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1-38 of 38
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Robert Oliver Reed was an English actor known for his well-to-do, macho image and "hellraiser" lifestyle. His notable films include The Trap (1966), playing Bill Sikes in the Best Picture Oscar winner Oliver! (1968), Women in Love (1969), Hannibal Brooks (1969), The Devils (1971), Revolver (1973), portraying Athos in The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers (1974); the lover/stepfather in Tommy (1975), The Brood (1979), Lion of the Desert (1981), Castaway (1986), The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), Funny Bones (1995) and Gladiator (2000).- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
His full name was Joseph Alexander Caesar Herstall Vincent Calleja - but he was better known as Joseph or Joe Calleia, one of Hollywood's most recognized bad guys. But Calleia's roots and talents ran much deeper than character actor. He was Maltese, born on that barren but historically important island of Malta between Italy and Africa in the Mediterranean. The Maltese culture was a crossroads of peoples (partially Arabic) but as intrepid fisherman, navigators, and warriors-as they proved to the 16th century Turks - it was a proud one. But it could not hold Calleia, who, blessed with a good singing voice and a talent for composing, joined a harmonica band that left for the Continent in 1914. This was a Europe feeling the initial blows of World War I, and Calleia's band toured the length and breadth of it in music halls and cafes. He went to Paris and eventually came to London to perform some concert singing engagements. And from there the lure of the New World brought him to New York by 1926.
It was a natural enough transition for a talented singing performer to acting. Calleia did his first play on Broadway in an original drama suitably called "Broadway" for a long run from late 1926 early 1928. This was the first of seven plays he did into early 1935. He took a double role as actor and stage manager for the 1930-31 run of "Grand Hotel". He received good reviews (once called him a "bright light" on Broadway) and later recalled that his treading the boards were his best years as an actor. By 1931 he had yet another course to steer. Hollywood had noticed him, for his constrained intensity as an actor was matched by a singular visage - heavy-lidded eyes and dark features that gave him a disquieting and menacing appearance. Yet the sometime telltale lilt in his voice betrayed the fine singer. He had just enough accent to make him Latin or Greek or Middle Eastern - or indigenous sorts. Of course, his look meant early heavy roles as he went under contract to MGM, doing his first two films in that year of 1931.
By 1935 his looks landed him the role of Sonny Black, a mob boss with many facets, and with a characteristic clenched-teeth delivery, Calleia acquitted himself in fine fashion. Through the 1930s he was pretty much typed-cast as a mobster-with variations. Always with the lean and hungry look, he was a club owner in After the Thin Man (1936) and played a government cop in the atmospheric Algiers (1938). He even had time to help write a screenplay for the film Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936) with veteran Warner Baxter. Calleia ended the decade with roles at opposite ends of the character acting spectrum-somewhat center stage as a priest in the sometimes heavy-handed Full Confession (1939) and most memorable as Vasquez, the brought-to-justice criminal on the ill-fated DC-3 that crash lands in headhunter-infested Amazon highlands in Five Came Back (1939). This is a classic adventure drama -- remade with Rod Steiger -- with a great supporting cast that included everyone's favorite wisecracking redhead, Lucille Ball.
Into the 1940s, Calleia was cast in more ethnic roles - particularly as Hispanics of various sorts. But his roles were memorable nonetheless, as El Sordo in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943) and Rodriguez in The Cross of Lorraine (1943). But two roles stand out. His Buldeo in the Alexander Korda classic production of The Jungle Book (1942) was a personal favorite, a double role, as trouble-making villager and the selfsame man now old and wise telling the story to the village children as narrator. The makeup is so good-and Calleia enjoyed character makeup-that most viewers are surprised when the old man reveals his identity. More mainstream Hollywood was his intriguing role as Detective Obregon in Gilda (1946). He's the good guy-right? - but he comes off so sly with his sidelong looks and the way he bates the principals - Glenn Ford and Rita Hayworth - that you just don't know. In the end he has the task, like the chorus in a Shakespearean play, to explain and summarize-perhaps not the best means of getting to the point - but that was the director's choice. His secondary parts receded a bit into the later 1940s and further into the 1950s with Calleia typed to retrace former roles but giving them new nuance just the same. He has little more than a cameo as Indian chief Cuyloga-Native American chiefs being the lot of no few elder actors in 1950s Hollywood - in the otherwise worthwhile Disney adaptation of The Light in the Forest (1958). Calleia ventured into the TV briefly about that time.
