Alastair Sim
Biography
Alastair Sim was a Scottish actor who began his stage career at thirty and became a popular West End performer. Born in Edinburgh, he taught elocution at Edinburgh University from 1925 and ran a drama school before John Drinkwater helped him turn professional in 1930. A spell with the Old Vic company gave him experience in Shakespeare and the classics, and he worked with the playwright James Bridie, acting in and directing his plays. From 1935 he appeared in more than fifty British films and became a leading star of British cinema in the late 1940s and 1950s. His roles included the detective in Green for Danger (1946), the headmaster in The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), and Scrooge in Scrooge (1951); in The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954) he played Millicent and Clarence Fritton. He later focused on the stage and played Mr Justice Swallow in the television series Misleading Cases. He died in 1976.
75years old at death
- Born Edinburgh
- Died London
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Also credited as Alastair George Bell Sim
Movie Career
- Films
- 13
- Career span
- 30 years1946 to 1976
Genres
First and latest
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A role that slipped away
Sim declined to play Joseph Macroon in Whisky Galore! (1949). His reason was that he could not bear professional Scotsmen.
A role that slipped away
Sim was intended for the mad criminal mastermind Professor Marcus in The Ladykillers (1955), a role written with him in mind, but Alec Guinness finally took the part and, according to Mark Duguid, played it with a hint of Sim.
First role
The dramatist John Drinkwater saw one of Sim's school productions and urged him to turn professional. Thanks to Drinkwater, Sim got his first professional part in Othello at London's Savoy Theatre in 1930, understudying three principal male roles and playing the messenger.
Alastair Sim movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Frank Launder directed three of these films. Joyce Grenfell appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Joyce Grenfell's page
George Cole's page
Guy Middleton's page
Michael Hordern's page
Peter O'Toole's page
Lionel Jeffries's page
Frank LaunderDirector, 3 films, 1950 to 1957
All films by Frank Launder
Also two films together16 more actors
- Dennis PriceSchool for Scoundrels (1960) and The Millionairess (1960)
- Richard WattisThe Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950)
- Miles MallesonScrooge (1951) and Stage Fright (1950)
- Terry-ThomasSchool for Scoundrels (1960) and Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957)
- Irene HandlSchool for Scoundrels (1960) and The Belles of St Trinian's (1954)
- Hermione BaddeleyThe Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and Scrooge (1951)
- Kay WalshThe Ruling Class (1972) and Stage Fright (1950)
- Alfie BassThe Millionairess (1960) and Stage Fright (1950)
- Ernest ThesigerLaughter in Paradise (1951) and Scrooge (1951)
- Hattie JacquesSchool for Scoundrels (1960) and Green for Danger (1946)
- Ronald AdamLaughter in Paradise (1951) and Green for Danger (1946)
- Lloyd LambleBlue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) and The Belles of St Trinian's (1954)
- Arthur HowardThe Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950)
- Henry WoolfRogue Male (1976) and The Ruling Class (1972)
- Jack WarnerScrooge (1951) and Hue and Cry (1947)
- Eleanor SummerfieldThe Millionairess (1960) and Laughter in Paradise (1951)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
One award and honor.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.