| The Toff | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | The Black Circle (1933) |
| Last appearance | The Toff and the Dead Man's Finger (1978) by William Vivian Butler |
| Created by | John Creasey |
| Portrayed by | John Bentley (film) Robert Burnard (radio) Terence Alexander (radio) Michael Johnson (theatre) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Richard Rollison |
| Alias | Bernard Brown |
| Nickname | The Toff Rolly Mr. Ar |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Aristocrat Amateur sleuth |
| Origin | Cambridge |
| Nationality | British |
In the series of adventure novels byJohn Creasey,the Toff is the nickname of the Honourable Richard Rollison, an upper-class crime sleuth.[1] Creasey published almost 60 Toff adventures, beginning withIntroducing the Toff in 1938 and continuing throughThe Toff and the Crooked Copper, published in 1977, four years after the author's death.
Rollison is in many ways similar toSimon Templar, although Creasey's other characterThe Baron bears an even closer resemblance. Unlike Templar and The Baron, Rollison has no earlier life of crime, although he frequently breaks or bends the law in pursuing his investigations.
Rollison's calling card includes a caricature of atoff—a line drawing with a top hat, monocle, bow-tie andcigarette with a holder. His flat includes a trophy wall, on which is a memento of every case Rollison helped to solve.
In these stories Rollison is moderately well-known, as his exploits are frequently reported in the newspapers. He is as at home in upper-crust society circles as he is in theEast End of London.
The Toff was introduced in the tuppenny weekly crime magazineThe Thriller in 1933,[2] while the first novel was published in 1938.
After Creasey's death, William Vivian Butler wroteThe Toff and the Dead Man's Finger (1978).[4]
In 1961, Creasey wrote a play titledThe Toff for the Salisbury Arts Theatre.[5]
The Toff is a wealthy bachelor living in aMayfair flat at 22 Gresham Terrace. Although the settings of the stories keep up with the times, Rollison himself maintains an age of roughly 40 throughout. He is described as over six feet tall, with dark hair. Rollison's friends refer to him as Rolly, and acquaintances from the East End refer to him as "Mr. Ar".
Jolly is Rollison's valet, as well as a partner is his investigations. He is described as dour and sad-looking, and is in every way the proper gentleman's gentleman.
Superintendent Bill Grice of Scotland Yard shows respect for Rollison's abilities and contributions, but nonetheless complains about his methods. Grice bears a scar on his face from a case in which Rollison was involved.
Shuttleworth owns the stables at the end of Shoreditch Lane. He also acts as Rollison's apprentice in many novels.
Bill Ebbut is the proprietor of the Blue Dog Gymnasium, in which he trains fighters, and The Sailor's Arms public house. Ebbut frequently provides trustworthy men to act as guards or trail suspects. InThe Toff and the Golden Boy, Ebbut is described as follows:
Lady Gloria Hurst is Rollison's aunt. Her home is the Marigold Club, where she takes in women requiring temporary assistance. She occasionally protects women involved in Rollison's adventures.
TwoMaclean Rogers films were made from Toff adventures in 1952:Salute the Toff andHammer the Toff. The Toff was played byJohn Bentley in both films.
At least six early novels, namelyIntroducing the Toff,The Toff Steps Out,Here Comes the Toff,Salute the Toff,The Toff Proceeds, andThe Toff Is Back, were adapted into a serial by Australia'sCrawford Productions in the late 1940s.Robert Burnard starred as the Toff. Hundreds of episodes are kept in Australia'sNational Film and Sound Archive.[6][7]
Two other novels,The Toff and the Runaway Bride andThe Toff on the Farm, were adapted intoBBC Radio dramas starringTerence Alexander, in 1975 and 1977 respectively.[citation needed]
The 1961 productionThe Toff by Salisbury Arts Theatre Limited, which debuted on 17 April 1961 atSalisbury Playhouse, starred Michael Johnson as the Toff.[5]
A coupleSuper Detective Library comic books published byAmalgamated Press were adapted from Toff novels:The Toff at Butlin's (#61) andThe Missing Millionaire (#110, based onA Six for the Toff).[8][9]