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Alastair Sim is a Actor British born on 9 october 1900 at Edinburgh (United-kingdom)

Alastair Sim

Alastair Sim
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Birth name Alastair George Bell Sim
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 9 october 1900 at Edinburgh (United-kingdom)
Death 19 august 1976 (at 75 years) at London (United-kingdom)
Awards Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

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.

After a series of false starts, including a spell as a jobbing labourer and another as a clerk in a local government office, Sim's love of and talent for poetry reading won him several prizes and led to his appointment as a lecturer in elocution at the University of Edinburgh in 1925. He also ran his own private elocution and drama school, from which, with the help of the playwright John Drinkwater, he made the transition to the professional stage in 1930.

Despite his late start, Sim soon became well known on the London stage. A period of more than a year as a member of the Old Vic company brought him wide experience of playing Shakespeare and other classics, to which he returned throughout his career. In the modern repertoire, he formed a close professional association with the author James Bridie, which lasted from 1939 until the dramatist's death in 1951. Sim not only acted in Bridie's works, but directed them.

In the later 1940s and for most of the 1950s, Sim was a leading star of British cinema, appearing in more than fifty films. They included Green for Danger (1946), Hue and Cry (1947), The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), Scrooge (1951), The Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and An Inspector Calls (1954). Later, he made fewer films and generally concentrated on stage work, including successful productions at the Chichester Festival and regular appearances in new and old works in the West End.

Biography

Alastair Sim naquit à Édimbourg en 1900, le dernier-né d’une famille de quatre enfants. Sa mère, originaire de l’île d’Eigg, ne parlait pas un mot d’Anglais lorsqu’adolescente, elle arriva en Grande Bretagne ; elle ne parlait, en effet que le Gaélique. Son père, Alexandre Sim, était un homme d’affaires prospère, établi à Édimbourg, et qui possédait quelques biens à Braemar. En autres singularités, il refusa d’être anobli.

Alastair Sim fit ses études à George Heriot, une école privée d’Édimbourg.

Il devint professeur d’art dramatique à l’université d’Édimbourg de 1925 à 1930, dont il devint plus tard le recteur, de 1948 à 1951.

Usually with

Frank Launder
Frank Launder
(13 films)
Sidney Gilliat
Sidney Gilliat
(13 films)
George Cole
George Cole
(10 films)
Source : Wikidata

Filmography of Alastair Sim (57 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

