Cinema fans are set to be taken back to the golden era of cinema at Walsall Museum's latest 'Your Corner' display, exploring the story behind the controversial 1950s film The Prince and the Showgirl.
The exhibition, which opened yesterday (Wednesday), has been put together by local man Ian Payne who has an extensive collection of material relating to cinema history and, in particular, to the career of local actor Richard Wattis, who grew up in Walsall and featured in the film and the stage play on which it was based, The Sleeping Prince.
The film also starred Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe, but was dogged by problems from the start, with tensions between the two stars.
But the display at Walsall Museum could not come at a better time as it opens amid a revival of interest in The Prince and the Showgirl due to the production of a film about the making of the original movie, which stars Kenneth Brannagh as Olivier and Richard Clifford as Richard Wattis.
This month also sees the centenary of the birth of the playwright Terrence Rattigan who wrote The Sleeping Prince.
The display can be seen in The Changing Face of Walsall gallery until Saturday, July 9.
In addition, Forest Arts Centre, in Hawbush Road, Leamore, will be holding a screening of The Prince and the Showgirl, with a short presentation beforehand about Richard Wattis from Ian Payne, on Friday, July 8, at 2pm.
Tickets are priced £2 or £1 and are obtainable from Forest Arts Centre.
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