David Niven - Revision history

Kurt: Redirected page to w:David Niven

2024-08-03T17:30:16Z

Kurt: /* Postwar career */

2022-12-23T18:16:14Z

Postwar career

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	==Postwar career==		==Postwar career==
	[[File:David Niven in Enchantment (1948).jpg\|thumb\|Niven in ''[[Enchantment (1948 film)\|Enchantment]]'' (1948)]]		[[File:David Niven in Enchantment (1948).jpg\|thumb\|Niven in ''[[w:Enchantment (1948 film)\|Enchantment]]'' (1948)]]

	Niven resumed his career while still in England, playing the lead in ''[[w:A Matter of Life and Death (film)\|A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946), from the team of [[w:Powell and Pressburger\|Powell and Pressburger]]. The movie was critically acclaimed, popular in England and was selected as the first [[Royal Film Performance]].		Niven resumed his career while still in England, playing the lead in ''[[w:A Matter of Life and Death (film)\|A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946), from the team of [[w:Powell and Pressburger\|Powell and Pressburger]]. The movie was critically acclaimed, popular in England and was selected as the first [[w:Royal Film Performance\|Royal Film Performance]].

	===Return to Hollywood===		===Return to Hollywood===

Kurt: /* Postwar career */

2022-12-23T18:15:27Z

Postwar career

Kurt: /* Around the World in 80 Days */

2022-12-23T18:11:04Z

Around the World in 80 Days

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	===''Around the World in 80 Days''===		===''Around the World in 80 Days''===
	Niven's professional fortunes were completely restored when cast as [[Phileas Fogg]] in ''[[Around the World in 80 Days (1956 film)\|Around the World in 80 Days]]'' (1956), a huge hit at the box office. It also won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. He followed it with ''[[Oh, Men! Oh, Women!]]'' (1957); ''[[The Little Hut]]'' (1957), from the writer of ''The Moon is Blue'' and a success at the box office; ''[[My Man Godfrey (1957 film)\|My Man Godfrey]]'' (1957), a screwball comedy; and ''[[Bonjour Tristesse (film)\|Bonjour Tristesse]]'' (1958), for Preminger. Niven worked in television. He appeared several times on various short-drama shows and was one of the "four stars" of the dramatic [[anthology series]] ''[[Four Star Playhouse]]'', appearing in 33 episodes. The show was produced by [[Four Star Television]], which was co-owned and founded by Niven, [[Ida Lupino]], [[Dick Powell]] and [[Charles Boyer]]. The show ended in 1955, but Four Star TV became a highly successful TV production company. ~~{{Citation needed\|date=September 2012}}~~		Niven's professional fortunes were completely restored when cast as [[Phileas Fogg]] in ''[[Around the World in 80 Days (1956 film)\|Around the World in 80 Days]]'' (1956), a huge hit at the box office. It also won the [[Academy Award for Best Picture]]. He followed it with ''[[Oh, Men! Oh, Women!]]'' (1957); ''[[The Little Hut]]'' (1957), from the writer of ''The Moon is Blue'' and a success at the box office; ''[[My Man Godfrey (1957 film)\|My Man Godfrey]]'' (1957), a screwball comedy; and ''[[Bonjour Tristesse (film)\|Bonjour Tristesse]]'' (1958), for Preminger. Niven worked in television. He appeared several times on various short-drama shows and was one of the "four stars" of the dramatic [[anthology series]] ''[[Four Star Playhouse]]'', appearing in 33 episodes. The show was produced by [[Four Star Television]], which was co-owned and founded by Niven, [[Ida Lupino]], [[Dick Powell]] and [[Charles Boyer]]. The show ended in 1955, but Four Star TV became a highly successful TV production company.

