Clive Brook
A suave and imperturbable English leading man who embodied 1930s sophistication, often playing the unflappable gentleman opposite Hollywood's greatest dames.
1887–1974 (age 87)·English film actor·Birthday: June 1·The Lost Generation
Biography
With a voice like dry sherry and a demeanor of unshakeable composure, Clive Brook was the epitome of British cool in early Hollywood. After serving in World War I, he transitioned from the London stage to silent films, where his reserved intensity translated perfectly to the screen. When sound arrived, his clipped, aristocratic accent became an asset, typecasting him as the unflappable, often sardonic, man of the world. He is perhaps best remembered as the original Sherlock Holmes of the talkies in 1932's 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes,' bringing a cerebral stillness to the role. Throughout the 1930s, he served as the perfect foil for fiery stars like Marlene Dietrich in 'Shanghai Express' and Kay Francis, his unruffled presence providing a counterpoint to melodrama. His career waned with the changing tastes of the 1940s, but he left behind a filmography that captures a very specific, elegant slice of cinematic history.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Clive was born in 1887, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clive Was Born
The biggest hits of 1887
Clive's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1887Born
President: Grover Cleveland
1892Started school
President: Benjamin Harrison
1900Became a teenager
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1903Could drive
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Could vote
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Turned 21
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1917Turned 30
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 40
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 50
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 60
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 70
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 80
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1974Died at 87
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
Key Achievements
- Starred as the first Sherlock Holmes in a talking picture, 'The Return of Sherlock Holmes' (1932).
- Played a key role in the classic Josef von Sternberg film 'Shanghai Express' (1932) alongside Marlene Dietrich.
- Enjoyed a successful career as a leading man in both British and American cinema during the 1920s and 1930s.
- Successfully transitioned from a successful stage career in London to a major Hollywood film career.
Did You Know?
He served as a captain in the British Army during World War I and was awarded the Military Cross for bravery.
He was the father of actor Faith Brook and novelist Lyndon Brook.
He directed and starred in the film 'On Approval' (1944), his final major screen role.
His full name was Clifford Hardman Brook.
“The trouble with Hollywood is that it mistakes noise for action.”
