British Actors Smörgåsbord

British Actor Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort British Actor movies by his co-stars
  • Sort British Actor movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort British Actor movies by adjusted worldwide box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort British Actor movies by how they were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each British Actor movie received.
  • Sort British Actor movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score.  UMR puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.

Steve Lensman’s John Gielgud You Tube Video

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203 thoughts on “British Actors Smörgåsbord”

  1. In his very early days in the British cinema Trevor Howard acted in arguably two of the most celebrated British movies ever made, 1945’s Brief Encounter and 1949’s The 3rd Man. [Delighted to see them as your Nos 2 and 1 respectively]. He also enjoyed an excellent run of popularity, appearing among the Top 10 British stars at the domestic box office in 1947, 1950, 1951 and 1952.

    Whilst after that he worked prolifically as a high prestige performer in big international movies such as The Key with Holden, Mutiny on the Bounty with Brando, Father Goose with Grant and Von Ryan’s Express with Sinatra, Trevor never again achieved quite the heights within the British cinema that he did in that 1945-1952 period. I almost thought that I had strayed onto a Myrna Loy video by mistake when I read in your video this opening quote from Trev!

    “ I’ve been No 2 in films for donkey’s years”

    40-21 Best POSTERS in my opinion (1) 1st one for The Lion (2) raunchy one for Conduct Unbecoming (3) The Missionary (4) Run for the Sun (5) Night Visitor (6) 1st one for The Roots of Heaven (7) Outcast of the Islands (8) The Sea Wolves [dubbed by one leading English critic at time of release as “Peck’s Pack”] (9) Passionate Friends (10) a very original one in my own experience for The Key and (10) Cockleshell Heroes.

    My youngest brother, who’s a fanatical follower of Brit war films loves that No (10) movie. It had almost a “who’s who” of British character and/or war movie actors – Victor Madden, Anthony Newley, Percy Herbert, David Lodge, Peter Arne – and Dora Bryan!

    Reply

    1. After the early years of his triumphs in the British cinema Trevor went to Hollywood in 1956 and his debut movie there was in Run for the Sun starring one of my great idols, Richard Widmark. The film was a remake of the 1932’s Most Dangerous Game with Joel McCrea back then in the Widmark role.

      1-20 POSTERS I most enjoyed (1) Odette (2) Windwalker (3) foreign language one for Morituri (4) They Made me a Fugitive (5) 2nd one for Von Ryan’s Express (6) The Offence (7) foreign language one for Charge of the Light Brigade (8) a splendid one for Sons and Lovers (9) 1st one for Mutiny on the Bounty (10) Ryan’s Daughter (11) foreign language one for Brief Encounter and (12) The 3rd Man

      Not as many STILLS as usual but the quality is as high as ever and these [covering entire video] pleased me most. (1) Golden Salamander (2) Trev with Flynn e (3) The Heart of the Matter (4) with Jean Simmons (5) was that the Scottish rose with Trev in I see a Dark Stranger? (6) with Frankie (7) with Alastair Sim (8) in Brief Encounter (9) with Valli in The 3rd Man and (10) Trev at the mercy of the mutineers.

      It’s a pity that your excellent soundtrack doesn’t include dialogue clips as Mr M speaks in a beautiful English accent in No 10 which if I could have heard it again might have raised my 98% overall rating of the video to 98.5% – great presentation just the same.

      Generally indeed this Brit series is certainly proving well worthwhile from my viewpoint with familiar old names cropping up – have YOU ever heard of Baroness, Dowager Lady Oranmore and Browne [Green for danger and They made me a Fugitive]? The Irish Times saw her as a British rival to Ginger Rogers.

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      1. Hello Bob, thanks for the review, generous rating, info, trivia and comments, always appreciated. Happy you liked the posters and stills.

        That was indeed young Deborah Kerr in the still from I See a Dark Stranger, lucky Trev had an array of British beauties in his films, and Sophia Loren too, twice!

        I had to google the name in your last paragraph, I’d never heard of Lady Oranmore or Sally Gray, but I do remember Dora Bryan. 🙂

        All kidding aside I liked Brando’s English accent in Mutiny on the Bounty, no idea why he gets flak over it. Dick Van Dyke deserved the accolade of ‘worst ever cockney accent’ from an American actor for Mary Poppins, and he would agree.

