Robert Newton was one of the great character actors -- and great characters -- of the British cinema, best remembered today for playing Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950) and its sequel in 1954. His portrayal of Long John Silver and of Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) created a persona that was so indelible that his vocal intonations created the paradigm for scores of people who want to "Talk Like a Pirate." The performance overshadows Newton's legacy, which is based on many first-rate performances in such movies as This Happy Breed (1944), Odd Man Out (1947) and Oliver Twist (1948), where his Bill Sykes is truly chilling. Oliver Reed, who played Sykes in the Oscar-winning movie musical Oliver! (1968) was influenced by Newton.
40 movies · 8 shows
The Epic That Never Was
1969·6.9
Around the World in 80 Days
1956·6.7
Long John Silver
1954·5.9
The Beachcomber
1954·6.2
The High and the Mighty
1954·5.9
The Desert Rats
1953·6.3
Blackbeard, the Pirate
1952·5.9
Androcles and the Lion
1952·5.9
Les Miserables
1952·5.5
Tom Brown's Schooldays
1951·7.0
Soldiers Three
1951·4.5
Waterfront
1950·6.5
Treasure Island
1950·6.6
Obsession
1949·6.8
Kiss the Blood Off My Hands
1948·6.5
Oliver Twist
1948·7.5
Snowbound
1948·6.1
Temptation Harbour
1947·5.4
Odd Man Out
1947·7.3
Night Boat to Dublin
1946·6.9
Henry V
1944·6.7
This Happy Breed
1944·7.1
They Flew Alone
1942·6.8
Hatter's Castle
1942·5.8
Major Barbara
1941·6.9
Gaslight
1940·7.1
Busman's Honeymoon
1940·6.0
Channel Incident
1940·9.0
21 Days
1940·6.1
Hell's Cargo
1939·9.0
Poison Pen
1939·6.7
Jamaica Inn
1939·6.1
Dead Men Are Dangerous
1939·5.6
Vessel of Wrath
1938·6.9
The Green Cockatoo
1937·5.9
The Squeaker
1937·6.3
Dark Journey
1937·6.4
Fire Over England
1937·6.2
Farewell Again
1937·6.5
I, Claudius
1937·10.0