Biography: Paul Newman

Hello there,

It is that time of the celestial calendar that we here at The Gentleman reminisce or indeed biograph (using special gentlemanly bassoon-like graphing instruments) a particular gentleman.  This particular gentleman was chosen on the previous eve after a delicious salad… and by chance one of his films was broadcast on the cathode ray tube device.  Therefore without further ado, Paul Newman this is your biograph.

Paul Newman disappoints a lot of kids with this magic show.

Newman was born in Cleveland during the winter of 1925.  His breakthrough role was as the Court Jester in his school’s production of Robin Hood at the ripe old age of 7, closely followed by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid at the tender young age of 44.

Paul Newman aged 7.

However before Butch Cassidy Paul would go on to serve in the United States navy as a gunner in a torpedo-bomber flying-machine.

Paul Newman's acting side could not be silenced during the war. Here he performs Aladdin aboard the USS Bunker Hill. It was so popular its run didn't end until 1954.

After Newman’s successful run in the Navy he went back to college to finish his degrees in English and Speech at Kenyon College.

Paul Newman helps with the dishes after this early college frat party.

After College the young Newman made it to New York City via various modes of transport.  Here he would get his start on Broadway, however after a wrong turn on West 34th street he found himself in Hollywood.  After a few credits he finally gained critical acclaim in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958).

Paul Newman in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as the title role: the Tin Roof.

From this point on Newman had a long and illustrious film career spanning many decades.  However something that was not sated during this time was his lust for the perfect hard-boiled egg.

Paul Newman once again disappointed.

After this success Newman went on to make The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963), Harper (1966), Hombre (1967) and many other films starting with the letter ‘H’.

Paul Newman got so sick of the letter 'H' that he refused to hear it until 1984's Harry and Son.

As the above picture also shows, Newman was a fanatic when it came to physical health.  Not only did he combine his disgust of a certain letter with abdominal workouts, he also combined ball sports with popular late-1920s dances.

Game, set and match for Newman's Charleston-tennis.

In his twilight years Newman would win an Oscar for his role as ‘Fast’ Eddie Felson in 1986′s The Color of Money (incidentally the answer was green).  Newman formally retired from acting in 2007 and went in pursuit of his lifelong quest of finding the perfect hard-boiled egg.

To infinity and beyond! If Newman couldn't find such an egg on Earth then he would just have to look to the stars.

Although Paul Newman passed away in 2008 we know he is still up there, looking for that egg amongst the stars.

A true gentleman.

So there you have it, until next time.

G.O. Brixley

H.L. Griffith

 

The Gentleman in literature

Hello there,

A great source of a gentleman’s knowledge about gentlemanly activities, traits, habits and dress come from some quintessential gentlemen who never existed. These are gentlemen who can be found sitting in your library night after night (I mean this metaphorically, not literally – like the time I had to get a restraining order on Gregory Peck for persistent breaking and entering). Here, Brixley and Griffith will introduce you to some of their favourite gentlemen from the literature.

Phileas Fogg

The protagonist of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, Phileas Fogg spent most of his days playing whist at the Reform Club. Upon a wager (from which he would not back down), he used all sorts of gentlemanly travel to circumnavigate the globe.

A somewhat grainy photograph of Phileas Fogg. Shortly after this was taken, Fogg angrily returned his new top-hat because it had been manufactured upside-down.

He also made sure to travel through some of the gentleman’s favourite destinations, including Yokohama, Bombay, Suez and London (where he lives). Not only that, but he wins the bet, marries an Indian girl that he meets on his travels, and punches the snide detective, Fix.

Phileas Fogg embarks upon one of the most gentlemanly (and comfortable) forms of transport known to gentleman - the elephant.

Jay Gatsby

The protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. In many ways, the only man a gentleman needs know about is Jay Gatsby. He throws lavish parties and has a large library. For what more could you ask? Well, in fact, Gatsby has much more. He is a bootlegger (the liquor kind), a war hero and built his fortune from the ground up (via the noblest of pursuits, bootlegging).

Jay Gatsby is feeling a little hungry after wandering about his massive estate all morning.

The story, though, ends when Gatsby is wrongly killed by a man who believes (incorrectly) Gatsby killed his wife. This is the fault of the perfect gentleman impostor – Tom Buchanan. Buchanan embodies all the traits that a gentleman should not have. I shan’t go into them here, because the quicker we move on from him, the better.