        But Brando was excellent in Mutiny on the Bounty, one of his best films IMO. It’s my favorite of the ‘Bounty’ films, he was a better Fletcher Christian than either Clark Gable (too smirky) or Mel Gibson (too shouty). And I liked Trev’s Captain Bligh too.

        Six Trevor Howard films scored 10 out of 10 from my sources, they are –

        Third Man ,The
        Brief Encounter
        Gandhi
        Superman the Movie
        Green for Danger
        Ryan’s Daughter

        I haven’t seen Green for Danger, I’m curious to see why it’s rated so highly.

        One film scored 9 – Sons and Lovers, and 7 more scored 8.

        The Third Man tops the charts at IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, with Brief Encounter no.2 at both sites.

        Trevor on Carol Reed – “Carol doesn’t only make films, he lives, breathes, eats and drinks them.”

        Trevor on Ryan’s Daughter – “Three hours was rather long for a trifling love story.”

        “Celia Johnson was the best actress I’ve ever worked with. Beneath Celia’s Women’s Institute gentility there was a most lovable woman and a real trooper.”

        John Gielgud on Trevor Howard – “An enormously versatile and powerful actor. He was a star who had no pretensions, something rare in an actor. It was a shame that despite his stage success, Howard had chosen to concentrate on film work in later years. He was torn between the two mediums. He was a generous man and he had beautiful manners.”

        Trevor on Brando – “Unprofessional and absolutely ridiculous. He could drive a saint to hell in a dogsled.” (whoa and they made three films together!) 🙂

        Reply

        1. HI STEVE Thanks for the feedback including appropriate explanations and fine quotes. [Who’s on next? I’ve been looking out for Alastair Sim!]

          I wonder if Trev like the Work Horse became enslaved by Joel’s book. After they made Mutiny on the Bounty together Trevor suggested in an interview that Mr Mumbles was prioritising top stardom over proper acting and was concentrating on showmanship. Trev said “It wasn’t acting. It was watching a b****y great star performing.”

          I agree with your take on Mutiny on the Bounty and so does Richard Dreyfus who couldn’t believe the negative reaction to Brando’s performance. However it may have been better received in England. I can recall one or two reviews that praised Marlon and Trev’s more balanced Bligh than was Laughton’s.

          Your own quote from Trev further reflects some of the negative feelings that Howard had about the Great Mumbler. However it could be that as they grew older both mellowed somewhat because for example (1) Trev had a fave drinking den in London and he is on record as saying to a pal that anytime Marlon was in the capital he was welcome to drop in to Howard’s pub for a drink with Trev (2) I watched a documentary recently on the making of Superman 1978 and behind the scenes footage showed Trevor and Mumbles being quite courteous to each other off camera.

          STOP PRESS
          Maybe programme planners at the Beeb have been watching your Great Brit series because they have scheduled on BBC2 at 3 pm tomorrow afternoon arguably Ken More’s greatest film and personal best performance as Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky.

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          1. Hi Bob, thanks for the added info, good to know Trevor and Brando let bygones be bygones, shooting the 1962 Bounty was an adventure in itself and would make a fascinating book some day. Mega-disaster Heaven’s Gate has a big fat book on it’s making why not Mutiny?

            I suppose the troubles on that film were eclipsed by the never-ending filming of Cleopatra (1960-1963). There was so much filmed footage removed from the final 243min cut of Cleopatra that the director joked he could have released another movie titled “The Further Adventures of Rufio and Octavian.”

            Alastair Sim won’t feature in this run of British actors, sorry about that, but he might pop up some time next year alongside Terry-Thomas, Stanley Baker and Norman Wisdom. Hercule Poirot will be out on release monday and hopefully ‘Danger Man’ on wednesday, if all goes well.

  2. Hey Bob and Steve….I have been wanting to see The Dam Busters for a very long time now…so far my efforts have been fruitless. But one day I will see that one. On our award winning (patting myself on my shoulder) WW2 movie marathon page…The Dam Busters was the movie requested the most to be added to that page. Enjoy the communicated between you two on all of these British Actors….it is making this Smörgåsbord one fine Smörgåsbord indeed. Good stuff.

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  3. Richard Todd was an Irishman whom you English stole from us and nationalised as an Englishman so I’m not sure how far he can be regarded as one of your True Brits- or at least how far I personally should recognise him as such!

