I’m 56. David Niven inspired me to say to my mum, (when in my teens) that I wanted to become a “gentleman” as my age developed. A massive style icon and for me, the ultimate!
It was a wonderful surprise to see that there are still people who value attitudes and good principles. My grandfather had just been released from a hospital where he has spent weeks recovering from surgery. Frail as he was, his very first appointment upon returning home was to have a great shave and a decent hair cut at his favorite barber shop. Really a great inspiring video. Congratulations!
Excellent tribute to David Niven. I was working in the south of France a few years ago and went on a pilgrimage of sorts to see his house in Cap Ferrat. I also made a point of walking the coastal path around the peninsula which he was also known to do. At 46 I still consider David Niven the gold standard for style and good manners. I enjoy your channel immensely. Thank you.
David Niven has been one of my favorite actors since I was a kid. And in my 20s I became convinced that he, Cary Grant, and Fred Astaire were best-dressed men in Hollywood. Later I saw him in action movies like "The Guns of Navarone," but as I got older my favorite Niven roles were in "The Bishop's Wife" and "Bachelor Mother." His comedic timing is impeccable. And no one else I know of can move his hairline to react to another's line. Watch him versus Grant in "The Bishop's Wife" to see this talent in many instances. "The Moon's a Balloon" and "Bring on the Empty Horses" are maybe the best Hollywood memoirs out there, and certainly the funniest. It's amazing that he survived his years as Erroll Flynn's roommate, but I'm glad he did.
Enjoyable video. David Niven reminds me of Clark Gable. They were good friends from the 1930s, often described as gentleman, style icons, faced bereavement of a spouse and both gave up Hollywood careers to enter WW2. MGM tried to block Gable from active duty and Hitler offered a reward for him unscathed.
Thank you for such a beautiful tribute to David Niven. I was born in 1959, in Argentina, and my childhood memories are full of great classical British and American films from 1930 to 1960. I used to spend the weekends watching them and David Niven became a hero and a role model; obviously I had an instinctive love for fine clothes and smartness; however, it was the kind of characters that he portrayed that make me admired him; he was the archetypical British gentleman. When I see David Niven, I see my dad. I was blessed with a father who was his counterpart in real life, my dad embodied all those virtues that some fools think they are the monopoly of a certain social class or country. Thank you for those lovely memories.
As another gent in his early fifties I concur entirely with your assessment. Niven came across as the quintessential English gentleman . Great tribute well done.
2 of the best raconteurs Niven and possibly the even more consummate chat show guest, Ustinov. Thanks for the little programme, my ploy is to always dress one degree smarter than the occasion demands, you certainly gather gratifying comments that way. And like a few of us in our 50s, I started dressing smartly as a 'casual' football supporter in the 1980s, same with anyone else on here?
I really enjoy watching your channel mate, cheers! Always liked David Niven a classy bloke. What a cast: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Roger Moore, Anthony Quinn.
A perfect example of Niven’s poise and bearing occurred during the Academy Awards in the early seventies. He was standing at the podium introducing an upcoming award when behind him a man ran across the stage streaking stark naked. The audience started to laugh and as Niven turned, without batting an eyelash said something to the effect of, “ Well there’s a man who doesn’t mind displaying his shortcomings”. And then he continued with his presentation. Epically brilliant!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on David Niven as a true icon of style. You have made a great video, Ash, and also, I must say, you decided for a very appropriate suit (once again).
I always liked David Niven in pictures. One of my favorite pictures of his is Around the World in 80 Days. It just sets well with me and I enjoy it a great deal. I already have the charcoal suit and white shirt and just ordered the silver tie with pocket square. If it's good enough for David Niven then it's for me. My style icon? I admire Fred Astaire's taste in dress. Always sharp from head to foot. At least in the movies.
A wonderfully constructed and presented mini documentary Ash. You should be on TV instead of the many amateurs that we see today. More of the same please.
I'm 71 in 2024 I'm American and David Niven was always a favorite of mine. In he fact he was star of my favorite film of all time the original Pink Panther. In the film you get see his stylishness. His dress in the film is a clinic on how men ought to dress for all occasions from formal to casual. He covers all the bases in that film. If you haven't seen it you ought give it a watch. He, Carey Grant, Sean Connery, and Frank Sinatra ,are top influencers for me when it comes to mens style.
It is a truly great film and Niven was the best. Not only a clothes-horse like Grant, but a bona fide war hero, who never ran his mouth off about his experiences. Few men have ever come close to Niven in my opinion.
Hello Mr. Chap’s Guide. I have enjoyed quite a few of your videos and I believe this one is your best. I didn’t know much about David Niven even though I am 62. You did a wonderful job with your 10 Tips. Mr. Niven is very inspiring. Thank you.
Hi Ash. I'm subscribed to several 'men's style' channels and have just subscribed to yours after finding it by accident. I'm working my way through your videos. It's nice to have a British viewpoint. Having just bought both volumes of David Niven's biography ('The Moon's A Balloon' and 'Bring On the Empty Horses'), I was interested to see your take on Niven. Good luck with the channel and growing your following. I'm sure it takes time, but you'll get there.
As you can guess, I'm quite a fan of Niven, who has sadly been almost totally forgotten in the modern era. A hero and a gentleman indeed. I enjoyed both his books, although his 'Dancing Horses' book has been somewhat maligned, as apparently he made up several of the stories, or borrowed the content from friends rather than his own experiences. Good read anyhow. All the best - Ash
@@TheChapsGuide I believe, Sir, that the follow-up to 'The Moon's a Balloon' is 'Bring on the Empty Horses'. Truth or half truth, it's still very much worth seeking out. But the general thrust of your argument holds true: David Niven was a true gentleman in the very best sense of those words. I knew someone years ago now who knew him and said, 'You could sit him beside your least favourite aunt and both would have a wonderful time'. And what's not to be forgotten is that he was a wonderful actor, too. This is my first visit to your channel. It certainly won't be my last. Thank you.
