Featured in HE SNOOPS TO CONQUER
Each of George Formby's leading ladies has at least one unique claim
that sets her apart from the others. Elizabeth Allan, star of HE SNOOPS
TO CONQUER (1944) has three. First, all other Formby heroines were
just beginning their film careers, some going on to great cinematic
success. Only Elizabeth Allan had already achieved film stardom and
seemed "on her way down." Second, she was the oldest of his leading
ladies, age 36 when the film was made. Third, she never once had to say,
"Oh, George, you're wonderful!"
George's true co-star in HE SNOOPS TO CONQUER is a Rube Goldberg
house, an inventor's dream of modernistic gadgets and bizarre revolving
doors. The beautiful Miss Allan doesn't arrive on screen for 42 minutes!
She plays Jane Strawbridge, daughter of the eccentric house's equally
eccentric owner (Robertson Hare). Jane is a school teacher on holiday
who is studying architecture and town planning. This qualifies her to help
George Gribble oust the corrupt Tangleton City Council and effect urban
renewal.
Of her brief and unchallenging role as a Formby foil, Elizabeth recalled, "I
was cycling to work one foggy, drizzly morning during the blitz, and I
thought to myself, 'Dear God, it's come to this!'" Happily, television would
re-establish her as a popular and sought-after star.
Elizabeth Allan was born April 9, 1908 (or 1910) in Skegness,
Lincolnshire, the 5th (or 6th) and youngest child of Dr. Alexander William
(or William Alexander) Allan and Amelia Morris (or Woodward). The
reference books DO agree that her family soon moved to Darlington,
South Durham, where she attended Plan Hall School. Although basically
shy, she was a good student and won a gold medal in elocution,.
However, her parents objected to an acting career, so she worked as a
kindergarten teacher until they relented.
She attended the Old Vic Training School in London, graduating with
honours. In 1927 and early 1928, she had walk-ons in the Old Vic's
Shakespeare repertory. Her first speaking part was the plum role of Maria
in SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL in March 1928. The next year, she appeared
in MICHAEL AND MARY, a hit play starring Herbert Marshall and Edna
Best. Marshall recommended "Liz" to his agent, Wilfred J. O'Bryen, who
took a major interest in her career and in the lady herself. Two years later,
on June 6, 1932, they were married.
A common irony of show business is that many performers suffer from
excessive shyness. Elizabeth Allan was such a person, and she credited
her husband for her success. "I'm one of those stupidly sensitive people. I
can't bear being snubbed. And not so long ago, everyone was telling me
my face was not photogenic. My husband, who was then my casting
agent, had me tested by four different [film] companies. They were all
failures...and I reached a point where I couldn't even say 'how do you do?'
without wanting to run away and hide."
Despite Elizabeth's self-doubts, O'Bryen quickly secured a series of film
roles for her. She played a maid in ALIBI, 1931 and appeared in 20 films
in the next two years, including THE LODGER with Ivor Novello. She was
sought as Maurice Chevalier's leading lady in THE WAY TO LOVE, 1933,
but could not get out of her contract at Twickenham. When it expired soon
after, she quickly signed with MGM. Hollywood had taken note of her
classic beauty and shapely physique. Her new contract, negotiated by her
husband, called for £12,000 the first year with increases thereafter, a
fortune in the midst of the Depression. (Over the next few years, O'Bryen
also negotiated Hollywood contracts for a number of British performers
including David Niven, George Sanders, and Brian Aherne.)
Hollywood, the golden goal of so many thespians, proved a less than
happy experience for Elizabeth. MGM first lent her to Fox Studios for
SHANGHAI MADNESS with Spencer Tracy. She walked off the film,
shutting down production, and was replaced by Fay Wray. Apparently
MGM forgave her and immediately assigned her to THE MYSTERY OF
MR. X (1934) opposite Robert Montgomery.
She had featured roles in four more films, garnering particular attention for
her performance in MEN AND WHITE. Her husband visited her as often
as he could, probably trying to establish a Hollywood base, but a rift soon
developed. During the shooting of JAVA HEAD back in England, the
couple announced a separation. Elizabeth threw herself into the social
scene, her wit and vivacity making her a popular dinner and party guest.
Gossips sought to tie her romantically with various candidates. Tongues
wagged when she was seen on the arm of Clark Gable and wagged
harder when she impishly paired with Marlene Dietrich at a costume ball,
Dietrich clad as Leda turning into a swan and Miss Allan in formal male
dress. Composer George Gershwin and millionaire William Rhinelander
Stewart were cited as other frequent companions.
She was lent to RKO for LONG LOST FATHER (1934) with John
Barrymore, but she claimed illness and was replaced by Helen Chandler.
Two of her most memorable film roles followed, A TALE OF TWO CITIES
(1935) in which she played Lucie Manette opposite Ronald Colman, and
DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935) as David's pretty and tragic young mother,
destroyed by Basil Rathbone.
