Acting
Basil Dignam
Born October 24, 1905 · Sheffield, Metropolitan Borough of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK
Died January 31, 1979 · aged 73
Basil Dignam (24 October 1905 - 31 January 1979) was an English character actor.
Known For
Lawrence of Arabia · 1962Lawrence of Arabia
★ 8.01962
MovieAdventureHistory
During World War I, English officer Thomas Edward 'T.E.' Lawrence sets out to unite and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes to fight the Turks.
Sapphire · 1959Sapphire
★ 7.01959
MovieMysteryCrime
Two Scotland Yard detectives investigate the murder of a young woman of mixed race who had been passing for white. As they interview a spate of suspects -- including the girl's white boyfriend and his disapproving parents -- the detectives wade through a stubbornly entrenched sludge of racism and bigotry.
Where the Spies Are · 1966Where the Spies Are
★ 5.41966
MovieComedy
A local doctor is recruited as a cold war spy to fulfill a very important secret mission in the Middle East, only to experience that his mission is complicated by a sexy female double agent.
Battle of Britain · 1969Battle of Britain
★ 6.91969
MovieWarHistory
In 1940, the Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle against the might of the Luftwaffe for control of the skies over Britain, thus preventing an attempted Nazi invasion.
Soft Beds, Hard Battles · 1974Soft Beds, Hard Battles
★ 4.61974
MovieComedy
In this comedy, set during the Nazi occupation of France, Peter Sellers plays most major male parts, so he stars in nearly every scene, always bumbling in inspector Clouseau-style.
Gorgo · 1961Gorgo
★ 5.31961
MovieScience FictionAction
When an underwater volcanic eruption tears up the sea bed off the coast of Ireland, two treasure hunters make the discovery of a lifetime when they encounter a gigantic prehistoric monster that’s been unleashed from the earth’s crust. After capturing the beast, the pair transport the creature down to London where it’s given the name of “Gorgo” and put on display to an avid public. Little do they realize that Gorgo is just an infant, and that his exponentially larger mother is about to emerge from the depths to avenge the capture of her offspring.
Innocent Sinners · 1958Innocent Sinners
★ 7.51958
MovieDrama
A neglected girl in post-World War II London befriends street urchins who help her build a tiny garden in a bombed-out church.
Room at the Top · 1958Room at the Top
★ 6.91958
MovieDramaRomance
An ambitious young accountant schemes to wed a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite falling in love with a married older woman.
Movies
Lawrence of Arabia · 1962Lawrence of Arabia
★ 8.01962
MovieAdventureHistory
During World War I, English officer Thomas Edward 'T.E.' Lawrence sets out to unite and lead the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes to fight the Turks.
Sapphire · 1959Sapphire
★ 7.01959
MovieMysteryCrime
Two Scotland Yard detectives investigate the murder of a young woman of mixed race who had been passing for white. As they interview a spate of suspects -- including the girl's white boyfriend and his disapproving parents -- the detectives wade through a stubbornly entrenched sludge of racism and bigotry.
Where the Spies Are · 1966Where the Spies Are
★ 5.41966
MovieComedy
A local doctor is recruited as a cold war spy to fulfill a very important secret mission in the Middle East, only to experience that his mission is complicated by a sexy female double agent.
Battle of Britain · 1969Battle of Britain
★ 6.91969
MovieWarHistory
In 1940, the Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle against the might of the Luftwaffe for control of the skies over Britain, thus preventing an attempted Nazi invasion.
Soft Beds, Hard Battles · 1974Soft Beds, Hard Battles
★ 4.61974
MovieComedy
In this comedy, set during the Nazi occupation of France, Peter Sellers plays most major male parts, so he stars in nearly every scene, always bumbling in inspector Clouseau-style.
Gorgo · 1961Gorgo
★ 5.31961
MovieScience FictionAction
When an underwater volcanic eruption tears up the sea bed off the coast of Ireland, two treasure hunters make the discovery of a lifetime when they encounter a gigantic prehistoric monster that’s been unleashed from the earth’s crust. After capturing the beast, the pair transport the creature down to London where it’s given the name of “Gorgo” and put on display to an avid public. Little do they realize that Gorgo is just an infant, and that his exponentially larger mother is about to emerge from the depths to avenge the capture of her offspring.
Innocent Sinners · 1958Innocent Sinners
★ 7.51958
MovieDrama
A neglected girl in post-World War II London befriends street urchins who help her build a tiny garden in a bombed-out church.
Room at the Top · 1958Room at the Top
★ 6.91958
MovieDramaRomance
An ambitious young accountant schemes to wed a wealthy factory owner's daughter, despite falling in love with a married older woman.
