Donald Pleasence: This Great Escape Actor Was A Real POW
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2 ماه پیش
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Donald Pleasence, who starred in
Donald Pleasence, who starred in "The Great Escape" was actually a WW2 Prisoner of War (POW).
He later found fame as Bond villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and as Dr. Loomis in the cult horror film "Halloween".
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Related videos:
The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III
The Great Escape - The True Story
Peter Butterworth ("Carry On" star involved in the real Great Escape)
Peter Butterworth: "Carry On" Star's ...
Dick Turpin, the real story
Who Was The Real Dick Turpin?
So what did Donal Pleasence actually do in World War 2, how did he become a prisoner and where was he imprisoned?
Well, this is his story and thank you to everyone who wrote in to me requesting it after my recent episode about another actor POW, Peter Butterworth (of “Carry On” fame).
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https://www.thehistorychap.com
Donald Pleasence served in the RAF from 1940, particpating in 60 bombing missions.
Eventually his Lancaster bomber was shot down whilst on a raid to bomb a V1 rocket site in northern France.
Captured, Donald Pleasence was to spend the rest of the war as a German Prisoner in a POW camp, Stalag Luft I / Stalag Luft 1.
Situated on the Baltic coast of Germany, Stalag Luft I housed over 9,000 prisoners of war (POW).
Whilst Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force men made up about 20% of the camp population, over 7500 men were US airmen.
Included in their number were John C. Morgan (the only US airman to receive the Medal of Honor and also be a POW), flying ace Vermont Garrison, and Colonel Hubert Zemke.
After the war, Donald Pleasence resumed his acting career and was to appear in 140 films over the next 50 years.
Arguably, one of the greatest villains that James Bond (007) was to go up against, Pleasence played Ernst Stavro Blofeld in "You Only Live Twice".
Later on he also appeared as Dr. Samuel Loomis in the cult "Halloween" film franchise.
In 1963, he reprised his experience as a wartime POW when he starred in "The Great Escape".
Speaking of wartime movies, he also appeared in "The Eagle Has Landed".
Donald Pleasence died in France in 1995.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:00 Early Life
1:55 Wartime Service in RAF
2:47 Shot Down
4:02 Stalag Luft 1
4:49 American POW's
7:05 Life as a POW
8:33 Liberation
9:55 Home Coming
10:28 Resumes Acting Career
11:21 Film Career
12:17 The Great Escape
13:27 Death
Follow me at:
www.thehistorychap.com
Instagram:https://bit.ly/3iySrAj
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
He later found fame as Bond villain, Ernst Stavro Blofeld, and as Dr. Loomis in the cult horror film "Halloween".
Support My Channel as a Patron:
https://www.thehistorychap.com/Suppor...
Related videos:
The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III
The Great Escape - The True Story
Peter Butterworth ("Carry On" star involved in the real Great Escape)
Peter Butterworth: "Carry On" Star's ...
Dick Turpin, the real story
Who Was The Real Dick Turpin?
So what did Donal Pleasence actually do in World War 2, how did he become a prisoner and where was he imprisoned?
Well, this is his story and thank you to everyone who wrote in to me requesting it after my recent episode about another actor POW, Peter Butterworth (of “Carry On” fame).
Get My FREE Weekly Newsletter
https://www.thehistorychap.com
Donald Pleasence served in the RAF from 1940, particpating in 60 bombing missions.
Eventually his Lancaster bomber was shot down whilst on a raid to bomb a V1 rocket site in northern France.
Captured, Donald Pleasence was to spend the rest of the war as a German Prisoner in a POW camp, Stalag Luft I / Stalag Luft 1.
Situated on the Baltic coast of Germany, Stalag Luft I housed over 9,000 prisoners of war (POW).
Whilst Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force men made up about 20% of the camp population, over 7500 men were US airmen.
Included in their number were John C. Morgan (the only US airman to receive the Medal of Honor and also be a POW), flying ace Vermont Garrison, and Colonel Hubert Zemke.
After the war, Donald Pleasence resumed his acting career and was to appear in 140 films over the next 50 years.
Arguably, one of the greatest villains that James Bond (007) was to go up against, Pleasence played Ernst Stavro Blofeld in "You Only Live Twice".
Later on he also appeared as Dr. Samuel Loomis in the cult "Halloween" film franchise.
In 1963, he reprised his experience as a wartime POW when he starred in "The Great Escape".
Speaking of wartime movies, he also appeared in "The Eagle Has Landed".
Donald Pleasence died in France in 1995.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:00 Early Life
1:55 Wartime Service in RAF
2:47 Shot Down
4:02 Stalag Luft 1
4:49 American POW's
7:05 Life as a POW
8:33 Liberation
9:55 Home Coming
10:28 Resumes Acting Career
11:21 Film Career
12:17 The Great Escape
13:27 Death
Follow me at:
www.thehistorychap.com
Instagram:https://bit.ly/3iySrAj
Facebook:https://bit.ly/37IUfkH
thehistorychap
My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
History should not be stuffy or a long list of dates or kings & queens.
So rather than lectures or Youtube animations, I tell stories that bring the past to life.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: "Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!"
Just for the record, I do have a history degree in Medieval & Modern history from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
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