The Rainmaker (1956) Approved | 121 min | Romance, Western 6.9 Acting student Pete Gomes told the sisters thatThe Swimmer(1968) was his favorite of all the Burt Lancaster movies his class had watched this semester. During the 1950s, his production company, Hecht-Hill-Lancaster, was highly successful, with Lancaster acting in films such as: Trapeze (1956), a box office smash in which he used his acrobatic skills and for which he won the Silver Bear for Best Actor; Sweet Smell of Success (1957), a dark drama today considered a classic; Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), a WWII submarine drama with Clark Gable; and Separate Tables (1958), a hotel-set drama which received seven Oscar nominations. Playing a charismatic biblical con-man in Elmer Gantry in 1960 won him the Academy Award and the Golden Globe for Best Actor. Burt Lancaster Obituary (1954 - 2022) - Legacy Remembers A small square ground plaque inscribed only with "BURT LANCASTER 19131994" marks his final resting place. The family believed themselves to be related to Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts. This happiness wouldnt last. Today, she enjoys being the center of a large, loving family. In it he plays Robert Stroud, a federal prisoner incarcerated for life for two murders, who begins to collect birds and over time becomes an expert in bird diseases, even publishing a book. In January 1960, for example, the police and military raided a notorious homosexual's house and discovered that many "prominent individuals," including Lancaster and Hudson, were part of the orgies. Her private life, in which Shirley is the matriarch of a big family with three sons (her stepson David Cassidy died in 2017) and 13 grandchildren, has also been filled with riches. Before he graduated from DeWitt Clinton, his mother died of a cerebral hemorrhage. The divorce was settled in 1969. James Sr. moved the. However, in 1939, an injury forced Lancaster to give up the profession, with great regret. [5], After the United States entered World War II, Lancaster joined the United States Army in January 1943 and performed with the Army's 21st Special Services Division, one of the military groups organized to follow the troops on the ground and provide USO entertainment to keep up morale. He was a four-time nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor (winning once), and he also won two BAFTA Awards and one Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website athttp://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill. [68] She was a life-long member of the NAACP. Avice Wallop , Robert Blake, Arlette de FALAISE , Herluin de CONTEVILLE. "Burt Breaks Mold When Typed: Burt Balks at Typed Film Roles" Scheuer, Philip K. Lancaster to Star in Shipwreck Tale: Norma Productions Buys 'His Majesty O'Keefe' for the Actor's First '52 Role By thomas F. Brady. Even though Academy Award-winning actor Burt Lancaster had five children and three wives, FBI documents claimed he was bisexual. Burt Lancaster - IMDb Alternating with adventure films, he went into South Sea Woman in 1952 at Warners. The event opened with a presentation introducing Lancaster to those not yet familiar with his work. Apart from that, he was quite outspoken about his liberal political beliefs. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. His first two marriages, to June Ernst from 1935-46 and Norma Anderson from 1946-69, ended in divorce. Promotional photo of Burt Lancaster in 1950 [left]. "I've raised three wonderful sons who grew up to be great men of character and. He was under investigation for it. All four of his grandparents were emigrants from Ireland to the United States, from the province of Ulster; his maternal grandparents were from Belfast and were descendants of English dissenters who had emigrated to Ireland as part of the Plantation of Ulster. It was one of Lancaster's favourite films and was a big hit in France but failed in the US (though the version released was much truncated).[38]. Hill went on to produce a single additional film, The Happy Thieves, in a new production company, Hillworth Productions, co-owned with his wife Rita Hayworth. [30], In 1956, Lancaster and Hecht partnered with Loring Buzzell and entered the music industry with the music publishing companies Leigh Music, Hecht-Lancaster & Buzzell Music, Calyork Music and Colby Music and the record labels Calyork Records and Maine Records. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. The first film was 1951's Ten Tall Men, where Lancaster was a member of the French Foreign Legion. Although initially unenthusiastic about acting, Lancaster was encouraged to audition for a Broadway play by a producer who saw him in an elevator while he was visiting his then-girlfriend at work. Burt Lancaster's Westerns - IMDb [53], Lancaster was also active in anti-death penalty activism. Tony Curtis made an early appearance. Upon his death, as he requested, he had no memorial or funeral service. It won both the Best Picture Oscar and the Palme d'Or award at Cannes and Borgnine an Best Actor Oscar. The second was 1952's The First Time, a comedy which was the directorial debut of Frank Tashlin. Known best for his grand, high-style Los Angeles apartments and hotels, Maltzman had a very distinctive style which he imprinted on Lancaster's traditional-style home. James married Susannah Murray, another Irish immigrant five years his senior, and they had five children, including James Henry (Jim), Burt's father, born December 6, 1876. His parents, James and Elizabeth Lancasters, were American working-class people. He was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar four times, and took home the golden statuette for the title role inElmer Gantry(1960). Roberts), Nov 2 1913 - New York, New York, New York, United States, Oct 20 1994 - Los Angeles, California, USA, Jennie Lancaster, James Lancaster, William Lancaster, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, Cremation. Lancaster supposedly was one of the Hollywood entertainers willing to make films with "strong social commentary.". Lancaster won the 1960 Academy Award for Best Actor, a Golden Globe Award, and the New York Film Critics Award for his performance. Der Zug (1964) - Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield 5050070010015 | eBay Douglas was always billed under Lancaster in these movies but, with the exception of I Walk Alone, in which Douglas played a villain, their roles were usually more or less the same size. Lancaster followed it with another film from Pollack, Castle Keep in 1969, which was a big flop. [8] The audition was successful and Lancaster was cast in Harry Brown's A Sound of Hunting (1945). Burt Lancaster Was a Dad-Of-5 but His Alleged Sexuality Was - AmoMama His final film role was in the Oscar-nominated Field of Dreams. Daughter of Legendary Actor Burt Lancaster Shares Stories of Her Father Students, faculty, and staff gathered in the New York Film Academy Theater to attend an evening centered on the life and work of legendary actor-producer Burt Lancaster. Although the reception to his 1968 film The Swimmer was initially lackluster upon release, in the years after it has grown in stature critically and attained a cult following. Chicago Daily Tribune2 Dec 1952: a5. 5.0 out of 5 stars Family film. The show only ran three weeks, but his performance attracted the interest of a Hollywood agent, Harold Hecht. [62][63] He flew in from France for the event, where he was shooting The Train, and flew back again the next day, despite a reported fear of flying.[58][64]. Through Norlan Productions, Lancaster and Kibbee produced The Scalphunters in 1968, directed by Sydney Pollack. He also appeared in eight films produced by Hal B. Wallis and two with producer Mark Hellinger. [49] He was also a member of the short-lived Committee for the First Amendment, formed in support of the Hollywood Ten. Deal: Movie Star and His Partner, Harold Hecht, Find a New Outlet for Productions By Thomas M. Pryor New York Times June 24, 1953: 30. Here's what they found. She knelt beside my dad and told him,I worship you.When the woman got up and left, my dad looked at us and wondered aloud what the hell had just happened. She added with a knowing chuckle, My dad had a healthy ego, and he certainly liked the attention much of the time, but he tried to stay grounded., Lancaster was famous for doing virtually all of his own stunts across a long list of action-adventure films, and his daughter spoke about the importance physicality played in his life. [52] In 1968, Lancaster actively supported the presidential candidacy of anti-war Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, and frequently spoke on his behalf during the Democratic primaries. Sydney Pollack worked as a dialogue coach. Lancaster was one of many names in 1975's 1900, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, and he had a cameo in 1976's Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson for Robert Altman. In the 1950s, the FBI also investigated him for alleged homosexual behavior. The sympathetic performance earned Lancaster a Best Actor Oscar nomination, a BAFTA Award for Best Actor, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Dramatic Role. Furtive Facts About Burt