    In his heyday he became a big part of the Brit cinema at its peak and was the 11th biggest box office star among British performers in the 1950s decade. 5 Times he appeared in lists of the Top 10 most popular British stars -1950, 1952, 1954, 1955 and 1957

    In his Brit movies he largely adhered to the “party line” by playing stiff-upper-lip English heroes and middle class gentlemen. However he strayed from the path a little by appearing in the French 1954 sex comedy romp “Secrets d’Alcove [aka The Bed] It got a showing in Belfast’s “adults only” arthouse cinema The Mayfair and the posters for it had the tagline “Jeanne Moreau, Martine Carol, Dawn Addams Francoise Arnoul and Richard Todd –All one time or another in The Bed!” I was too young to be allowed to see it but it was probably tame by today’s standards.

    Todd may have been over-modest in your opening quote. He joined the Brit Army for World War 2, reached the rank of captain and took part in the D Day landings. During one military operation Richard met Major John Howard and joined Howard in repulsing crucial counter attacks. In The Longest Day it was Richard who played Howard whereas another actor played Richard himself. I suppose it would be a bit like a movie about the life of Sir Maurice or Joel wherein The Work Horse got to play one of those two and either you or I was hired to play Bruce!

    Richard’s declining years were tragic ones as two of his 5 children committed suicide which devastated him. CONTINUED IN PART 2

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    1. Best POSTERS (1) Both for Death Drums along the River** (2)24 Hours in a Woman’s Life (3) foreign Language one for Naked Earth (4) Dorian Gray (5) Never Let Go*** (6) Lightning Strikes Twice (7) foreign language one for Asylum (8) whole set for Rob Roy (9) foreign language one for D Day 6th June (10) both for The Long the Ladd and the Tall (11) foreign language one for The Virgin Queen (12) 1st one for The Sword and the Rose (13) foreign language one for Stage Fright and (14) an impressive 1st one for The Dam Busters. I agree with your choice but I’m surprised at YOU placing the latter above Hitch!

      First class STILS are I think (1) Richard in Saint Joan (2) two of Richard as Sir Walt (3) lobby card for Chase a Crooked Shadow – my own fave Todd movie (4) two from Robins Hood (5) with Ronnie (6) with Hitch (7) a gorgeous coloured one from Sword and the Rose (8) in Longest Day and (9) in The Dam Busters – and is that Robert Shaw seated beside Todd?

      ADDITIONAL TRIVIA 1/**In this one Todd played Commissioner Sanders, Brit writer Edgar Wallace’s hero who was “Sanders of the River” played by Leslie Banks in the 1935 movie of that name co-starring legendary Paul Robeson who diowned the film as “imperialist”.

      2/*** Brit pop star Adam faith had a supporting role in Never Let Go but temporarily had to quit the set and in an interview told the Daily Express of London that production had ground to a halt because Todd and Sellers could not agree about who got top billing. He added “I don’t know when I’ll be back before the cameras because neither Peter nor Richard will back off.” Richard won. Of course the only one who really cares about billing is Ole Bob!

      Anyway your video was as befits a born Irishman a first class tribute to one of the most popular stars of the British cinema’s golden era and worth a 98 % rating to me. Classy stuff.

      Reply

      1. Hi Bob, thanks for the review, generous rating, info, trivia and comments, it is appreciated. Glad the visual presentation met with your approval.

        Was Todd Irish? Of course he was. I watched The Dam Busters again recently, good actor, not a trace of oirish in his accent. 😉

        The film caused controversy in the US because of the name of the dog and some prints of the film were censored because of it. Didn’t seem like a bothersome word to the ‘colonial’ English of the time.

        That was Robert Shaw in the still with Todd, his first credited movie role.

        The Dam Busters not only rated above Hitchcock but above the massive scale Longest Day too, no ratings boost here it was Todd’s best rated movie.

        Two films scored 10 out of 10 from my sources – The Longest Day and The Dam Busters. The Hasty Heart scored 9. Seven more scored 8 out of 10.

        The Longest Day topped the chart at IMDB and The Dam Busters no.1 at Rotten Tomatoes.

        Referring to his heroism in WWII – “You don’t consciously set out to do something gallant. You just do it because that is what you are there for.”

        Todd on his movie career – “I let myself become a willing workhorse. The roles were good, bad and indifferent, but I always gave a part my best shot and tried to enjoy it.”

        Reply

        1. HI STEVE

          Thanks for the comprehensive feedback on Richard Todd and the interesting quotes

          He did seem to have a sense of humour because as I may have mentioned before on this site he got on well with Ronnie when they made The Hasty Heart together in 1949 and afterwards they exchanged Christmas cards for a time. However in a TV interview Richard told with a twinkle in his eye how when Ronnie got to the White House he stopped returning Richard’s cards! Too busy governing guys like Bruce?