But also from that year was another of his favorite roles. Without doubt Touch of Evil (1958) is one of the strangest of Orson Welles later efforts as director/star. It borders on the uneven but is so off-the-wall that one cannot help watching and thoroughly enjoying all the antics of Welles still brilliant film techniques: shadow and light, wild camera angles, gringos playing Mexicans-Charlton Heston is a wow and stained darker than necessary-and over-the-top performances with veteran dramatis personae like Marlene Dietrich, Akim Tamiroff, Calleia, of course, and Welles himself looking like a police captain from skid row and using that funny character voice of his that pops up in his films as an aside. Calleia, with white hair, is tired old cop Sergeant Menzies, long associate of Welles' seedy character. Doing what he has always done, covering up and running interference, in the end Menzies has to face the truth about his crooked captain. Calleia enjoyed the role as going so against his usual type - showing a man harried by his past and haunted by dirty secrets - vulnerable - and very human. It's a great part.
By 1963 Calleia walked away - or, that is - sailed away from Hollywood. He returned to his native Malta for a well deserved retirement. The Maltese had followed the career of their native son, and he had made several visits during his film career. Not surprisingly his biggest fan club was right at home. He was a kind and generous man and very appreciative of his fans wherever they were - quick to read all their letters and quick to send autographed pictures. It was strictly tongue-in-cheek when he supposedly quipped: "Everyone recognizes my face, but no one knows my name." After his passing, the government of the island state of Malta issued two commemorative stamps (1997) to honor him. A bust was erected before the house in which he was born as a further memorial to this Maltese VIP who had made good.- Strikingly busty, adorable, and voluptuous brunette knockout Madeleine Collinson was born on July 22, 1952 in Malta. She's the identical twin sister of Mary Collinson. The Collinson sisters first arrived in Britain in April, 1969. Noted British glamor photographer Harrison Marks cast the duo as saucy maids in his 8mm short "Halfway Inn." Mary and Madeleine were the Playmates of the Month in the October, 1970 issue of "Playboy;" they have the distinction of being the first pair of identical twin sisters to do a nude pictorial for "Playboy." The Collinson sisters acted in a handful of movies together; they were especially effective and memorable as the titular radically contrasting siblings in the typically fine Hammer vampire horror outing "Twins of Evil." Madeleine lived in Malta with her husband and three children. She died at age 62 on August 14, 2014.
- A.J. Quinnell was born on 25 June 1940 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Man on Fire (2004), Man on Fire and Man on Fire (1987). He was married to Elsebeth Egholm. He died on 10 July 2005 in Gozo, Malta.
- Oreste Kirkop was born on 26 July 1923 in Hamrun, Malta. He was an actor, known for The Vagabond King (1956), NBC Television Opera Theatre (1949) and Bing Presents Oreste (1956). He died on 10 May 1998 in San Gwann, Malta.
