Mazel: Hebrew, generally defined as good fortune or good luck.
One of the problems with Hollywood memoirs is separating fact from fiction.
Movie stars are usually determined to preserve the myths that nourished their celebrity. Every once in a while comes along a Hollywood biography that actually reveals almost as much as it conceals, but for the most part it is wise to approach Hollywood memoirs with a wary eye.
David Niven’s best-selling and compulsively readable autobiography The Moon’s a Balloon is a perfect example of an actor constructing a reality that is true—sorta.
Early in the volume, Niven writes eloquently about Nessie, a lovely, 17 year-old Piccadilly prostitute with whom he loses his innocence. Naturally, this tough but vulnerable tart becomes young Niven’s tender lover. At the time Niven was a 14 year-old student at Stowe. Niven will have us believe that Nessie visits his school where they go for picnics and chat amiably with his headmaster. Clearly, Niven is playing fast and loose with facts.
Nessie is at best a composite of several prostitutes. Niven was an obsessive womanizer. More likely, Nessie was a tough little Cockney who did her job and then moved on. But Niven instinctively understood that the character of a whore with a heart of gold would be irresistible to his readers. And it is. Nessie and Niven feel like a couple right out of Charles Dickens.
However, there is one minor incident in Niven’s witty and elegantly written book that has the feel of unvarnished truth. Oddly enough, it deals with Niven and Jews.
In 193o, after graduating from Sandhurst, a military academy, Niven is commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Highland Light Infantry.
Setting sail for Malta to join his regiment, Niven etches a vivid portrait of the stifling class consciousness aboard ship:
Naval officers were by far the most relaxed and friendly. Those in the air force were rather hearty and condescending, and the Army officers were pretty much what I expected: firm believers in the doctrine that second lieutenants speak when they are spoken to and at no other time. Their wives were nearly all much worse than their husbands, so I clung like a drowning man to a very attractive Jewish couple whom nobody spoke to and who were simply taking a sea voyage as far as Alexandria.
One wonders what sort of welcome they would receive there today, but at the time Mr. and Mrs. Marks were a boon and a blessing. On the voyage they invited me to sit at their table and took me with them when we went ashore in Marseilles. We spent the day at Arles, where I was initiated into the glories of the art galleries and the Roman amphitheater.
Landing in Malta:
The Marks pressed an antique Hebrew silver amulet into my hand for good luck and waved from the upper deck till I could no longer see them.
Niven never mentions this generous Jewish couple again. There is no neat ending, no surprise meeting with the Marks when Niven is a Hollywood star.
Niven, a product of his class and time, probably never met a Jew previous to this voyage. The British were infected with polite anti-Semitism—today it’s no longer polite—but Niven, an outsider, feels a kinship with the despised Jews.
And one can only wonder if the Jewish amulet—probably a mezuzah—helped bring Niven the amazing mazel that led to his Hollywood career.
Niven probably starred in more terrible movies than any other Hollywood star. Forever in need of cash to fund a lavish lifestyle, Niven was compelled to take jobs in less than stellar production. But do check out his spectacular work in Dawn Patrol 1938, Bachelor Mother, 1939, The Bishop’s Wife, 1947, and Separate Tables, 1958 for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
I recall reading a comment on David Niven by another British actor (Basil Rathbone, perhaps) that while he may have seemed to American audiences to be part of the British elite, it was unlikely that he came off that way when he was in school. If true, then he may never have been seen by army officers as “one of us.”
Very timely reading this about David Niven because we watched Gunga Din this evening. Years ago I read “Bring on the Empty Horses” but not “The Moon’s a Balloon”. I enjoyed both the post and the comments.
The British attitude toward Jewish people: Twelve years ago we were living in Windsor, England for a few months. Anti-Americanism was openly displayed; the anti-Semitism wasn’t overt but was palpable. I wondered if it was my imagination.
One night at a dinner party I asked about it, and it was confirmed by a very interesting man. He loved both the chosen people and the United States. He was a child with his missionary parents in China when World War II began. They were trapped until the American military rescued them and got them safely out of the country.
He felt immense gratitude and said that he always defended the United States. It was an honor (and a relief) for this homesick American to talk with him.
Carlahoag:
I ahve Jewish friends from London and they all tell me that Great Britain will be Judenrein in the next generation. The Jew-hatred is malignant.
It made me sick at heart.
Robert – Don’t know if you heard the ICONs interview with Niven’s son, but he said that his father had turned down some nice roles because it was ski season, or something similar (he had a home in Switzerland).
Also after the war – which he served honorably, his career seemed to be drying up and when Mike Todd was producing Around the World in 80 Days Niven, desperate to restart his career, told him he’d work for nothing.
Whereupon Todd said “you may have to” (financing it was a bit iffy).
But that movie resuscitated his career.
Since you were just at Hearst Castle I’ll tell you a funny Niven story.
One weekend he was a guest of “The Chief”. As you probably know Hearst had a very strict rule about drinking – one cocktail allowed in the Assembly room prior to dinner and guests were not allowed to bring their own booze.
Well, Niven was caught and after dinner he saw his bags packed, and sitting outside one of the guest cottages ready for the chauffeur ready to pick up.
I suspect Hearst had this policy because of Marion Davies’ drinking problem but I can’t say for sure.
Bill:
Yes, Hearst was pretty strict about liquor in the castle. And yes, Marion Davies had a drinking problem. Numerous guests tried to smuggle booze into their rooms, but the servants were sure to tell The Chief about the stash.
The Icon interviews are fantastic. Thanks so much.
The British were infected with polite anti-Semitism—today it’s no longer polite
There’s a reason it’s called Londonistan.
The Bishop’s wife is a great holiday film especially since looking at the cast you would expect Grant to play the bishop and Niven the angel. They both did a great job playing off Loretta Young.
I remember stories of Niven in his later years would only check to see the filming locations and never the script when deciding whether to do a movie. Probably as good a method as any at choosing projects. And no one has ever gotten off a funnier line at an Oscar ceremony than Niven did when the streaker showed his shortcomings.
Johnny:
Originally, Grant played the Bishop and Niven the angel. After a few days of shooting, Grant realized that the angel role was better and ordered the cast change. Good move. Grant had a sharp eye for what rioles best suited his talents and screen personae.