Whether “The Wicked Lady” is to be or not to be Mr James Mason’s last film, either British or American, is a matter for conjecture.

Mr Mason, who lives at Sarratt, has had a rapid rise to stardom in British films. By his portrayals of embittered and villainous characters he has ousted the heroes from the hearts of picture-goers. Now he is reported to be tired of film-making and the way films are made.

It would indeed be a pity if Mr Mason were to forsake the industry which made him famous. Film fans all over the country will await his ultimate decision with interest, particularly those in West Herts in view of his local connections.

[From the Watford Observer of January 25, 1946]

NOSTALGIA NOTE: The Watford Observer needn’t have worried. Mason went on to make dozens more memorable movies including The Desert Fox (1951), A Star Is Born (1954), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), North by Northwest (1959), Journey to the Centre of the Earth (1959), Lolita (1962), Georgy Girl (1966), The Boys from Brazil (1978) and The Verdict (1982). He was nominated for three Academy Awards and three Golden Globes (winning the Golden Globe in 1955 for A Star is Born). He died in July 1984, aged 75.

For more stories from the Watford Observer's archive, go to our Nostalgia section by clicking HERE