Gatsby, after eating a hearty lunch, is ready to spend his afternoon posing in front of his state of the art automobile.

Sherlock Holmes (and, to a lesser extent, Thomas Watson)

The smartest man that ever lived (after his brother Mycroft Holmes). He enjoyed opium, playing the violin and withholding the details of a crime until the very end of the story.

Watson was always envious of Sherlock's mind. Watson had a much greater gift, though. His mustache.

Sherlock Holmes invented the pipe, the magnifying glass and the deerstalker hat (which he used when he stalked or investigated suspects or deers) all in his abode at 221B Baker Street, London.

Holmes and Watson interrogate a chair over a jewellery theft. Although his methods were unorthodox Holmes' success rate speaks for itself, much like this chair.

Sherlock Holmes’ greatest nemesis was Professor James Moriarty, a villainous rapscallion whose brilliant mind rivalled Holmes’ (generally when fighting next to waterfalls).  Although they both fells to their deaths, Holmes used his power of ‘Literary Protagonist’ to stay alive and continued his adventures until retiring to become a bee keeper.

Holmes and Moriarty tussle next to the Reichenbach falls. Since they were both brains not braun the fight was a tie and they both fell to a watery grave.

With his keen sense of deduction Holmes has become a literary gentleman of epic proportions.  His powers of deduction were so good he could correctly split a bill and work out how much to tip a waiter after a short brunch.

Holmes splits the bill and works out an adequate tip.

There are, of course, many more gentleman to find in your very own library. We suggest you spend most of your time between sips of scotch and puffs of your cigar reading your gentlemanly literature and becoming well acquainted with the finest gentlemen there ever were.

Mr Darcy goes to a Christmas fancy dress party dressed as an anti-gentleman.

So there you have it and until next time,
G.O. Brixley and H.L. Griffith

Biography: William Shatner

Hello there,

Welcome to another completely factual biography of a famous gentleman.  Today’s biography concerns the famous thespian, poet and starship captain, William Shatner.

William Shatner used to label his costumes with his signature.

Shatner’s life began when he was born.  This occurred on the 22nd of March 1933 (or Stardate 2233.6) and is commemorated each year with “Talk Like William Shatner Day” (which is next Tuesday, so get… your vocals chords warmed… up!).

Shatner wasn't a stranger to the fairer sex. This is due to the fact that he personally knew every female in existence in 1968 including this woman... especially this woman.

Shatner was born in Canada and soon after finishing school became a Shakespearian actor the likes of which the world has never seen.

William Shatner doing a spoken word rendition of Rocket Man. Not only the best version of Rocket Man, also the best cover of any song in history.

During these hard times (there isn’t much money in the arts back then, which is a damn shame for the artistic gentleman) Shatner remained a stoic gentleman and worked his craft as much as he could.

Shatner sometimes acted too well. In this episode people actually believed that the 'tribbles' were alive. This wasn't due to special effects, it was all Shatner.

After a string of television appearances Shatner got his big break after being cast as Captain James Tiberius Kirk in the television show Star Trek.

Shatner's Kirk sometimes had to take one for the team, even if it meant seducing the 'Gorn'.

Although he didn’t know it at the time Kirk would go on to make Shatner one of the most recognisable gentlemen to have ever been beamed up by Scotty.

William Shatner even had a brief relationship with Lady Gaga.

After Star Trek finished Shatner was once again on the streets as it were, luckily however, the show took off and Shatner started living the high life again after the Star Trek films went into production.

Shatner's contract as Denny Crane stipulated that he got to wear period dress when it was his birthday.

Shatner’s career went from strength to strength with such notable roles as T.J. Hooker and Denny Crane.  The latter of those characters allowed him to enjoy his cigar smoking on screen and also strike up a friendship with fellow thespian, James Spader.

There are many gossips who say that Shatner wears a toupee. Unfortunately for them, this picture conclusively proves them wrong.

Since these humble beginnings Shatner has had a long and prosperous career in acting, spoken word and being a gentleman.

The greatest line in cinematic history as judged by us here at The Gentleman. If you don't know what Shatner is saying here, go to your local cinema and watch Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan.

So there you have it.