	===''Separate Tables''===		===''Separate Tables''===

Kurt: /* Writing */

2022-12-23T18:08:40Z

Writing

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	In 1971, he published his autobiography, ''[[The Moon's a Balloon]]'', which was well received, selling over five million copies. He followed this with ''Bring On the Empty Horses'' in 1975, a collection of entertaining reminiscences from Hollywood's "Golden Age" in the 1930s and 1940s. As more of a [[raconteur]] rather than an accurate memoirist, it seems that Niven recounted many incidents from a first-person perspective that actually happened to other people, among them [[Cary Grant]].<ref name="OtherSide"/> This liberal borrowing and embroidering of his personal history was also said to be the reason why he persistently refused to appear on ''[[This is Your Life]]''.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/11202745.why-david-niven-and-the-amateurs-behind-jamaica-inn-will-always-be-on-separate-tables/\|title=Why David Niven and the amateurs behind ''Jamaica Inn'' will always be on ''Separate Tables''\|work=[[Borehamwood & Elstree Times\|Borehamwood Times]]\|access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> Niven's penchant for exaggeration and embroidery is particularly apparent when comparing his written descriptions of his early film appearances (especially ''Barbary Coast'' and ''A Feather in her Hat''), and his Oscar acceptance speech, with the actual filmed evidence. In all three examples, the reality is significantly different from Niven's heavily fictionalised accounts as presented in ''The Moon's a Balloon'' and related in various chat show appearances.		In 1971, he published his autobiography, ''[[The Moon's a Balloon]]'', which was well received, selling over five million copies. He followed this with ''Bring On the Empty Horses'' in 1975, a collection of entertaining reminiscences from Hollywood's "Golden Age" in the 1930s and 1940s. As more of a [[raconteur]] rather than an accurate memoirist, it seems that Niven recounted many incidents from a first-person perspective that actually happened to other people, among them [[Cary Grant]].<ref name="OtherSide"/> This liberal borrowing and embroidering of his personal history was also said to be the reason why he persistently refused to appear on ''[[This is Your Life]]''.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.borehamwoodtimes.co.uk/news/11202745.why-david-niven-and-the-amateurs-behind-jamaica-inn-will-always-be-on-separate-tables/\|title=Why David Niven and the amateurs behind ''Jamaica Inn'' will always be on ''Separate Tables''\|work=[[Borehamwood & Elstree Times\|Borehamwood Times]]\|access-date=27 May 2021}}</ref> Niven's penchant for exaggeration and embroidery is particularly apparent when comparing his written descriptions of his early film appearances (especially ''Barbary Coast'' and ''A Feather in her Hat''), and his Oscar acceptance speech, with the actual filmed evidence. In all three examples, the reality is significantly different from Niven's heavily fictionalised accounts as presented in ''The Moon's a Balloon'' and related in various chat show appearances.

	In 1981 Niven published a second and much more successful novel, ''Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly'', which was set during and after the Second World War, and which drew on his experiences during the war and in Hollywood. He was working on a third novel at the time of his death.~~{{citation needed\|date=February 2014}}~~		In 1981 Niven published a second and much more successful novel, ''Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly'', which was set during and after the Second World War, and which drew on his experiences during the war and in Hollywood. He was working on a third novel at the time of his death.

	==Personal life==		==Personal life==

Kurt: /* Last films */

2022-12-23T18:07:12Z

Last films

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	===Last films===		===Last films===
	Niven's last sizeable film part was in ''[[Better Late Than Never (1983 film)\|Better Late Than Never]]'' (1983). In July 1982, [[Blake Edwards]] brought Niven back for cameo appearances in two final "Pink Panther" films (''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'' and ''[[Curse of the Pink Panther]]''), reprising his role as Sir Charles Lytton. By this time, Niven was having [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis\|serious health problems]]. When the raw footage was reviewed, his voice was inaudible, and his lines had to be dubbed by [[Rich Little]]. Niven only learned of it from a newspaper report. This was his last film appearance.~~{{citation needed\|date=September 2012}}~~		Niven's last sizeable film part was in ''[[Better Late Than Never (1983 film)\|Better Late Than Never]]'' (1983). In July 1982, [[Blake Edwards]] brought Niven back for cameo appearances in two final "Pink Panther" films (''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'' and ''[[Curse of the Pink Panther]]''), reprising his role as Sir Charles Lytton. By this time, Niven was having [[w:amyotrophic lateral sclerosis\|serious health problems]]. When the raw footage was reviewed, his voice was inaudible, and his lines had to be dubbed by [[w:Rich Little\|Rich Little]]. Niven only learned of it from a newspaper report. This was his last film appearance.