I'm All Right Jack · 1959I'm All Right Jack
★ 6.61959
MovieComedy
Naive Stanley Windrush looks for a career in a family business. Much to his dismay, he finds work at a munitions factory where he has to start from the bottom, while both the management and the labor union use him as a tool in their fight for power.
Reach for the Sky · 1956Reach for the Sky
★ 6.91956
MovieWarDrama
The true story of airman Douglas Bader who overcame the loss of both legs in a 1931 flying accident to become a successful fighter pilot and wing leader during World War II.
The Secret Partner · 1961The Secret Partner
★ 5.81961
MovieMysteryDrama
A shipping tycoon with a record becomes a suspect when money goes missing from the company vault.
The Cuckoo Patrol · 1967The Cuckoo Patrol
★ 4.61967
MovieComedyMusic
Freddie and the Dreamers play part of a Scout troupe that get caught up in a series of misadventures on their way to camp.
Twisted Nerve · 1968Twisted Nerve
★ 6.81968
MovieThrillerHorror
Martin Durnley is a young man with an infantilizing mother, resentful stepfather and an institutionalized brother with Down's syndrome. To cope, he retreats into an alternate child personality he calls Georgie. After being caught during a theft attempt at a department store, he befriends a female customer who is sympathetic to him, but his friendship soon turns into obsession.
A Touch of Larceny · 1960A Touch of Larceny
★ 6.01960
MovieComedyCrime
After falling in love with an American woman, Virginia Killain, who is engaged to another man, British Naval Commander Max Easton, hatches a plan that will get him enough money to support Virginia in the lifestyle she is accustomed to. Easton's plan is to disappear for a time making it seem that he has defected to the Soviets taking important Naval secrets from his job at the Admiralty and to return and sue the newspapers for slander. Not everything goes as planned for Commander Easton.
Carry On Sergeant · 1958Carry On Sergeant
★ 6.41958
MovieComedyWar
Sergeant Grimshawe wants to retire in the flush of success by winning the Star Squad prize with his very last platoon of newly called-up National Servicemen. But a motley bunch they turn out to be, and it's up to Grimshawe to put the no-hopers through their paces.
The Narrowing Circle · 1956The Narrowing Circle
★ 5.81956
MovieCrimeThriller
A journalist is framed for the murder of a rival and has to prove his innocence, whatever the cost.
10 Rillington Place · 197110 Rillington Place
★ 7.31971
MovieCrimeThriller
The story of British serial killer John Christie, who committed most or all of his crimes in the titular terraced house, and the miscarriage of justice involving Timothy Evans.
Naked Evil · 1966Naked Evil
★ 6.31966
MovieHorror
Jamaican obi-man hexes student hostel manager, eventually causing the manager's death, before being killed himself by the manager's vengeful spirit.
The Quatermass Xperiment · 1955The Quatermass Xperiment
★ 6.51955
MovieScience FictionHorror
The first manned spacecraft, fired from an English launchpad, is lost from radar before roaring back to Earth and crashing in a farmer's field. The rocket is found to contain only one of the three men who took off in it; and he is unable to talk but appears to be undergoing a torturous physical and mental metamorphosis.
Young Winston · 1972Young Winston
★ 6.21972
MovieActionAdventure
This historical drama is an account of the early life of British politician Winston Churchill, including his childhood years, his time as a war correspondent in Africa, and culminating with his first election to Parliament.
Victim · 1961Victim
★ 7.51961
MovieDramaCrime
A web of blackmail and murder attracts the attention of a barrister with a seemingly idyllic life, threatening to derail his career on the path of success.
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin · 1971A Lizard in a Woman's Skin
★ 6.51971
MovieHorrorThriller
Carol Hammond, daughter of a politician, has vivid nightmares involving sex orgies and LSD. In a dream, she murders a neighbor she envies and wakes up to a real investigation into her neighbor's murder.
Rotten to the Core · 1965Rotten to the Core
★ 6.51965
MovieCrimeComedy
Rogues Jelly Knight, Scapa Flood, and Lennie the Dip leave prison expecting boss The Duke to have their stash ready to share out. Instead, Duke's girl Sara gives them the news Duke is dead and the money gone on nursing care. They soon discover that Duke is actually running Hope Springs Nature Clinic with the help of most of the local villains. Very strange - and the nearby army camp and Sara's encouragement of Lieutenant Vine would seem to be no coincidence either. Written by Jeremy Perkins
Two on the Tiles · 1951Two on the Tiles
★ 6.71951
MovieComedyMusic
A married couple both face temptations while separated for a few days. The husband meets an attractive female fellow traveler in Paris while the wife accidentally spends a night aboard a Royal Navy ship with a male friend after she is stranded following a party. Despite knowing the essential innocence of both husband and wife, their sinister new butler uses information about their discretions to demand blackmail payments.
