This is a portrait of the famous Welsh actor, composer, playwright and impresario. There are numerous photographs of him in the collection. One image, 770 ECH/1/2/184 was taken at the same time as this one. In both he is wearing the same suit however here he is not looking at the camera. He is also seated and has his left hand resting on his left leg and has a cigarette in his right hand. Hardman writes in his notes that when he met him he had ambitions to make a name for himself as a straight actor in serious drama and used Liverpool as a trying-out ground for at least two of his plays, one of which was 'Liliom' (Ferenc Molnar, 1909, tr. 1921). Fay Compton was his leading lady. "I photographed him on several occasions and learned that he did not like his left profile. He always had to be taken from his right profile and on stage and in films he arranged things so that he presented, as far as possible this side to the audience. When he became playwright, actor, composer and producer rolled into one there was no one left to oppose his wishes".
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