William Franklyn

Acting

William Franklyn

Born September 22, 1925 · Kensington, London, England, UK

Died October 31, 2016 · aged 91

William Franklyn was a British actor, perhaps best known for voicing the "Schhh... You Know Who" adverts for Schweppes from 1965 to 1973. He also performed on stage, film, television and radio, taking over from Peter Jones as "The Book" (the narrator) in the third, fourth and fifth radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. He is also known for his portrayal of Sexton Blake for BBC Rad…

Known For

London SuiteLondon Suite · 1996
London Suite
5.11996
MovieComedyTV Movie
On one day at an English hotel, four different stories are shown. Diana is in London to promote her television series and her ex-husband Sydney shows up to ask her for money for his gay lover. Mark and Annie come to London for the Wimbledon tennis matches, but they lose their tickets and Mark's back goes out. Debra is on her honeymoon with Paul, but Paul is missing and Debra lies to everyone she meets as to where Paul is. Sharon and Lauren are on a shop-till-you-drop trip and Sharon meets Dennis, an older man who seems to be interested in her.
Cul-de-sacCul-de-sac · 1966
Cul-de-sac
6.71966
MovieThrillerComedy
On the run and in search of help, two wounded gangsters find refuge in the secluded castle of a feeble man and his wife; however, under the point of a gun, nothing is what it seems.
Quatermass 2Quatermass 2 · 1957
Quatermass 2
6.41957
MovieScience FictionHorror
In England, a group of space scientists led by Bernard Quatermass, who have developed plans for the first Moon colony, learn that a secret, ostensibly government-run, complex of identical design has been built in a remote part of England and is the focus of periodic falls of small, hollow "meteorites" originating in outer space. Quatermass determines to investigate and uncovers a terrifying extraterrestrial life form which has already begun action to take over the Earth.
The Satanic Rites of DraculaThe Satanic Rites of Dracula · 1973
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
5.61973
MovieHorror
The police and British security forces call in Professor Van Helsing to help them investigate Satanic ritual which has been occurring in a large country house, and which has been attended by a government minister, an eminent scientist and secret service chief. The owner of the house is a mysterious property tycoon who is found to be behind a sinister plot involving a deadly plague. It is in fact Dracula who, sick of his interminable existence, has decided that he must end it all in the only possible way- by destroying every last potential victim.
The SnorkelThe Snorkel · 1958
The Snorkel
7.11958
MovieThrillerCrime
On the Italian coast, writer Paul Decker has grown unhappy in his marriage and executes what appears to be a perfect murder of his wife. While Paul is believed to be writing a book in France, his stepdaughter, Candy, suspects him of murdering her mother, as well as her father years before. With the police unwilling to investigate any further, Candy sets out to confirm her suspicions and take Paul down herself.
Splitting HeirsSplitting Heirs · 1993
Splitting Heirs
5.21993
MovieComedy
A member of the English upper class dies, leaving his estate and his business to an American, whom he thinks is his son who was lost as a baby and then found again. An Englishman who thinks he is an Indian comes to believe that he is actually the heir. He comes to hate the American who is his boss, his friend, and the man who has stolen the woman after whom he lusts.
NutcrackerNutcracker · 1982
Nutcracker
3.31982
MovieDrama
A Russian ballet dancer defects from the USSR, emigrates to England, and joins a ballet company run by the powerful, wealthy Madame Laura Carrere.
J.G. Ballard: A ProfileJ.G. Ballard: A Profile · 2003
J.G. Ballard: A Profile
2003
MovieDocumentary
Tom Sutcliffe meets J.G. Ballard, arguably one of Britain's most profound and provocative novelists, author of such works as Crash, High-Rise and Empire of the Sun.

Filmography

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G.B.H.G.B.H. · 1991
G.B.H.
6.31991
SeriesDrama
GBH was a seven-part British television drama written by Alan Bleasdale shown in the summer of 1991 on Channel 4. The protagonists were Michael Murray, the Militant tendency-supporting Labour leader of a city council in the North of England and Jim Nelson, the headmaster of a school for disturbed children. The series was controversial partly because Murray appeared to be based on Derek Hatton, former Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council — in an interview in the G.B.H. DVD Bleasdale recounts an accidental meeting with Hatton before the series, who indicates that he has caught wind of Bleasdale's intentions but does not mind as long as the actor playing him is "handsome". In normal parlance, the initials "GBH" refer to the criminal charge of grievous bodily harm - however, the actual intent of the letters is that it is supposed to stand for Great British Holiday.

Distinguished Gent