Rudolph Besier

British dramatist Rudolf Besier was born in Java in 1878. He attended Elizabeth College, Guernsey, and the University of Heidelberg. He wrote his first play, THE VIRGIN GODDESS, in 1908 while traveling in the United States. THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET (1930), his most successful play, was first produced in England at the Malvern Festival. The next year, a production by and starring Katharine Cornell opened in Cleveland, and later toured successfully throughout the United States. In 1934, it was made into a movie starring Norma Shearer and Frederic March. Besier’s other plays include DON (1909), OLIVE LATIMER’S HUSBAND (1910), THE FOOLISH VIRGIN (1911), a translation of Henri Bataille’s play, LADY PATRICIA (1912), HER COUNTRY (1918), written with Sybil Spottiswoode, SECRETS (1922), and A LESSON IN LOVE (1923), written with May Eddington. Besier died in England in 1942.