Sonnie Hale


John Robert Hale-Monro, known as Sonnie Hale, was an English actor, screenwriter, and director.

Early life

John Robert Hale-Monro was born in Kensington, London, the son of Belle Reynolds and actor Robert Hale. His sister, Binnie Hale, was also an actress. Hale was educated at Beaumont College.

Career

He worked chiefly in musical and revue theatre, but also acted in several films with occasional screenwriting or directing credits. He first performed on stage at the London Pavilion in 1921 in the chorus of the revue Fun of the Fayre. A major personal investment in a show to tour the country planned for late 1939 proved financially ruinous due to the outbreak of war and the subsequent closure of most theatres. His slight acquaintance Evelyn Waugh advised him against such an investment. His reply was reported to be the sardonic "War is good for business, don't you know!"
Hale's play The French Mistress premiered at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Cardiff in May 1955. It later enjoyed a long West End run, before being adapted into the film A French Mistress.

Personal life and death

He was married three times, to:
He left his first marriage to Evelyn Laye for actress Jessie Matthews, an action which led to a backlash among the British public and caused a scandal.
By his second marriage he had one son and one adopted daughter Catherine, Countess Grixoni ; by his third marriage he had one son, John Robert Hale-Monro and a daughter. He also had a daughter Joanna Monro from a subsequent relationship with the actress Frances Bennett.
He died on 9 June 1959 in London from myelofibrosis, aged 57.

Selected theatre performances

Little Nellie Kelly - 1923 Mercenary Mary - 1925 One Dam Thing After Another - 1927This Year of Grace - 1928Wake Up and Dream - 1929Ever Green - 1930 Hold My Hand - 1931 Come Out to Play - 1940Maid of the Mountains - 1942 One, Two, Three - 1947The Perfect Woman - 1948 Rainbow Square - 1951 Lady Be Good - 1955The French Mistress - 1959

Filmography

Actor

Happy Ever After Tell Me Tonight Early to Bed Friday the Thirteenth Evergreen Wild Boy Are You a Mason? My Song for You Mon coeur t'appelle My Heart is Calling Marry the Girl First a Girl It's Love Again The Gaunt Stranger Let's Be Famous Fiddlers Three

Director

Head Over Heels Gangway