Richard Greene: Shirley Temple ,The Hound of Hell, and Robin of Loxley

Richard Marius Joseph Greene to my 1950's television generation was "Robin Hood". This is a look at the seemingly going nowhere career in the mind of actor Richard Greene and some of the interesting motion pictures and television appearances he actually had.

I haven't had the big build-up part I expected. They turned me into a cloak-and-dagger merchant. After four dungeon pictures in a row, I decided to throw it up.

The above quote is from Richard Greene's January 14, 1954, interview with the "New Castle Sun", New South Wales, Australia.

Born on August 25, 1918, in Plymouth, Devon, England, Richard Greene was the fourth generation of a family of actors, a mixture of Irish and Scottish, and all Roman Catholics. His main education was at the "Cardinal Vaugh Memorial" secondary school in Holland Park, London, England. Richard would remain at the school until he turned 18, but his acting career started three years earlier.

At that time the 15-years-old Richard Marius Joseph Greene had a walk-on part as a spear carrier in a production at the prestigious "Old Vic" of William Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar". Still at "Cardinal Vaugh's" the young actor did some modeling work, appeared in a stage production of R.C. Sherriff's World War One play "Journey's End", directed by the unknown James Whale, with either the unknown Lawrence Olivier, or Colin Clive, Whale's "Henry Frankenstein" in his classic 1931 "Universal Pictures" motion picture, as "Stanhope". Then on September 7, 1934, Richard Greene had his first on-screen role in a small unidentified part in the musical comedy, "Sing As We Go!", starring British music hall star Gracie Fields.

Next in 1936, Ricard Greene, joined the "Jevan Brandon Repertory Company", and appeared in a production of William Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra" and the comedy, "French Without Tears" that led to three 1938 offers of film contracts, one was from "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's" British company, one was from Alexander Korda of the Korda Brothers, and the third from Darryl F. Zanuck for "20th Century Fox", Greene took the last.

Zanuck hired Richard Greene more for his looks than his acting. The plan was to turn the 20-years old actor into "20th Century Fox's" answer to "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's" 27-year-old Robert Taylor and they started out big with:

FOUR MEN AND A PRAYER released on April 29, 1938

The motion picture was directed by John Ford. Ford latest release was 1937's, "The Hurricane", starring Dorothy Lamour, Jon Hall, Mary Astor, C. Aubrey Smith, Thomas Mitchell, and Raymond Massey. John Ford would follow this picture with the World War One action adventure, 1938's, "Submarine Patrol", starring Richard Greene, Nancy Kelly and Preston Foster.

This movie was based upon the David Garth novel of the same title. One of the uncredited screenplay writers was author William Faulkner, but the main writing credit went to Richard Sherman, his third screenplay, and Sonya Levin, who had been writing screenplays since 1919.

Loretta Young portrayed "Miss Lynn Cherrington". Young's latest release was the comedy romance, 1937's "Second Honeymoon", co-starring Tyrone Power, and the very popular actress followed this feature with another comedy romance, 1938's, "Three Blind Mice". co-starring Joel McCrea and David Niven.

Richard Greene portrayed "Geoffrey Leigh". He would follow this picture first with the comedy, musical, romance, 1938's, "My Lucky Star", co-starring Olympic Skater Sonja Hennie and comedian Joan Davis. Then second, Ford's 1938, "Submarine Patrol".

George Sanders portrayed "Wyatt Leigh". His latest release was 1938's, "International Settlement", co-starring with Dolores del Rio, and Sanders would follow this motion picture with 1939's, "Mr. Moto's Last Warning", starring Peter Lorre.

Above, George Sanders and yes, Robert Stack, who was so new that he isn't even listed as having an "Uncredited Role" in this picture on any official cast listings.


David Niven portrayed "Christopher Leigh". Niven had fourth billing in 1938's, "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife", starring Claudette Colbert and Gary Cooper, and followed this picture with 1938's, "Three Blind Mice'.

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William Henry portrayed "Rodney Leigh". Henry had just starred in the forgotten crime comedy 1937's, "Mama Runs Wild", and followed this feature with 10th billing in 1938's "Yellow Jack" starring Robert Montgomery, Virginia Bruce, Lewis Stone, and Andy Devine.

Above the brothers, left to right, George Sanders, Richard Greene, David Niven, and William Henry.

C. Aubrey Smith portrayed "Colonel Loring Leigh". Smith had just appeared in the 1937, "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry" starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney and would follow this movie with the 1938 version of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped", starring Warner Baxter and Freddie Bartholomew.

The film starts out with cashiered British India officer "Colonel Loring Smith" calling his four sons to the family home and telling them he's been framed, but before their father can go into details he is murdered. Now it is up to the sons to clear their father's name and find the man who framed him.

Part of the mystery revolving around their father's death is "Lynn Cherrington" who seems to appear in in India, Egypt, and Buenos Aires wherever the four are searching for clues. The four start to believe her arms dealer father, "Martin Cherrington", played by Berton Churchill, may be the murderer.

The critics were mixed on "Four Men and a Prayer', but the studio liked the chemistry between Young and Greene and the two co-starred in 1938's, "Kentucky", about a family feud going back to the Civil War. 75-years later, a young woman from one family, and a young man from the other fall in love without knowing their last names while breeding horses for the Kentucky Derby. Co-star Walter Brennan won the "Best Supporting Acord Oscar" for his role as Lorretta Young's grandfather.

THE LITTLE PRINCESS released on March 10, 1939

The motion picture was directed by Walter Lang. He would follow this picture with Shirley Temple's next feature film, but without directing credit, 1939's, "Susannah of the Mounties", co-starring Randolph Scott and Margaret Lockwood. Then Lang received full directing credit for Shirley Temple's 1940's, "The Blue Bird", the motion picture that started her decline in popularity.

This screenplay was loosely based upon the 1905 novel "A Little Princess" by Francis Hodgson Burnett. The screenplay by Ethel Hill and Walter Ferris kept the Victorian London setting of the novel but added the "Boer War" and the "siege of Mafeking" as the backdrop for the action scenes and completely changed the ending to a happy one.

Shirley Temple portrayed "Sara Crewe". Temple had just starred with Joan Davis and Charles Farrell in 1938's, "Just Around the Corner", and would follow this production with the aforementioned 1939 "Susannah of the Mounties".

