Question: What popular West End performer starred in Stage Fright?
Context: Stage Fright is a 1950 British thriller film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock that stars Jane Wyman, Marlene Dietrich, Michael Wilding and Richard Todd.  Others in the cast include Alastair Sim, Sybil Thorndike, Kay Walsh, Hitchcock's daughter Pat Hitchcock in her movie debut, and Joyce Grenfell in a humorous vignette. "Stage Fright" is the title track of the Band's third album, "Stage Fright".  It features Rick Danko on lead vocals and was written by Robbie Robertson.  According to author Barney Hoskyns, Robertson originally intended it to be sung by Richard Manuel but it became clear that the song was better suited to Danko's "nervous, tremulous voice." Stage fright or performance anxiety is the anxiety, fear, or persistent phobia which may be aroused in an individual by the requirement to perform in front of an audience, whether actually or potentially (for example, when performing before a camera).  In the context of public speaking, this may precede or accompany participation in any activity involving public self-presentation.  In some cases stage fright may be a part of a larger pattern of social phobia (social anxiety disorder), but many people experience stage fright without any wider problems.  Quite often, stage fright arises in a mere anticipation of a performance, often a long time ahead.  It has numerous manifestations: stuttering, tachycardia, tremor in the hands and legs, sweaty hands, facial nerve tics, dry mouth, and dizziness. "La Sciantosa" is an Italian TV movie produced by RAI television.  (Even though, it was filmed in color, back in 1970, RAI's shows were still being shown in black and white, since they didn't convert to color TV until 1977.)  Anna Magnani played a faded "sciantosa" (i.e., variety show diva), Flora, whose career has declined.  When she receives an invitation to sing at an army base, she thinks she's singing to the front line soldiers, so she accepts the invitation.  She and her assistant, Cristina, played by Rosita Pisano, are met at the train station by Tonino, a young soldier, played by Massimo Ranieri.  He then drives the ladies to the army base, and then introduces them to his misfit band of musicians, including a very annoying horn player, who almost causes Flora not to want to sing for the soldiers, and a guitar player, who ruins a march song by blowing a kazoo at the end.  Flora's set to take the stage, draped in an Italian flag and wearing a crown.  But when the curtain opens, and she sees the severity of some of the soldiers' injuries, she gets instant stage fright.  After 2 unsuccessful tries to get her to do the march song, Tonino tells the band to play "'O surdato 'nnammurato", which Anna Magnani beautifully sings the song herself.  At that point, she has an epiphany and breaks down.  After the performance, the base is under attack, and Tonino helps Flora out of the building.  Unfortunately, Flora and Cristina get separated, and towards the end of the movie, Flora realizes how much she mistreated Cristina, and decides to sacrifice herself by shielding Tonino from an enemy plane firing at his car. George Whitfield Cook III (April 9, 1909 – November 12, 2003) was an American writer of screenplays, stage plays, short stories and novels, best known for his contributions to two Alfred Hitchcock films, "Stage Fright" and "Strangers on a Train".  He also wrote scripts for several TV series, including "Suspense", "Climax! " and "Playhouse 90". Stage Fright is a stop-motion animated film produced, directed, and co-written by Steve Box.  Tess Daulton is also an uncredited co-writer.  The story follows Tiny, a music hall (vaudeville) performer, Arnold Hugh, a silent film actor, and Tiny's co-worker Daphne, as they attempt to adjust to the coming age of film.  Tiny and Arnold are voiced by Graham Fellows, and Daphne is voiced by Tess Daulton.  The movie is eleven minutes in length, and won a BAFTA Award for Best Short Animated Film in 1998. Alastair George Bell Sim, CBE (9 October 1900 – 19 August 1976) was a Scottish character actor who began his theatrical career at the age of thirty, but quickly became established as a popular West End performer, remaining so until his death in 1976.  He also appeared in more than fifty British films, starting in 1935. "Sleeping" is a song by The Band, first released on their 1970 album "Stage Fright".  It was also released as the B-side to the "Stage Fright" single.  It was co-written by Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel.  This and “Just Another Whistle Stop” are the only two songs Manuel receives credit for on the album.  Music critic Barney Hoskyns rates it as "one of Richard [Manuel's] liveliest performances" and "one of The Band's most intricate arrangements."  The Band never featured the song on a live album. Charles West (born 1927), British crime novelist, is a former actor.  He studied acting at RADA and singing at Dartington Hall Music School.  He was a member of the Old Vic Theatre Company 1958-1962 and subsequently performed in 9 West End musicals in London, including Daddy Warbucks in "Annie" at Victoria Palace beginning in the 1970s and Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha at the Martin Beck Theater on Broadway.  He wrote his first novel "Destruction Man", while acting in Australia.  His Australian detective Paul Crook features in "Stonefish", "Stage Fright", "Little Ripper", and "The Long Hook".  Married to actress Julia West (a National Theatre company member who appeared in the film "Atonement"), he lives in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Kató Havas (born 5 November 1920) is a violinist and violin and viola teacher who developed the "New Approach to violin playing" to help prevent physical injuries and eliminate stage fright related to playing the violin or viola.  Through the teaching of the New Approach, Kató Havas realized that the release of physical tensions eliminated also mental tension.  In her book "Stage Fright" Kató Havas analyzes the physical, mental and social causes of it and gives practical answers and exercises.
Answer: Alastair Sim