	===Writing===		===Writing===

Kurt: /* Separate Tables */

2022-12-23T18:02:10Z

Separate Tables

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	===''Separate Tables''===		===''Separate Tables''===
	[[File:David Niven 1958.jpg\|thumb\|~~left~~\|upright\|Drawing of Niven commemorating his 1958 Oscar win for ''[[Separate Tables (film)\|Separate Tables]]'']]		[[File:David Niven 1958.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright\|Drawing of Niven commemorating his 1958 Oscar win for ''[[Separate Tables (film)\|Separate Tables]]'']]
	[[File:David Niven in 1959.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright\|Host/Best Actor, 1959]]		[[File:David Niven in 1959.jpg\|thumb\|right\|upright\|Host/Best Actor, 1959]]
	Niven is the only person to win an [[Academy Award]] at the ceremony he was hosting.<ref name="keegan20190220">{{cite news \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 \|title=The Politics of Oscar: Inside the Academy's Long, Hard Road to a Hostless Show \|last=Keegan \|first=Rebecca \|date=20 February 2019 \|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] \|access-date=25 February 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225041612/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 \|archive-date=25 February 2019 \|url-status=dead}}</ref> He won the 1958 [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his role as Major Pollock in ''[[Separate Tables (film)\|Separate Tables]]'', his only nomination for an Oscar. Appearing on-screen for only 23 minutes in the film, this is the briefest performance ever to win a Best Actor Oscar. He was also a co-host of the 30th, 31st, and 46th Academy Awards ceremonies. After Niven had won the Academy Award, Goldwyn called with an invitation to his home. In Goldwyn's drawing-room, Niven noticed a picture of himself in uniform which he had sent to Goldwyn from Britain during the Second World War. In happier times with Goldwyn, he had observed this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Now years later, the picture was still in exactly the same spot. As he was looking at the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances said, "Sam never took it down."<ref name="Moon"/>		Niven is the only person to win an [[Academy Award]] at the ceremony he was hosting.<ref name="keegan20190220">{{cite news \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 \|title=The Politics of Oscar: Inside the Academy's Long, Hard Road to a Hostless Show \|last=Keegan \|first=Rebecca \|date=20 February 2019 \|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] \|access-date=25 February 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225041612/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/politics-oscar-inside-academys-long-hard-road-a-hostless-show-1187424 \|archive-date=25 February 2019 \|url-status=dead}}</ref> He won the 1958 [[Academy Award for Best Actor]] for his role as Major Pollock in ''[[Separate Tables (film)\|Separate Tables]]'', his only nomination for an Oscar. Appearing on-screen for only 23 minutes in the film, this is the briefest performance ever to win a Best Actor Oscar. He was also a co-host of the 30th, 31st, and 46th Academy Awards ceremonies. After Niven had won the Academy Award, Goldwyn called with an invitation to his home. In Goldwyn's drawing-room, Niven noticed a picture of himself in uniform which he had sent to Goldwyn from Britain during the Second World War. In happier times with Goldwyn, he had observed this same picture sitting on Goldwyn's piano. Now years later, the picture was still in exactly the same spot. As he was looking at the picture, Goldwyn's wife Frances said, "Sam never took it down."<ref name="Moon"/>