Richard Greene portrayed "Geoffrey Hamilton". 

Anita Louise portrayed "Rose". Louise's latest film was a comedy musical romance, 1938's, "Going Places", co-starring with Dick Powell and Allen Jenkins, and she followed this picture with a comedy horror feature, 1939's, "The Gorilla", co-starring the comedy team the Ritz Brothers.

Ian Hunter portrayed "British Army Captain Crewe". Hunter had 7th billing in the comedy romance, 1937's, "Yes, My Darling Daughter" starring Priscilla Lane, Jeffrey Lynn and Roland Young, and followed this feature by co-starring with Jeanette MacDonald and Lew Ayers in 1939's, "Broadway Serenade".

Cesar Romero portrayed "Ram Dass". Romero followed this picture by appearing in 1939 "Return of the Cisco Kid", and would start portraying the role himself later that year, but he also portrayed "Doc Holliday" in 1939's, "Frontier Marshall", starring Randolph Scott as "Wyatt Earp".

"Sara Crewe's" father goes off to the Boer War and the little girl helps with the romance between her teacher "Miss Rose" and her riding instructor ""Mr. Geoffrey", but her father is presumed dead and the money he has been sending to permit "Sara" to stay in a private school runs out. Which forces "Sara Crewe" to become a house servant for her mean neighbor, "Lord Wickham", played by Miles Mander. "Wickham" discovers the romance between "Miss Rose" and "Geoffrey", fires him, and the young riding instructor goes off to the Boer war. While "Sara" builds a friendship with "Wickham's" servant "Ram Dass". In the end "Sara's" father is alive and returns and "Miss Rose" working as a nurse is reunited with the wounded "Mr. Geoffrey".

"20th Century Fox" was very pleased with the fan mail being received by Richard Greene mainly from infatuated young women that was reaching the same levels Robert Taylor received at "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer". Greene seemed to have only one real purpose to Zanuck and the studio, but his next motion picture has stood the test of time more because of two other actors in it than Richard Greene with first billing.


Sir Arthur Conan Doyle had created the "World's First Consulting Detective", but he grew tired of him. In December 1893, Conan Doyle killed "Sherlock Holmes" in "The Adventure of the Final Problem". However the problem for Conan Doyle was that the reading public still wanted more and his solution was to have "Dr. Watson" tell the story of an adventure that took place before "Holmes" was killed. The story started to be serialized in "The Strand Magazine" in August 1901 and in 1902 the first published book version of the complete serial was released as the author's third novel.

The first motion picture version of that adventure was a silent film made in Germany and released June 12, 1914. There would be several versions of the novel until Richard Greene met "The Hound of Hell...."


THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES released on March 31, 1939

My article "Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES on the Motion Picture and Television Screens 1914-2016" will be found at the following link:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/12/sir-arthur-conan-doyles-hound-of_13.html

The motion picture was directed by Sidney Lanfield. Who started out as a jazz musician and vaudeville performer. The old "Fox Pictures" hired him as a gag writer in 1926, and his first directing assignment was the Spanish language 1930 "El barbero de Napoleon". After which he became a "B" director for "Fox". 

The screenplay by Ernest Pascal makes several changes to the novel to set up a happy ending but does retains much of the horror. Among Pascal's screenplays are, 1936's, "Lloyd's of London", 1938's, "Kidnapped", and 1940's, "The Blue Bird".

Richard Greene portrayed "Sir Henry Baskerville". Greene was picked for the role for one reason, the fact that "20th Century Fox" wasn't sure there was an audience for a "Sherlock Holmes" story and the popular young actor would be the audience draw needed.

Basil Rathbone portrayed "Sherlock Holmes". Rathbone had just portrayed "Baron Wolf von Frankenstein" in "Universal Pictures" 1939, "Son of Frankenstein". He would follow this feature with 1939's, "The Sun Never Sets", co-starring with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

Wendy Barrie portrayed the changed character of "Beryl Stapleton". Barrie had just co-starred with George Sanders as "Simon Templar" in "RKO Pictures" 1939, "The Saint Strikes Back". She would follow this production with the excellent "RKO" feature, 1939's, "Five Came Back".

Nigel Bruce portrayed "Dr. John H. Watson". Bruce who would first replay this role with Rathbone in "20th Century Fox's" 1939, "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" and then another 12 times for "Universal Pictures" had just been seen in 1938's, "Suez" starring Tyrone Power and Lorretta Young. Nigel Bruce first played his "Watson" characterization as "Horace Holly" in producer Merian C. Cooper, who made 1933's "King Kong", in the 1935 production of British author H. Ridder Haggard's "SHE", co-starring with Randolph Scott and worth a look.

Lionel Atwill portrayed "Dr. James Mortimer, M.D.". Atwill so associated with "B" horror films had just appeared in a 1939 comedy version of French author Alexander Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" starring Don Ameche and the comic Ritz Brothers. He would follow this film with the previously mentioned 1939, "The Gorilla", with the Ritz Brothers and Anita Louise.

Above, Lionel Atwill with actress Beryl Mercer as his character's wife.


John Carradine portrayed the "Baskerville Butler", "Barryman", it's "Barrymore" in the novel. Carradine had just been in the 1939 Ritz Brother's "Three Musketeers" and followed this motion picture with 1939's "Captain Fury", starring Brian Aherne, Victor McLagen, and Paul Lukas.

Plot Summary:

This version of Conan Doyle's story is considered to be the first actually set in Victorian England as in the novel. It opens with a scene straight out of it when "Holmes" has "Watson" attempting to determine who their mysterious visitor is from his walking stick.

"Dr. Mortimer" the owner of the walking stick has come to "Sherlock Holmes" and "Dr. Watson", at 221-B Baker Street, to ask their assistance in protecting "Sir Henry Baskerville" from the family curse that has recently killed his uncle, "Sir Charles Baskerville", played by Ian MacLaren. "Mortimer" relates the legend of the demonic hound that first killed "Sir Hugo Baskerville", played by Ralph Forbes, several centuries before.

"Holmes" considers the legend of the demonic hound a fairy tale, but "Mortimer" ads that he found the body of "Sir Charles" in "Baskerville Hall's" garden with a look of pure terror upon his face from something that caused a massive heart attack. "Dr. Mortimer" claims to have seen at a distance from the body the paw prints of a "gigantic hound". "Sherlock Holmes" meets "Sir Henry", but claims to have some unfished business in London and will send "Dr. Watson" to escort him and stay at "Baskerville Hall".

