One of the "other" members of Frank Sinatra's group, starring with the Rat Pack in such classics as Ocean's 11 and Sergeants 3, Peter Lawford (1923-1984) is far less widely-known than Dean or Sammy. In my opinion, pally, it's as undeserved as Monty Clift's obscurity. Let's see what we can do about it, shall we?
Born Peter Sidney Ernest Aylen Lawford in London on 7 Sept 1923, he became a US citizen in 1960. He was also famous for being married to then-President Kennedy's sister Patricia, prompting the nickname "Brother-in-Lawford." But he made movies, dozens of them, good ones too, besides the aforementioned Ocean's 11.
Here he is with Dino, Sammy and Frank in a scene from Ocean's 11. First movie I saw with him in it was 1947's It Happened in Brooklyn, billed as "The Happiest Thing that Ever Happened!!" Gushy sentiment aside, it was a typical happy-ending romance of the 1940s, not so different from today, except Hollywood no longer has actresses who sing like Kathryn Grayson, and of course Chairman Frank has gone on to the Casino in the Sky, so to speak. . .
Just as there are typical Martin and Lewis characters, there are the usual Peter Lawford roles. With his accent, that adorable voice, and his cultivated, smooth manner, he played either noble Englishmen or very wealthy Americans, at least in the movies I've seen. In It Happened In Brooklyn, he played English nobleman Jamie Shellgrove; in Royal Wedding he was Lord John Brindale; and in The Longest Day he was Lord Lovat. In Ocean's Eleven he was wealthy son-of-a-socialite Jimmy Foster, and in It Should Happen To You he was soap magnate's son Evan Adams III. Typecasting, maybe? I'll let ya know when I've seen them all.
Here's what a late 1940's MGM promo had to say on the subject of Peter Lawford:
Peter Lawford: A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Star Peter was born in London, the son of an English Lieutenant General. When he was seven he played in an English film, and at that young age decided he wanted to be an actor. His family took him around the world with them twice, and as a boy he lived in many foreign lands.
In 1938 his family was visiting Hollywood, and Metro needed an English boy to appear with Mickey Rooney and Freddie Bartholomew in "Lord Jeff." Peter got the role, and started his American screen career. Some of the big pictures he's played in are "Mrs. Miniver," "A Yank at Eton," "Two Sisters from Boston," "On an Island With You" and "Julia Misbehaves." He sang with Frank Sinatra in "It Happened in Brooklyn," and danced in "Easter Parade."
Six feet tall and weighing 165 lbs., Peter keeps in trim by playing tennis and swimming. He laughingly says he never went to school, but his world travels and private tutors have made him one of Hollywood's best-educated actors.
If ya'd like to read it in the charming original, click on the picture.
It's roughly a true account, but it doesn't give the whole story... I'd recommend ya read one of the biographies out there if ya wanna learn more... but it gives ya the basic idea. Peter Lawford sang in movies with Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland, danced in a Fred Astaire picture, and acted with the likes of Greer Garson, Bette Davis, Jimmy Durante, and Elizabeth Taylor. Talent he had, undeniably. He was also left-handed, if you're counting...
For the record, here's a list of the Peter Lawford movies I have and will get around to reviewing, I give ya my word of honor. . .
Lord Jeff-- 1938 Pilot # 5-- 1943 The White Cliffs of Dover-- 1944 The Picture Of Dorian Gray-- 1945 My Brother Talks to Horses-- 1946 It Happened In Brooklyn-- 1947 Good News-- 1947 Julia Misbehaves-- 1948 On an Island With You-- 1948 Easter Parade-- 1948 Little Women-- 1949 Royal Wedding-- 1951 It Should Happen To You-- 1954 Exodus-- 1960 Ocean's Eleven-- 1960 The Longest Day-- 1962 Dead Ringer-- 1964
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