British Character Actors

[smudge]

Recently there have been a few postings about the sad losses of players like Harold Goodwin, Peter Blythe, John Barron and so forth.



Whilst the starter subject of their passing hasn't been the greatest news, there have been lots of complimentary posts about these actors and their work. These are the 'jobbing' or 'journeyman' actors who could always been relied upon to give bedrock middle range cast performances.



So I thought I'd start a thread to ask about favourite character players.



I'll start the ball rolling with the late Charles Victor - a broad ranged, lugubrious character actor. If you can't place the name, he was CHARLEY MOON's dad ; or the henpecked little bank clerk as THE EMBEZZLER or a reluctant, grumbling aircrew sergeant in (I think it was ) THE DAMBUSTERS.



He was a damn fine actor and if anyone else knows more about him, do tell...



Any other faves ?



SMUDGE

[DB7]

Miles Malleson tends to appear in many of my favourite films for often only a fleeting moment but always memorable. The compere in the 39 Steps, the Hearse Driver in Dead of Night, the doddering hangman in Kind Hearts, the befuddled tailor in Main in the White Suit and Windrush senior in many of the Boulting satires.



Often a member of the clergy, doctor or magistrate in countless others.

[Gibbie]

As an American late-baby boomer (early 60s), I can only give a distant cousin view, but some insight to what British character players are appreciated.



When I was growing up, I think the one character actor who would be noted by older folks (Depression and Post-War folks) was Nigel Bruce with his lovable bumbling character in Sherlock Holmes movies and "Lassie", etc.



For baby boomer American kids, favorite British Character actors included: David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Ed Wynn, Arthur Treacher and Reginald Owen from "Mary Poppins". Probably the most memorable "character" in the movies for us boomers was Wilfrid Brambell (Paul McCartney's grandfather) from "A Hard Day's Night." Another good character actress was Rita Webb ("To Sir With Love" etc).



From the older days, one favorite of mine was Finlay Currie ("Great Expectations", etc.). When I was in high school, I saw him in "Great Expectations" and thought "now there is acting". He played his character parts like he was the lead. I cannot read Dickens novel without thinking of him as Magwitch.



In more recent times, I would like to note that Ian Holm is one of the sublime and broadest British character actors there is today ("The Madness of King George" and Henry V" etc). He also plays other nationals equally as well ("Chariots of Fire", "Kafka" and "Hamlet").



And, I think the team on the Horatio Hornblower series with Ioan Gruffydd are fantastic British character actors (Robert Lindsay as Pellew, Paul Copley as Matthews, Sean Gilder as Styles and the others). May they have more programs to draw upon their talent. They make you want to go out and take on the French navy! wink



Gibbie

[Marky B]

Nice tribute,Gibbie but a slight error. Ed Wynn (I Love To Laugh) was American. He was the father of actor Keenan Wyhnn and grandfather American screenwriter Tracy Keenan Wynn.

Anyway,I remember a few years ago a Sunday newspaper whilst paying tribute to George Couloris,created a film scene (rustic) which included a lot of British character actors. Each part was small,a sort of walk on role,but it was a lovely tribute to that troupe of entertainers with whom the big stars can't do without.

I won't wax lyrical again about John Le Mesurier,but I'm thinking of Sam Kydd,Michael Rennie,Joan Hickson,Kathleen Harrison and many more which no doubt will be added to this thread.

My favourite American character actors are Jeff Daniels,Bill Paxton,Helen Slater,Christina Applegate,Sam Elliot to name but a few.

As always,I enjoyed your comment,Gibbie.

Ta Ta

Marky B thumbs_u

[smudge]

Some great faves there chaps-



Miles Malleson ; always a hit and most definitely a scene stealer. That wonderful profile and that stately gait of his just add to his immortality.



Nigel Bruce ; he of the 'comfy' Sherlock Holmeses - the ones you always want to be on just when the season changes to winter. A stalwart performer who was contenet to play a second fiddle character, but who always got a similar amount of praise as the lead.



