Francis L. Sullivan in the 1930s (part 1)
Francis L Sullivan was born in London, England in 1903. He started his Theatrical career at the age of 18, playing Richard III at the Old Vic Theater. Among his theater roles in London’s West End was in Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee in 1930 as Hercule Poirot. She approved of his casting although he was much taller than she pictured her hero. He also played in many Shakespeare and Dickens productions.
Francis L. Sullivan was a large man with a strong, clear voice. He often spoke in a calm tone and deliberate cadence. This tone, coupled with his bulk, conveyed a great menace.
Francis L. Sullivan’s first film role was in 1932, in the Sherlock Holmes’ mystery The Missing Rembrandt, playing a German Villain, The Baron.
He played a criminal, running a high-class gambling joint in 1932, in the crime drama When London Sleeps. He was listed second in the cast.
He played an interrogating Archbishop in the fantasy drama The Wandering Jew starring Conrad Veigtin 1933.
After a few minor films, Sullivan cemented his role as menacing villain in action thriller The Return of Bulldog Drummond starring Ralph Richardson in 1934.
Also in 1934, he played Prosecutor, a typical role for him in the mystery drama What Happened Then?, starring Richard Bird.
He played Pip’s guardian/lawyer Jaggers in Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations in 1934 by Universal Pictures. This was a U.S. production and they wanted the best. He was no stranger to playing Dickens’ characters on stage and most likely played Jaggers before.
During his time in the U.S., he filmed 3 other films. (All for Universal, they took full advantage of him while he was under contract.)
Cheating Cheaters, a B-comedy starring Fay Wray and Cesar Romero about rival criminal gangs. Sullivan played a doctor.
Strange Wives, another B-comedy starring Roger Pryor and June Clayworth about a fellow marrying into a Russian family. His role is uncertain but probably involved an upper class Brit’s reactions to the Russian family.
The last Universal film was The Mystery of Edwin Drood, a film made from Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel, released in 1935 starring Claude Rains. This may have been more to Francis L. Sullivan’s liking, a fresh Dickens’ tale, at least the start of one.
With the Universal contract completed, Francis L. Sullivan returned to England.
His first film made once back in England was Her Last Affaire in 1935, starring Hugh Williams, about the wife of a politician turning up dead. He plays the politician husband.
In 1936, he plays a familiar role as Prosecutor in A Woman Alone starring Anna Sten, US title was Two Who Dared.
In 1936, among other films, he starred in The Limping Man as a Private Investigator.
In 1937, he argued as Defense Council this time in Action for Slander.
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