G.O. Brixley

Biography: Michael Caine

Hello there,

Welcome to yet another in-depth and accurate biography of a well known gentleman.  As you are no doubt aware by the headline for today’s post, the subject in question is Michael Caine (a subject that is also taught at the The Griffith and Brixley College for Gentleman)

People used to be able to enter a draw and win tea with Michael Caine. Doesn't everybody look excited?

 

Michael Caine was born on the 14th of March 1933 (a date that will henceforth be known as “International talk like Michael Caine Day).  Caine’s parents incorrectly named him Maurice Joseph Micklewhite until the young Caine renamed himself Michael Scott when he started acting.  Soon after though, he changed it to Michael Caine after Cary Grant came to him in a dream and told him to have at least one ‘C’ initial.

Michael Caine gives acting coaching to this scantily clad female for a part in an independent picture he made called "Bo Peeps".

After being cast in the film Zulu (1964) Caine’s career took off, literally, and he had to catch it so that he might keep working as an actor.  Caine has now acted in over 100 films and will be staring in the sequel to his 1969 film The Italian Job, in which he will have to steal Italy itself.

Michael Caine becomes mesmerised by Sean Connery's bizarre crown after the two try to out dress each other during the wedding of a mutual friend.

Caine has been nominated for an Academy award in every decade since the 60s (a feat only accomplished by Caine and Jack Nicholson) and has won twice for two films were he acted better than everybody else.

Michael Caine indicated to Lawrence Olivier that he has something in is teeth during a break on the set of Sleuth (1972)

Not only is Caine the quintessential British actor (keeping in mind Sean Connery is Scottish) he is a keen gentleman and has been a contributing member to gentlemanly society and style since his conception.

Caine takes a break from his favourite pastime, massaging beautiful girls with the butt of a pistol.

So there you have it.

G.O. Brixley

Biography: Sean Connery

Hello there,

Yes avid readers, it’s once again time for The Gentleman to examine the life and times of a particular gentleman.  The gentleman in question today is none other than Sean Connery.  And the question that Sean Connery is in is ‘who is Sean Connery?’.  Read on for the answer.

Sean Connery at the peak of physical health. Here he poses seductively for the Sean Connery Calendar 1967.

Thomas Sean Connery was born on August 25th 1930 to Euphemia and Joseph Connery of Fountainbridge Edinburgh.

Connery at his first job of being a milkman. I never said he was good at it.

Connery’s first job was as a milkman but after impregnating his entire route the young Connery thought he should give his loins a rest and join the Navy (little did he know that loin work is pretty much all sailors do, the dirty blighters).

Sean Connery in the Navy. Little known fact was that he captained a Russian submarine with Alec Baldwin. The vessel almost couldn't surface due to all the chest hair on board.

After his stint in the Navy, Connery had numerous jobs (including bodybuilding) until he found his calling as an actor.  His big breakthrough came when he was cast as James Bond in the 1962 film Dr. No.

Sean Connery in Dr. No. In this scene Connery makes this man kiss his car for accidentally dinging it with his briefcase.

After impregnating all his co-stars during his time as James Bond he thought he would give his loins a rest and start playing hardened ex-cons and jewel thieves in a variety of films (little did he know that his loins would still get worked out thanks to Catherine Zeta Jones and Kim Basinger)

Even as he aged gracefully, younger women couldn't help but fling themselves at him due to his sheer animal magnetism. Here Kim Basinger cheats Alec Baldwin (it's a chest hair thing).

Connery’s greatest post-Bond role came in the form of Indiana Jones’ father Henry.  During the role he got to bed a Nazi spy, and also he had to bed her on film as well.

Sean Connery proves that bald men can still attract fascist double agents. So can Harrison Ford but Connery was there first.

Now Connery lives in a castle in the Scottish Highlands where he wrestles sea monsters and plays golf with clubs he carves from their bones.

Sean Connery on the shores of sunny Loch Ness waiting for another monster to wrestle.

So there you have it.

G.O. Brixley

 

Biography: Frank Sinatra

Hello there,

This is the second installment of a series we run here at The Gentleman where we document the life of a well-known gentleman. Today’s article concerns none other than Frank Sinatra (and why would it? We only document one gentleman at a time).

Sinatra relaxes at his home in Palm Springs. Notice the state-of-the-art technology and the bowl of either cigarette packs or wads of money on the table. A true gentleman.

