Looking For The Name Of A British Character Actor And Intro From A Newbie

[sphinxvictorian]

Hello all! I'm a complete Britmovie nut! So glad to have found this forum to come and chat on! Some of my favorite Britfilms, in no particular order, are Persuasion, Topsy Turvy, I Know Where I'm Going, The Red Shoes, all the Merchant/Ivory films, Brief Encounter, Carrington, Cold Comfort Farm, etc. I love British character actors, and I pride myself on knowing their names and spotting them in obscure appearances in film, TV and on stage.



I am looking for the name and possibly a picture of a British character actor, active from the 40's through the 60's, I think. I seem to remember him showing up usually as ship's captains and doctors and growly uncles and that sort of thing. Usually sported a beard, somewhat bristly, and had wonderfully expressive eyebrows, I seem to remember. I think he might have shown up in a Disney film or two, and possibly a Powell/Pressburger film or two. Possibly even in a David Lean film from that period.



I have checked IMDB. I thought it might be Hugh Griffith of Tom Jones fame, but it definitely wasn't him. This is driving me crazy, and I do hope someone can help me. Aargh!



Thanks,



Sphinxvictorian

[smudge]

(sphinxvictorian @ Dec 22 2005, 06:01 AM)

Hello all! I'm a complete Britmovie nut! So glad to have found this forum to come and chat on! Some of my favorite Britfilms, in no particular order, are Persuasion, Topsy Turvy, I Know Where I'm Going, The Red Shoes, all the Merchant/Ivory films, Brief Encounter, Carrington, Cold Comfort Farm, etc. I love British character actors, and I pride myself on knowing their names and spotting them in obscure appearances in film, TV and on stage.



I am looking for the name and possibly a picture of a British character actor, active from the 40's through the 60's, I think. I seem to remember him showing up usually as ship's captains and doctors and growly uncles and that sort of thing. Usually sported a beard, somewhat bristly, and had wonderfully expressive eyebrows, I seem to remember. I think he might have shown up in a Disney film or two, and possibly a Powell/Pressburger film or two. Possibly even in a David Lean film from that period.



I have checked IMDB. I thought it might be Hugh Griffith of Tom Jones fame, but it definitely wasn't him. This is driving me crazy, and I do hope someone can help me. Aargh!



Thanks,



Sphinxvictorian

Welcome, Sphinx



From the description of Doctors, Captains, etc and the Disney factor, I'd plump for JAMES ROBERTSON JUSTICE.



SMUDGE

[Fellwanderer]

It just has to be JRJ.



FELL

[piroflip2]

May one suggest that J.R.J. is perhaps a little too famous to have been forgotten about by our obviously knowledgeable new member.



What about Finlay Currie?



Regards piroflip

[smudge]

(piroflip2 @ Dec 22 2005, 08:27 AM)

May one suggest that J.R.J. is perhaps a little too famous to have been forgotten about by our obviously knowledgeable new member.



What about Finlay Currie?



Regards piroflip

Ah but the beard....?



SMUDGE

[piroflip2]

(smudge @ Dec 22 2005, 08:47 AM)

Ah but the beard....?



SMUDGE

hi smudge



there is a photo of him on the actors compendium filmography sporting a sparse beard.



regards piroflip

[Harbottle]

Has to be either of these fine actors surely?



Hugh Griffith





James Robertson Justice

[piroflip2]

when the sphinx returns,,,,,,,,,we shall see.

[Ascoyne D'Ascoyne]

I would certainly lay bets on James Robertson Justice being the man in question, but then he doesn't look much like Hugh Griffith who "the sphinx" originally thought of. Somebody who did, however, was that quite wonderful actor, Sir Donald Wolfit. I can't recall ever seeing him as a ship's captain, but I believe he sported a beard in "Svengali" and played an uncle part in "Isn't Life Wonderful?" - notable eyebrows too!

[Jack Gurney]

I thought briefly about Jimmy Edwards, then Francis De Wolff, but neither of them really appeared in the kind of films sphynx was describing.

[Harbottle]

Having pondered on this, I have another actor in mind who had fairly small parts (if you forgive the expression). Fierce looking chap, with bushy eyebrows and a formidable beard. No idea of his name though

[tonewheel]

Could Laurence Naismith be the one, he certainly fits the description

[Furnisher Steele]

The parts mentioned suggest JRJ - ships captains, doctors and growly - very growly.



Another suggestion could be the owner of one of the finest beards from the period - Noel Purcell.

[Harbottle]

Francis De Wolff was the result of my pondering. A couple of screencaps:



Agrippa - Carry On Cleo





Christmas Past - A Christmas Carol/Scrooge

[arty-dave]

sphinxvictorian isn't saying much

[smudge]

(arty-dave @ Dec 23 2005, 09:41 AM)

sphinxvictorian isn't saying much

He/She is probably in the Land of Nod at the moment, I suspect....



SMUDGE

[Jim]

(smudge @ Dec 22 2005, 06:53 AM)

Welcome, Sphinx -

From the description of Doctors, Captains, etc and the Disney factor, I'd plump for JAMES ROBERTSON JUSTICE.



SMUDGE

I would definitely go for Noel Purcell!!!

[sphinxvictorian]

Thank you so much for helping me. It was indeed James Robertson Justice I was thinking of. I thought at first it was Hugh Griffiths, but the kind respondent who posted the photographs made me absolutely certain.



Thanks again, and sorry to be so long to acknowledge you all!

[NappieB]

There was a character who fits the description and was not nearly as famous as JRJ or Hugh Griffiths:



The guy I'm thinking of appeared in "The Navy Lark" (circa 1959 ?) He was tall and thin with completely greyish-white hair and a full beard and moustache. Must have been about 45+ years old in 1959, maybe much older.



He often played naval types, especially "old salts" and was perfect for the part.

[NappieB]

Ah... I see it's been solved while I was writing!



Now the name of the actor that I was thinking of is beginning to bug me...