Alastair Sim

Acting

Alastair Sim

Born October 9, 1900 · Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

Died August 19, 1976 · aged 75

Alastair George Bell Sim, CBE (9 October 1900 – 19 August 1976) was a Scottish character actor who appeared in a string of classic British films. He is best remembered in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1951 film Scrooge, and for his portrayal of Miss Fritton, the headmistress in two St. Trinian's films. He was famously described by comedian Ronnie Corbett as a "sad-faced actor, with the voice…

Known For

The Doctor's DilemmaThe Doctor's Dilemma · 1959
The Doctor's Dilemma
6.51959
MovieDramaComedy
Four doctors face a serious dilemma when the beautiful wife of a TB-stricken artist begs one of them to cure her brilliant, but amoral, husband.
ScroogeScrooge · 1951
Scrooge
7.41951
MovieFantasyDrama
Ebenezer Scrooge malcontentedly shuffles through life as a cruel, miserly businessman, until he is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve who show him how his unhappy childhood and adult behavior has left him a selfish, lonely old man.
EscapadeEscapade · 1955
Escapade
5.61955
MovieComedyDrama
An English pacifist's (John Mills) sons run away from school and hijack a plane to Vienna to petition for peace.
The Ruling ClassThe Ruling Class · 1972
The Ruling Class
6.51972
MovieComedyDrama
When the Earl of Gurney dies in a cross-dressing accident, his schizophrenic son, Jack, inherits the Gurney estate. Jack is not the average nobleman; he sings and dances across the estate and thinks he is Jesus reincarnated. Believing that Jack is mentally unfit to own the estate, the Gurney family plots to steal Jack's inheritance. As their outrageous schemes fail, the family strives to cure Jack of his bizarre behavior, with disastrous results.
Stage FrightStage Fright · 1950
Stage Fright
6.81950
MovieThriller
A struggling actress tries to help a friend prove his innocence when he's accused of murdering the husband of a high-society entertainer.
An Inspector CallsAn Inspector Calls · 1954
An Inspector Calls
7.21954
MovieCrimeDrama
An upper-crust family dinner is interrupted by a police inspector who brings news that a girl known to everyone present has died in suspicious circumstances. It seems that any or all of them could have had a hand in her death. But who is the mysterious Inspector and what can he want of them?
Royal FlashRoyal Flash · 1975
Royal Flash
5.91975
MovieAdventureComedy
Cowardly rogue Harry Flashman's (Malcolm McDowell) schemes to gain entry to the royal circles of 19th-century Europe go nowhere until he meets a pair of devious nobles with their own agenda. At their urging, Flashman agrees to re-create himself as a bogus Prussian nobleman to woo a beautiful duchess. But the half-baked plan quickly comes unraveled, and he's soon on the run from several new enemies who are all calling for the rapscallion's head.
Innocents in ParisInnocents in Paris · 1953
Innocents in Paris
5.21953
MovieComedy
Romantic comedy about a group of Britons flying to Paris for the weekend.

