Editing Peter Finch (section)

===Theatrical success===
When Finch arrived in Britain, success came relatively early. Harry Watt arranged for a screen test at Ealing Studios, which led to Finch being cast as a murderous actor in the movie ''[[Train of Events]]'' (1949) under the direction of [[Basil Dearden]].<ref>{{cite news |date=22 August 1954 |title=The Thames Is Non-Inflammable- But An Australian in London Leapt Up A Stairway To Stardom |page=23 |newspaper=[[The Sun-Herald]] |issue=291 |location=New South Wales, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28662305 |access-date=26 June 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=14 January 1949 |title=Big Role for Peter Finch |page=1 |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=29,241 |location=Victoria, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205354050 |access-date=26 June 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

While making the film, Olivier cast Finch as a Pole in a stage play at [[The Old Vic]], [[James Bridie]]'s ''[[Daphne Laureola]]'' (1949) supporting [[Edith Evans]]. This was a significant critical and commercial success and established Finch in London immediately. Olivier signed Finch to a five-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 April 1949 |title=Finch, In Films, Plays A Zestful Strangler |page=8 Supplement: Magazine |newspaper=[[The Sunday Herald (Sydney newspaper)|The Sunday Herald]] |location=Sydney |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18466196 |access-date=12 February 2012 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> When ''Train of Events'' was released, critic [[C. A. Lejeune]] praised Finch's work in the London ''[[The Observer|Observer]]'', commenting that he "adds good cheekbones to a quick intelligence and is likely to become a cult, I fear."<ref>{{cite news |author=Lejeune, C. A. |date=21 August 1949 |title=International Manners |page=6 |work=The Observer |location=London}}</ref> ''[[The Scotsman]]'' said Finch "should be regarded as one of the most hopeful recruits to the British screen."<ref>{{cite news |date=22 August 1949 |title=Train of Events": "Star from Platform 13 |page=6 |work=The Scotsman |location=Edinburgh, Scotland}}</ref>

Finch had a small role as an Australian [[prisoner of war]] in the World War two drama ''[[The Wooden Horse]]'' (1950), directed by Jack Lee; this film would be the third-most-popular film at the British box office in 1950.

Finch's performance as a Pole in ''Daphne Laureola'' led to his casting as a Polish soldier in ''[[The Miniver Story]]'' (1950), the British-filmed sequel to the wartime morale boosting film ''[[Mrs. Miniver]]''; unlike its predecessor, it was poorly received critically, but it did give Finch an experience of working for a movie financed by a major Hollywood studio.<ref>''Time'' magazine, 23 October 1950</ref><ref>''The Age'' (Melbourne), 26 February 1951</ref>

During this time, Finch continued to appear on stage in various productions while under contract to Olivier. He directed a stage production of ''The White Falcon'' in January 1950.<ref>{{cite news |date=31 January 1950 |title=Peter Finch as Producer |page=2 |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=29,567 |location=Victoria, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article187343144 |access-date=26 June 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In February 1950 he toured in a production of ''The Damascus Blade'' by [[Bridget Boland]] under the direction of Olivier, co starring with John Mills.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 February 1950 |title=Role For Peter Finch |page=3 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=34,999 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27582710 |access-date=26 June 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Finch returned to the London stage in ''[[Captain Carvallo]]'' by [[Denis Cannan]], once more directed by Olivier.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 July 1950 |title=Peter Finch Big Star |volume=LXIII |page=2 |newspaper=[[The Barrier Miner]] |issue=17,109 |location=New South Wales, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49581382 |access-date=26 June 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Finch's closeness to the Olivier family led to an affair with Olivier's wife, [[Vivien Leigh]], which began in 1948, and continued on and off for several years, ultimately ending because of Leigh's deteriorating mental condition.<ref name="Brooks2">{{cite news |author=Richard Brooks |date=7 August 2005 |title=Olivier Worn Out by Love and Lust of Vivien Leigh |work=[[The Sunday Times]] |location=London |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article552527.ece |access-date=27 July 2008}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In March 1951 Finch replaced [[Dirk Bogarde]] for six weeks in a production of ''[[Point of Departure (play)|Point of Departure]]'' by [[Jean Anouilh]].<ref>{{cite news |date=14 March 1951 |title=Roles for Peter Finch |volume=25 |page=4 |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |issue=7264 |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2824589 |access-date=26 June 2020 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Later that year he played Iago opposite [[Orson Welles]] in a production of ''[[Othello]]'', directed by Welles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Othello (1951 stage production) Wellesnet |url=http://www.wellesnet.com/othellostage.htm |website=www.wellesnet.com}}</ref>

Despite his stage experience, according to the Sunday Times Finch, like his mentor Olivier, had [[stage fright]],<ref name="Brooks2" /> and as the 1950s progressed he worked increasingly in film.