I have an exact replica of David Nivens POW suit in the picture from 1939 that you showed chap .. There is still one or two available at Chester Cordite online.. Stuarts suits are absolutely beautifully made in England for around £750 .. He also has action back, which are the epitome of elegance .
Ashe your speaking style is like a '' Fireside chate ''.= even if I am not spell bound by an episode I tend to keep listening just because of your speaking style.
Remember John Gilbert, who discovered Greta Garbo? He was my favorite stylish gentleman. Garbo is my favorite beautiful woman of all time. Thank you for your video discussions.
Having attended RMAS and read The Moons A Balloon while working in an open pit mine I do remember someone telling me that David was an Honourary Colonel of the 4th Kerala Rifles ( Trivandrums Own).
Good morning Ash..men during the golden era of Hollywood dressed beautifully..Bravo!!!!! I will name a few 1..humphrey bogrt 2..cary grant 3..gary cooper 4..gregory peck 5..fred astair 6..clark gable 7..the list is endless
What a lovely and inspirational gentleman. Stylish and kind. I try to achieve the formal but mostly I try to achieve the later. "Here lies a kind man" is the epitaph to which I aspire. I like the way he didn't take him self too seriously and had a tremendous sense of fun. He reminds me of Roger Moore - perhaps an idea for a follow on feature?
But Carey Grant never gave an interview so we really didn't get any impression of what he was like as a man. He famously said, 'Everyone wants to be Carey Grant. Even I want to be Carey Grant!'
Good video but a few facts were wrong...his grandfather killed in Zululand was a captain not a general (his grandfather’s brother was a Lt Col in the same 24th Regt)...Casino Royale came out in ‘67 not ‘57.
@@TheChapsGuide no problem...I should also point out that he did reveal quite a bit about his wartime service in his books - he left the HLI for America in the late 20s/early 30s; he struggled to find a posting on his return from America but ended up in the Commandos and then in Phantom (which was involved in Operation Fortitude - the deception tactics employed to deceive the Germans in the run up to D-Day). This was how he met Fleming (and he was actually one of the templates for Bond as a result of his wartime work)...this also involved some involvement with ME Clifton James who became Monty’s double and who’s story was told in “I Was Monty’s Double”.
This guy has missed a good Dick Cavett interview with David Niven! Either RU-vid took out the words or TV bleeped the words as he was quoting. One time, David Niven was story telling again & bleeped himself at his own insistence. He was definitely a gentleman. He really did love a remarkable life & his style is timeless! He’s surely missed. Thank you for the stories! This was a delight & very informative.
+ A merge of Niven & McQueen would be something, wouldn't it - two versions of near ultimate cool. | + The close-ups of Niven & Hunter near the end of "A Matter of Life & Death" (1946, or thereabouts) is terrifically classic, & lovely.
Tip 8 on weight is what I will focus on. I have clothes I love but no longer fit into. Goal is to lose 25 pounds and be able to get into my suits again
I forgot to mention three fantastic performances by David Niven: (1) His role as Major Pollock in "Separate Tables" (1958) for which he won an Oscar (2) His role as the British ambassador in "55 Days at Pekin" (1963) (3) His role as the vilified war-hero in "Carrington VC" (1954)
If only these introductions were to have read the moons a balloon, they would have got ALL the facts correct, it’s not rocket science old chap, as mr Niven would have said, oh by the way, read the biography “the moons a balloon”, the best biography ever written by England’s finest gentleman
What a chap Niven was. He featured in this brilliant BBC Documentary "Castle Commandos" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-WrGo1bxestU.html
Ian Carmichael wouldn’t be a bad chap to take a style cue from. A man cut from a similar cloth (Pun intended) as Mr Niven, and who’s type are sadly missing from today’s society. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode too, as such chaps must not be lost to time.
You failed to mentioned something that speaks volumes about David Niven's character and that after years of hard work building a career in Hollywood, he gave it all up when WW2 began and went back to Britain to fight. No British actor in Hollywood at the time did what he did.
Another Brit, whose name is I think Leslie Howard, couldn't wait until he finished his role as Ashley Wilkes in Gone With the Wind so he could return to England to serve as a pilot to fight in the war. I believe he was killed when flying for the RAF. Please correct me if I am wrong.
@@hanseekhoff1093 You can't be serious. You've got to thoroughly understand the rules, in order to break them and get away with it. David Niven knew instinctively what he was doing when he wore e.g, _a sherbet tie with a sherbet shirt, lavender on lavender_ etc. Most men couldn't get away with that, because they have a _color by numbers_ sense of style; but DN had and inate sense of style. He definitely pulled it off.
I wouldn’t call Niven patriotic when he went back to England to fight in WWII. The nazis during the blitz were an existential threat to his friends and family back home. This is not patriotism. This is a duty to those you love. And so I say, what makes a gentleman is not a wishy washy sense of patriotism, but duty.
If I think of "gentleman" actors there are always two British actors of the second tier come to mind: WILFRED HYDE-WHITE: www.imdb.com/name/nm0405035/mediaviewer/rm4215451648/ and JOHN WILLIAMS: www.imdb.com/name/nm0002369/mediaviewer/rm2768839936/?context=default The tale about the porters' wreath says a lot about David Niven.