Dazzling the Screen Leslie Howard

English actor, director, producer, and writer Leslie Howard wrote many stories and articles for The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair and was one of the greatest movie idols of the 1930s. Howard's WWII activities included acting and filmmaking. Tragedy struck in 1943 when the Luftwaffe (German air force) shot down BOAC Flight 77 over the Atlantic, on which he was a passenger. Howard died at the age of 50.

Director Victor Fleming directed the 1939 American epic historical romance film “Gone with the Wind." It was directed by Victor Fleming and starred Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Leslie Howard, and Olivia de Havilland. It is based on the novel of the same name by Margaret Mitchell. I am sure that no one who has seen this classic film ever looked at the Civil War the same ever again. There can be no question the film depicts slavery, consent, and Civil War myths in a problematic manner. The movie brought Leigh instant fame and attention and the Academy Award for Best Actress.

The story revolves around the strong-willed daughter Scarlett O’Hara (Vivian Leigh) of Georgia plantation owner Gerald O’Hara (Thomas Mitchell). The family lives on the plantation named Tara. In 1861, on the eve of the American Civil War, Scarlett is at Tara with her parents, two sisters, and their Black slaves. She is visited by her two beaux, Stuart Tarleton (George Reeves, who later became TV's Superman) and Brent Tarleton (Fred Crane). Scarlett is devastated to learn that at the big BBQ the next day at the plantation Twelve Oaks, Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), whom she has taken a fancy to, is going to announce his engagement to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton (Olivia deHavilland). At the party she runs into the man who will turn her life around eventually Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). Scarlett goes on to manipulate and get her way at every turn no matter that the Civil War is in full battle.

Director Archie Mayo directed the 1937 American screwball comedy "It's Love I'm After." The film starred Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Olivia de Havilland. It was based on the story "Gentlemen After Midnight" by Maurice Hanline. This was the third online pairing of Howard and Davis.

The storyline revolves around a couple who have postponed their marriage eleven times and who continue to plot and scheme their way to having a marriage.

Director John Cromwell directed the 1934 American drama "Of Human Bondage." It was based on the 1915 novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham. The film starred Leslie Howard and Bette Davis. This was the film that made Davis a star.

The storyline revolves around sensitive club-footed artist Philip Carey (Leslie Howard), who falls in love with tearoom waitress Mildred Rogers (Bette Davis).

Director Archie Mayo directed the 1939 American crime drama “The Petrified Forest." The film was based on the 1934 drama of the same name by Robert E. Sherwood. The film starred Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart. It was set in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

The storyline revolves around a failed writer and drifter, Alan Squier (Leslie Howard), who stops in a small off-road diner in Arizona where he meets a young and ambitious waitress, Gabrielle (Bette Davis). Their encounter is blissful until it is interrupted by gangster Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart), who is fleeing from the police and takes everyone in the diner as hostages.

Directors Anthony Asquith and Leslie Howard directed the 1938 British film "Pygmalion." It was based on the 1913 play by George Bernard Shaw. The film starred Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller. Later the screenplay was adapted into the 1956 theatrical musical "My Fair Lady."

The storyline revolves around Eliza Doolitle (Wendy Hiller), a poor Cockney flower-seller who overhears English phonetic professor Henry Higgins (Leslie Howard) mention that he could teach her perfect English, and she takes him up on his offer.

Director Harold Young directed the 1934 British adventure film "The Scarlet Pimpernel." The film starred Leslie Howard, Merle Oberon, and Raymond Massey. It was based on the 1905 adventure novel by Orczy.

The storyline revolves around an 18th-century English aristocrat, Sir Percy Blakeney (Leslie Howard), who leads a double life, passing himself off as an effete aristocrat while engaged in a secret effort to rescue French nobles from Robespierre's Reign of Terror.