Above left to right, Lionel Atwill, actress Eily Malyon as "Mrs. Barryman", John Carradine, Richard Greene, and Nigel Bruce.

"Sir Henry" meets his neighbor's "John Stapleton", played by Morton Lowry, it's "Jack" in the novel, and his stepsister, "Beryl", she turns out to be his wife in the novel. As the screenplay progresses, "Sir Henry" and "Beryl" start to fall in love.

Meanwhile, a homicidal manic named "Selden", played by Nigel de Brulier, has escaped from "Dartmoor Prison", 

"Watson", "Beryl", and "Sir Henry" meet a strange man near the Grimpen Mire who then leaves them wondering who he is?

That night, "Watson" and "Sir Henry" hear strange sounds coming from a room, enter and find "Barryman' with a lamp. "Barryman" claims he's just going around checking that all the windows are closed and locked as he does every night.

"Watson" believing he saw a light out on moor through the window decides to investigate only to discover the strange man who turns out to be "Holmes". The howling of a large hound is heard, and a man resembling "Sir Henry" is seen being chased up some large rocks, the hound attacks, the man goes over the rock formation hitting the ground. 

The dead man turns out to be "Selden" wearing "Sir Henry's" clothes and the brother of "Mrs. Barryman".

Above, "Sir Henry" and "Sherlock Holmes" in front of a painting of "Sir Hugo Baskerville".

"Mrs. Mortimer" holds a séance attended by "Holmes", "Watson", "Sir Henry", and others. In an apparent trance state, "Mrs. Mortimer" asks what happened to "Sir Charles" that fateful night and the howl of a hound is heard.

The hound is now let loose and goes for "Sir Henry", but "Holmes" and "Watson" arrive in time to kill it.

"Holmes" explains that "John Stapleton" is actually a cousin of "Sir Henry" from a branch of the "Baskerville" family long forgotten, and points to the painting of "Sir Hugo" and the commonality of his features to "Stapleton". Whose plan was to use the family curse as a means of cover for the murders of those who stood in his way to the "Baskerville" fortune. "Stapleton" has escaped after pulling a gun on "Sherlock Holmes", but "Holmes" tells the group that he won't get far with all the roads blocked by the police unless he decides to cross the Grimpen Mire.

Now comes the happy ending that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle didn't write for "Beryl Stapleton". "Holmes" reveals that his investigation shows she is not related to "John Stapleton" and is free to marry "Sir Henry Baskerville".

The motion picture's box office surprised "20th Century Fox" and as I mentioned a sequel was made with Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce reprising their roles. For Richard Greene it was third billing in the minor love story within a piece of "Hollywood Historical Fiction" in another major "A" list feature in a role designed to bring in his fans to provide box office rather than to make the actor a major star.

"Stanley and Livingston", released on August 18, 1939, starred Spencer Tracy as the real-life "Henry M. Stanley" who went into Africa in search of real-life "Dr. David Livingston" played by billed Sir Cedric Hardwicke. Henry Hull portrayed "James Gordon Bennett, Jr." the real-life publisher of the "New York Herald" that sent Stanley in search of "Dr. Livingston", so much for character reality. Richard Greene played the fictional "Gareth Tyce", son of the equally fictional, "Lord Tyce", played by Charles Coburn, the owner of the fictional "London Globe" and the competitor to find "Livingston". Weaved in is the fictional love story between "Gareth Tyce", whose expedition to find "Livingston" failed and the romance between him and "Eve Kingsley", played by Nancy Kelly, who "Stanley" also is in love with.

Richard Greene finished 1939 with the lead in the forgotten drama, "Here I Am a Stranger", co-starring with Richard Dix and featuring Brenda Joyce and Roland Young. Next, it was another fictional "A" list history from "20th Century Fox".

LITTLE OLD NEW YORK released on February 3, 1940

The motion picture was directed by actor turned director Henry King. King had just directed "Stanley and Livingston" and 1939's, "Jesse James" starring Tyrone Power and Henry Fonda.

The screenplay was based upon the play by Rida Johnson Young. It had been adapted for the motion picture screen by John L. Balderston, "Universal Pictures" 1931 "Dracula" and "Frankenstein", 1932's, "The Mummy", and 1936's, "Dracula's Daughter".

The actual screenplay was written by Harry Tugend, comedian Eddie Cantor's 1937, "Ali Baba Goes to Town", Shirley Temple's 1938, "Little Miss Broadway", and Richard Greene's 1938, "My Lucky Star".

Alice Faye portrayed "Pat O'Day". Songstress Faye had just co-starred with Warner Baxter in 1939's, "Barricade" and followed this picture with another "Hollywood Biography", 1940's, "Lillian Russell". Her fans got word she wasn't to sing in this picture, threatened to boycott, and a few songs were added.

Fred MacMurray portrayed "Charles Brownne". MacMurray had just co-starred with Barbara Stanwyck in 1940's "Remember the Night" and followed this picture with the Jean Arthur and Melvyn Douglas 1940 comedy "Too Many Husbands".

Richard Greene portrayed the real-life, "Robert Fulton", given the "Hollywood" treatment. 

This was the highly fictionalized story of how Robert Fulton built his steamboat to revolutionize shipping and travel. The screenplay writers even got the name of the steamboat wrong for the time of the picture. The steamboat was actually called the "North River Steamboat"  and wouldn't get the name of the "Clermont" until a biography of Robert Fulton was published two years after his death had misnamed the ship. 

Another mistake was that both Fulton's main financial backer, New York Congressman Robert L. Livingston and his daughter and future Mrs. Fulton, Harriett Livingston's last names were changed to "Livingstone", played respectively by Henry Stephenson and Brenda Joyce.

Below Brenda Joyce as "Harriett Livingstone" with Richard Greene.

Above, that's Ward Bond portraying the pro-sailing shipwright "Ragan" standing next to Fred MacMurray and staring down Richard Greene.


Next, Richard Green starred in a comedy crime drama with a fun cast of characters.


I WAS AN ADVENTURESS released on May 10, 1940

The motion picture was directed by Gregory Ratoff. Ratoff had just directed 1939's "Barricade" and would follow this feature with the George Murphy, Brenda Joyce, and Ralph Bellamy comedy, 1940's, "Public Deb No. 1".