- Actor
- Casting Department
Joe Zammit Cordina was born on 29 September 1929 in Hamrun, Malta. He was an actor, known for Midnight Express (1978), Kill Cruise (1990) and Sweeney 2 (1978). He was married to Mary Yvonne Cordina. He died on 11 November 2004 in Malta.- Writer
- Producer
Jack Whittingham was born on 2 August 1910 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK. He was a writer and producer, known for Thunderball (1965), Never Say Never Again (1983) and The Birthday Present (1957). He was married to Margot Isobel Gough. He died on 3 July 1972 in Valletta, Malta.- Set Decorator
- Art Department
- Art Director
Peter Howitt was born in 1928 in Wimbledon, London, England, UK. He was a set decorator and art director, known for Braveheart (1995), Moonraker (1979) and Elizabeth (1998). He died on 22 September 2021 in Malta.- Charles Thake was born on 21 December 1927 in Senglea, Malta, British Colony. He was an actor, known for Agora (2009), Gagga (1971) and The Protectors (1972). He was married to Lina Agius-Gilibert. He died on 12 May 2018 in Malta.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Estelle Brody was born on 15 August 1900 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Fanny Hawthorne (1927), Anne of Green Gables (1952) and Kitty (1929). She died on 3 June 1995 in La Vallette, Malta.- Special Effects
- Transportation Department
Mario Cassar, a Maltese born, was the founder of the first Special Effects Team in Malta which is now a Company, managed by his successor, his son Kenneth Cassar. He has worked on quite a big number of film sets, in many different countries with award winning directors such as Robert Altman, James Cameron, Roman Polanski, Ridley Scott, Martin Scorsese and many others. In 1995 Cassar won the 'Pravo Real' for the Best Special Effects for Repsol, 'Mar del Norte'.- Daphne Caruana Galizia died on 16 October 2017 in Bidnija, Malta.
- Isla Bevan was born on 26 October 1908 in Peckham, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Sign of Four: Sherlock Holmes' Greatest Case (1932), The Face at the Window (1932) and The World, the Flesh, the Devil (1932). She died on 19 July 1976 in Saint Julian's, Malta.
- Writer
- Actor
Lino Grech was born in 1930 in Sliema, Malta. He was a writer and actor, known for Final Justice (1984), Simpatici (1999) and Il- Kristu Tal- Kerrejja (2009). He was married to Frances. He died on 1 December 2013 in Msida, Malta.- Special Effects
- Additional Crew
- Art Department
Tony Dyson was born on 13 April 1947 in Yorkshire, England, UK. He is known for Altered States (1980). He was married to Orianna. He died on 2 March 2016 in Gozo, Malta.- Lupita Pallás was born on 29 April 1926 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. She was an actress, known for Abandonada (1985), Gabriel y Gabriela (1982) and Masacre en el río Tula (1985). She was married to Óscar Ortiz de Pinedo. She died on 24 November 1985 in Luqa, Malta.
- Additional Crew
Harry Day was born on 3 August 1898 in Sarawak, North Borneo [now Malaysia]. He is known for Reach for the Sky (1956) and This Is Your Life (1955). He died on 2 December 1977 in Malta.- Transportation Department
- Actor
Alfred Mallia was born in 1950 in Attard, British Malta. He was an actor, known for Torpedo (2019), Black Eagle (1988) and A Fine Romance (1989). He died on 3 May 2020 in Lija, Malta.- Additional Crew
Paul Avellino is known for Shout at the Devil (1976), Kill Cruise (1990) and Warlords of the Deep (1978). He died on 17 April 2000 in Malta.- Oliver Friggieri was born on 27 March 1947 in Floriana, Crown Colony of Malta. He was a writer, known for Nighttime at the Station (2018). He died on 21 November 2020 in Malta.
- Actor
- Art Department
- Art Director
E.L. Fisher-Smith was born on 19 January 1894 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was an actor and art director, known for The Secret of the Loch (1934), Matinee Idol (1933) and Tiger Bay (1934). He died in 1973 in Malta.- Director
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Shaun Arrigo was a director and cinematographer, known for Sharks Within Our System: South Africa - The Great White (2005), Journey Into the Depths of the Mediterranean (2007) and Ghostboat (2006). Shaun died on 12 December 2016 in Malta.- Gemma Portelli was born on 30 September 1932 in Valletta, Malta. She was an actress, known for Angli: The Movie (2005) and Vendetta (1966). She died on 21 February 2008 in Valletta, Malta.
- Chuck Falkner was born on 22 May 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He was married to Shirley Kimble. He died on 4 December 2004 in Malta, New York, USA.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Charles Camilleri was born on 7 September 1931 in Hamrun, Malta. He was a composer, known for House of 1,000 Dolls (1967), The Beasts of Marseilles (1957) and The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969). He was married to Doris Vella. He died on 3 January 2009 in Naxxar, Malta.