Not currently on display at the V&A

Godfrey Tearle in The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse

Caricature
24 May 1937 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This caricature shows Godfrey Tearle (1884-1953) as Dr Clitterhouse in The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse by Barré Lyndon at the Oxford New Theatre on 24 May 1937. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

American-born Godfrey Tearle was raised in England and made his first stage appearance as a child at Burnley in 1893 as the young Duke of York in Richard III. He began his acting career in earnest in 1899 with his father's company. He made his first London stage appearance in 1906 at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith, and went on to become one of the most respected character actors on the stage in Britain, and universally known from his parts in numerous films. The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse came to the Comedy Theatre in February 1938 after its out-of-London tour, and it was made into a film the same year with Edward G. Robinson as the psychiatrist Dr Clitterhouse and Humphrey Bogart as his accomplice in crime, 'Rocks' Valentine.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleGodfrey Tearle in <i>The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse</i> (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Pencil on paper
Brief description
Pencil caricature by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976) of Godfrey Tearle as Dr Clitterhouse in The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse by Barré Lyndon, New Theatre Oxford, 24 May 1937.
Physical description
Pencil caricature of Godfrey Tearle in The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse, New Theatre, Oxford, 24 May 1937. From a hard-backed sketch book containing caricatures of theatrical performers and entertainers drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17cm
  • Width: 10.8cm
Credit line
Given by Michael Sommerlad
Object history
Gilbert Sommerlad was a member of the resident orchestra at the New Theatre, Oxford when he drew this caricature.
Subject depicted
Summary
This caricature shows Godfrey Tearle (1884-1953) as Dr Clitterhouse in The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse by Barré Lyndon at the Oxford New Theatre on 24 May 1937. It was drawn by Gilbert Sommerlad (1904-1976), a rehearsal pianist and orchestral violinist at the Brighton Theatre Royal from 1932 until 1936, and at the Oxford New Theatre from 1936 for over forty years. Sommerlad sketched the stars on stage when he wasn't needed in the orchestra pit, compiling the sketches in a series of albums.

American-born Godfrey Tearle was raised in England and made his first stage appearance as a child at Burnley in 1893 as the young Duke of York in Richard III. He began his acting career in earnest in 1899 with his father's company. He made his first London stage appearance in 1906 at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith, and went on to become one of the most respected character actors on the stage in Britain, and universally known from his parts in numerous films. The Amazing Dr Clitterhouse came to the Comedy Theatre in February 1938 after its out-of-London tour, and it was made into a film the same year with Edward G. Robinson as the psychiatrist Dr Clitterhouse and Humphrey Bogart as his accomplice in crime, 'Rocks' Valentine.
Collection
Accession number
S.131:60-2002

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Record createdDecember 10, 2003
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