The screenplay was based upon a French screenplay for the 1938 motion picture, "J'etais une aventuriere (I Was an Adventuress)". The four French screenplay writers received on-screen credit, but not all the American screenplay writers. The only three that are credited were Karl Tunberg, Don Ettinger and author John O'Hara, "Pal Joey", "Ten North Frederick", "From the Terrace", and "Butterfield 8". While actor Erich von Stroheim and writers Nunnally Johnson and Darrel Ware received no credit.

Vera Zorina portrayed "Countess Tanya Vronsky". Zorina was a major Norwegian prima ballerina, and legitimate stage and motion picture actress. She performs a twelve-minute ballet sequence from "Swan Lake" near this movies end, at the time the longest ballet sequence in a motion picture. She had just co-starred with Eddie Albert and Alan Hale, Sr. in the 1939 musical comedy "On Your Toes" and followed this feature co-starring with Bob Hope in the musical comedy 1941's, "Louisiana Purchase".

Richard Green portrayed "Paul Vernay". 

Erich von Stroheim portrayed "Andre Desormeaux". Actor and director, Von Stroheim was just seen in the French 1940 motion picture "Tempete (Thunder Over Paris)". He would follow this feature with 1941's "So Ends Our Night" starring Fredric March and Margaret Sullivan.

Peter Lorre portrayed "Polo". Lorre was just in 1940's "Strange Cargo" starring Clark Gable and Joan Crawford and in typical Lorre fashion he starred in the crime thriller 1940's "Island of Doomed Men" following this feature film.

"Countess Vronsky" is the bait for jewel thieves "Andre Desormeaux" and "Polo". Everything is going according to their normal plan of the countess distracting their male targets and the two men robbing the house of the jewels as they tour Europe. However, the plan goes astray when "Countess Vronsky" falls in love with their next target "Paul Vernay" and him with her.

The countess announces her retirement and plans to marry "Paul", but "Desormeaux" tries to get her to change her mind and threatens to tell "Paul" about her past. At a party "Countess Vronsky's" gives at her home, "Andre" and "Polo" arrive unannounced and mix with the guest, robbing them of their jewels. Telling "Paul" the truth about herself, the two go after the jewel thieves.

They never catch-up with the other two, but in a charge of heart "Polo" has returned to the countess' house and puts back the jewels and she and "Paul" forgive him.

"Desormeaux" and "Polo" go on board a ship bound for the United States. "Polo" while holding the suitcase the other thinks the jewels are still in, tosses it overboard into the Atlantic Ocean as "Andre" looks on in shock.

In 1940 the United States was not in the Second World War, but the United Kingdom and Canada were. After completing filming of "I Was an Adventuress" Richard Greene wanted to enlist in the army. He first went to Vancouver, Canada, to enlist in the "Seaforth Highlanders of Canada",  but they would not commission the actor. Next, he obtained a contract release from "20th Century Fox" and crossed the Atlantic to England and enlisted in the newly formed in 1941, "27th Lancers". After three-months of service Richard Greene was sent to the "Royal Military College, Sandhurst" and was commissioned. However, he was given leave in 1942, to appear in United Kingdom propaganda motion pictures.


FLYING FORTRESS released on June 13, 1942 in the United Kingdom

Above the United Kingdom poster and below the United States poster for the motion picture.

This motion picture was a romance between Richard Greene's, his name misspelled on the United States poster, "James 'Jim' Spence, Jr." and Canadian leading lady, Carla Lehmann's role of "Sydney Kelly", in the story set in England during the actual blitz.

Greene's second British propaganda motion picture was "Unpublished Story", released on August 10, 1942 in the United Kingdom. 

Richard Greene's journalist "Bob Randall" is upset because his news stories are being censored by the "British Ministry of Information". However, he meets and falls in love with Valerie Hobson's, 1931's "Bride of Frankenstein" and 1935's "The Werewolf of London", "British Intelligence Agent Carol Bennett" and joins her to go after Nazi spy's operating in London. My article, "Valerie Hobson: From Frankenstein's Bride to Bringing Down the British Government" may be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2021/01/valerie-hobson-from-frankensteins-bride.html

Richard Greene returned to the "27th Lancers" and was promoted to "Captain". While on leave he once more appeared in a British motion picture production.

YELLOW CANARY released October 1943 in London.

Anna Neagle portrayed "Sally Maitland". Neagle had just appeared in 1943's, "Forever and a Day", a vehicle to utilize 80 British and American actors mostly in cameo appearances. Those cameo's included Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, Buster Keaton, Nigel Bruce, Merle Oberon, Ida Lupino, Reginald Owen, Ray Milland, and Ruth Warrick.

Negale followed this film with 1945's, "A Yank in London" co-starring Rex Harrison and Dean Jagger.

Richard Greene portrayed "Lieutenant Commander Jim Garrick". 

This thriller starts with "Sally Maitland" signaling Nazi bombers about locations in England to drop their loads. The next morning "Sally" boards a ship bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and meets "Jim Garrick", a British intelligence officer attempting to get near "Sally" the Nazi spy. The ship is stopped and boarded by members of a Nazi destroyer who take "Jim" prisoner. However, to the Nazi's and "Sally's" amazement the real "Jim Garrick" comes out of hiding and the prisoner taken was an imposter.

The screenplay follows "Sally" involvement with a Nazi Spy ring and "Jim's" pursuit of it. In the end it will be revealed that "Sally Maitland" was a deep undercover British Intelligence operative that "Jim Garrick" was unaware of.

After the war ended, Richard Greene was discharged in December 1944 and toured in a stage production entitled the "Desert Rats", about the "9th Australian Division" whose nickname was the "Desert Rats".

GAIETY GEORGE aka: SHOWTIME released April 16, 1946 in London

This is the fictionalized musical life of "George Howard", portrayed by Richard Greene, set in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, who changed British musical theatre. 

First billing went to actress Ann Todd portraying "Kathryn Davis". Todd had just co-starred with James Mason and Herbert Lom in 1945's "The Seventh Veil" and would follow this picture with director Alfred Hitchcock's 1947 "The Paradine Case" co-starring with Gregory Peck.