Finlay Currie was a great barnstormer of a performer. In his later years I got the impression that he got on set, went his own way regardless of the director ! thumbs_u



I would agree that Ian Holm is probably one of the most versatile characters we have today - and he still keeps getting work. His most recent favourite of mine was the nervous, yet determined, priest in THE FIFTH ELEMENT.



Can't comment on the HORNBLOWER cast because I never got into it - isn't Ioan Gruffydd in the new KING ARTHUR ?



George Coulouris - what a career ! Hollywood and back. Excellent performer again - and what about his comic turn as the mad swallower in (was it?) DOCTOR AT LARGE ?



Two more I'd like to add - firmly from the black and white era ;



RONALD SQUIRE - who excelled at genial uncle type roles in several movies, and BREFNI O' ROURKE - maybe not so widely known, but a cracking turn as Lord Chaundyt in DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART among many others...



SMUDGE

[Gibbie]

Thanks for your comments and setting me right, Marky B! Wynn was so good at being British...I still love that scene "I Love to Laugh." Joan Hickson is quite an actress too.



Also, thanks Smudge for comments on good actors! Holm seems to always be a nervous cat (catch him as Polonious in Zeferelli's (Gibson) Hamlet.



Yes, Coulouris is quite an actor.



And yes, Gryffydd Hornblower is Lancelot in "Arthur."



Gibbie

[Ascoyne D'Ascoyne]

There are so, so many of these great professionals to mention aren't there?

A few who come to my mind are:

Reginald Beckwith and Michael Ward; both superbly camp and supercilious.

Liz Fraser and Joan Sims; glamorous dumb blondes with plenty of "rabbit" (by the way whatever happened to Sabrina?).

Raymond Huntley and Martin Benson; both very good in slightly sinister roles.

[Steve Crook]

AlBabson:

[snip]

by the way whatever happened to Sabrina?.

I expect gravity affected her most outstanding assets :)



Check out the Sabrina site



Steve

[DB7]

The cricket-fixated twosome of Charters and Caldicott we're always good for a spot of Britishness when in a tight corner. Separately Wayne and Radford would appear as figures of officialdom in Titfield Thunderbolt and Whisky Galore.



I think they had one lead role together in It's Not Cricket. (which seems to have been pretty forgetable)



There was apparently a BBC series in the 80s based on the characters but sadly I missed it.

[Steve Crook]

DB7:

The cricket-fixated twosome of Charters and Caldicott we're always good for a spot of Britishness when in a tight corner. Separately Wayne and Radford would appear as figures of officialdom in Titfield Thunderbolt and Whisky Galore.



I think they had one lead role together in It's Not Cricket. (which seems to have been pretty forgetable)



There was apparently a BBC series in the 80s based on the characters but sadly I missed it.

As well as their brilliant performance in The Lady Vanishes (1938) I also like them in Night Train to Munich (1940)



Charters: I bought a copy of Mein Kampf. Occurred to me it might shed a spot of light on all this... how d'ye do. Ever read it?

Caldicott: Never had the time.

Charters: I understand they give a copy to all the bridal couples over here.

Caldicott: Oh, I don't think it's that sort of book, old man.



They were played by Arthur Lowe (Charters) and Ian Carmichael (Caldicott) in the 1979 remake of The Lady Vanishes.



Details of the 1985 BBC mini-series are on the IMDb. I never saw it (& I think I'm glad I didn't)



Steve

[DB7]

SteveCrook:

I never saw it (& I think I'm glad I didn't)

I've been told it's quite an amusing series of comedy murder-mysteries. Strange it's never been repeated given it was a Beeb production.

[Jim]

smudge:

Some great faves there chaps-



Miles Malleson ; always a hit and most definitely a scene stealer. That wonderful profile and that stately gait of his just add to his immortality.



Nigel Bruce ; he of the 'comfy' Sherlock Holmeses - the ones you always want to be on just when the season changes to winter. A stalwart performer who was contenet to play a second fiddle character, but who always got a similar amount of praise as the lead.