Lethal Weapon, 1h50
Directed by Richard Donner
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Comedy thriller, Action, Adventure, Crime
Themes Christmas films, Buddy films
Actors Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Mitch Ryan, Tom Atkins, Lycia Naff
Roles Ebeneezer Scrooge (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rating75% 3.797553.797553.797553.797553.79755
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Homicide Sergeant Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover), having recently celebrated his 50th birthday, worries about the troubles of older age. He receives a message from Michael Hunsaker (Tom Atkins), an old Vietnam War friend turned banker who Murtaugh realizes he has not seen in over 12 years. Murtaugh is called to investigate a suicide and learns, to his surprise, that the victim is Hunsaker's daughter, Amanda.
The Littlest Horse Thieves, 1h44
Directed by Charles Jarrott
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy-drama
Themes Films about animals, Films about horses, Children's films
Actors Alastair Sim, Peter Barkworth, Maurice Colbourne, Andrew Harrison, Prunella Scales, Joe Gladwin
Roles Lord Harrogate
Rating68% 3.436473.436473.436473.436473.43647
A coal mine in 1909 Yorkshire, England has used ponies to haul coal for many years. When they are to be replaced by machinery that will speed up production and increase profits, three children – Dave (Andrew Harrison), Tommy (Benjie Bolgar) and Alice (Chloe Franks) – learn the ponies are to be slaughtered so they team up in a scheme to steal the horses and give them their freedom.
Rogue Male
Rogue Male (1976)
, 1h43
Directed by Clive Donner
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, War, Thriller
Actors Peter O'Toole, John Standing, Alastair Sim, Harold Pinter, Michael Byrne, Ray Smith
Roles The Earl
Rating65% 3.2946453.2946453.2946453.2946453.294645
In early 1939, before the start of World War II, Sir Robert Hunter (O'Toole) takes aim at Adolf Hitler with a high-powered rifle, but misses when he is spotted and tackled by an SS guard. Captured and tortured by the Gestapo, he is then left for dead, but manages to make his way back to England where, to his shock, he discovers the Gestapo has followed him. Believing that the government would, in all likelihood, turn him over to German authorities, Sir Robert goes underground (literally) to escape his pursuers.
Royal Flash, 1h42
Directed by Richard Lester
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Adventure, Romance
Actors Malcolm McDowell, Alan Bates, Oliver Reed, Florinda Bolkan, Joss Ackland, Tom Bell
Roles Mr. Greig
Rating62% 3.1483.1483.1483.1483.148
The film begins with Flashman making a patriotic speech to the boys of Rugby School framed by a giant Union Flag, in a scene which appears to be a parody of the opening sequence in the 1970 film Patton. There is a brief flashback to the events of the original Flashman, with the head of the Rugby School (Michael Hordern) recounting Flashman's exploits in Afghanistan.
The Ruling Class, 2h34
Directed by Peter Medak
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Théâtre, Musical films, Films based on plays
Actors Peter O'Toole, Alastair Sim, Arthur Lowe, Harry Andrews, Michael Bryant, William Mervyn
Roles Bishop Lampton
Rating72% 3.6443853.6443853.6443853.6443853.644385
Following the death from accidental asphyxiation of Ralph Gurney, the 13th Earl of Gurney (Andrews), Jack Gurney (O'Toole) becomes the 14th Earl of Gurney. Jack, a paranoid schizophrenic, thinks he is Jesus Christ and shocks his family and friends with his talk of returning to the world to bring it love and charity, not to mention his penchant for breaking out into song and dance routines and sleeping upright on a cross. When faced with unpalatable facts (such as his identity as the 14th Earl), Jack puts them in his "galvanized pressure cooker" and they disappear. His unscrupulous uncle, Sir Charles (Mervyn), marries him to his mistress, Grace (Seymour), in hopes of producing an heir and putting his nephew in an institution; the plan fails, however, when Grace falls in love with Jack. Jack gains another ally in Sir Charles' wife, Lady Claire (Browne), who hates her husband and befriends Jack just to spite him. She also begins sleeping with Jack's psychiatrist, Dr. Herder (Michael Bryant), to persuade him to cure Jack quickly.
School for Scoundrels, 1h34
Directed by Cyril Frankel, Robert Hamer, Hal E. Chester
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, Dennis Price, Janette Scott, Alastair Sim, Peter Jones
Roles Mr S. Potter
Rating72% 3.645343.645343.645343.645343.64534
Henry Palfrey (Ian Carmichael) is a failure in sport and love, and the easy victim of conmen and employees alike. So he enrolls at the "School of Lifemanship" in Yeovil, run by Dr. Potter (Alastair Sim). Late for his appointment, he overhears Potter explaining the principles of lifemanship to the new intake: Well, gentlemen, lifemanship is the science of being one up on your opponents at all times. It is the art of making him feel that somewhere, somehow he has become less than you – less desirable, less worthy – less blessed.
The Millionairess, 1h30
Directed by Anthony Asquith