Movies

The Doctor's DilemmaThe Doctor's Dilemma · 1959
The Doctor's Dilemma
6.51959
MovieDramaComedy
Four doctors face a serious dilemma when the beautiful wife of a TB-stricken artist begs one of them to cure her brilliant, but amoral, husband.
ScroogeScrooge · 1951
Scrooge
7.41951
MovieFantasyDrama
Ebenezer Scrooge malcontentedly shuffles through life as a cruel, miserly businessman, until he is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve who show him how his unhappy childhood and adult behavior has left him a selfish, lonely old man.
EscapadeEscapade · 1955
Escapade
5.61955
MovieComedyDrama
An English pacifist's (John Mills) sons run away from school and hijack a plane to Vienna to petition for peace.
The Ruling ClassThe Ruling Class · 1972
The Ruling Class
6.51972
MovieComedyDrama
When the Earl of Gurney dies in a cross-dressing accident, his schizophrenic son, Jack, inherits the Gurney estate. Jack is not the average nobleman; he sings and dances across the estate and thinks he is Jesus reincarnated. Believing that Jack is mentally unfit to own the estate, the Gurney family plots to steal Jack's inheritance. As their outrageous schemes fail, the family strives to cure Jack of his bizarre behavior, with disastrous results.
Stage FrightStage Fright · 1950
Stage Fright
6.81950
MovieThriller
A struggling actress tries to help a friend prove his innocence when he's accused of murdering the husband of a high-society entertainer.
An Inspector CallsAn Inspector Calls · 1954
An Inspector Calls
7.21954
MovieCrimeDrama
An upper-crust family dinner is interrupted by a police inspector who brings news that a girl known to everyone present has died in suspicious circumstances. It seems that any or all of them could have had a hand in her death. But who is the mysterious Inspector and what can he want of them?
Royal FlashRoyal Flash · 1975
Royal Flash
5.91975
MovieAdventureComedy
Cowardly rogue Harry Flashman's (Malcolm McDowell) schemes to gain entry to the royal circles of 19th-century Europe go nowhere until he meets a pair of devious nobles with their own agenda. At their urging, Flashman agrees to re-create himself as a bogus Prussian nobleman to woo a beautiful duchess. But the half-baked plan quickly comes unraveled, and he's soon on the run from several new enemies who are all calling for the rapscallion's head.
Innocents in ParisInnocents in Paris · 1953
Innocents in Paris
5.21953
MovieComedy
Romantic comedy about a group of Britons flying to Paris for the weekend.
The Belles of St Trinian'sThe Belles of St Trinian's · 1954
The Belles of St Trinian's
6.41954
MovieComedy
The unruly schoolgirls of St Trinian's are more interested in men and mischief than homework and hockey. But greater trouble than ever beckons when the arrival at the school of Princess Fatima of Makyad coincides with the return of recently expelled Arabella Fritton, who has the kidnap of a prize racehorse on her mind.
A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol · 1971
A Christmas Carol
7.21971
MovieAnimationDrama
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.
The MillionairessThe Millionairess · 1960
The Millionairess
5.31960
MovieComedyRomance
When her father dies, Epifania Parerga, an Italian in London, becomes the world's richest woman. She feels incomplete without a husband and falls in love with a humble, Indian physician, Ahmed el Kabir, much loved by his indigent English patients.
Lady Godiva Rides AgainLady Godiva Rides Again · 1951
Lady Godiva Rides Again
5.91951
MovieComedy
Marjory Clark wins a competition in her Midland town and finds herself in a Festival of Britain procession as Lady Godiva - though not in the buff. This leads by way of a suspect beauty competition to the show-business world of London. But it could be a slippery slope for simple home-town Marge.
London Belongs to MeLondon Belongs to Me · 1948
London Belongs to Me
7.01948
MovieDrama
Classic British drama about the residents of a large terrace house in London between Christmas 1938 and September 1939. Percy Boon lives with his mother in a shared rented house with an assortment of characters in central London. Although well intentioned, he becomes mixed up with gangsters and murder. The story focuses on the effects this has on Percy and the other residents.
Rogue MaleRogue Male · 1976
Rogue Male
6.51976
MovieDramaWar
In 1939, Sir Robert Thorndyke takes aim at Adolf Hitler with a high powered rifle, but the shot misses its mark. Captured and tortured by the Gestapo and left for dead, Sir Robert makes his way back to England where he discovers the Gestapo has followed him. Knowing that his government would turn him over to German authorities, Sir Robert goes underground in his battle with his pursuers.
Green for DangerGreen for Danger · 1946
Green for Danger
6.71946
MovieMysteryCrime
