Roland Bartrop
His father worked for Scotland Yard's Special Branch, but young Rowland decided to pursue a career in acting. Born in Walthamstow on 21 December 1925, Rowland Thomas Bartrop joined the London Stage Academy in 1943 and was initially promoted for juvenile parts. During the war he toured with NAAFI and ENSA in French Without Tears playing support to Rex Harrison and Anna Neagle. He did a good deal of theatre work in both London and the provinces, and performed in Shakespeare on records, notably Coriolanus starring Richard Burton. In the 1950s Bartrop moved to television and it was on the series Sword of Freedom (1957) that he became a good friend of Edmund Purdom. The two actors decided to further their careers in Europe, mainly in costume movies. Bartrop's memorable roles were Horatio Nelson in The Battle of Austerlitz (1960) and friend-of-the-hero to Steve Reeves in The Son of Spartacus (1962). In Europe, Bartrop (who spoke several languages) shortened his first name to "Roland." However, when he played a German officer in two Italian films it was the idea of the producer, as a little joke, to bill him in the credits as "Roland von Bartrop." Bartrop's death went largely unreported, but his family believe that his early death at 43 was due to a suspected heart attack, surprisingly since he kept himself extremely fit for action roles. At the time of his death the actor was living in Switzerland. His widow, actress Colette Bartrop, had appeared with him in Faces in the Dark ...
Barabbas (1961)
Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was pardoned for his crimes and spared crucifixion when Pilate offered the Israelites a choice to pardon Barabbas or Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial ... (more)
Epic account of the thief Barabbas, who was pardoned for his crimes and spared crucifixion when Pilate offered the Israelites a choice to pardon Barabbas or Jesus. Struggling with his spirituality, Barabbas goes through many ordeals leading him to the gladiatorial ... (more)
Cast a Giant Shadow
(1966)
An American Army officer is recruited by the yet to exist Israel to help them form an army. He is disturbed by this sudden appeal to his Jewish heritage. Each of Israel's Arab neighbors has vowed to invade the poorly prepared country as soon as partition is granted ... (more)
An American Army officer is recruited by the yet to exist Israel to help them form an army. He is disturbed by this sudden appeal to his Jewish heritage. Each of Israel's Arab neighbors has vowed to invade the poorly prepared country as soon as partition is granted ... (more)
The Angry Silence (1960)
The Two Marshals (1961)
September 1943: in the general confusion a thief dressed as a priest and a sergeant exchange clothes and roles. (more)
September 1943: in the general confusion a thief dressed as a priest and a sergeant exchange clothes and roles. (more)
The Slave
(1962)
The decurion Randus holds himself so well in the command of his troops, that Caesar promotes him to centurion. He is subsequently sent to Egypt, to keep Cesar informed on the actions and intentions of co-triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus - a man too rich, and ... (more)
The decurion Randus holds himself so well in the command of his troops, that Caesar promotes him to centurion. He is subsequently sent to Egypt, to keep Cesar informed on the actions and intentions of co-triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus - a man too rich, and ... (more)
Two Colonels (1963)
Ill Met by Moonlight
(1957)
Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo to embarrass the occupiers. (more)
Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo to embarrass the occupiers. (more)
Middle Course (1961)
During World War II, the residents of a French village find an able helper in their task of making life difficult for German-occupying forces in a Canadian pilot they rescue after he crash-lands in the vicinity and ends up in the hands of the Nazis. As the ... (more)
During World War II, the residents of a French village find an able helper in their task of making life difficult for German-occupying forces in a Canadian pilot they rescue after he crash-lands in the vicinity and ends up in the hands of the Nazis. As the ... (more)
The Battle of Austerlitz (1960)
Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself emperor and fights the English, Austrians and Russians in 1802. (more)
Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself emperor and fights the English, Austrians and Russians in 1802. (more)
The Four Monks (1962)
Four petty criminals pretend to be friars escaped from communist Hungary and go and live in a Sicilian convent (more)
Four petty criminals pretend to be friars escaped from communist Hungary and go and live in a Sicilian convent (more)