John Gielgud was an English actor and director, best known for playing ‘Hamlet’ and ‘John Worthing’ in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ on stage in the 1930s. He made his screen debut in the 1924 silent film ‘Who is the Man?’ He received his first ‘Academy Award’ nomination for playing ‘Louis VII of France’ in ‘Becket’ (1964). His role as ‘Hobson’ in ‘Arthur’ (1981) won him the ‘Academy Award’ for ‘Best Supporting Actor.’ Some of his successful films include ‘Julius Caeser’ (1953), ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1954), ‘Richard III’ (1955), ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (1974), ‘Galileo’ (1975), ‘The Elephant Man’ (1980), ‘Gandhi’ (1982), ‘The Whistle Blower’ (1986), ‘First Knight’ (1995), ‘Hamlet’ (1996), and ‘Elizabeth’ (1998). His unsuccessful films are ‘The Clue of the New Pin’ (1929), ‘Caligula’ (1979), and ‘The Tichborne Claimant’ (1998). Some of his TV appearances came in series, such as ‘Wagner’ (1981-84) and ‘War and Remembrance’ (1989).
This war drama film takes us to 1929, and it revolves around the story of Omar Mukhtar, a Libyan leader and his resistance against the Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who wants to conquer the former’s nation.
The Elephant Man is based on the true-life story of Joseph Merrick, who is referred to as John Merrick in the movie. Dr. Frederick Treves discovers John, born with severe physical deformities, earning his living as the Elephant Man. The movie depicts John’s rise in high London society, his refined soul, and his tragic death.
Based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi, the movie begins in South Africa when a young Gandhi is thrown out of the train for travelling in the first class compartment despite having tickets for it. He begins a nonviolent protest campaign and later uses it in India’s fight for independence.
King Henry installs his close friend Thomas Becket as the Archbishop of Canterbury, as he hopes that his old friend will help him and be compliant in his ongoing battles with the church. However, things don’t go according to the King’s plans.
This historical war comedy film gives us a look at life of Sir John Falstaff, a fun-loving habitual liar, who tries to keep Prince Hal company, after King Henry IV ascends to the throne. The film shows us the reign of Kign Henry IV and the rise of Henry V, through the eyes of Falstaff.
Based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare, this film tells the story of the young prince Hamlet, who returns home to find that his father, the King of Denmark, is dead, and his uncle Claudius has usurped the throne and married Hamlet’s widowed mother. As Hamlet tries to uncover the truth behind his father’s death, he is visited by his father’s spirit, who asks him to avenge Claudius for his murder.
This biographical drama film tells the story of Julius Caesar, who manages to defeat Pompey the Great, and returns to Rome. Do to his successful conquests, in tne eyes of other high-ranking Romans, he becomes a dictator. Therefore together they conspire to get rid of him.
Detective Hercule Poirot is journeying home aboard the Orient Express, when a billionaire is murdered en route. Poirot takes up the case, and everyone on board becomes a suspect, as he realizes that many of them have revenge as a motive.
An adaptation of the well-known play by William Shakespeare, this drama film tells the story of the Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, who returns home to find his father murdered. Meanwhile his mother is getting married to his uncle, the very man responsible for his father’s death.
This British historical drama film, tells the true story of two British athletes taking part in the 1924 Olympics. One is a devout Christian who is running for the glory of God, while the other is an English Jew, who is running to overcome the prejudices his community faces.
Shine is a 1996 biographical drama film, which tells the story of pianist David Helfgott, who has to struggle a lot throughout his childhood due to the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. Due to this, he suffers a mental breakdown years later, but manages to return as a legend.
After the death of Catholic Queen Mary, in 1558, her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth becomes the Queen of England. But the country is in debt, under attack from Mary of Guise, and her court is full of treacherous novels. Elizabeth must rise to become ‘the virgin Queen’ with the help of Francis Walsingham.
After learning about the mass murderer Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror, renowned private detective Sherlock Holmes decides to investigate. He finds that the police are not of much help, as they refuse to share important details of the case with him. However, Holmes carries forward his investigation and seeks the assistance of psychic Robert Lees, hoping that he can set him on the right path.
Arthur is a young billionaire playboy who is about to marry a woman whom he does not love. Turning away from the marriage would make him lose his inheritance of $ 750 million. But he soon finds himself falling for a poor waitress, and now he must choose if money is more important or true love.
The film depicts life of 17th century Italian scientist Galileo Galilei. Using the new scientific instrument, telescope, he confirms the Copernican theory that Sun is at the center of the universe, not the Earth. When he moves to Florence for a teaching position, Galileo faces conflicts with Roman Catholic Church; he is called before Inquisition, and is made to retract his views.
Around the World in 80 Days is an Oscar winning adventure comedy film which is based on a novel of the same name by Jules Verne. The story revolves around Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman, living in the 19th century, who makes a bet that he can travel around the world in eighty days. Along with his French valet Passepartout, he sets out on an adventurous journey.
The Power of One is a drama film which tells the story of an English boy named Peekay, living in Africa during the time of the Second World War. He lives in a village where most of the people he cares about are leaving the place or passing away. He befriends an older man and learns boxing from him, and soon he also falls for a girl named Maria.