Note to my American readers, that is not the star of television's "Mission Impossible" with third billing behind Richard Greene, but British actor Peter George Wellesley Graves, 8th Baron Graves aka Peter Graves below, portraying "Henry Carter".

Portraying "Elizabeth Brown" was fourth billed Hazel Court. This was the actresses third on-screen appearance and thanks to "The House of Hammer" the actress would become known as "HAZEL COURT: Frankenstein's Bride and Roger Corman's Evil Lady", that article can be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/06/hazel-court-frankensteins-bride-and.html

Next, Richard Greene was back at "20th Century Fox" in what appeared to be a return to American "A" list feature films.

FOREVER AMBER released on October 22, 1947

The motion picture was credited as being directed by Otto Preminger. His latest release had been 1946's "Centennial Summer" starring Jeanne Crain, Cornel Wilde, and Linda Darnell. Preminger would follow this feature with 1947's "Daisy Kenyon" starring Joan Crawford, Dana Andrews, and Henry Fonda. 

John M. Stahl was the features original director for the first 39 days of filming, but had problems with what the studio wanted and was replaced with Preminger. 

Kathleen Winsor's bestselling novel was adapted by Jerome Cady, 1939's "Five Came Back", 1943's "Guadalcanal Diary", and 1944's "The Purple Heart".

The screenplay was co-written by:

Phillip Dunne, 1934's "The Count of Monte Cristo", 1936's "The Last of the Mohicans", 1941's "How Green Was My Valley", and 1947's "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir".

Ring Lardner Jr., 1942's "The Woman of the Year", 1943's "The Cross of Lorraine", and an uncredited contributor to 1944's "Laura".



Linda Darnell portrayed "Amber St. Clair". The actress had just appeared in director John Ford's 1946, "My Darling Clementine". 

In November 1944, Gene Tierney was considered the front runner for the role, but red-headed Maureen O'Hara was lobbying for the part, as was Paulette Goddard. Preminger wanted Lana Turner and didn't consider Darnell right and wanted her dropped from the production.

Cornell Wilde portrayed "Bruce Carlton". Wilde had just co-starred with Maureen O'Hara and Glenn Langan, whose career would only be remembered for playing 1957's "The Amazing Colossal Man", in 1947's "The Homestretch". 

Wilde was upset with the changes Otto Preminger had made in the screenplay and walked off the film. Immediately Stewart Granger was considered, but Wilde returned.

Richard Greene portrayed "Lord Harry Almsbury". Greene was given his first "Hollywood Role" in seven years when Vincent Price, who had shot several scenes, was removed from the role.

George Sanders portrayed "King Charles II". Sanders had just been in 1947's "Lured" co-starring Lucille Ball in one of her dramatic roles in the crime film-noir mystery. He would next appear in director Otto Preminger's comedy romance, 1949's "The Fan" co-starring with Jeanne Crain and Madeline Carroll. 

Glenn Langan portrayed "Captain Rex Morgan". As mentioned Langan proceeded this picture with 1947's, "The Homestretch", and followed it with the 1948 western, "Fury at Furnace Creek" co-starring with Victor Mature and Coleen Gray.

Jessica Tandy portrayed "Nan Britton". Tandy had just been seen in 1946's "Dragonwyck" starring Gene Tierney, Walter Huston and Vincent Price. She would next be seen in 1948's "A Woman's Revenge" co-starring with Charles Boyer and Ann Blyth.

Above, Richard Greene and Jessica Tandy. Below, Richard Greene and Linda Darnell.

The period piece is set in 17th Century England as low born country girl "Amber St. Clair's" ambition to become royalty will cost her the one man who truly loves her.

The "Catholic League of Decency" threatened a boycott of the film and "20th Century Fox" backed down and made changes to the film including a prologue criticizing "Amber St. Clair" by telling the audience that:

The wages of sin are death!

Even after the studio appeased the Catholic League the film was still considered scandalous and was a box office success and played at higher ticket prices.

 

However, it would be two more years before Richard Greene got another motion picture role and not as he had imagined with the majors, but the solid "B" list studio now named, "Universal International Pictures" and a foreshadowing of his career to come.

THE FIGHTING O'FLYNN released in the United States and Mexico on February 25, 1949

This was contract writer Arthur Pierson's second motion picture as a director. He wrote and directed televisions "China Smith" in 1952 and "Terry and the Pirates" in 1953. During the 1960's Pierson became the primary writer for the animated series, "The Flintstones", "Winsome Witch", "The Atom Ant Show", "Squiddly Diddy" and "The Secret Squirrel Show".

The screenplay was based upon a novel by Justin Huntley McCarthy and written by both star Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and contract writer Robert Thoeren.

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. portrayed "The O'Flynn". He had just co-starred with Betty Grable and Cesar Romero in 1948's "The Lady in Ermine" and would follow this feature with the United Kingdom's 1950 "The Great Manhunt" co-starring with Glynis Johns and Jack Hawkins.

Helena Carter portrayed "Lady Benedetta". Carter's career consisted of only 13 motion pictures and her last, the science fiction classic of paranoia, 1953's "Invaders from Mars" is the one she is remembered for.

Above Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Helena Carter and Arthur Shields as "Dooley".

Richard Greene portrayed "Lord Philip Sedgemonth". Greene would follow this film with director Otto Preminger's comedy romance, 1949's "The Fan" co-starring Jeanne Crain, Madeleine Carroll, and George Sanders.

Patricia Medina, Richard Greene's wife since 1941, portrayed "Fancy Free". Medina had just been in the cast of MGM's 1948 all-star big budgeted version of Alexander Dumas' "The Three Musketeers" starring Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, June Allyson, and Angela Lansbury. She would follow this feature with the British 1949 drama "Children of Chance".

In 1951, Greene and Medina would divorce.

Above, Ludwig Donath as "Hendrigg" looks at Richard Greene with Patricia Medina between the two men.

This swashbuckler has soldier of fortune "O'Flynn" returning to Ireland in time to rescue the "Lady Benedetta" from robbers that are after the papers she carries about Napoleon's plans to invade Ireland. "Lord Sedgemonth" is working with the Bonapartists and his treason is discovered when "Benedetta" learns that "Fancy Free" is his mistress.

