Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh

by Unknown photographer
bromide print, 28 May 1937
9 1/2 in. x 7 1/2 in. (241 mm x 189 mm) image size
Acquired from Daily Herald, 1980
Photographs Collection
NPG x36099

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In 1937, whilst filming 21 Days Together (1940), Korda gave Leigh and Olivier permission to travel to Denmark for an Old Vic production of Hamlet at Kronborg Castle in Elsinore. They are pictured departing Liverpool Street station to perform in the play directed by Tyrone Guthrie, in celebration of the silver jubilee of King Christian X of Denmark.

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Current affairs

George VI becomes king. The younger brother of Edward VIII was crowned on the 12th May and the coronation was broadcast to Britain and the Empire on the radio. Edward becomes the Duke of Windsor, although the rank of 'Royal Highness' is not extended to Wallis Simpson.
Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister following Baldwin's retirement.

Art and science

Roland Penrose organises a tour of Picasso's painting Guernica to the UK. The painting, which shows the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, went on display at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in East London

International

Commercial airship travel is brought to an end with the 'Hindenberg Disaster'. The German airship exploded while landing in New Jersey. The radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison's reaction has become legendary: 'Oh, the humanity!'
Japan invades China, killing about 25,000. Japanese Troops committed numerous atrocities against soldiers and civilians in what became known as the 'Rape of Nanking'.

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