Hello all,
The evil child catcher, which is my enduring memory of this film was a celebrated theatre and Shakespearean actor called Robert Helpmann.
The Internet Movie Database has the following on him,
Born 9th April 1909, Mount Gambier South Australia. Died 28th September 1986, Sydney, Australia.
Mini Biography.
Son of James Murray Helpmann & Mary (nee Gardiner), he was educated at Prince Alfred's College, Adelaide, South Australia. He first danced solo at the Theatre Royal, Adelaide in The Ugly Duckling in 1922. He went on to become the pricipal dancer at Sadlers Wells ballet from 1933 to 1950. World renowned as a dancer and choreographer, amongst his other achievements he was the director of the Australian Ballet Company. He directed the world tour of Margot Fonteyn in 1963.
Was the person who showed American actress Katharine Hepburn her first Lyrebirds during a working tour of Australia, when they co-starred in Shakespearian plays.
On his "This is Your Life" (in Australia) the guest of honour was Michael Powell who came on with a pair of "Red Shoes".
He was awarded the Scroll of Honour in Norway in 1950.
He was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1964.
He was made a KBE (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1968.
He was awarded the Order of the Knight of the North Star in Sweden in 1975.
"If I told you, you would not know; you simply would have been told."
"Theatre remains the only thing I understand. It is in the community of the theatre that I have my being. In spite of jealousies and fears, emotional conflicts and human tensions; in spite of the penalty of success and the dread of failure; in spite of tears and feverish gaiety -- this is the only life I know. It is the life I love."
"The Trouble with Nude Dancing is that not everything stops when the music does."
Thought you might like to know.
Craig