 

Two forgotten British motion pictures, 1949's "That Dangerous Age aka: If This Be Sin" co-starring Myrna Loy, and 1949's "Now Barabbas" co-starring Sir Cedric Hardwicke followed. Along with a short 1949 film shot in England, "A Terribly Strange Bed", directed by William Cameron Menzies for American televisions anthology series, "Fireside Theatre".

Next Richard Greene was back at "Universal International" as:

THE DESERT HAWK released on September 5, 1950

"Universal International Pictures" contract director Frederick De Cordova directed this feature. He had just directed Yvonne DeCarlo in 1950's "Buccaneer's Girl" and would follow this picture with 1951's "Bedtime for Bonzo" starring Ronald Reagan.


Yvonne DeCarlo portrayed "Princess Scheherazade". DeCarlo had just been in the aforementioned "Buccaneer's Girl" and followed this feature with the 1951 western "Tomahawk" co-starring Van Heflin. In 1964 Yvonne DeCarlo portrayed "Lily Munster" on one of two dueling television shows, "The Munsters". My article, 'THE ADAMS FAMILY and THE MUNSTERS" may be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/09/the-addams-family-and-munsters.html

Richard Greene portrayed "Omar aka The Desert Fox". Greene followed this picture by joining Edgar G. Robinson in a British motion picture, 1950's "My Daughter Joy aka: Operation X" that both wanted to forget about a millionaire that spoils his daughter.

Jackie Gleason portrayed "Aladdin". Gleason had just been seen in the first season of televisions "The Life of Riley", he would be replaced by William Bendix in the role. Jackie Gleason is always associated with the 1955 television show, "The Honeymooners" with Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph. In truth the series ran for only one season of 39 episodes and was actually part of the 1952 through 1958 "The Jackie Gleason Show aka The Cavalcade of Stars".

Above Jackie Gleason with Joe Besser as "Prince Sinbad". Among Besser's work was the recurring character of "Stinky Davis" on "The Abbott and Costello Show" and replacing Shemp Howard for a short time in "The Three Stooges".

George Macready portrayed "Prince Murad". Macready was just seen in 1950's "A Lady Without  a Passport" starring Hedy Lamarr and John Hodiak. He would follow this picture with 1951's "Tarzan's Peril" starring Lex Barker.

Rock Hudson portrayed "Captain Raz". Hudson had sixth billing in 1950's "Peggy" and followed this picture in a very small role without on-screen credit, but unlike Robert Stack listed on the official cast listing, in 1950's "Shakedown" starring Howard Duff and Brian Donlevy.

This was a typical fare for the year as the good "Desert Hawk" is set-up for having performed a massacre by the evil "Prince Murad". "Princess Scheherazade" disguises herself as a harm dancer to escape the arranged marriage with "Prince Murad" and unknowingly falls in love with the "Desert Hawk" whom she thinks is "Murad".

Next, Richard Greene found himself starring in a British and Italian historical romance.

SHADOW OF THE EAGLE released in the United Kingdom on September 11, 1950

Richard Greene portrayed "Russian Count Alexei Orloff".

Valentina Cortesa portrayed "Elizabeth, Princess Tarakanova". The Italian actress had just been seen in France and Italy with 31st billing in the Italian concentration camp film "Donne senza nome (Women Without Names)" starring French actress Simone Simon, Val Lewton's 1940 "Cat People" and 1944 "Curse of the Cat People".

Gretna Gynt portrayed "Countess Loradona Campiello". The Norwegian actress had just been seen in a made for BBC television movie, 1949's "Dangerous Corner". 

Binnie Barnes portrayed "Catherine--Empress of Russia". British actress Barnes had just been seen in the 1950 Italian feature "La strada buia (Fugitive Lady)" starring American actress Janis Page.

This was the British version of the story about "Catherine the Great" sending her lover "Count Orloff" to kidnap her rival for the throne, "Elizabeth", claiming the Russian throne from the Crimea, but he falls in love with her instead.

The same cast would shoot an Italian language version, "La rivale dell'imperatce (The Rival of the Empress)" released in Italy on February 22, 1951. Among other changes is the addition of nudity that would not have been accepted in the United Kingdom.

Richard Greene started "Guest Appearing" on television programs on both sides of "The Pond" and then appeared in two motion pictures at the end of 1952.

CAPTAIN SCARLETT initially released in Brussels, Belgium on October 13, 1952

This was the only produced motion picture by American television and "B" movie writer Howard Dimsdale. It was shot in Mexico with an international cast of British, Spanish, Brazilian, and Americans to keep the costs down. The picture didn't reach the United States until September 12, 1953 and that fact has some lists showing it as the original release date.

The screenplay was very familiar, "Captain Scarlett" returns from the Napoleonic Wars and settles in France, saves the beautiful "Princess Maria", played by Brazilian actress Leonora Amar, from an arranged marriage and defeats the evil "Duke Pierre DuCloux", played by American actor Nedrick Young, and frees the countryside of his tyranny.

THE BLACK CASTLE released on November 20, 1952

This is a forgotten entry from "Universal International Pictures" with a stellar 1950's horror movie cast and excellent reviews from film critics.

The motion picture was directed by Nathan Juran, 1957's "20 Million Miles to Earth" and in 1958 both "Attack of the 50 Foot Woman" and "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad".

My article, "Nathan H. Juran: A Look at the Work of the Man Who was an Art Director for John Ford, Directed Live Action for Ray Harryhausen and Wrote Screenplays for Fess Parker" may be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/05/nathan-h-juran-look-at-work-of-man-who.html

The story and screenplay was by "B" contract writer Jerry Sackheim. His other screenplays include the 1951 horror movie "The Strange Door" starring Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff, and 1960's "Young Jesse James", otherwise he wrote for television.

Richard Greene portrayed "Sir Ronald Burton aka Richard Beckett".

Boris Karloff portrayed "Dr. Meissen". Karloff had just appeared with Irene Dunne on televisions "Schlitz Playhouse" in a 1952 episode entitled "House of Death". He would follow this picture with an appearance on the anthology series "Hollywood Opening Night" in the 1953 episode, "The Invited Seven" with Marjorie Lord and Strother Martin.

Rita Corday, center above, billed as Paula Corday, portrayed "Countess Elga von Bruno". Corday also used the name Paula Croset as she was billed in Douglas Fairbanks, Jr's 1947 "The Exile". To keep the name confusion going, she was born Jeanne Paule Teipo-Ite-Marma Croset on the island of Tahiti. As Rita Corday, her films include producer Val Lewton and director Robert Wise's 1945 "The Body Snatcher", and four of Tom Conway's, George Sander's brother, 1940's, "The Falcon" mystery series. As Paula Corday she starred in 1951's "The Sword of Monte Cristo" co-starring George Montgomery.