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays, Children's films
Actors Sophia Loren, Peter Sellers, Alastair Sim, Vittorio De Sica, Dennis Price, Gary Raymond
Roles Sagamore
Rating54% 2.7029552.7029552.7029552.7029552.702955
By the terms of her late father's will, spoiled London heiress Epifania Parerga, the richest woman in the world, cannot marry unless her prospective husband is able to turn £500 into £15,000 within a three-month period. When Epifania becomes smitten with Alastair, a muscular tennis player, she rigs the contest by giving him £500 in stock and then buying it back for £15,000. Alastair is unable to live with the domineering Epifania, however, and leaves her for the more domestic Polly Smith.
The Doctor's Dilemma, 1h39
Directed by Anthony Asquith
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays
Actors Leslie Caron, Dirk Bogarde, Alastair Sim, Robert Morley, Alec McCowen, Terence Alexander
Roles Cutler Walpole
Rating59% 2.953182.953182.953182.953182.95318
À la fin de l'époque victorienne à Londres, l'artiste-peintre Louis Dubedat est atteint de la tuberculose. Sa femme Jennifer, follement amoureuse d'un mari qu'elle idéalise, ne peut se résoudre à le voir disparaître. Elle va demander à l'éminent spécialiste Sir Colenso Ridgeon de tenter le tout pour le tout afin de le sauver. Le docteur a tellement de patients qu'il ne peut traiter en priorité que certains cas extrêmes et Jennifer le convainc (en même temps qu'il est séduit par son charme) en lui présentant des œuvres de son mari en qui le docteur reconnaît un grand artiste. Mais en prenant Louis en charge, le docteur et son équipe découvrent que l'artiste est doublé d'un escroc qui est, de surcroît, bigame, marié à une autre femme qu'il a abandonnée. Le docteur est confronté à un dilemme, entravé, en plus, par les sentiments qu'il éprouve pour Jennifer : soit laisser l'artiste s'éteindre en préservant les illusions de Jennifer, soit tenter de le sauver en dévoilant à celle-ci la bigamie et les autres travers de son mari.
Left Right and Centre, 1h35
Directed by Sidney Gilliat
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Actors Ian Carmichael, Richard Wattis, Eric Barker, Patricia Bredin, Alastair Sim, Moyra Fraser
Roles Lord Wilcot
Rating61% 3.093233.093233.093233.093233.09323
Robert Wilcot, a popular television personality, is selected as the Conservative candidate for the provincial town of Earndale in the upcoming by-election. His selection is mostly due to the influence of his uncle, Lord Wilcot a powerful local figure. His opponent is to be Stella Stoker, a fishmonger's daughter with a degree from the London School of Economics who has been chosen to stand for the Labour Party.
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's, 1h26
Directed by Frank Launder
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Themes Films about education
Actors Terry-Thomas, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell, Lionel Jeffries, Alastair Sim, Richard Wattis
Roles Miss Amelia Fritton
Rating63% 3.198083.198083.198083.198083.19808
Spiv "Flash Harry" has set up a marriage agency for the Sixth Form and an Italian Prince is interested in meeting the girls. Meanwhile, the father of one of the Sixth Formers is involved in a diamond theft and recklessly decides to hide out at the school.
The Green Man, 1h20
Directed by Basil Dearden, Robert Day
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Crime
Themes Théâtre, Films based on plays
Actors Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas, Jill Adams, Raymond Huntley, Colin Gordon
Roles Hawkins
Rating70% 3.546613.546613.546613.546613.54661
Freelance assassin Hawkins (Sim) has plans to blow up Sir Gregory Upshott, a Cabinet minister (Huntley) when the latter is discovered to be having an affair, about to be consummated at the Green Man Hotel. However his plans are accidentally uncovered and foiled by vacuum cleaner salesman Blake (Cole) who forges an unlikely alliance with Ann (Adams), engaged to be married to a rather stuffy BBC announcer, Willoughby-Cruft (Gordon). The latter relationship breaks down when Willoughby-Cruft finds his fiancée under their bed with Blake and later, in her lingerie, accidentally entangled on the floor with him. As such, there are some romantic (and not-at-all romantic) interludes and Hawkins briefly has the task of trying to deal with Upshott's secretary, a friendly policeman, and prepare his bomb at the same time.
Escapade
Escapade (1955)
, 1h27
Directed by Philip Leacock
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors John Mills, Yvonne Mitchell, Alastair Sim, Jeremy Spenser, Peter Asher, Andrew Ray
Roles Dr. Skillingworth
Rating61% 3.0879753.0879753.0879753.0879753.087975
The Belles of St. Trinian's, 1h31
Directed by Frank Launder
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Themes Films about education
Actors Alastair Sim, Joyce Grenfell, George Cole, Hermione Baddeley, Betty Ann Davies, Beryl Reid
Roles Millicent Fritton / Clarence Fritton
Rating66% 3.344543.344543.344543.344543.34454
A new term opens at St Trinian's School for Young Ladies, striking terror into the local residents and police. Headmistress Millicent Fritton (Alastair Sim) has an unorthodox teaching philosophy, letting her students run wild.