975
Place of death Romsey , Hampshire