- Kurt Katch, The Purple Heart, 1943. The cousin of the UK’s first WWI Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain tested for the German news correspondent Ludwig Kruger in writer-producer Darryl F Zanuck’s bitter anti-Japanese propaganda. The British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain’s cousin played knight, lords, generals, doctors in everything from Shakespeare to Edgar Rice Burroughes, with Marlon Brando, Elvis Presley, Clark Gable, Shirley Temple, John Wayne, etc. Napier finally hit big in his 60s’ Batman TV role of Alfred Pennyworth, the planet’s most famous butler since Jeeves – in the 1966 film and 1966-1968 series. In the 1989 movie reboot, the Joker’s alter ego waas named Jack Napier, in Alan’s honour.
- Leo G Carroll, Spellbound, 1944. Greatly aided by Alfred Hitchcock and Salvador Dali visuals, the script derived from various writers including Mrs Alma Hitchcock, Ben Hecht and producer’s David O Selznick’s shrink. DOS was still not satisfied. He wanted a love triangle between Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck and whoever played Dr Murchison… When Fredric March passed and Napier, Ralph Bellamy and Paul Lukas made unimpressive tests, the idea was dropped in favour of what Hitch always labelled “just another manhunt wrapped up in pseudo-psychoanalysis.” Napier had to wait 20 more years before winning another opportunity to work with fellow Brit Alfred Hitchcock – in Marnie.
Birth year: 1903Death year: 1988Other name: Casting Calls: 2