Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), Sunday 28 December 1952, page 4


COMEDIAN TOPS

FILM POLL

From Our Staff Correspondent

LONDON, Dec. 27.-The 49-year-oId Cockney comedian Ronald Shiner, was Britain's leading box office attraction among film actors in 1952, according to a poll of 4,522 exhibitors

organised by the "Motion Picture Herald."

Shiner, who has appeared in 100 films in 25 years, has nevcr been listed among the first 10 before.

He was in the Royal Cana-dian Mounted Police and Regular Army, and was a fac-tory worker and milkman be-fore turning to films and the

stage.

He won his fame in the films "Worm's Eye View" and "Reluctant Heroes," and be-fore that in the stage version of the same plays.

Anna Neagle, for the sixth successive year, was first choice among British women screen stars, although she ap-pealed in only one new film ---"Derby Day"---during 1952.

Shiner was followed by Alastair Sim, Alec Guinness, Anthony Steel and Jack Haw-kins (the last two bracketed), Richard Todd, Nigel Patrick, Jack Warner, Anna Neagle, Trevor Howard and Glynis

Johns.

FILMS

The 12 films which took the most money at Britain's box-offices included eight British productions.

The complete list was "The Greatest Show on Earth" (American), "Where No Vul-tures Fly" (British), "Son of Paleface" (American). "Ivan-hoe" (British), "Mandy" (British), "The Planter's Wife"

(British), 'The Quiet Man" (American), "The World in His Arms" ' (American), "Angels One Five" (British),

"Reluctant Heroes (British),

"African Queen ' (British), "The Sound Barrier" (British).

In the international field the most popular star in Britain this year was Bob Hope foll lowed by Gregory Peck, Betty Hutton, Martin and Lewis, John Wayne, Mario Lanza, James Mason, James Stewart, Doris Day and Humphrey Bogart.