Bryan Forbes
Bryan Forbes, born John Theobald Clarke in 1926 in London, was a multifaceted British figure known for his work as a novelist, screenwriter, director, and actor. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and served as an intelligence officer in the army before embarking on a creative career. Forbes is particularly noted for his novels that delve into espionage themes, exemplified by works such as "Familiar Strangers" and "The Endless Game." His screenplay credits include acclaimed films like "The L-Shaped Room" and "Seance on a Wet Afternoon," both of which garnered prestigious awards.
Forbes emphasized a commitment to storytelling that prioritizes love over violence, expressing concern about the depiction of violence in modern media. He believed in the transformative power of writing and owned a bookshop in Surrey, where he actively engaged with fellow literature enthusiasts. His contributions to film and literature earned him several accolades, including British Academy Awards and an Edgar Award. Through his diverse body of work, Forbes has left a significant mark on British culture and the arts.
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Bryan Forbes
- Born: July 22, 1926
- Birthplace: London, England
- Died: May 8, 2013
Biography
Bryan Forbes was born John Theobald Clarke in London in 1926, the son of William Theobald Clarke and Judith Kate Helen Seaton. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1941 until 1942. He joined the army in 1943, where he was an intelligence officer until 1947.
His work in army intelligence is reflected in several of his novels that focus on espionage, most notably Familiar Strangers, The Endless Game, and its sequel, A Song at Twilight. The latter two novels feature protagonist Alec Hillsden, who is forced to defect to the Soviet Union, where he uncovers a Byzantine Soviet plot in which a Soviet mole becomes prime minister of Britain.
Forbes has acted on the stage and in films and has written screenplays, some of which he produced and directed. Among his screenplays are The L-Shaped Room, Seance on a Wet Afternoon, Only Two Can Play, The Slipper and the Rose, and International Velvet. He also has written a biography of Dame Edith Evans, a famed British stage actress, as well as a history of the British acting tradition, That Despicable Race.
However, Forbes has said that he likes writing novels better than screenplays because a transaction occurs between the novelist and his or her readers, whereas screenplays must appeal to broad audiences, which demands artistic compromises. He resolutely refuses to produce material that emphasizes violence over love, and he bemoans the contemporary prevalence of violence in the media because he fears that young people who are exposed to it will consider violent action an acceptable aspect of human existence. As an author, Forbes has said he believes that writing can change society, or can at least limit such noxious elements of society as the spread of violence.
For many years, he has owned The Bookshop in Surrey, England. He works there as often as he can, unpacking parcels of books as they arrive and serving as a salesman behind the counter, waiting on customers who are as enthusiastic about books and writing as he has always been.
Forbes’s screenplays for The Angry Silence and Only Two Can Play earned him British Academy Awards in 1959 and 1962, respectively, and he won another award in 1964 for Seance on a Wet Afternoon, a film he wrote and directed. Only Two Can Play also received an award from the Writers Guild of Great Britain, and Seance on a Wet Afternoon garnered the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America and the Best Screenplay Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Another film he wrote and directed, The L-Shaped Room, received the United Nations Award in 1962.