Kurt at 22:15, 19 December 2022

2022-12-19T22:15:45Z

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	{{Short description\|British actor and novelist (1910–1983)}}		{{Short description\|British actor and novelist (1910–1983)}}
	~~{{Use British English\|date=June 2021}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2021}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| image = David Niven 4 Allan Warren.jpg		\| image = David Niven 4 Allan Warren.jpg
	\| caption = Niven in 1973. Photograph by [[w:Allan Warren\|Allan Warren]]		\| caption = Niven in 1973.<br />Photograph by [[w:Allan Warren\|Allan Warren]]
	\| birth_name = James David Graham Niven		\| birth_name = James David Graham Niven
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1910\|03\|01\|df=yes}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1910\|03\|01\|df=yes}}
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	* {{TCMDb name}}		* {{TCMDb name}}
	* {{Find a Grave}}		* {{Find a Grave}}

	~~{{Navboxes~~
	~~\|title = Awards for David Niven~~
	~~\|list =~~
	~~{{AcademyAwardBestActor 1941-1960}}~~
	~~{{GoldenGlobeBestActorMotionPictureDrama 1943-1960}}~~
	~~{{GoldenGlobeBestActorMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1950-1960}}~~
	~~{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor}}~~
	}}

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Niven, David}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Niven, David}}
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	[[Category:British expatriates in the United States]]		[[Category:British expatriates in the United States]]
	[[Category:Burials in Switzerland]]		[[Category:Burials in Switzerland]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from motor neuron disease]]~~
	[[Category:English male film actors]]		[[Category:English male film actors]]
	[[Category:English male stage actors]]		[[Category:English male stage actors]]
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	[[Category:Highland Light Infantry officers]]		[[Category:Highland Light Infantry officers]]
	[[Category:Male actors from London]]		[[Category:Male actors from London]]
	~~[[Category:Neurological disease deaths in Switzerland]]~~
	[[Category:People educated at Heatherdown School]]		[[Category:People educated at Heatherdown School]]
	[[Category:People educated at Stowe School]]		[[Category:People educated at Stowe School]]

Kurt at 17:01, 12 October 2022

2022-10-12T17:01:12Z

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	{{Short description\|British actor and novelist (1910–1983)}}		{{Short description\|British actor and novelist (1910–1983)}}
	~~{{for\|the British Air Marshal\|David Niven (RAF officer)}}~~
	~~{{Multiple issues\|~~
	~~{{More citations needed\|date=July 2021}}~~
	~~{{Colloquial\|date=March 2021}}~~
	}}
	{{Use British English\|date=June 2021}}		{{Use British English\|date=June 2021}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=June 2021}}