Finlay Currie was a great barnstormer of a performer. In his later years I got the impression that he got on set, went his own way regardless of the director ! thumbs_u



I would agree that Ian Holm is probably one of the most versatile characters we have today - and he still keeps getting work. His most recent favourite of mine was the nervous, yet determined, priest in THE FIFTH ELEMENT.



Can't comment on the HORNBLOWER cast because I never got into it - isn't Ioan Gruffydd in the new KING ARTHUR ?



George Coulouris - what a career ! Hollywood and back. Excellent performer again - and what about his comic turn as the mad swallower in (was it?) DOCTOR AT LARGE ?



Two more I'd like to add - firmly from the black and white era ;



RONALD SQUIRE - who excelled at genial uncle type roles in several movies, and BREFNI O' ROURKE - maybe not so widely known, but a cracking turn as Lord Chaundyt in DON'T TAKE IT TO HEART among many others...



SMUDGE

Right on Smudger! I rarely play my old brits during the summer months, they are much better played when it's dark and preferably with the wind and rain howling outside - weird or what? Should I seek psychiatric advice??



I think the list of character actors, whilst not endless, is very very large.There have been so many of them! Do we produce any 'character actors' these days? I can't say, as I don't watch very many 90s films or films of today.



What do others think?

[ollie]

THORLEY WALTERS (WATERS)

What a name what a voice,one of my favourites,his IMDB profile shows quite a body of work.

cheers Ollie

[Marky B]

Just watched 80,000 Suspects,directed by Val Guest and starring Richard Greene (a contender for Bond in those days?),Claire Bloom and Yolande Donlan (Guest's real wife) and a company of wonderful character players.

Unfortunately,no cast list at the end (I missed the beginning). If anybody watched it,was that Arthur Christianson,the Daily Express editor who played himself in the other Guest helmer The Day The Earth Caught Fire,playing a provincial newspaper editor.

Basil Dignam,Michael Goodliffe,Cyril Cusack,Ray Barret,Mervyn Johns I recognised,but who was the guy who ran the distinfection room in the hospital. Who played Bradley,Yolande Donlan's dying lover in the Crossings Hotel,which was ran by who and who was the daughter?

Good film,but a notch below The Day the Earth Caught Fire and Jigsaw.

Ta Ta

Marky B thumbs_u

[smudge]

More excellent responses !



MICHAEL WARD - great memory of the earring sequence in CARRY ON CABBY, "What, with tweeds...?"



REGINALD BECKWITH - another scene stealer at every turn wink



And yes, Marky B, that WAS Arthur Christiansen again in SUSPECTS - dunno about Yolande's lover yet - will watch my recording tomorrow.



As to the character actors we produce now, well - where are they ? Most modern actors seem to be fairly characterless individuals who chose acting as a 'career'. Perhaps it was the fact that previous generations lived through things such as the war which gave them a bit more depth ?



OLLIE - what a man - THORLEY WALTERS; second only to a man who I should've posted here ages ago, Mr. Hammer himself....of course it's MICHAEL RIPPER ! scarf



Memorable performance as the poor, half blind little factotum who gets so horribly killed in THE MUMMY'S SHROUD.



And not to steal his thunder, another Hammer old-boy ; everyone's favourite Innkeeper - George Woodbridge :) (Inigo Pipkin, RIP)



SMUDGE

[ollie]

PETER VAUGHN

just watched him in an episode of randall and hopkirk,another stalwart player.

Damn! forgot to watch or tape 80,000 suspects :<

[Bob M.]

I thought Sidney Tafler worthy of a mention...

[Marky B]

Thanks Smudge,

I thought it was the former Express boss,judging by the lack of acting style.

Ta Ta

Marky B thumbs_u

[smudge]

In the same stratum as Sidney Tafler, there's the ubiquitous John Slater - both of whom had a broad range and could just as easily be on the shady side secret as well as the side of the angels...



SMUDGE

[Ascoyne D'Ascoyne]

SteveCrook:

I expect gravity affected her most outstanding assets :)



Check out the Sabrina site



Steve

Thanks for the link Steve; it's gone straight on to "My Favourites".

I trust that the mention of "The Titfield Thunderbolt" in the next post was purely coincidental.