Priest of Love is a British biographical drama film which tells the story of an author DH Lawrence, whose novel ‘The Rainbow’, attracts huge controversy and gets banned, due to which he is forced to leave his native country England, and go to the US, in order to escape the outrage. He soon writes ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’, which becomes his greatest work.
During the First World War, three British agents are assigned to assassinate a mysterious German spy. However, things get complicated when two of them find themselves in conflict with their conscience, regarding the morality of their mission.
During the Cold War, a former Oxford Professor, who is also now an officer for the British intelligence, falls in love with a woman, after she is able to spell his name backwards. He offers her a job, but soon after she joins, there is a security breach, and everything goes into jeopardy.
Based on a play by George Bernard Shaw, the movie tells the story of Joan of Arc. The French saint and heroine led the French army in many successful battles against the English until she was tragically betrayed and burnt at the stake for her connection to God.
Small-time diamond merchant, Howard R. Chesser, is asked to supervise the cutting of a massive diamond owned by Clyde Massey. Unfortunately, when the diamond is stolen from him, he has to plan a major heist at The System, a vault full of gems, with the help of his girlfriend and inside man, Watts.
Adapted from the famous play of William Shakespeare, of the same name, this romantic drama film tells the story of a son of the Montagues family, and a daughter of the Capulets family, who fall in love, despite the fact that their families have hated each other strongly for years.
The adaptation of Graham Greene’s novel ‘The Human Factor’, follows mid-level MI6 bureaucrat Maurice Castle, who unwittingly becomes a mole leaking information to the Soviets, while trying to get his African wife out of apartheid South Africa. Castle will be tested with the MI6 out to find and kill the mole.
Detective Richard Cutting is a private investigator who is hired by an insurance company to investigate a shipping tycoon who is suspected of sinking his own ships deliberately, in order to get the insurance money. Cutting soon finds himself in a web of deception and murder.
A Saxon prince is mortally wounded in an uprising against the king; but is saved when a dragon offers him half of his heart, only to become more tyrannical than his father. Pinning the blame on his dragon heart, his disillusioned mentor starts killing all the dragons; but a twist of fate compels him to cooperate with the last dragon, the one that gave the prince half of his heart.
A woman from New York falls in love with an international lawyer just before America goes into war with the Axis powers. When World War II begins, she acts as a spy on behalf of the United States and sets out on a journey to discover the fate of her Jewish relatives.
Based on a 1881 novel of the same name, The Portrait of a Lady is a drama film which tells the story of Isabel Archer, a woman who is known for being extremely beautiful. After her uncle passes away, Isabel receives a huge fortune. In order to explore herself, she decides to travel to Europe, where she gets entangled in several misfortunate events.
Joseph Andrews is a British period comedy film, which tells the story of an innocent 18th century villager Joseph, and his romantic misadventures.
Haunted is a horror film which tells the story of the skeptical Professor David Ash, who visits a British estate in a remote region in order to debunk allegations of supernatural phenomena. However, shortly after arriving, David is confused himself and feels haunted by demons from his own past.
The film about medieval times features King Arthur of Camelot, who is set to marry Lady Guinevere of Lyonesse. As rebel knight Malagant attacks Camelot, and abducts Guinevere, gifted swordsman Lancelot saves her and earns knighthood. Lancelot falls in love with her, and though Guinevere struggles with her feelings, she too is drawn towards him; however, Arthur remains unaware of the budding romance.
An adventure film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, Sphinx follows the life of Egyptologist Erica Baron who is conducting research on the chief architect to Pharaoh Seti. She witnesses a brutal murder and is befriended by a mysterious man over the course of her research.
Caligula is a historical drama film, which revolves around the tragic story of Gaius Germanicus Caligula, Rome’s most infamous Caesar. The film depicts how he rises to power and how he eventually meets his downfall.
When Caroline is about to get married to Sir Ralph, he invites her sister, Barbara, to be her bridesmaid. Barbara seduces Ralph and marries him herself, but soon, she gets bored of her new status, despite the fact that she is now wealthy. She decides to turn to robbery on the highway, just for the sake of thrills.
Arthur is happily married to Linda, but their lives take a turn when Arthur is informed that he will lose his entire fortune of $ 750 million, if he doesn’t divorce Linda, and marry Susan, his ex-fiancée. Since Arthur loves Linda more than his lifestyle, he refuses. They move in with Linda’s father Ralph, and Linda begins to work as a waitress. However, Susan’s father Burt starts to make life hell for them. After being confronted by Susan, Linda leaves a note for Arthur, stating that it is best for him to get married to Susan.
An airman for the Royal Air Force who is killed during a mission has left a letter for his mother, which is to be sent upon his death. As the mother reads through his letter, she begins to remember his youth, and she learns why he joined the Air Force, despite knowing that he might die.
Kayley is an adventurous girl who wants to become a knight like her father, Sir Lionel. In order to save King Arthur from disaster, she goes looking for the lost sword Excalibur. She is accompanied by a blind hermit, his falcon and a two headed dragon.
John Gielgud Awards
| Arthur | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | 1982 |
| War and Remembrance | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | 1989 |
| Arthur | Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture | 1982 |
| Summer's Lease | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | 1991 |
| Murder on the Orient Express | Best Supporting Actor | 1975 |
| Julius Caesar | Best British Actor | 1954 |
| Winner | Best Spoken Word, Documentary Or Drama Recording | 1980 |