	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	~~\| name = David Niven~~
	\| image = David Niven 4 Allan Warren.jpg		\| image = David Niven 4 Allan Warren.jpg
	~~\| imagesize =~~		\| caption = Niven in 1973. Photograph by [[w:Allan Warren\|Allan Warren]]
	\| caption = Niven in 1973. Photograph by [[Allan Warren]]
	\| birth_name = James David Graham Niven		\| birth_name = James David Graham Niven
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1910\|3\|1\|df=yes}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1910\|03\|01\|df=yes}}
	\| birth_place = [[London]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:London\|London]], England
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1983\|7\|29\|1910\|3\|1\|df=yes}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1983\|07\|29\|1910\|03\|01\|df=yes}}
	\| death_place = [[Château-d'Œx]], Switzerland		\| death_place = [[w:Château-d'Œx\|Château-d'Œx]], Switzerland
	\| resting_place = Château-d'Œx Cemetery		\| resting_place = Château-d'Œx Cemetery
	\| education = [[Heatherdown Preparatory School]]<br />[[Stowe School]]		\| education = [[w:Heatherdown Preparatory School\|Heatherdown Preparatory School]]<br />[[w:Stowe School\|Stowe School]]
	\| alma_mater = [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]		\| alma_mater = [[w:Royal Military College, Sandhurst\|Royal Military College]]
	\| occupation = Actor, author		\| occupation = Actor, author
	\| years_active = 1932–1983		\| years_active = 1932–1983
	\| spouse = {{marriage\|Primula Susan Rollo\|1940\|1946\|reason=~~died~~}}~~<br />~~{{marriage\|[[Hjördis Paulina Genberg]]~~<br />~~\|1948}}		\| spouse = {{Plainlist\|
	\| children = 4, including [[David Niven Jr.]]		*{{marriage\|Primula Susan Rollo\|1940\|1946\|reason=d.}}
			*{{marriage\|[[w:Hjördis Paulina Genberg\|Hjördis Paulina Genberg]]\|1948}}
			}}
			\| children = 4, including [[w:David Niven Jr.]]
	\| module = {{Infobox military person\|embed=yes		\| module = {{Infobox military person\|embed=yes
	\| allegiance = {{flag\|United Kingdom}}		\| allegiance = {{flag\|United Kingdom}}
	\| branch = [[File:Flag of the British Army.svg\|25px]] [[British Army]]		\| branch = [[File:Flag of the British Army.svg\|25px]] [[w:British Army\|British Army]]
	\| serviceyears = 1930–1933<br />1940–1945		\| serviceyears = 1930–1933<br />1940–1945
	\| servicenumber = 44959		\| servicenumber = 44959
	\| unit = [[Highland Light Infantry]]<br />[[Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)]]		\| unit = [[w:Highland Light Infantry]]<br />[[w:Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)\|Rifle Brigade]]
	\| rank = [[File:British Army OF-4.svg\|15px]] [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)\|Lieutenant colonel]]		\| rank = [[File:British Army OF-4.svg\|15px]] [[w:Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)\|Lieutenant colonel]]
	\| battles = [[Second World War]]		\| battles = [[Second World War]]
	\| awards = [[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg\|25px]] [[Legion of Merit]]		\| awards = [[File:Legion of Merit ribbon.svg\|25px]] [[w:Legion of Merit\|Legion of Merit]]
	}}		}}
	}}		}}
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	* {{cite book \|last1=Lord \|first1=Graham \|title=NIV: The Authorized Biography of David Niven \|date=14 December 2004 \|publisher=Macmillan \|isbn=978-0-312-32863-4 \|language=en}}		* {{cite book \|last1=Lord \|first1=Graham \|title=NIV: The Authorized Biography of David Niven \|date=14 December 2004 \|publisher=Macmillan \|isbn=978-0-312-32863-4 \|language=en}}
	* {{cite book \|last1=Morley \|first1=Sheridan \|title=The Other Side of the Moon: The Life of David Niven \|date=5 September 2016 \|publisher=Dean Street Press \|isbn=978-1-911413-63-9 \|language=en}}		* {{cite book \|last1=Morley \|first1=Sheridan \|title=The Other Side of the Moon: The Life of David Niven \|date=5 September 2016 \|publisher=Dean Street Press \|isbn=978-1-911413-63-9 \|language=en}}

	~~== See also ==~~
	* {{Portal-inline\|Biography}}
	* {{Portal-inline\|Film}}
	* {{Portal-inline\|United Kingdom}}

	==References==		==References==
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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Commons and category}}~~
	* {{Screenonline name\|id=458293}}		* {{Screenonline name\|id=458293}}
	* {{BFI\|id=4ce2b9ef420ad}}		* {{BFI\|id=4ce2b9ef420ad}}
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	{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor}}		{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor}}
	}}		}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Niven, David}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Niven, David}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-10-12T16:50:14Z

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	[[File:David Niven in Enchantment (1948).jpg\|thumb\|Niven in ''[[Enchantment (1948 film)\|Enchantment]]'' (1948)]]		[[File:David Niven in Enchantment (1948).jpg\|thumb\|Niven in ''[[Enchantment (1948 film)\|Enchantment]]'' (1948)]]

	Niven resumed his career while still in England, playing the lead in ''[[A Matter of Life and Death (film)\|A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946), from the team of [[Powell and Pressburger]]. The movie was critically acclaimed, popular in England and was selected as the first [[Royal Film Performance]].		Niven resumed his career while still in England, playing the lead in ''[[w:A Matter of Life and Death (film)\|A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946), from the team of [[w:Powell and Pressburger\|Powell and Pressburger]]. The movie was critically acclaimed, popular in England and was selected as the first [[Royal Film Performance]].

