The first time I saw David Niven was in " Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)" with Cantinflas.

I watched the movie after reading the novel "Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours (1873)" by Jules Verne.

And it was Cantinflas ("El Charles Chaplin de México"), who I already knew from his comedies.

Niven impressed me then as an actor, who would always be that suave English gentleman, in whatever role he played: a thief, a spy, an officer, and of course, an aristocrat.

I'm trying to recall, now, whether I came to know him, first, from his '50s, '60s, and '70s films, or from his '30s and '40s movies.

Niven's career was going decidedly strong during the '60s and '70s, with a lot of high-profile gentlemanly roles. I suspect it probably was those that I became particularly introduced to him via - in addition, of course, to Around the World In Eighty Days (which I remember watching as a kid and loving) that you mentioned. Ditto the Pink Panther movies and a James Bond film.

During the '70s and early '80s he got lots of roles as droll and dashing mature sophisticates, such as he - better than anyone - specialized in.

I don't think I've ever not enjoyed or liked David Niven in a film or t.v. appearance I've seen. He's one of those "reliable" actors/personalities who you just couldn't go wrong with.

A fun classic Niven moment, captured, for posterity, on live t.v., is when he was on stage, to give a presentation, at the 1974 Oscars, and a streaker unexpectedly ran by!

Here's that moment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWBc-ir6IFM

I've created a dedicated thread https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/27023-the-academy-awards/discuss/5d62a249bc8abc639c250d81 about that on TMDb's The Academy Awards board.

David Niven is one of my favorites too! I was introduced to him in The Dawn Patrol (1938) and later in another favorite of mine, The Prisoner of Zenda, which you've already mentioned. He looked very young (and mustache-less!) in Wuthering Heights (1939), where everyone hated his character because he was simply being a gentleman. Any other good movies with him you recommend?

By the way, have you ever seen Separate Tables (1958)? I put it on my watch list and was wondering if it was any good.

I've definitely seen Separate Tables, and remember it being good, though it's one of the many films I've seen throughout the years (in its case I think roughly 5-7 years ago) that I no longer am able to recall much about, therefore mentally don't "count". Often, with TCM (I downgraded my Comcast cable subscription earlier this year, so haven't gotten that wonderful channel since beginning of April), I'd watch 3-5 old movies in a single day (particularly if during a Star of the Day day featuring someone I especially like, or on Silent film or Pre-Code feature days), then by the end of them all realized I'd wound up in Classic Films mental overload and I wasn't actually able to remember much about what all I'd just seen!

Regarding The Dawn Patrol, it's another film I've definitely seen, and recall it being excellent, but, for some reason, I can never really remember anything about (despite that I've for sure seen it at least once [and probably at least twice] during the present decade). I always a bit more readily recall the 1930 version this (starring Richard Barthelmess, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., etc.) - probably mainly because early '30s is an era I long have especially honed in on.

Do check out Dodsworth this and The Charge of the Light Brigade this, if you're able. Those both are really good, and well worth watching.

Cool, thank you! I will definitely check out the two you recommend, as I'm always up for another good David Niven movie!

I've heard of the 1930 version of The Dawn Patrol but haven't seen it as of yet. I may look into it though...

If you enjoy Christmastime-set movies, you'll want to check out The Bishop's Wife this, which co-stars Cary Grant and Loretta Young. It's not David Niven's greatest performance or film, though is, nonetheless, a charmer and definitely enjoyable. I just recently added the DVD of that film to my collection.

Oh yes! I've seen that one earlier this year. You're right; it is immensely enjoyable. I've been an appreciator of Cary Grant for a short while now as well. It started with Arsenic and Old Lace.

@barrymost said:

Oh yes! I've seen that one earlier this year. You're right; it is immensely enjoyable. I've been an appreciator of Cary Grant for a short while now as well. It started with Arsenic and Old Lace.

"Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)" is one of my favourites. Such sweet, caring aunts.

@wonder2wonder I know, right? It's just amazingly, wonderfully loopy! One of my favorite bits is when either Cary Grant or his brother blow the bugle and run upstairs shouting "Chaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggge!!!" at the top of their voice.