Lancaster, Hollywood's - Factinate Now when I hit my forties, Ill just Burt my way through it., Copyright 2023 New York Film Academy Privacy Policy. He drank heavily and indulged in infidelities with both women and men, as Shirley turned a blind eye. His breakthrough role was in the film noir The Killers in 1946 alongside Ava Gardner. My parents made sure that all of us kids went to the same school throughout our elementary years, and we had a normal family life, as much as possible. They had five children, but after 22 years together, they divorced. Bruce Willis Is Surrounded by Love and Family Amid Dementia Battle, Bruce Willis Family Is Heartbroken After His Dementia Diagnosis, Sailor Brinkley Cook Is Excited About Being Part of the Next Generation, Sean Kanan Suffered Scary Emergency on The Karate Kid III Set, Sailor Brinkley Cook Says Mom Christie Brinkley Is a Big Inspiration, Cary Grants Best Quality Was His Humility, Wife Barbara Jaynes Says, The Reason Why Acting Icon Estelle Parsons Agreed to Star on 'Roseanne'. [20], Hecht and Lancaster left Warners for United Artists, for what began as a two-picture deal, the first of which was to be 1954's Apache, starring Lancaster as a Native American.[21][22]. Advertisement However, it will be the sound of his voice, the way that he laughed, and the larger-than-life characters he played that will always be remembered. It was Warners' most popular film of the year and established an entirely new image for Lancaster.[16]. 2023 Getty Images. The first was 1950's The Flame and the Arrow, a swashbuckler movie, in which Lancaster drew on his circus skills. It was meant to star Lancaster but he wound up not appearing in the film the first of their productions in which he did not act.[18]. The Leopard (1963) - IMDb AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Hungarian refugee Bela Feher with his wife Lucy and their three children Vera, Cseve and Michael, walking along Main Street in Patchogue, Long. A. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Photo by Hal Wallis Productions. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Aldrich, Robert. Amazon.com: Come Back, Little Sheba : Burt Lancaster, Shirley Booth Shirley Jones has experienced many successes as an Oscar-winning actress, but nothing compares to the blessings she receives as the loving mom of her three wonderful sons, Shaun, Ryan and Patrick. Burton Stephen Lancaster is part of G.I. In 1963, Lancaster traveled to Italy to star as an Italian prince in the epic period drama The Leopard. Although Lancaster's work alongside Kirk Douglas was mostly known as a successful pair of actors, Douglas, in fact, produced four films for the pair, through his production companies Bryna Productions and Joel Productions. Entdecke Der Zug (1964) - Burt Lancaster, Paul Scofield in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Burt Lancaster grew up in the slums of East Harlem, left home to pursue a career as a circus acrobat, and served in WW2 as an entertainment specialist in the Italian campaign. Family tree of Burt LANCASTER - Geneastar He also gave me an incredible sex life. But their intense love was complicated by Jacks bipolar disorder. Ive raised three wonderful sons who grew up to be great men of character and accomplishment, Shirley gushes in the magazines latest issue, on newsstands now. Film Actors' Union Extends Contract: Screen Guild Eases Pressure on Producers by Negotiating 6-Month Addition to Pact. He was directed four times by Robert Aldrich, three times each by Robert Siodmak and Sydney Pollack, and twice each by Byron Haskin, Daniel Mann, John Sturges, John Huston, Richard Brooks, Alexander Mackendrick, Luchino Visconti, and Michael Winner. Lancaster and his family lived a long commute away from . All Rights Reserved. Lancaster starred in Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) for Stanley Kramer, alongside Spencer Tracy, Richard Widmark and a number of other stars. 