DAVID Niven had always been one of my old time favourite actors. He had that special air about him that commanded respect and admiration.
I confess I have not seen all his movies, nor have I seen three-quarters of the movies he had acted in but I did come across a book he wrote in 1975 Bring On The Empty Horses.
It is one of the most hilarious novels ever written by an actor on the Hollywood life. After reading this book, I developed a healthy admiration for the Englishman who left the cliffs of Dover for the bright lights of Los Angeles.
Niven talked about the people he knew while climbing up the slippery ladder of success in tinseltown. Some of those whom he knew intimately were Errol Flynn, Clark Gable and several other big name actresses.
From his writing, one can tell that the beloved actor was a man of honour who was simply surprised by his own acting success. His candour in describing situations were often hilarious and sometimes downright unspeakably funny.
David Niven was a man who belonged to the old school of ethics, honour and old fashioned humility. One part of the book which I like very much was when he talked about someone in Hollywood who simply became an obnoxious fool after meeting success and turned his back on his own agent who helped contribute in no small way to that person's success.
It was only at the end of the book, Niven mentioned without hesitation that the person in question was himself. In one fell swoop, he had apologised in public and in the most humble way possible to an old friend whom he owed a big debt.
I am sure when his old agent was told about the part Niven mentioned in his book about his haughty ways, all was forgiven.
Very much in character, Niven sought forgiveness in a most gentlemanly way. Bring On The Empty Horses is an enormously good read. It was great fun. I was certainly surprised that Niven could write so well.
I guess when a person writes straight from the heart, he is seldom wrong and is often quite profound in elucidating some of his most memorable moments. Good novels like this one by Niven are not as common as grass but we are lucky that sometimes, actors like David Niven had found it fit to express in words what he could not express in real life to so many.
Hence, he put them all down in words so that long after he had passed our way, this thoughts remained to remind his loved ones and friends alike that he did the best he could, and hoped they will forgive him for any unintended transgressions.
I love this book. It jelled with the impression of that likeable English actor for whom I had the profoundest respect for a very long time. Niven is one of a kind. May he long live in the memories of those who admired and liked him.
