The most intense intrigue surrounded actor Leslie Howard who was at the peak of his career and had world fame after The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) and Gone with the Wind (1939).
 Aside from screen accolades, he was prized by the British government for his anti-Nazi propaganda and films produced in support of the war effort, such as Pimpernel Smith (1941).
 He had been in Spain and Portugal on a lecture tour promoting The Lamp Still Burns, and the British Council invited him on the tour.
He had some qualms, but British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden encouraged him to go.
The most intense intrigue surrounded actor Leslie Howard who was at the peak of his career and had world fame after The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934) and Gone with the Wind (1939).  Aside from screen accolades, he was prized by the British government for his anti-Nazi propaganda and films produced in support of the war effort, such as Pimpernel Smith (1941).  He had been in Spain and Portugal on a lecture tour promoting The Lamp Still Burns, and the British Council invited him on the tour. He had some qualms, but British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden encouraged him to go.
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