          As you know I don’t normally comment overmuch on your ratings and rankings of movies unless I have ones from WH with which to compare yours [I don’t have quite the level of the assessment skills or external Resources that you guys have] but I couldn’t help being disappointed that you didn’t 1958’s Intent to Kill higher than 63% as it is one of my fave Todd movies and IMDB give it a 70% rating, which I think is about right. Otherwise I agree with most of your ratings for Todd flicks that I’ve seen

          Reply

          1. One of the rare times you’ve questioned my ratings Bob, I like it. Why should Bruce get all the ratings flak? (usually from me, he shamelessly admitted)

            Intent to Kill was let down by the Radio Times reviewer who gave it 2 out of 5 saying “cinematographer Jack Cardiff has turned director with this b-thriller set in Montreal, critics at the time wondered why he bothered.”

            That’s the problem with reviewers, if the RT had picked another reviewer he might have liked it more, but I think a score between 6 and 7 was where the film would have ultimately ended up.

            Jack Cardiff’s ‘Sons and Lovers’ (1960) will get a better rating on tomorrows video.

          2. Hey Bob….thanks for finally noticing that Steve gets his rankings all the time…..lol. Actually, I have noticed that as time passes…my rating score is not as accurate…especially on pages that were “born” in 2011. The overall ratings at places like IMDb, Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes change pretty regularly.

            Actually on my 2018 page….I have started doing the review research when they first get added/released and then when they have run their box office course…..checking the reviews again…..usually the approval % drops between 3 to 5 percent….and sometimes it drops over 10%…..rarely does it ever go up. I did not do this until this year….so all the movies released between 2011 and 2017 probably have an inflated review %….because back then….I did the review percentage on a movie’s opening weekend….and never returned to it. It is so hard to keep a constantly changing creature in check….lol. Live and learn live and learn.

          3. Hey Bob….good breakdown on Steve’s Richard Todd page. As for Intent To Kill….that is not in my database….and based on the limited information on that one….it might be a long time before it does. It is not even listed at Rotten Tomatoes. IMDb does give it a nice 7.0 rating. My Leonard Maltin Video book does not review it. My VideoHound book does not review it. Goodness it seems like a movie made in the 1920s versus a movie made in 1958.

  4. Richard Todd You Tube Video by Steve Lensman is now included in this page. My thoughts on his newest video.

    “Richard Todd…nice pick. Though I have not seen many of his movie….I have been aware of his name a long long time. Seen #12 D-Day June 6th 1944….more drama than action. #9 The Virgin Queen….Todd does well opposite Bette Davis. #3 Stag Fright….not one of Hitch’s classic #2 The Longest Day…huge cast..Todd represented the Brits in that one. So my tally is 4. I do want to see DamBusters….heard lots of good things about that movie. Voted up.”

    Reply

    1. Hi Bruce, thanks for checking out my Richard Todd video, appreciate the vote and share. Our tallys are not impressive, yours 4, Flora 5 and mine 6. I think Bob beats us every time on British actors. Btw that is Robert Shaw with Richard Todd in the still from Dam Busters. It was his first credited film role. You can still recognise him even with the oxygen mask on.

      Reply

  5. Steve’s Jack Hawkins and John Mills videos have a home on this page. My thoughts on his Jack Hawkins page.

    “Nice selection. Not thinking my tally is going to be too impressive. No matches in the 30s…..#29 Kidnapped is one of the few Caine movies that I have not seen. First match #21 The Black Rose….an enjoyable movie. #18 The Prisoner….good drama #17 Land of Pharaohs….great ending #16 Lord Jim…looks awesome…but only an ok movie #4 Zulu…seen this one many many times What a Top 3….Ben Hur 3rd?….that probably does not happen too often…..but River Kwai and Lawrence are stiff competition. Adding in Zulu….that is a awesome Top 4. Fun video. Voted up and shared.”

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    1. Hi Bruce, so what was your final tally on Jack Hawkins movies? Mine was 13, Flora 6. It was weird for me to have Ben-Hur at no.3 instead of no.1 but Bridge and Lawrence were even more critically acclaimed, and also big favorites of mine so I didn’t mind. Zulu also is a huge fave, watched it again recently. Thanks for the comment, vote and share, always appreciated.

      Reply

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