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Stories from the UN Archive: All-star 1950s cast visits European refugee camps

Stage and screen actor Yul Brynner, Special Consultant, and Dr. Auguste Lindt, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, attend a meeting of the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva in 1960. (file)
UN Photo
Stage and screen actor Yul Brynner, Special Consultant, and Dr. Auguste Lindt, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, attend a meeting of the UNHCR Executive Committee in Geneva in 1960. (file)

Yul BrynnerOpens in new window was a charismatic and engaging star of stage and screen, and in 1959, the United Nations asked him to lend his talents to support efforts to aid the world’s refugees.

The Russian-born actor, filmmaker and photographer was appointed a special consultant to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCROpens in new window) in connection with World Refugee YearOpens in new window. Ahead of the International Human Fraternity DayOpens in new window, marked annually on 4 February, this week’s #ThrowbackThursday edition focuses on the Hollywood stars who focused on the plight of refugees fleeing conflict.

The Oscar-winning star of The King and I, Mr. Brynner visited refugee camps around the world and, through his work, including film and radio, helped to highlight the plight of millions of displaced people.

Actor Yul Brynner (right) in the UN Radio studio at UN Headquarters in New York in 1960. (file)
UN Photo/MB
Actor Yul Brynner (right) in the UN Radio studio at UN Headquarters in New York in 1960. (file)

Listen to Mr. Brynner host Doris Day, Kim Novak, Peter Ustinov and other leading actors of the 1950s, narrating stories based on the real-life experiences of refugees hereOpens in new window.

Catch up on our #ThrowbackThursday series hereOpens in new window, and watch episodes from UN Video’s Stories from the UN Archive playlist hereOpens in new window, cultivated from the UN Audiovisual LibraryOpens in new window’s 49,400 hours of video and 18,000 hours of audio recordings. Join us next Thursday for another dive into history.

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