Her flourishing career came to a sudden halt when she sued MGM for
announcing that she would be Robert Donat's leading lady in THE
CITADEL (1938) but then replacing her with Rosalind Russell. It was a
time when many performers were rebelling against studio arbitrariness
and despotism. MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, desperate to maintain his
sovereignty, struck back hard, and Elizabeth was barred from working in
Hollywood. Some Hollywood stars in similar legal confrontations fought on
to victory or returned to the New York stage. Elizabeth, thoroughly
disenchanted with the Hollywood dream factory, chose to return to
England where she and her husband soon reconciled.
When war broke out in September 1939, Bill O'Bryen joined the Army as a
major. Elizabeth "retired" temporarily and took a house near where he
was stationed. In 1942, she played Mrs. Cibber (her singing voice
dubbed) in her first Technicolor film, THE GREAT MR. HANDEL.
After her unhappy time in HE SNOOPS TO CONQUER two years later,
she stayed off-screen until her friend Myrna Loy asked her to appear in
Loy's first British film, THAT DANGEROUS AGE (1949). Another friend,
Marlene Dietrich, requested her for NO HIGHWAY IN THE SKY (1951),
filmed in the UK, but most of Elizabeth's footage was left on the cutting
room floor.
In 1951, Elizabeth became a panellist on "What's My Line?" where she
quickly was acclaimed for her "wit, glamour, beautiful clothes, and
assorted earrings." In 1952, she was voted top female TV personality, and
she had her own TV series in 1954, "The Adventures of Annabel."
Her husband, now a senior executive with Alexander Korda and Michael
Bacon, eventually retired, and the couple bought a house with a large
garden in Hove. She told interviewers that her hobbies were gardening,
swimming, playing tennis, and collecting antique jewellery and glass. Bill
O'Bryen died in 1977. Elizabeth retired permanently from performing and
stayed on in their home. She died on July 27, 1990. Fifty years a
performer, Elizabeth Allen had survived career setbacks, bombs, ill health,
shyness, Louis B. Mayer, and even a toothy guy with a uke. When George
takes her hand and croons "Unconditional Surrender," her wise smile
lights up the screen and we feel that even if he has not found a soul-mate,
he has a worthy ally for the post-war struggles facing Britain.
Eleanor Knowles Dugan
1999
Featured in HE SNOOPS TO CONQUER
Each of George Formby's
leading ladies has at least one
unique claim that sets her apart
from the others. Elizabeth
Allan, star of HE SNOOPS TO
CONQUER (1944) has three.
First, all other Formby heroines
were just beginning their film
careers, some going on to
great cinematic success. Only
Elizabeth Allan had already
achieved film stardom and
seemed "on her way down."
Second, she was the oldest of
his leading ladies, age 36 when
the film was made. Third, she
never once had to say, "Oh,
George, you're wonderful!"
George's true co-star in HE
SNOOPS TO CONQUER is a
Rube Goldberg house, an
inventor's dream of modernistic
gadgets and bizarre revolving
doors. The beautiful Miss Allan
doesn't arrive on screen for 42
minutes! She plays Jane
Strawbridge, daughter of the
eccentric house's equally
eccentric owner (Robertson
Hare). Jane is a school teacher
on holiday who is studying
architecture and town planning.
This qualifies her to help
George Gribble oust the
corrupt Tangleton City Council
and effect urban renewal.
Of her brief and unchallenging
role as a Formby foil, Elizabeth
recalled, "I was cycling to work
one foggy, drizzly morning
during the blitz, and I thought
to myself, 'Dear God, it's come
to this!'" Happily, television
would re-establish her as a
popular and sought-after star.
Elizabeth Allan was born April
9, 1908 (or 1910) in Skegness,
Lincolnshire, the 5th (or 6th)
and youngest child of Dr.
Alexander William (or William
Alexander) Allan and Amelia
Morris (or Woodward). The
reference books DO agree that
her family soon moved to
Darlington, South Durham,
where she attended Plan Hall
School. Although basically shy,
she was a good student and
won a gold medal in elocution,.
However, her parents objected
to an acting career, so she
worked as a kindergarten
teacher until they relented.
She attended the Old Vic
Training School in London,
graduating with honours. In
1927 and early 1928, she had
walk-ons in the Old Vic's
Shakespeare repertory. Her
first speaking part was the
plum role of Maria in SCHOOL
FOR SCANDAL in March 1928.
The next year, she appeared in
MICHAEL AND MARY, a hit
play starring Herbert Marshall
and Edna Best. Marshall
recommended "Liz" to his agent, Wilfred J. O'Bryen, who took a
major interest in her career and in the lady herself. Two years later,
on June 6, 1932, they were married.