43 Burt Lancaster Family Premium High Res Photos - Getty Images Brando called the house a couple of times when I was a kid, but I had no idea who he was, at the time., When discussing her dawning awareness of her fathers status as a movie star, Ms. Lancaster said, Whatever circumstance you grow up in, thats normal to you. His parents were both working-class Irish immigrants who insisted that, although they lived in the slums, they were a better sort of folk, destined for great things. They were both bleeding-heart liberals, and they were often involved in the same political causes. Great story great film. [67], His first marriage was to June Ernst, a trapeze acrobat. Burt Lancaster filmography. Ripston later recalled: "There was a feeling that a woman couldn't run the ACLU foundation, nor have access to the books. Remembering David Cassidy: See 'The Partridge Family' Cast Then and Now. Click here to download New York Film Academys 2020 School Performance Fact Sheet for the Los Angeles Campus. He was skilled in gymnastics. Geni requires JavaScript! [78] His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered under a large oak tree in Westwood Memorial Park, which is located in Westwood Village, California. Education eAFI's 100 Years100 Stars, Male Legends Humphrey Bogart Cary Grant James Stewart Marlon Brando Fred Astaire Henry Fonda Clark Gable James Cagney Spencer Tracy Charlie Chaplin Gary Cooper Gregory Peck John Wayne Laurence Olivier Gene Kelly Orson Welles Kirk Douglas James Dean Burt Lancaster The Marx Brothers Buster Keaton Sidney Poitier Robert Mitchum Edward G. Robinson William Holden, Female Legends Katharine Hepburn Bette Davis Audrey Hepburn Ingrid Bergman Greta Garbo Marilyn Monroe Elizabeth Taylor Judy Garland Marlene Dietrich Joan Crawford Barbara Stanwyck Claudette Colbert Grace Kelly Ginger Rogers Mae West Vivien Leigh Lillian Gish Shirley Temple Rita Hayworth Lauren Bacall Sophia Loren Jean Harlow Carole Lombard Mary Pickford Ava Gardner, Persondata Name Lancaster, Burt Alternative names Lancaster, Burton Stephen Short description American actor Date of birth November 2, 1913 Place of birth New York City, New York, U.S. The centennial of Lancaster's birth was honored at New York City's Film Society of Lincoln Center in May 2013 with the screening of 12 of the actor's best-known films, from The Killers to Atlantic City. He then went into a series of Westerns: Lawman in 1971, directed by Michael Winner; Valdez Is Coming in 1971, for Norlan; and Ulzana's Raid in 1972, directed by Aldrich and produced by himself and Hecht. "Hecht-Lancaster Plans New Films: Producing Unit Signs Deal with United Artists 5 Features Are Listed Lancaster to Act". Download this stock image: The family of BURT LANCASTER, including sons BILL LANCASTER, JIMMY LANCASTER, daughter SUSAN LANCASTER and wife NORMA - HD0PEF from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. "[32] In late 1957, they announced they would make ten films worth $14 million in 1958.[33]. After the war, a chance meeting in an elevator in New York led to the audition, which soon launched his movie career withThe Killers(1946), the crime thriller that rocketed him to international stardom at age thirty-three. in Los Angeles, California, USA, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Burt LANCASTER (1913), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. In 1948, Lancaster had a change of pace with the film adaptation of Arthur Miller's All My Sons, made at Universal Pictures with Edward G. Robinson. He continued to act, however, and to engage in public activism. Thats when she decided to shift her career from films to television, so she wouldnt have to travel for work. The film received five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and a Best Actor nomination for Lancaster. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The 1989 drama, directed by. Not long after in 1948, Lancaster starred alongside Barbara Stanwyck in the commercially and critically acclaimed film Sorry, Wrong Number where he portrayed the husband to her bedridden, invalid character. In preparation for the film, he took swimming lessons from UCLA swim coach Bob Horn. As he had previously requested, upon his death, no memorial or funeral service was held for him. Burt Lancaster died at his apartment in Century City, Los Angeles, after having a third heart attack at 4:50 am on October 20, 1994, about two weeks shy of his 81st birthday. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Burt Lancaster Makes U. The film was both a commercial and critical success, receiving eleven Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. Hollywood Dossier: 'Marty' Hits Jackpot Team On the Set By Oscar Godabout Hollywood. United Artists signed Hecht-Lancaster to a multi-picture contract, to make seven films over two years. Their first was Marty in 1955, based on Paddy Chayefsky's TV play starring Ernest Borgnine and directed by Delbert Mann. But her second marriage, which lasted until Martys death in 2015, provided her with the security and protection she never had before. Lancaster returned to New York after his Army service. Two weeks later, I was in my first Broadway show, South Pacific.. [55], In 1985, Lancaster joined the fight against AIDS after fellow movie star Rock Hudson contracted the disease. In what year did Burt Lancaster star in 'Birdman of Alcatraz'? Hecht kept to his promise to Lancaster to turn producer. http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1956/03_preistr_ger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Lancaster. