R. J. Minney

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Rubeigh James Minney (29 August 1895 – 5 January 1979) was a British film producer, journalist, playwright, editor and author. He was author of over 40 books including novels and biographies. As a film-maker and film producer, he worked with British film companies such as Gainsborough Pictures, and was invited to Hollywood by Darryl F. Zanuck. He was also a journalist in India and London, and editor of several newspapers.

Early life and education

Rubeigh James was the son of JR Minney and was born in Calcutta, India on 29 August 1895.[1] Often known as "RJ", he was educated at St. Paul's School, Darjeeling, and studied history at King's College London,[2] but left in 1914 to join the Indian Army.

Career

He was on the editorial staff of The Pioneer in Allahabad and The Englishman in Calcutta, where he also represented

Newnes, and eventually stopped only because of the shortage of paper; and The Strand Magazine (1941–42), to which many famous writers contributed. He also wrote for the Daily Express. Minney was listed as editor of Men Only in 1955, published by Newnes
, and there was a tie-in book with many leading contributors called A Stag Party with Men Only, printed by Newnes in that same year.

Travel was one of his great interests: he went to Tibet on horseback across the Himalayas and flew across India in a plane that arrived in a packing case. He also visited Japan, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaya, East Africa, Morocco, Egypt, the Middle East, Russia, South America, Turkey and most of the countries in Europe.

Minney wrote a number of books. His first non-fiction book, Shiva, or The Future of India was published in 1929 and banned; and Earl Winterton, Under-Secretary of State for India said it was debarred entry because it was offensive to the people of India.[4] Minney's first big best seller was his 1931 biography Clive of India. He also wrote Carve Her Name with Pride (1956) about the brave secret agent Violette Szabo, who was posthumously awarded the George Cross, and which was later turned into a successful film starring Virginia McKenna. Another of his non-fiction works was I Shall Fear No Evil, a harrowing but inspiring account of Dr Alina Brewda, who survived Auschwitz concentration camp and The Holocaust, which was published in 1966.

Southend
in 1950.

From 1942, he became a leading figure in the

Rank Organisation on 23 January 1947, unhappy with the direction of the company.[7] He was Hon. President of the London School of Economics
Film Society (1948–49), a member of the Executive and General Council at the Association of Cine Technicians (1953–1956), Vice Chairman of ACT Films Ltd (1951–1968) and chairman of the same company from 1968.

Minney was also politically active, and was twice a candidate for the Labour Party at UK general elections. His first attempt was for the newly created Southend East in 1950, when he came a close second to the Conservative candidate. In 1955, he stood for Bexley, which was won by the Conservative incumbent, future party leader and Prime Minister Edward Heath with 28,610 votes (54.27%), whilst Minney, for Labour, won 24,111 votes (45.73%).[8]

In July 1956, Minney went to Peking to speak at the centenary celebrations for George Bernard Shaw. This was covered in his book Next Stop--Peking: Record of a 16,000 Mile Journey Through Russia, Siberia, and China. The Times reviewer (28 November 1957) wrote, "Mr Minney does not pretend to know. He was invited to China to take part in the Shaw centenary celebrations and stayed to do the regular tour and be impressed. This is another delegate's view among the many we have lately had from China – easily readable, superficial."

Personal life

Minney married Edith Anne Murielle Fox in 1918. In 1933, he was living at "Little Walcott", on Bishops Avenue in Hampstead Garden Suburb, London; they later they lived at Lawford House, Manningtree in Essex. They had two children, Primrose and Robin Paul. The first marriage was dissolved and he married Hetty (née Bolsom), becoming stepfather of Penelope Janet Chisholm. They lived in Hook House, Cousley Wood, Wadhurst, Sussex, and Bewl Water reservoir came close to the house when it was filled in 1975.

He was a member of the Savage Club.

Death

He died in

prayer of St Francis.[9]

Filmography

Bibliography

Novels

  • Maki (1921)
  • The Road to Delhi (1923)
  • Distant Drums (1935)
  • How Vainly Men (1940)
  • A Woman of France (1945)
  • Nothing to Lose (1946) (filmed as Time Gentlemen, Please!, 1952)
  • Bring Out the Drum (1950)
  • The Governor's Wife (1951)
  • Anne of the Sealed Knot (1972)

Biographies

Other non-fiction

  • Shiva, or the Future of India (1929)
  • India Marches Past (1933)
  • Hollywood by Starlight (1935)
  • Midst Himalayan Mists
  • Excursions in Ink
  • Across India by Air
  • The Journalist
  • Night Life of Calcutta
  • Talking of Films (1947)
  • A Stag Party with Men Only (1955)
  • Next Stop Peking (1957)
  • The Private Papers of Hore Belisha (1960)
  • No 10 Downing Street, a House in History (1963)
  • The Film Maker and His World (1964)
  • The Edwardian Age (1964)
  • The Two Pillars of Charing Cross (1967)
  • Recollections of George Bernard Shaw (1969)
  • The Tower of London (1970)
  • Hampton Court (1972)

Plays

  • Clive of India (1933)
  • Gentle Caesar (1942)
  • They Had His Number (1942)
  • The Red Horizon (1943)
  • The Voice of the People (1950)

References

  1. ^ Biography at author website
  2. ^ Flyleaf notes of "The Governor's Lady" 1951
  3. ^ Flyleaf notes of "The Governor's Lady" 1951
  4. ^ R. J. Minney (12 March 1979). "Parliament. House of Commons, Monday 11 March. "The Future of India"". The Times.
  5. ^ "Home". screenonline.org.uk.
  6. ^ Biography at author website
  7. ^ "PRODUCER QUITS RANK IN SPLIT OVER POLICY". New York Times. 24 January 1947. p. 18.
  8. ^ "Home". politicsresources.net.
  9. ^ "IN MEMORIAM – R J Minney". Daily Telegraph. 6 April 1979.

External links

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