	===Return to Hollywood===		===Return to Hollywood===
	Niven returned to Hollywood and encountered tragedy when his first wife died after falling down a flight of stairs at a party. Goldwyn lent him to play [[Aaron Burr]] in ''[[Magnificent Doll]]'' (1946) opposite [[Ginger Rogers]], then to Paramount for ''[[The Perfect Marriage]]'' (1947) with Loretta Young and Enterprise Productions for ''[[The Other Love]]'' (1947).		Niven returned to Hollywood and encountered tragedy when his first wife died after falling down a flight of stairs at a party. Goldwyn lent him to play [[w:Aaron Burr\|Aaron Burr]] in ''[[w:Magnificent Doll\|Magnificent Doll]]'' (1946) opposite [[w:Ginger Rogers\|Ginger Rogers]], then to Paramount for ''[[w:The Perfect Marriage\|The Perfect Marriage]]'' (1947) with Loretta Young and Enterprise Productions for ''[[w:The Other Love\|The Other Love]]'' (1947).

	For Goldwyn he supported [[Cary Grant]] and Young in ''[[The Bishop's Wife]]'' (1947). He returned to England when Goldwyn lent him to [[Alexander Korda]] to play the title role in ''[[Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948 film)\|Bonnie Prince Charlie]]'' (1948), a notorious box office flop.		For Goldwyn he supported [[w:Cary Grant\|Cary Grant]] and Young in ''[[w:The Bishop's Wife\|The Bishop's Wife]]'' (1947). He returned to England when Goldwyn lent him to [[w:Alexander Korda\|Alexander Korda]] to play the title role in ''[[w:Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948 film)\|Bonnie Prince Charlie]]'' (1948), a notorious box office flop.

	Back in Hollywood Niven was in Goldwyn's ''[[Enchantment (1948 film)\|Enchantment]]'' (1948). At Warner Bros he was in a comedy ''[[A Kiss in the Dark (1949 film)\|A Kiss in the Dark]]'' (1948), then he appeared opposite [[Shirley Temple]] in the comedy ''[[A Kiss for Corliss]]'' (1949). None of these films was successful at the box office and Niven's career was struggling.		Back in Hollywood Niven was in Goldwyn's ''[[w:Enchantment (1948 film)\|Enchantment]]'' (1948). At Warner Bros he was in a comedy ''[[w:A Kiss in the Dark (1949 film)\|A Kiss in the Dark]]'' (1948), then he appeared opposite [[w:Shirley Temple\|Shirley Temple]] in the comedy ''[[w:A Kiss for Corliss\|A Kiss for Corliss]]'' (1949). None of these films was successful at the box office and Niven's career was struggling.

	He returned to Britain to play the title role in ''[[The Elusive Pimpernel (1950 film)\|The Elusive Pimpernel]]'' (1950) from Powell and Pressberger, which was to have been financed by Korda and Goldwyn. Goldwyn pulled out and the film did not appear in the US for three years. Niven had a long, complex relationship with Goldwyn, who gave him his first start, but the dispute over ''The Elusive Pimpernel'' and Niven's demands for more money led to a long estrangement between the two in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51974399\|title=David Niven's Own Story\|newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]]\|date=15 September 1971\|access-date=7 July 2012\|page=15\|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>		He returned to Britain to play the title role in ''[[w:The Elusive Pimpernel (1950 film)\|The Elusive Pimpernel]]'' (1950) from Powell and Pressberger, which was to have been financed by Korda and Goldwyn. Goldwyn pulled out and the film did not appear in the US for three years. Niven had a long, complex relationship with Goldwyn, who gave him his first start, but the dispute over ''The Elusive Pimpernel'' and Niven's demands for more money led to a long estrangement between the two in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news\|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51974399\|title=David Niven's Own Story\|newspaper=[[w:The Australian Women's Weekly\|]]\|date=15 September 1971\|access-date=7 July 2012\|page=15\|publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