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein would become the stars mentors and make her the star of the film versions of two of their best musicals, 1955s Oklahoma! Collect, curate and comment on your files. Burt Lancaster Net Worth, Height, Age, and More Burt. Lancaster re-teamed with Tony Curtis in 1957 for Sweet Smell of Success, a co-production between Hecht-Hill-Lancaster and Curtis' own company with wife Janet Leigh, Curtleigh Productions. When they divorced is unclear; contemporary reports listed 1940, but subsequent biographers have suggested dates as late as 1946, thus delaying his marriage to his second wife.[68]. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 15, 2020. Sadly, an injury cut short his career. Robert Aldrich worked on the movie as a production manager. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. Lancaster was accepted into New York University with an athletic scholarship but subsequently dropped out. Both of his parents were Protestants of working-class origin. Hungarian refugee Bela Feher with his wife Lucy and their three children Vera, Cseve and Michael, walking along Main Street in Patchogue, Long. Burt Lancaster (November 2, 1913-October 20, 1994) strived throughout his career to avoid being typecast as an action hero, so he was constantly trying to stretch his acting range further and further by experimenting with different film images, although not always with success. [51], A vocal opponent of the Vietnam War, he helped pay for the successful defense of a soldier accused of "fragging" (i.e., murdering) another soldier during war-time. Kirk Douglas starred in seven films across the decades with Burt Lancaster: I Walk Alone (1948), Gunfight at the O.K. He did it at a restaurant. [4] Together, they learned to act in local theatre productions and circus arts at Union Settlement, one of the city's oldest settlement houses. Still, she focused on his thoughts about his own sexuality. An armored truck driver and his ex-wife conspire with a gang to have his own truck robbed on the route. Moreau. Hellinger used Lancaster again on Brute Force in 1947, a prison drama written by Richard Brooks and directed by Jules Dassin. Buford also noted that being free as a person, artist, and in politics was paramount to Lancaster, so he was against labels decades before it became a thing. As a result, he was often a target of FBI investigations. Since then, Lancaster has never stopped wowing audiences with his good looks and outstanding performances. He joined the circus as an acrobat and worked there until he was injured. Playing a bird expert prisoner in Birdman of Alcatraz in 1962, he earned the BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Actor and his third Oscar nomination. The initials "G.I." is military terminology referring to "Government Issue" or "General Issue". Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Lancaster's first filmed movie was Desert Fury for Wallis in 1947, where Lancaster was billed after John Hodiak and Lizabeth Scott. Burt Lancaster is American by birth. In 1951, the actor/producer duo changed the company's name to Hecht-Lancaster Productions. He made a second film with Visconti, Conversation Piece in 1974 and played the title role in the TV series Moses the Lawgiver, also in 1974. Im getting mine out of the way early, Pete replied. Lancaster had other offers but Hecht promised him the opportunity to produce their own movies within five years of hitting Hollywood. He played a Nazi war criminal in 1961 in the all-star, war-crime-trial film, Judgment at Nuremberg. "The Ten Commandments, he said, were fine but not for him." [40] Prior to working on The Swimmer, Lancaster was terrified of the water because he did not know how to swim. Jack was handsome and a leading man, but he did comedy better, and that intrigued me. Part of the Norma-Warners contract was that Lancaster had to appear in some non-Norma films, of which this was one. Corral (1957) with Kirk Douglas, which was a huge commercial hit directed by John Sturges. [3], At the age of 9, Lancaster met Nick Cravat with whom he developed a lifelong partnership. Shirley Jones reveals shocking details about her sex life in new The American Film Institute ranks Lancaster as #19 of the greatest male stars of classic Hollywood cinema.