Lights, Camera, Action

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Some film facts you ‘auteur’ know!

Rhondda Cynon Taf may not be the first place you think about when you think of cinema but it has had a very close relationship to the history of film and filmmaking.

Aberdare’s own Louis B. Mayer

Essex born William Haggar visited an early cinema in London. He was captivated by the show and bought his own projector. It was the success of his 5-minute melodrama 'Maid of Cefn Ydfa', probably the first fictional film made in Britain, which launched him into his career as a filmmaker. It is estimated that he made between forty and sixty narrative films up until 1909. That year his wife died and he gave up film production and settled down as a cinema proprietor in Aberdare and in 1910 William Haggars Coliseum was opened at Market Yard. In 1913 he began building his own cinema which opened on the 23rd August 1915. Possibly better remembered in Aberdare for his roles as cinema owner and local councillor, William Haggar has in recent years gained the recognition he deserves as the greatest early film pioneer in Wales. An exhibition which features some of William Haggars film work can be seen at the Cynon Valley Museum and Gallery in Aberdare.

On to glory… Welshmen will not yield

Sir Stanley Baker was born in Ferndale in 1928. A friend of Richard Burton he developed a reputation for playing unsympathetic parts, the boson in the original Hornblower (Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. 1951), Mordred in Knights of the Round Table (1953) and Achilles in Helen of Troy (1956). Stanley Bakers own production company was responsible for his most famous film, Zulu (1964) in which he played Lieutenant John Chard. One of his best performances was in the TV mini-series of ‘How Green Is My Valley’ (1975). He died in June the following year at his home in Malaga. In 2006 a lounge was opened in Ferndale Rugby Club dedicated to his life and films.

Houston calling

Tonypandy was the birthpace of Donald and Glyn Houston, famous film and TV actors. Glyn Houston is probably best know for his role in 80’s sitcom ‘Keep It In The Family’, whilst his brother Donald is known for a film career that encompassed an Ealing Comedy, ‘A Run For Your Money’ (1949), 633 Squadron (1964), Where Eagles Dare (1968) and two Doctor Films, Doctor in the House (1954) and Doctor in Distress (1963) – Donald’s debut feature was in ‘The Blue Lamp’ with Dirk Bogarde. Both brothers appeared in Sea Wolves (1980).

Mr Fantastic in Aberdare?

Did you know Mr Fantastic, Ioan Gruffydd, the star of the X-Men films and the Hornblower series’ was born in Llwydcoed, Aberdare?

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