George Devine
Biography
George Devine was an English actor, director, teacher, and theatrical manager who worked in London from the 1930s until his death in 1966. Born in London, he studied history at Oxford, where he led the Oxford University Dramatic Society and invited John Gielgud to direct Romeo and Juliet. He acted at the Old Vic and for Gielgud, then helped found the London Theatre Studio in 1936 with Michel Saint-Denis, training actors, directors, and designers. His first professional directing job was an adaptation of Great Expectations in 1939. After the war he helped open the Old Vic Theatre School and later directed Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon, including a 1955 King Lear with Gielgud. In 1955 he helped create the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre, where Look Back in Anger brought attention and where he championed new writers. He worked in television and film. An award for promising playwrights, the George Devine Award, was named in his honor.
55years old at death
- Born London
- Died London
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as George Alexander Cassady Devine
Movie Career
- Films
- 6
- Career span
- 66 years1952 to 2018
Genres
- Comedy50%, 3 films
- Drama33%, 2 films
- Adventure17%, 1 film
- Crime17%, 1 film
- Documentary17%, 1 film
First and latest
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Behind the camera
Devine helped form the English Stage Company in 1955. The group took the lease on London's Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, and Devine put an ad in the Stage seeking new plays.
First role
Devine's first professional production as a director was Alec Guinness's adaptation of Great Expectations at the Queen's Theatre in 1939, a staging David Lean said influenced his 1946 film.
Early training
Devine's theater interest, begun at school, flourished at Oxford, where in 1931 he led the Oxford University Dramatic Society. In early 1932 he asked John Gielgud to direct Romeo and Juliet, casting Peggy Ashcroft and Edith Evans as Juliet and the Nurse.
Early training
In 1936 Devine, Saint-Denis, Marius Goring and Glen Byam Shaw started the London Theatre Studio, which trained actors, directors and stage designers. Motley ran it, and it gave Britain its first course in set and costume design.
Early training
Devine opened the Old Vic Theatre School in Dulwich in 1946 with Saint-Denis and Byam Shaw, training actors such as Prunella Scales, Joan Plowright and Patrick Wymark.
George Devine movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Tony Richardson directed two of these films, Ronald Neame two. Edith Evans appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Edith Evans's page
Wilfrid Hyde-White's page
Joan Plowright's page
Hugh Griffith's page
Peter Copley's page
All films by Tony Richardson
Ronald NeameDirector, 2 films, 1952 to 1954
All films by Ronald Neame
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.