TV Shows
The Avengers · 1961The Avengers
★ 7.81961
SeriesCrime
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners. Jonathan Steed - an urbane, proper gentleman spy - teams with various assistants throughout the series' run, including Dr. David Keel, Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King, to repeatedly save the world from diabolical schemes plotted by equally diabolical evil-doers (among them robots and man-eating monsters).
Crown Court · 1972Crown Court
★ 5.71972
SeriesDrama
Crown Court is an afternoon television courtroom drama produced by Granada Television for the ITV network that ran from 1972, when the Crown Court system replaced Assize courts and Quarter sessions in the legal system of England and Wales, to 1984.
The Saint · 1962The Saint
★ 7.31962
SeriesCrime
Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.
Theatre 625 · 1964Theatre 625
★ 7.21964
SeriesDrama
Theatre 625 is a British television drama anthology series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC2 from 1964 to 1968. It was one of the first regular programmes in the line-up of the channel, and the title referred to its production and transmission being in the higher-definition 625-line format, which only BBC2 used at the time.
No Hiding Place · 1959No Hiding Place
★ 4.81959
SeriesCrimeDrama
No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967.
It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.
Department S · 1969Department S
★ 5.51969
SeriesDrama
Department S is a United Kingdom spy-fi adventure series produced by ITC Entertainment. The series consists of 28 episodes which originally aired in 1969–1970. It starred Peter Wyngarde as author Jason King, Joel Fabiani as Stewart Sullivan, and Rosemary Nicols as computer expert Annabelle Hurst. The trio were agents for a fictional special department of Interpol. The head of Department S was Sir Curtis Seretse.
The Persuaders! · 1971The Persuaders!
★ 7.61971
SeriesComedy
An English aristocrat and an American millionaire come together to tackle crime.
The Sweeney · 1975The Sweeney
★ 8.01975
SeriesDrama
Jack Regan, an unethical officer of the Flying Squad, uses unorthodox methods to pursue criminals with the help of his partner, George Carter.
ITV Playhouse · 1967ITV Playhouse
★ 7.01967
SeriesDrama
ITV Playhouse is a British comedy-drama TV series that ran from 1967 to 1983, which featured contributions from playwrights such as Dennis Potter, Rhys Adrian and Alan Sharp. The series began in black and white, but was later shot in colour and was produced by various companies for the ITV network, a format that would inspire Dramarama. Actors appearing in the series included Leslie Anderson, Gwen Nelson, Ricky Alleyne, Pat Heywood, Michael Elphick, Ian Hendry, Edward Woodward, Margaret Lockwood, Jessie Matthews and Lloyd Peters.
The Adventures of Robin Hood · 1955The Adventures of Robin Hood
★ 6.41955
SeriesFamily
The legendary character Robin Hood and his band of merry men in Sherwood Forest and the surrounding vicinity. While some episodes dramatised the traditional Robin Hood tales, most episodes were original dramas created by the show's writers and producers.
The Champions · 1968The Champions
★ 6.51968
SeriesSci-Fi & Fantasy
After a plane carrying three Agents crashes in the Himalayas, they are rescued by an advanced civilisation secretly living in Tibet who grant them enhanced versions of the ordinary five senses, and intellectual and physical abilities.
UFO · 1970UFO
★ 7.81970
SeriesSci-Fi & FantasyDrama
A secret, high-technology international agency called SHADO defends Earth from alien invaders.
The Protectors · 1972The Protectors
★ 6.11972
SeriesCrime
The Protectors is a British television series, an action thriller created by Gerry Anderson. It was Anderson's second TV series using live actors as opposed to electronic marionettes, and also his second to be firmly set in contemporary times. It was also the only Gerry Anderson produced television series that was not of the fantasy or science fiction genres. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company. Despite not featuring marionettes or any real science fiction elements, The Protectors became one of Anderson's most popular productions, easily winning a renewal for a second season. A third season was in the planning stages when the show's major sponsor pulled out, forcing its cancellation.
The Protectors first aired in 1972 and 1973, and ran to 52 episodes over two series, each 25 minutes long - making it one of the last series of this type to be produced in a half-hour format. It starred Robert Vaughn as Harry Rule, Nyree Dawn Porter as the Contessa Caroline di Contini, and Tony Anholt as Paul Buchet. Episodes often featured prominent guest actors.
