Richard Wattis

Biography

Richard Wattis was an English actor who worked extensively in British comedy during the 1950s and 1960s. Raised in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, he began acting with repertory theater in Croydon and made many appearances on the West End stage before his first film role in A Yank at Oxford (1938). His career was interrupted by service in the Second World War. Returning to screen work, he usually wore thick-rimmed round spectacles and was often cast as a civil servant or a Man from the Ministry. He played Manton Bassett, a Ministry of Education official, through the St Trinian's films, among them The Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966). To American audiences he was probably best known as Northbrook in The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). On television he had a long-running part in Sykes and narrated 14 episodes of Jackanory between 1971 and 1972.

62years old at death

Born February 25, 1912Staffordshire
Died February 1, 1975London
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20

Movie Career

Films: 27
Career span: 19 years1950 to 1969

Genres

Comedy52%, 14 films
Drama41%, 11 films
War22%, 6 films
Romance19%, 5 films
Action11%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Beyond film
Wattis narrated 14 episodes of the BBC children's program Jackanory between 1971 and 1972, and also had a long-running role in Sykes.

Richard Wattis movies on Netflix

Wonderwall1969IMDb rating 5.6as Perkins
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery1966IMDb rating 5.8as Manton Bassett
Operation Crossbow1965IMDb rating 6.6as Sir Charles Sims
The Alphabet Murders1965IMDb rating 5.2as Wolf
The Liquidator1965IMDb rating 5.9as Flying Instructor
Carry on Spying1964IMDb rating 6.2as Cobley
The V.I.P.s1963IMDb rating 6.3as Sanders
Libel1959IMDb rating 7.1as The Judge
Ten Seconds to Hell1959IMDb rating 6.5as Major Haven
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness1958IMDb rating 7.2as Mr. Murfin
The Abominable Snowman1957IMDb rating 6.4as Dr. Peter Fox
The Little Hut1957IMDb rating 5.7as Official
The Prince and the Showgirl1957IMDb rating 6.4as Northbrook
A Touch of the Sun1956IMDb rating 5.4as Purchase
The Iron Petticoat1956IMDb rating 5.1as Lingerie Clerk
The Man Who Knew Too Much1956IMDb rating 7.4as Assistant Manager
The Man Who Never Was1956IMDb rating 7.4as Shop Assistant
A Yank in Ermine1955IMDb rating 4.9as Boone
The Colditz Story1955IMDb rating 6.9as Richard Gordon
Hobson's Choice1954IMDb rating 7.7as Albert Prosser
Lease of Life1954IMDb rating 6.8as The Solicitor
The Belles of St Trinian's1954IMDb rating 6.7as Manton Bassett
Appointment in London1953IMDb rating 6.5as Pascal
Bachelor in Paris1952IMDb rating 5.2as Carter
The Importance of Being Earnest1952IMDb rating 7.4as Seton
The Clouded Yellow1950IMDb rating 6.9as Employment Agent
The Happiest Days of Your Life1950IMDb rating 7.2as Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne

Best known for

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

Top

The Prince and the Showgirl1957 Comedy, Romanceas Northbrook
IMDb rating 6.410.0K votes
The Man Who Knew Too Much1956 Thrilleras Assistant Manager
IMDb rating 7.477K votes
Hobson's Choice1954as Albert Prosser
IMDb rating 7.710K votes
The Abominable Snowman1957as Dr. Peter Fox
IMDb rating 6.45.8K votes
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness1958as Mr. Murfin
IMDb rating 7.25.9K votes
The Importance of Being Earnest1952as Seton
IMDb rating 7.47.0K votes
The Happiest Days of Your Life1950as Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
IMDb rating 7.22.1K votes
The Colditz Story1955as Richard Gordon
IMDb rating 6.93.5K votes

Most often with

Anthony Asquith directed three of these films, Frank Launder three and Mark Robson two. Seven actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Trevor Howard

John Mills

Dennis Price

Colin Gordon

Reginald Beckwith

Margaret Rutherford

Anthony AsquithDirector, 3 films Frank LaunderDirector, 3 films Mark RobsonDirector, 2 films

Films together

Trevor Howard3 films together, 1950 to 1965
Trevor Howard's page
- Operation Crossbow1965IMDb rating 6.6Wattis as Sir Charles SimsHoward as Prof. Lindemann
- The Liquidator1965IMDb rating 5.9Wattis as Flying InstructorHoward as Mostyn
- The Clouded Yellow1950IMDb rating 6.9Wattis as Employment AgentHoward as Maj. David Somers
John Mills3 films together, 1954 to 1965
John Mills's page
- Operation Crossbow1965IMDb rating 6.6Wattis as Sir Charles SimsMills as Gen. Boyd
- The Colditz Story1955IMDb rating 6.9Wattis as Richard GordonMills as Pat Reid
- Hobson's Choice1954IMDb rating 7.7Wattis as Albert ProsserMills as William Mossop
Dennis Price3 films together, 1952 to 1963
Dennis Price's page
- The V.I.P.s1963IMDb rating 6.3Wattis as SandersPrice as Cmdr. Millbank
- A Touch of the Sun1956IMDb rating 5.4Wattis as PurchasePrice as Digby Hatchard
- Bachelor in Paris1952IMDb rating 5.2Wattis as CarterPrice as Matthew Ibbetson
Colin Gordon3 films together, 1956 to 1966
Colin Gordon's page
- The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery1966IMDb rating 5.8Wattis as Manton BassettGordon as Noakes
- The Liquidator1965IMDb rating 5.9Wattis as Flying InstructorGordon as Vicar
- A Touch of the Sun1956IMDb rating 5.4Wattis as PurchaseGordon as Cecil Flick
Reginald Beckwith3 films together, 1954 to 1956
Reginald Beckwith's page
- A Touch of the Sun1956IMDb rating 5.4Wattis as PurchaseBeckwith as Herbert Hardcastle
- A Yank in Ermine1955IMDb rating 4.9Wattis as BooneBeckwith as Kimp
- Lease of Life1954IMDb rating 6.8Wattis as The SolicitorBeckwith as Foley
Margaret Rutherford3 films together, 1950 to 1963
Margaret Rutherford's page
- The V.I.P.s1963IMDb rating 6.3Wattis as SandersRutherford as The Duchess of Brighton
- The Importance of Being Earnest1952IMDb rating 7.4Wattis as SetonRutherford as Miss Prism
- The Happiest Days of Your Life1950IMDb rating 7.2Wattis as Arnold Billings: Staff of NutbourneRutherford as Muriel Whitchurch
Anthony AsquithDirector, 3 films, 1952 to 1963
All films by Anthony Asquith
- The V.I.P.s1963IMDb rating 6.3Wattis as Sanders
- Libel1959IMDb rating 7.1Wattis as The Judge
- The Importance of Being Earnest1952IMDb rating 7.4Wattis as Seton
Frank LaunderDirector, 3 films, 1950 to 1966
All films by Frank Launder
- The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery1966IMDb rating 5.8Wattis as Manton Bassett
- The Belles of St Trinian's1954IMDb rating 6.7Wattis as Manton Bassett
- The Happiest Days of Your Life1950IMDb rating 7.2Wattis as Arnold Billings: Staff of Nutbourne
Mark RobsonDirector, 2 films, 1957 to 1958
All films by Mark Robson
- The Inn of the Sixth Happiness1958IMDb rating 7.2Wattis as Mr. Murfin
- The Little Hut1957IMDb rating 5.7Wattis as Official
Also three films together1 more actor
- Guy MiddletonA Yank in Ermine (1955), The Belles of St Trinian's (1954) and The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950)
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.

Top