Stephen McNally portrayed "Count Karl von Bruno". McNally just starred in the Korean War picture, 1952's "Battle Zone" and followed this feature with actor turned director, Dick Powell's atomic bomb crime thriller, the excellent and tense 1953 "Split Second".

Lon Chaney portrayed "Gargon". Chaney had just appeared in the Gary Cooper 1952 western. "The Springfield Rifle", and followed this picture in the title role of the forgotten historical 1952, "The Battles of Chief Pontiac". 

John Hoyt portrayed "Count Steikin". Character actor Hoyt, 1951's "The Lost Continent" starring Cesar Romero and producer George Pal's science fiction classic, 1951's "When Worlds Collide", had just been in the 1952 film version of playwright George Bernard Shaw's "Androcles and the Lion" starring Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, and Alan Young. He would follow this picture with a 1952 episode of the television anthology series, "The Unexpected", entitled "Beyond Belief" with Herbert Marshall, Paul Birch and Lois Collier.

Michael Pate portrayed "Count Ernst von Melcher". Australian character actor Pate is probably best known for two roles. He portrayed the Native American war chief "Vittorio" in John Wayne's only

3-D western, 1953's "Hondo", and the vampire gunfighter in 1959's "Curse of the Undead".

My article, "Woody Strode and Michael Pate: Western Stalwarts" may be read at:

http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/03/woody-strode-and-michael-pate-one.html

Above, Michael Pate and Stephen McNally in the foreground and John Hoyt in the background.


"Sir Ronald Burton" investigates the mysterious deaths of two of his friends at the Austrian castle of "Count Karl von Bruno" and finds both his answer and horror.

Now it was truly typecasting for Richard Greene with his two 1953 motion pictures starting with "Rouge's March" starring Peter Lawford as an Englishman unjustly drummed out of the Victorian British army and his attempt to restore his honor.

"Bandits of Corsica aka The Return of the Corsican Brothers" was a rip-off of the Alexander Dumas novel "The Corsican Brothers" with Richard Greene portraying the Siamese twins "Mario" and "Carlos". 

Above, Raymond Burr as the evil "Jonatto", Lee Van Cleef as "Nerva", Richard Greene and Donna Drake as "Zelda".


Several more "guest appearances" on television shows and then the role Richard Greene would be most remembered for by my generation.


THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

Initially created for the British ITC television network with the first episode "The Coming of Robin Hood", broadcast on September 26, 1955, in the United Kingdom, and the following day in the United States. By the end of the series run on November 12, 1960, with "Trapped", 144 episodes would have been seen over 4 seasons.

Above, Bernadette O'Farrell as "Maid Marian" for the first two seasons and below, Patricia Driscoll for the last two.

 

Alan Wheatley portrayed "The Sheriff of Nottingham" in 80 episodes of the series. Wheatley was the first actor to portray "Sherlock Holmes" on television in a 1951 mini-series.

Archie Duncan portrayed "Little John" in 105 episodes of the series. 

Alexander Gauge portrayed "Friar Tuck" in 91 episodes of the series.

There were 17 different directors including Terence Fisher, Lindsay Anderson, and Don Chaffey.

There were 53 different writers including Ring Larder, Jr., and Howard Dimsdale.

There were 184 other credited actors in as little as 1 episode, or as many as 62. Some of the names my readers may recognize are:

Edward Mulhare Frank Sinatra's 1965 "Von Ryan's Express" and televisions 1968 "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir", Patrick Troughton the second "Dr. Who", Ian  Hunter the Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland 1938 "The Adventures of Robin Hood" reprising his role of "Richard the Lion Hearted" in this series, Donald Pleasence "The Halloween" motion picture series, Michael Ripper multiple "Hammer Films", Leo McKern 1985's "Ladyhawke" and "Number Two" on televisions "The Prisoner", Ronald Howard son of actor Leslie Howard and star of the 1954 "Sherlock Holmes" television series, Greta Gynt 1939's "The Human Monster" starring Bela Lugosi. Laurence Naismith 1960's "Village of the Damned" Ray Harryhausen's 1963 "Jason and the Argonauts" and 1969's "Valley of Gwangi", Lionel Jeffries Ray Harryhausen's 1964 "First Men in the Moon" and Dick Van Dyke's 1968's "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", Charles Gray "James Bond's" 1967 "You Only Live Twice" and 1971's "Diamonds Are Forever" and 1975's "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", Rupert Davies 1955's "Quatermass II aka The Enemy from Space" 1968's "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave" and 1970's "Waterloo", Michael Gough Walt Disney's 1953 "Rob Roy the Highland Rogue" 1958's "Dracula aka Horror of Dracula" 1959's "Horrors of the Black Museum" 1961's  "Konga" and Tim Burton's 1989 "Batman", Gary Raymond 1961's "El Cid" and Ray Harryhausen's 1963 "Jason and the Argonauts", Nigel Green Ray Harryhausen's 1963 "Jason and the Argonauts" 1964's "Zulu" 1965's "The Ipcress File" and Christopher Lee's 1965 "The Face of Fu Manchu", Anthony Dawson Alfred Hitchcock's only 3-D motion picture 1954's "Dial M for Murder" "James Bonds" 1962 "Dr. No" and 1963's "From Russia with Love" and 1967's "Death Rides a Horse", and actor Edward Judd 1961's "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" Ray Harryhausen's 1964 "First Men in the Moon" and 1966's "Island of Terror" with Peter Cushing, 

With the success of the television series a motion picture was released that was not connected to "The Adventures of Robin Hood" except that it starred Richard Greene.

THE SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST released on December 26, 1960

This motion picture filmed by Hammer studios was directed by Terence Fisher, 1957's "Curse of Frankenstein", 1958's "Dracula aka Horror of Dracula", and 1959's "The Mummy".

Richard Greene again portrayed "Robin Hood". 

Peter Cushing portrayed "The Sheriff of Nottingham". Cushing had just reprised his role of "Professor Van Helsing" without Christopher Lee, or "Dracula" in 1960's "Brides of Dracula". He would follow this picture with 1961's "The Hellfire Club". It is this feature film that has many claiming Peter Cushing played the role on the television series.