The Prisoner · 1967The Prisoner
★ 7.71967
SeriesDramaSci-Fi & Fantasy
After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre Kafkaesque prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.
Justice · 1971Justice
★ 7.31971
SeriesDrama
Justice is a British drama television series which originally aired on ITV in 39 hour-long episodes between 8 August 1971 and 16 October 1974. Margaret Lockwood stars as Harriet Peterson a female barrister in the North of England. It was made by Yorkshire Television and was based loosely on Justice Is a Woman, an episode of ITV Playhouse broadcast in 1969 in which Lockwood had previously also played a barrister. The theme music was Crown Imperial by William Walton.
Sherlock Holmes · 1954Sherlock Holmes
★ 7.21954
SeriesMysteryDrama
The first American television series of Sherlock Holmes adventures aired in syndication in the fall of 1954. The 39 half-hour mostly original stories were produced by Sheldon Reynolds and filmed in France by Guild Films, starring Ronald Howard as Holmes and Howard Marion Crawford as Watson. Archie Duncan appeared in many episodes as Inspector Lestrade. Richard Larke, billed as Kenneth Richards, played Sgt. Wilkins in about fifteen episodes. The series' associate producer, Nicole Milinaire, was one of the first women to attain a senior production role in a television series.
Jason King · 1971Jason King
★ 7.81971
Series
Jason King - a suavely sophisticated former secret agent turned novelist - travels the world searching for material to fill his books, encountering an endless parade of glamorous women, exotic locales, menacing villains and daring intrigue! Before Austin Powers swung into action, Jason King set the standard for the hip crime-fighting international playboy!
The Pallisers · 1974The Pallisers
★ 6.41974
SeriesDrama
This sprawling BBC saga follows an aristocratic family through three generations of power, wealth, intrigue, and scandal in Victorian England. Based on Anthony Trollope’s “political” novels .
The New Avengers · 1976The New Avengers
★ 7.11976
SeriesDrama
The New Avengers is a British secret agent fantasy adventure television series broadcast during 1976 and 1977. It is a sequel to the 1960s series The Avengers and was developed by Albert Fennell and Brian Clemens.
A joint United Kingdom-France-Canada production, the show picks up the adventures of John Steed and his team of Avengers fighting evil plots and world domination. Whereas in the original series Steed had almost always been partnered with a woman, in the new series he had two partners: Mike Gambit, a top agent, crack marksman and trained martial artist, and Purdey, a former trainee with The Royal Ballet who was an amalgam of many of the best talents from Steed's previous female partners.
The Main Chance · 1969The Main Chance
★ 8.31969
SeriesDrama
The Main Chance was a British television series which first aired on ITV between 1969,1970,1972 and 1975. A drama, it depicts the sudden transformation in the life of solicitor David Main who relocates from London to Leeds.
Gideon's Way · 1965Gideon's Way
★ 7.01965
SeriesDrama
Gideon's Way is a British television crime series made by ITC Entertainment in 1964/65, based on the novels by John Creasey. The series was made at Elstree in twin production with The Saint TV series. It starred Liverpudlian John Gregson in the title role as Commander George Gideon of Scotland Yard, with Alexander Davion as his assistant, Detective Chief Inspector David Keen, Reginald Jessup as Det. Superintendent LeMaitre, Ian Rossiter as Detective Chief Superintendent Joe Bell and Basil Dignam as Commissioner Scott-Marle. The show did not acknowledge any help from Scotland Yard, any other police force or advisor.
Daphne Anderson starred as his wife, Kate with Giles Watling as young son, Malcolm, Richard James as older son, Matthew who seemed to have a lot of new girlfriends and Andrea Allan as daughter, Pru. Unusually for police stories, Gideon was shown as a family man at home though urgent phone calls from his bosses tend to disrupt family plans too often. However, he did admit in "State Visit" that his wife had walked out on him for a while years ago when he put the job first and her second. They live in an expensive detached house in Chelsea.
Man in a Suitcase · 1967Man in a Suitcase
★ 7.21967
SeriesDrama
Accused of treason, a former U.S. intelligence officer based in London tries to clear his name, taking on freelance jobs around Europe as he searches for answers.
Churchill's People · 1974Churchill's People
★ 5.01974
SeriesDrama
Churchill's People is a British anthology series based on A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Winston Churchill's four-volume history of Britain and its former colonies. 26 episodes were produced by the BBC and initially broadcast from 30 December 1974 to 23 June 1975.
Interpol Calling · 1959Interpol Calling
★ 7.31959
SeriesCrimeDrama
The adventures of Interpol policemen Duval and Mornay as they fought against international drug-running, homicide, robbery and forgery.