Lionel Atwill was a top Hollywood Thirties and Forties supporting actor - and just as busy this side of the Atlantic.

British born, he was another who joined the exodus to "tinsel town".

Playing mostly crooked types, he was an excellent Moriarty to Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes.

In 1936, Lionel decided to come home for a holiday and cover some of the expense by making a film here.

It was to be The General Goes Too Far from the book of the same name, the first full-length effort by Gordon Wellesly.

"It's a risk doing it here," said Lionel. "They haven't got the same financial backing that Hollywood has." It all turned out well though.

Lionel was involved in a small scandal for showing blue movies at his home. He died of pneumonia in 1946.

-Gordon Dean, St Lukes Road, Brighton