In the midst of Nazi air raids, a postman dies on the operating table at a rural hospital. But was the death accidental?
The Green ManThe Green Man · 1956
The Green Man
7.01956
MovieComedyCrime
Unknown to everyone but his shady Middle Eastern bosses, watchmaker Hawkins is actually a professional hired assassin with a predilection for killing his targets with bombs. After disposing of a dictator and millionaire, Hawkins is assigned to kill a politician who is heading to a remote hotel, The Green Man, for a secret tryst with his secretary. There, however, Hawkins' plot is discovered by vacuum salesman William Blake, who determines to stop him.
Laughter in ParadiseLaughter in Paradise · 1951
Laughter in Paradise
6.51951
MovieComedy
When an eccentric practical joker dies, he divides his fortune among four heirs. But before they can collect the cash they must each do something which goes completely against their nature. NB: This is the film which introduced Audrey Hepburn.
Blue Murder at St. Trinian'sBlue Murder at St. Trinian's · 1957
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's
6.81957
MovieComedy
With their headmistress under lock and key in her majesty's prison, the St Trinian's girls find themselves under the protection of the army. However, when the sixth form take a fancy to winning a trip to Italy through means fair or foul, the army discover this is one battle they can't win. Let loose in Europe, it is not long before St Trinian's have succeeded in endangering European relations.
School for ScoundrelsSchool for Scoundrels · 1960
School for Scoundrels
7.01960
MovieComedy
Hapless Henry Palfrey is patronised by his self-important chief clerk at work, ignored by restaurant waiters, conned by shady second-hand car salesmen, and, worst of all, endlessly wrong-footed by unspeakably rotten cad Raymond Delauney who has set his cap at April, new love of Palfrey's life. In desperation Henry enrolls at the College of Lifemanship to learn how to best such bounders and win the girl.
Left Right and CentreLeft Right and Centre · 1959
Left Right and Centre
6.11959
MovieComedyRomance
At the Earndale by-election natural history expert and TV personality Bob Wilcot for the Conservatives finds himself up against Billingsgate girl Stella Stoker for the socialists. Amateur politician against committed activist. But could it become boy-who-fancies-girl against girl-who-fancies-boy? The party agents are soon colluding against such a disaster.
Inspector HornleighInspector Hornleigh · 1939
Inspector Hornleigh
7.51939
MovieComedyMystery
When a landlady finds one of her tenants murdered, Inspector Hornleigh is sent to investigate. Inspector Hornleigh's assistant, Sergeant Bingham, soon finds an attaché case that had been stolen from the murdered man. When Hornleigh examines the case, inside it he finds a bag that was used to carry important government documents. The documents have been taken, and to make things even more confusing, a duplicate of the stolen bag soon turns up.
The Riverside MurderThe Riverside Murder · 1935
The Riverside Murder
5.51935
MovieCrimeMystery
Investor Robert Norman murdered before meeting. Police investigate. Journalist Claire Haines pursues story to impress editor. Intertwining narratives of crime solving and reporting unfold.
Captain BoycottCaptain Boycott · 1947
Captain Boycott
7.21947
MovieDramaHistory
In 19th-century Ireland, when poverty-stricken tenants dispossessed by greedy landowner Captain Charles Boycott band together to assert their rights, patriotic farmer Hugh Davin leads the rebels. Choosing nonviolent resistance, the villagers ostracise their nemesis, who squanders his fortune to repair his ruined reputation and wagers what's left on a horse race.
Waterloo RoadWaterloo Road · 1945
Waterloo Road
6.01945
MovieDramaRomance
During WW2 a former railway employee who had been drafted, goes AWOL to hunt down the spiv and draft dodger who is having an affair with his wife.

TV Shows

Play for TodayPlay for Today · 1970
Play for Today
6.61970
SeriesDrama
Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted. The individual episodes were between fifty and a hundred minutes in duration.
Cold Comfort FarmCold Comfort Farm · 1968
Cold Comfort Farm
8.01968
Series
Adaptation of Stella Gibbons's comic novel of the same name. Following the death of her parents, 20-year-old Flora Poste (Sarah Badel) finds herself alone with insubstantial means in 1930s London. Fascinated by the little she knows of her distant relatives the Starkadders of Cold Comfort Farm in Sussex, she goes to stay with her aunt Judith Starkadder (Rosalie Crutchley) and a colourful array of cousins. There she finds a variety of earthy, passionate relations, dominated by Great Aunt Ada Doom (Fay Compton) who long ago saw "something nasty in the woodshed" and now holds the rest of the household in thrall. Flora decides to put to rights the lives of all of them.