Back in the early fifties following the success of ‘The Hasty Heart’ Richard Todd signed a 6 film contract with 20th Century Fox – on a one-a-year film basis. This meant him travelling to Hollywood each year where the films were mainly made

Probably the pinnacle of these came with ‘A Man called Peter’ in which he starred with Jean Peters

‘A Man Called Peter’ must rate as Richard Todd’s best screen acting performance – he was superb in this as Peter Marshall the Scottish Preacher

ABOVE – Richard with his first wife Catherine ( Kitty) both looking very young and happy too.

I think that the picture above was taken on his first Hollywood visit with his wife to film ‘Lightning Strikes Twice’ – with Ruth Roman.

Just read that this film was re-screened at the 70th Berlin Film Festival earlier this year – February before the ‘virus’ struck. It was shown as a retrospective tribute to Film Director King Vidor

The one BELOW – ‘A Man Called Peter’ was filmed a few years later – filming in September to November 1954

Richard told the story that when filming the scene below where Peter Marshall gave one if his stirring sermons from the pulpit, watching quietly in the studio was Marilyn Monroe who was moved to tears by his delivery and by the words he spoke.

Richard Todd would not, ever again, get a part as good as this – I am surprised that it is not a better known film. He certainly rose to the occasion when taking on this demanding role.

I think that Richard Todd would be much better thought of, and remembered if this film had become the classic that it deserved to be.

The film did very well at the Box Office grossing 4.5 million dollars in the USA – not sure that it did so well here for some reason.

Richard Todd ABOVE and BELOW filming ‘Lightning Strikes Twice’ with Ruth Roman – here they are on location in the Mojave Desert.

Director King Vidor looks on

Richard Todd – ABOVE – and Below with Jean Peters

A Man Called Peter – released April 1955 – In Cinemascope

BELOW – Richard Todd in Hollywood at some kind of event – maybe the Oscar Ceremony – seated in the foreground is Clifton Webb