Frank Sinatra was born December 12, 1915 as Francis Albert Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey. He legally changed his name to ‘Frank’ soon afterwards. Sinatra starting singing for tips at the age of 8. He spent the majority if his takings on suits, cigars and scotch – all of which were popular with kids in the ’20s. It was a different, more gentlemanly (and hence better) time.

Sinatra became increasingly popular in the ’30s and ’40s amongst bobby soxers for his resonant voice, chiseled jawline and his hat. He also achieved fame and success in moving pictures, or ‘talkies’ – often with other renowned gentleman such as Gene Kelly. This culminated in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in From Here to Eternity. Despite this being due to his connections with the mob, critics agree he would have won the award regardless of this.

He also won the one-off Academy Award for Most Bourbon Consumed During Filming (shared with Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr) for his performance in Ocean’s 11.

Frank Sinatra is also credited with having invented the openable car door, as demonstrated here. A gentleman never exits the car via the roof.

Sinatra is, of course, known first and foremost for his voice. He endured success spanning eight decades, released dozens of albums and is one of the best-selling artists of all time. Some of his best known albums include Come Dance With Me, Come Fly With Me, Come Swing With Me and Come Drink With Me.

Sinatra, moments before swatting mosquitos on each of his thighs.

Sinatra was also at the forefront of many gentlemanly institutions. He served as Chairman of the Board in the Congress of Gentlemen that included Cary Grant, Paul Newman, William Shatner and JFK. This is where his nickname ‘The Chairman of the Board’ came from. It was an extremely accurate nickname.

Sinatra also served as the Gentleman's Sheriff for a period in the '60s. Here he is telling Mongomery Clift to light a cigar, otherwise he'll have to take him to the big house.

Sinatra is the quintessential gentleman because he adheres to all the traits that make a gentleman. Peruse any post on The Gentleman Blog and you will notice that not only did Sinatra fit the bill, he probably wrote the bill and got a healthy tip as well.

Sinatra effortlessly mixes wearing a suit and golfing.

Sometimes he would coalesce 8 or 9 distinct gentlemanly traits into one snap shot.

Sinatra mixes golf, fashion, a nonchalant pose, sharp hairstyle into one moment in time. What you can't see is his cigar, scotch and respect for women - which are all just out of shot.

So if there is something we can learn from the lecture in gentlemanliness that is Frank Sinatra’s life, it’s that you can never be too much of a gentleman.

Sinatra and JFK arrive early for a meeting of the Congress of Gentlemen.

Until next time,

HL Griffith

Biography: Cary Grant

Hello there,

Here is the first of a new segment we will be running in which we will look at a gentleman of stature in depth.  Therefore we will start with the classic gentleman, Cary Grant.

A young Cary Grant poses in his favourite cricket sweater for a mens catalogue of different poses.

Cary Grant was originally born Archibald Alexander Leach and after getting expelled from Fairfield Grammar School the young Archibald fled England to pursue a career in Hollywood.  He changed his name briefly to Cary Lockwood but after a run in with another Cary Lockwood (who he beat in a dual) he changed his last name to Grant.

Here we see Cary Grant being mugged by Marilyn Monroe. Although Monroe took his wallet, Grant stole her heart.

From here Cary Grant went on to have a long and successful acting career which you are no doubt aware of.

Cary Grant would get his exercise by racing biplanes. During the summer of 1959 Grant was actually the fastest person who ever lived.

What you didn’t know is that Cary Grant once beat Winston Churchill in a wine tasting competition.  However the following year Churchill beat Grant in a cigar tasting competition.

Cary Grant was made an honorable doctorate of leaning against walls by Cambridge University.

Cary Grant was responsible for teaching Sean Connery everything he knew about drinking Gin and in turn Connery taught Grant about the joy of Scotch (at this time Scotch was not as widespread and easily attainable as it is now).  Later in his life Grant was crowned King of Gentlemen, a position which he filled until his death in 1986.

Cary Grant was also the inspiration for Hannibal from The A-Team after his hair changed to a silvery white.

All in all Cary Grant’s life was textbook gentleman.  If there is one page we can take out of this textbook it is that we should never deface Cary Grant’s textbook and instead read the whole thing and take on board all all his teachings.

Of course Cary Grant was a virtuoso on many musical instruments, but here he practices his harp.

So there you have it.

G.O. Brixley