David Farrar

Biography

David Farrar was an English actor of stage and film who began his working life as a journalist before turning to repertory theater in 1932. Born in Forest Gate, Essex, he made his film debut in the Jessie Matthews musical Head Over Heels in 1937 and took small parts before leading roles in B movies such as Danny Boy. His breakthrough came as the British agent Mr. Dean in the Powell and Pressburger film Black Narcissus (1947), and he reunited with them for The Small Back Room (1949) and Gone to Earth (1950). An obituary praised his skill with authority figures, and exhibitors named him the ninth most popular British star in 1949. Later Hollywood work included villainous turns in The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) and Duel in the Jungle (1954), plus supporting roles in The Sea Chase (1955), Escape to Burma (1955) and Solomon and Sheba (1959). He retired after The 300 Spartans (1962) and died in 1995.

87years old at death

Born August 21, 1908London Borough of Newham
Died August 31, 1995Durban
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22

Movie Career

Films: 12
Career span: 20 years1942 to 1962

Genres

Adventure42%, 5 films
Drama42%, 5 films
War42%, 5 films
Romance33%, 4 films
History25%, 3 films

First and latest

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A change of course
Farrar joined the Morning Advertiser as a journalist after leaving school at 14. By 17 he was an assistant editor, and at 19 he earned a BA through night school while his interest in amateur theatricals grew.
First role
In 1932 Farrar was offered a touring job with a repertory company paying £7 a week. He left his job and spent 18 months on tour.
Big break
Farrar became a star after being given the part of Mr. Dean, a British agent, in Black Narcissus (1947). His character stirs the desires of the nuns, who are played by Deborah Kerr and Kathleen Byron.
A first
By 1945 Farrar was receiving 800 fan letters a week, a measure of his popularity from low-budget thrillers such as the two Sexton Blake films.

David Farrar movies on Netflix

The 300 Spartans1962IMDb rating 6.5as Xerxes
Beat Girl1960IMDb rating 5.9as Paul Linden
Solomon and Sheba1959IMDb rating 6.2as Pharaoh
Escape to Burma1955IMDb rating 5.5as Cardigan
Pearl of the South Pacific1955IMDb rating 5.3as Bully Hague
The Sea Chase1955IMDb rating 6.4as Commander Jeff Napier
Duel in the Jungle1954IMDb rating 5.8as Perry Henderson / Arthur Henderson
The Black Shield of Falworth1954IMDb rating 6.4as Gilbert Blunt, Earl of Alban
Gone to Earth1950IMDb rating 6.9as John Reddin
The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1as Sammy Rice
Black Narcissus1947IMDb rating 7.7as Mr. Dean
Went the Day Well?1942IMDb rating 7.5as Lieutenant Jung

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Black Narcissus1947 Dramaas Mr. Dean
IMDb rating 7.732K votes
The Small Back Room1949 Drama, Romance, Thriller, Waras Sammy Rice
IMDb rating 7.13.8K votes
The 300 Spartans1962as Xerxes
IMDb rating 6.58.3K votes
The Sea Chase1955as Commander Jeff Napier
IMDb rating 6.43.9K votes
Solomon and Sheba1959as Pharaoh
IMDb rating 6.24.5K votes
Beat Girl1960as Paul Linden
IMDb rating 5.91.4K votes
Gone to Earth1950as John Reddin
IMDb rating 6.91.7K votes
The Black Shield of Falworth1954as Gilbert Blunt, Earl of Alban
IMDb rating 6.42.3K votes

Most often with

Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell directed three of these films together. Eight actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Laurence Naismith

Cyril Cusack

Esmond Knight

Murvyn Vye

Leslie Banks

Kathleen Byron

Emeric PressburgerDirector, 3 films

Michael PowellDirector, 3 films Rudolph MatéDirector, 2 films

Films together

Laurence Naismith2 films together, 1959 to 1962
Laurence Naismith's page
- The 300 Spartans1962IMDb rating 6.5Farrar as XerxesNaismith as First Delegate
- Solomon and Sheba1959IMDb rating 6.2Farrar as PharaohNaismith as Hezrai
Cyril Cusack2 films together, 1949 to 1950
Cyril Cusack's page
- Gone to Earth1950IMDb rating 6.9Farrar as John ReddinCusack as Edward Marston
- The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Farrar as Sammy RiceCusack as Cpl. Taylor
Esmond Knight2 films together, 1947 to 1950
Esmond Knight's page
- Gone to Earth1950IMDb rating 6.9Farrar as John ReddinKnight as Abel Woodus
- Black Narcissus1947IMDb rating 7.7Farrar as Mr. DeanKnight as The Old General
Murvyn Vye2 films together, 1955
Murvyn Vye's page
- Escape to Burma1955IMDb rating 5.5Farrar as CardiganVye as Makesh
- Pearl of the South Pacific1955IMDb rating 5.3Farrar as Bully HagueVye as Halemano
Leslie Banks2 films together, 1942 to 1949
Leslie Banks's page
- The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Farrar as Sammy RiceBanks as Col. A.K. Holland
- Went the Day Well?1942IMDb rating 7.5Farrar as Lieutenant JungBanks as Oliver Wilsford
Kathleen Byron2 films together, 1947 to 1949
Kathleen Byron's page
- The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Farrar as Sammy RiceByron as Susan
- Black Narcissus1947IMDb rating 7.7Farrar as Mr. DeanByron as Sister Ruth
Emeric PressburgerDirector, 3 films, 1947 to 1950
All films by Emeric Pressburger
- Gone to Earth1950IMDb rating 6.9Farrar as John Reddin
- The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Farrar as Sammy Rice
- Black Narcissus1947IMDb rating 7.7Farrar as Mr. Dean
Michael PowellDirector, 3 films, 1947 to 1950
All films by Michael Powell
- Gone to Earth1950IMDb rating 6.9Farrar as John Reddin
- The Small Back Room1949IMDb rating 7.1Farrar as Sammy Rice
- Black Narcissus1947IMDb rating 7.7Farrar as Mr. Dean
Rudolph MatéDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1962
All films by Rudolph Maté
- The 300 Spartans1962IMDb rating 6.5Farrar as Xerxes
- The Black Shield of Falworth1954IMDb rating 6.4Farrar as Gilbert Blunt, Earl of Alban
Also two films together2 more actors
- Lisa MontellEscape to Burma (1955) and Pearl of the South Pacific (1955)
- Delphi LawrenceBeat Girl (1960) and Duel in the Jungle (1954)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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