[1]. in New York City, New York, USA , United States, Died on October 20, 1994 All of his grandparents were immigrants from Northern Ireland. It was co-written by James Hill, who would soon become a part of the Hecht-Lancaster partnership. [79], Lancaster has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.[80]. An old patriarch unites all members of his family for his birthday, but the group of people are full of personal and social problems. Lancaster said, Dad really liked Brando, on a personal level. But no one can disagree with the guiding principlewith liberty and justice for all. It became one of the biggest box-office hits of 1970 and, at that time, reportedly the highest-grossing film in the history of Universal Pictures. See Her Beautiful Bikini Photos, Emma Hemming Shares Sweet Video of Bruce Willis Prior to FTD Diagnosis, Chris ODowd Reflects on Career, New Comedy and Filming Bridesmaids. Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google or Facebook password. The two of them formed a company, Norma Productions, and did a deal with Universal to make a thriller about a disturbed G.I. According to biographer Kate Buford in Burt Lancaster: An American Life, Lancaster was devotedly loyal to his friends and family. NYFA Film Studies instructor Paul Laverack, currently teaching a course on Burt Lancaster, conducted the opening presentation and moderated the discussion with Joanna Lancaster. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year career in film and, later, television. She was trembling. [28], Lancaster still had commitments with Wallis, and made The Rose Tattoo for him in 1955, starring with Anna Magnani and Daniel Mann directing. His third marriage, to Susan Martin, lasted from September 1990 until his death in 1994. In her 1980 autobiography, Shelley Winters claimed to have had a two-year affair with him, during which time he was considering separation from his wife. Roland Kibbee wrote for seven Lancaster films. Before he graduated from DeWitt Clinton, his mother died of a cerebral hemorrhage. Thats the terrible part.. Lancaster's leading role in Luchino Visconti's 1963 canonical The Leopard began a series of roles with important European art film directors that included roles in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1900 and Louis Malle's Atlantic City as well as Visconti's Conversation Piece. Ernst was the daughter of a renowned female aerialist and an accomplished acrobat herself. Both of his parents were Protestants of working-class origin. A Kentucky widower bound for 1820's Texas with his young son is thwarted in his efforts by a corrupt constable, a long-standing family feud, and a beautiful indentured servant. Eight of these were co-produced by James Hill. Norma Productions signed a three-picture deal with Warner Bros. He was born in New York City, U.S. on 1913-11-02. "[58], When President George H. W. Bush derided Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis as a "card-carrying member of the ACLU", Lancaster was one of the supporters featured in the organization's first television advertising campaign stating: "I'm a card-carrying member of the ACLU" and "No one agrees with every single thing they've done. BPPE: The New York Film Academy is approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) Approval or approval to operate means that the institution is compliant with the minimum standards contained in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Education. Burt Lancaster Was a Dad-Of-5 but His Alleged Sexuality Was Revealed 6 Years after the Passing By Edduin Carvajal Nov 10, 2021 04:20 P.M. Username and password are case sensitive. Click here to access the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education website. On The Partridge Family, I became the first working mom on TV. Shirley also enjoyed acting opposite her stepson, David Cassidy, who was a product of Jacks first marriage. In addition, Lancaster was foremost among the pioneering crop of star-producers in the 1950s, with his Hecht-Lancaster company producing several successful films, most notablyMarty(1955), the Best Picture Oscar-winner, and the first American film to win thePalme dOrat Cannes. [45], Lancaster was top-billed in Go Tell the Spartans in 1978, a Vietnam War film; Lancaster admired the script so much that he took a reduced fee and donated money to help the movie to be completed. Though the boy was clearly on downers, Ms. Lancaster recalled, somehow he did it; got right up to the ceiling. When the boy came back down, her father gave his blessing to their relationship. Lancaster was the son of Elizabeth (ne Roberts) and James Henry Lancaster, who was a postman.