39 Facts About Herbert Mason

Samuel George Herbert Mason was a British film director, producer, stage actor, army officer, presenter of some revues, stage manager, stage director, choreographer, production manager and playwright.

Herbert Mason was the assistant director for I Was a Spy, which was very successful at the box office and voted best film of the year.

Herbert Mason made his debut as director in 1936 with The First Offence.

Herbert Mason's most prominent film was A Window in London, a dark thriller set in the London Underground, which was a remake of the original French drama film Metropolitan.

Herbert Mason worked for several studios and production companies, including Gaumont British, Gainsborough Pictures, London Films and MGM-British Studios.

Herbert Mason moved into producing for the rest of his career, and authored some plays with his wife, Daisy Fisher, a novelist and playwright, who had a background in theatre.

Herbert Mason's films were generally very well received, and some of them were marked out for the inventiveness of the plot, locations used for shooting and humour.

Samuel George Herbert Mason was born in 1891, in Moseley, Birmingham, the third of four children of Samuel George Mason and Amy Mason, and was a nephew by marriage of the famous Shakespearean actress Ellen Terry.

Herbert Mason was apprenticed in the family brass foundry prior to beginning his career as an actor in about 1907.

Herbert Mason was a stage manager at the Palace Theatre and Birmingham Repertory Theatre, where he appeared in The Critic and The Christmas Party.

Herbert Mason joined the army about two months after marrying a chorus girl Daisy Fisher.

Herbert Mason rose to the rank of major and was awarded the Military Cross for his great personal outstanding gallantry when commanding the 59th brigade machine gun company at the taking of Guillemont during the Battle of the Somme.

Herbert Mason served in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment with the brother of Michael Balcon.

Balcon was to work with Herbert Mason as producer on The First Offence, I was a Spy and Take My Tip.

Herbert Mason served in the Machine Gun Corps with Clive Brook, who later became an actor and a friend.

Herbert Mason spent the whole four years in the Western Front, and was awarded the Mons Star, the medal for those who participated on the conflict from the beginning.

Herbert Mason resumed his career in the Theatre after the war.

In 1924 Herbert Mason staged and choreographed The Punch Bowl, which starred Fisher and Eric Coates.

Herbert Mason choreographed Vaudeville Vanities, which was performed at the Vaudeville Theatre from 1926 to 1927 and went on tour at the Royal Theatre, Rochdale in 1929.

Herbert Mason respected and worked with Victor Saville on I Was a Spy as an assistant director.

The producer, Michael Balcon, mentioned in his memoir, that he "told [Herbert Mason] to take the script [for I was a Spy] to Belgium, find Mrs McKenna, and get her to approve [the script] by page", and that Herbert Mason came back "with every page approved".

Herbert Mason directed the famous actor George Arliss just before Arliss retired from the stage.

Herbert Mason directed a dozen engaging films, including a "diplomatic thriller", East Meets West.

In 1939, Herbert Mason directed The Silent Battle, a thriller set on the Orient Express.

Herbert Mason later had roles in It's in the Bag and John and Julie.

Herbert Mason changed his pace from perky musicals to dark drama with A Window in London about a man who believes he has witnessed a murder from a passing train.

In 1940, Herbert Mason presented Peril at End House, which was written by Arnold Ridley and performed at the Vaudeville Theatre.

Herbert Mason directed and produced the musical comedy Flight from Folly, which was his last directorial credit.

Herbert Mason wrote an unpleasant review and it folded up after only three weeks.

Fisher wrote the story for Things Are Looking Up, which Herbert Mason worked on as an Associate Producer.

Thirteen years later she appeared in Anna Karenina, which Herbert Mason worked on as an associate producer.

Herbert Mason was with MGM and Fox British and produced several films with John Grierson's Group 3 Films at Southall Studios including Background and Child's Play during the 50s.

On 20 May 1960, Herbert Mason died in London at the age of 69.

Herbert Mason first met his future wife when they were both in a play about David Garrick with him taking the lead.

Herbert Mason's family had lived in Birmingham for several generations.

On 9 May 1862 the partnership was dissolved and Herbert Mason continued the business alone under Samuel Herbert Mason Ltd.

In 1914, before the outbreak of the First World War, Herbert Mason married Daisy Fisher, a chorus girl, actress, lyricist and singer, who had a background in theatre and became a novelist and playwright.

Herbert Mason was a keen fisherman and very interested in birds.

Herbert Mason was a good artist, and once did a self-portrait of himself as a clown during the First World War.