Just as the audience had a second "Sheriff of Nottingham" they now saw the third "Maid Marian".

Sarah Branch portrayed "Maid Marian Fitzwalter". This was the actresses fourth on-screen appearance and her career only consisted for four more.

Nial MacGinnis portrayed "Friar Tuck". Among his work prior to this motion picture is "Menelaus" in director Robert Wise's 1956's "Helen of Troy", "Parmenio" in the Richard Burton 1956 "Alexander  the Great", and of course "Dr. Julian Karswell" in 1957's "Night of the Demon aka Curse of the Demon" co-starring with Dana Andrews.

The 80-minute story line could have been an episode of the television series. As it simply is about a plot to assassinate the "Archbishop of Canterbury" and the seizer of the land of a man who died during the crusades, with "Robin Hood" vs the "Sheriff of Nottingham" to stop both from taking place. 

During the run of "The Adventures of Robin Hood", Richard Greene met Brazilian actress Beatriz Summers and in 1960 the two married. 

Greene left motion pictures, purchased an Irish estate and started to breed horses. He resurfaced for an  appearance on the syndicated family television program, 1967's "Off to See the Wizard", in the two-part "Island of the Lost", that was actually an unsold pilot for a series from producer Ivan Tors. Greene portrayed "Josh MacCrea" a paleontologist that is shipped wrecked with his two sons.

 

In October 1912, British author Sax Rohmer created his evil Chinese mastermind bent on world conquest for China, "Dr. Fu Manchu". The character first appeared in the 1923 British silent motion picture short "The Mystery of Fu Manchu" being pursued by "Inspector Nayland Smith of Scotland Yard" and his associate "Dr. Petrie". Over the years several actors portrayed the three characters, but starting on August 6, 1965, the first of five motion pictures with British actor Christopher Lee as the Chinese doctor appeared as part of a series of co-productions from the United Kingdom, West Germany and Spain. 


THE BLOOD OF FU MANCHU aka FU MANCHU AND THE KISS OF DEATH released on August 23, 1968 in West Germany

The fourth entry is the Christopher Lee series was directed by Spanish director Jesus Franco, the very good 1962 "Gritos en la noche (Screams in the Night) aka The Awful Dr. Orlof", and 1970's "Nachts, wenn Dracula erwacht (A night when Dracula wakes up) aka 1970's Count Dracula" starring Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom and Klaus Kinski.

Jesus Franco co-wrote the screenplay with British writer Harry Alan Towers using the name of Peter Welbreck on all five "Fu Manchu" films. Towers also wrote the 1965 version of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" and the screenplay for the English language version of "Count Dracula". However, using his own name Harry Alan Towers, he also produced of all five "Fu Manchu" motion pictures.

West German screenplay writer Manfred R. Kohler wrote the German language screenplay. 


Christopher Lee portrayed "Fu Manchu". Lee had just been seen in the excellent 1968 "The Devil Rides Out" with Charles Gray at his devilish best. He would follow this feature with 1968's "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave". Lee spoke German fluently besides Italian and Spanish which let him appear in foreign films without being dubbed, but frequently his voice was dubbed into English by another actor when the foreign film came to the U.K. and the United States. My article, "CHRISTOPHER LEE: Foreign Language Motion Pictures 1959 to 1970" is available for reading at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/08/christopher-lee-foreign-language-motion.html

Richard Greene portrayed "Nayland Smith". 

Howard Marion-Crawford portrayed "Dr. Petrie". Marion-Crawford portrayed the role in the proceeding three motion pictures and was appearing on British television.

Above, Howard Marion-Crawford and Richard Greene.


In a remote jungle hideout the evil "Dr. Fu Manchu" has discovered a deadly venom to men only and will use women to give his targets "The Kiss of Death" that causes blindness and death within six weeks. It's up to "Nayland Smith" and his "Dr. Watson" like assistant "Dr. Petrie" to stop "Fu Manchu" once more.

THE CASTLE OF FU MANCHU aka THE TORTURE CHAMBER OF FU MANCHU released in West Germany on May 30, 1969

For the fifth and final entry in the series the United Kingdom dropped out of the production and was replaced by Italy. Although the motion picture was still shot in English.

Jesus Franco was back as director and Harry Alan Towers as one of the screenplay writers. German writer Manfred Barthel came up with what is considered the worse story of the five films and wrote the German screenplay. Spanish writer Jaime Jesus Balcazar wrote the Spanish language screenplay.

Christopher Lee was back as "Dr. Fu Manchu". He had just been seen in a Linda Thorson episode of British televisions "The Avengers" entitled "The Interrogators", on January 20, 1969. Lee followed this picture with 1969's "The Oblong Box" co-starring with Vincent Price.

Richard Greene portrayed now "Interpol Agent Nayland Smith". He would follow this picture with two episodes of the British television series "The Doctors".

Howard Marion-Crawford was back as "Dr. Petrie". Marion-Crawford was also just seen in a Linda Thorson episode of "The Avengers" entitled "Stay Tuned" on February 24, 1969. He wouldn't be seen on-screen again until his last appearance in 1994's "Avalanche".

Manfred Barthel's screenplay has "Fu Manchu" creating a device to freeze all the oceans of the world to blackmail the entire planets countries. One has to wonder, other than a large paycheck, why both Christopher Lee and Richard Greene were in this picture and if they could keep a straight face delivering their lines?

TALES FROM THE CRYPT released on March 8, 1972

Richard Greene and Barbara Murray were in the fourth of the five short tales entitled, "Wish You Were Here" in the United Kingdom's "Tales from the Crypt". A statue permits the holder to have three wishes and in this tale a wife gets her revenge of total damnation on her husband.

 

Five more British television appearances followed for the actor ending with his portraying of "Lord Brompton" in the 1979 episode "The Case of the Purloined Letter" on the series "Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson".

The following year his marriage to Beatriz Summers ended in divorce. Richard Greene found himself in another period piece, with six episodes of the 1981 British television series "Scarf Jack". The actor appeared on-screen one last time in an episode of another British television series, 1982's "Squadron" entitled "Memorial Flight".

On June 1, 1985 in Holt, Norfolk, England, Richard Greene passed away from a heart attack.