	===Career decline===		===Career decline===
	[[File:David Niven in The Toast of New Orleans trailer.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|In ''[[The Toast of New Orleans]]'' (1950) trailer]]		[[File:David Niven in The Toast of New Orleans trailer.jpg\|thumb\|upright\|In ''[[w:The Toast of New Orleans\|The Toast of New Orleans]]'' (1950) trailer]]

	Niven struggled for a while to recapture his former position. He supported [[Mario Lanza]] in a musical at MGM, ''[[The Toast of New Orleans]]'' (1950). He then went to England and appeared in a musical with [[Vera-Ellen]], ''[[Happy Go Lovely]]'' (1951); it was little seen in the US but was a big hit in Britain. He had a support role in MGM's ''[[Soldiers Three (film)\|Soldiers Three]]'' (1951) similar to those early in his career. Niven had a far better part in the British war film ''[[Appointment with Venus (film)\|Appointment with Venus]]'' (1952), which was popular in England. ''[[The Lady Says No]]'' (1952) was a poorly received American comedy at the time.		Niven struggled for a while to recapture his former position. He supported [[w:Mario Lanza\|Mario Lanza]] in a musical at MGM, ''[[w:The Toast of New Orleans\|The Toast of New Orleans]]'' (1950). He then went to England and appeared in a musical with [[w:Vera-Ellen\|Vera-Ellen]], ''[[w:Happy Go Lovely\|Happy Go Lovely]]'' (1951); it was little seen in the US but was a big hit in Britain. He had a support role in MGM's ''[[w:Soldiers Three (film)\|Soldiers Three]]'' (1951) similar to those early in his career. Niven had a far better part in the British war film ''[[Appointment with Venus (film)\|Appointment with Venus]]'' (1952), which was popular in England. ''[[w:The Lady Says No\|The Lady Says No]]'' (1952) was a poorly received American comedy at the time.

	===Comeback===		===Comeback===
	Niven decided to try Broadway, appearing opposite [[Gloria Swanson]] in ''Nina'' (1951–52). The play ran for only 45 performances but it was seen by [[Otto Preminger]], who decided to cast Niven in the film version of the play ''[[The Moon Is Blue (film)\|The Moon Is Blue]]'' (1953). As preparation Preminger, who had directed the play in New York, insisted that Niven appear on stage in the West Coast run. ''The Moon Is Blue'', a sex comedy, became notorious when it was released without a Production Code Seal of Approval; it was a big hit and Niven won a [[Golden Globe Award]] for his role.		Niven decided to try Broadway, appearing opposite [[w:Gloria Swanson\|Gloria Swanson]] in ''Nina'' (1951–52). The play ran for only 45 performances but it was seen by [[w:Otto Preminger\|Otto Preminger]], who decided to cast Niven in the film version of the play ''[[w:The Moon Is Blue (film)\|The Moon Is Blue]]'' (1953). As preparation Preminger, who had directed the play in New York, insisted that Niven appear on stage in the West Coast run. ''The Moon Is Blue'', a sex comedy, became notorious when it was released without a Production Code Seal of Approval; it was a big hit and Niven won a [[w:Golden Globe Award\|Golden Globe Award]] for his role.

	Niven's next few films were made in England: ''[[The Love Lottery]]'' (1954), a comedy; ''[[Carrington V.C. (film)\|Carrington V.C.]]'' (1954), a drama that earned Niven a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor; ''[[Happy Ever After (1954 film)\|Happy Ever After]]'' (1954), a comedy with [[Yvonne de Carlo]], which was hugely popular in Britain.		Niven's next few films were made in England: ''[[The Love Lottery]]'' (1954), a comedy; ''[[Carrington V.C. (film)\|Carrington V.C.]]'' (1954), a drama that earned Niven a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor; ''[[Happy Ever After (1954 film)\|Happy Ever After]]'' (1954), a comedy with [[Yvonne de Carlo]], which was hugely popular in Britain.