A common irony of show business is that many performers suffer
from excessive shyness. Elizabeth Allan was such a person, and she
credited her husband for her success. "I'm one of those stupidly
sensitive people. I can't bear being snubbed. And not so long ago,
everyone was telling me my face was not photogenic. My husband,
who was then my casting agent, had me tested by four different [film]
companies. They were all failures...and I reached a point where I
couldn't even say 'how do you do?' without wanting to run away and
hide."
Despite Elizabeth's self-doubts, O'Bryen quickly secured a series of
film roles for her. She played a maid in ALIBI, 1931 and appeared in
20 films in the next two years, including THE LODGER with Ivor
Novello. She was sought as Maurice Chevalier's leading lady in THE
WAY TO LOVE, 1933, but could not get out of her contract at
Twickenham. When it expired soon after, she quickly signed with
MGM. Hollywood had taken note of her classic beauty and shapely
physique. Her new contract, negotiated by her husband, called for
£12,000 the first year with increases thereafter, a fortune in the midst
of the Depression. (Over the next few years, O'Bryen also negotiated
Hollywood contracts for a number of British performers including
David Niven, George Sanders, and Brian Aherne.)
Hollywood, the golden goal of so many thespians, proved a less than
happy experience for Elizabeth. MGM first lent her to Fox Studios for
SHANGHAI MADNESS with Spencer Tracy. She walked off the film,
shutting down production, and was replaced by Fay Wray.
Apparently MGM forgave her and immediately assigned her to THE
MYSTERY OF MR. X (1934) opposite Robert Montgomery.
She had featured roles in four more films, garnering particular
attention for her performance in MEN AND WHITE. Her husband
visited her as often as he could, probably trying to establish a
Hollywood base, but a rift soon developed. During the shooting of
JAVA HEAD back in England, the couple announced a separation.
Elizabeth threw herself into the social scene, her wit and vivacity
making her a popular dinner and party guest. Gossips sought to tie
her romantically with various candidates. Tongues wagged when she
was seen on the arm of Clark Gable and wagged harder when she
impishly paired with Marlene Dietrich at a costume ball, Dietrich clad
as Leda turning into a swan and Miss Allan in formal male dress.
Composer George Gershwin and millionaire William Rhinelander
Stewart were cited as other frequent companions.
She was lent to RKO for LONG LOST FATHER (1934) with John
Barrymore, but she claimed illness and was replaced by Helen
Chandler. Two of her most memorable film roles followed, A TALE
OF TWO CITIES (1935) in which she played Lucie Manette opposite
Ronald Colman, and DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935) as David's pretty
and tragic young mother, destroyed by Basil Rathbone.
Her flourishing career came to a sudden halt when she sued MGM
for announcing that she would be Robert Donat's leading lady in
THE CITADEL (1938) but then replacing her with Rosalind Russell. It
was a time when many performers were rebelling against studio
arbitrariness and despotism. MGM boss Louis B. Mayer, desperate
to maintain his sovereignty, struck back hard, and Elizabeth was
barred from working in Hollywood. Some Hollywood stars in similar
legal confrontations fought on to victory or returned to the New York
stage. Elizabeth, thoroughly disenchanted with the Hollywood dream
factory, chose to return to England where she and her husband soon
reconciled.
When war broke out in September 1939, Bill O'Bryen joined the
Army as a major. Elizabeth "retired" temporarily and took a house
near where he was stationed. In 1942, she played Mrs. Cibber (her
singing voice dubbed) in her first Technicolor film, THE GREAT MR.
HANDEL.
After her unhappy time in HE SNOOPS TO CONQUER two years
later, she stayed off-screen until her friend Myrna Loy asked her to
appear in Loy's first British film, THAT DANGEROUS AGE (1949).
Another friend, Marlene Dietrich, requested her for NO HIGHWAY IN
THE SKY (1951), filmed in the UK, but most of Elizabeth's footage
was left on the cutting room floor.
In 1951, Elizabeth became a panellist on "What's My Line?" where
she quickly was acclaimed for her "wit, glamour, beautiful clothes,
and assorted earrings." In 1952, she was voted top female TV
personality, and she had her own TV series in 1954, "The
Adventures of Annabel."
Her husband, now a senior executive with Alexander Korda and
Michael Bacon, eventually retired, and the couple bought a house
with a large garden in Hove. She told interviewers that her hobbies
were gardening, swimming, playing tennis, and collecting antique
jewellery and glass. Bill O'Bryen died in 1977. Elizabeth retired
permanently from performing and stayed on in their home. She died
on July 27, 1990. Fifty years a performer, Elizabeth Allen had
survived career setbacks, bombs, ill health, shyness, Louis B. Mayer,
and even a toothy guy with a uke. When George takes her hand and
croons "Unconditional Surrender," her wise smile lights up the
screen and we feel that even if he has not found a soul-mate, he has
a worthy ally for the post-war struggles facing Britain.
Eleanor Knowles Dugan
1999
