John Longden (11 November 1900 – 26 May 1971) was an English film actor. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1926 and 1964, including five films directed by

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

Biography

Longden was born in the

West Indies The West Indies is a subregion of North America, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea that includes 13 independent island countries and 18 dependencies and other territories in three major archipelagos: the Greater A ...

, the son of a Methodist missionary, and was educated at

Kingswood School (''In The Right Way Quickly'') , established = , closed = , type = Independent , religious_affiliation = Methodist , president = , head_label = Headmaste ...

Bath, Somerset Bath () is a city in the Bath and North East Somerset unitary area in the county of Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman-built baths. At the 2021 Census, the population was 101,557. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, ...

. Originally intending to be a mining engineer, he worked for two years in a coal mine in

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a Historic counties of England, historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other Eng ...

, where he started acting in amateur theatrical companies. An introduction to

Seymour Hicks Sir Edward Seymour Hicks (30 January 1871 – 6 April 1949), better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, actor-manager and producer. He became known, early in his career, for writing, starring in and p ...

saw him start acting on the

legitimate stage Legitimate theatre is live performance that relies almost entirely on diegetic elements, with actors performing through speech and natural movement.Joyce M. Hawkins and Robert Allen, eds. "Legitimate" entry. ''The Oxford Encyclopedic English Dict ...

, beginning with a walk-on part in ''Old Bill, MP''. He played in ''My Old Dutch'' with

Albert Chevalier Albert Chevalier (often listed as Albert Onésime Britannicus Gwathveoyd Louis Chevalier); (21 March 186110 July 1923), was an English music hall comedian, singer and musical theatre actor. He specialised in cockney related humour based on life ...

, then spent time with the

Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...

and

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

repertory theatres. He also appeared in ''The Farmer's Wife'', produced by Barry Jackson at the Court Theatre in London for two years. About this time Longden began to appear in silent films. He signed a contract with

Gaumont British The Gaumont-British Picture Corporation produced and distributed films and operated a cinema chain in the United Kingdom. It was established as an offshoot of the Gaumont Film Company of France. Film production Gaumont-British was founded in 18 ...

Pictures to write and act, earning a notable success with

's ''

Blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...

'' (1929).

Australian interlude

Longden went out to Australia in 1933 to perform in several plays. While there he appeared in the film ''

The Silence of Dean Maitland ''The Silence of Dean Maitland'' is an 1886 novel by Maxwell Gray (the pen name of Mary Gleed Tuttiett). Set in a fictionalized Isle of Wight, particularly around Calbourne, it concerns an ambitious clergyman who accidentally kills the father o ...

'' (1934) for

Cinesound Productions Cinesound Productions Pty Ltd was an Australian feature film production company, established in June 1931, Cinesound developed out of a group of companies centred on Greater Union Theatres, that covered all facets of the film process, from produ ...

. The performance was so well received Longden made two more films for the same company, ''

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

'' (1936) and ''

It Isn't Done ''It Isn't Done'' is a 1937 Australian comedy film about a grazier (Cecil Kellaway) who inherits a barony in England. Synopsis Hubert Blaydon, an Australian farmer, inherits a baronial estate and moves to England with his wife and daughter Patri ...

'' (1937). In 1934 it was announced that he was going to play the lead in an adaptation of ''

Robbery Under Arms ''Robbery Under Arms'' is a bushranger novel by Thomas Alexander Browne, published under his pen name Rolf Boldrewood. It was first published in serialised form by ''The Sydney Mail'' between July 1882 and August 1883, then in three volumes in ...

'', but this film was never made. The same year Longden also announced he was going to act in and direct an Australian film called ''Highway Romance'', about an English man and Australian girl travelling from

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

. A company called Highway Productions was formed with Frederick Ward and a capital of £10,000 but no film resulted.

Later career

Longden returned to Britain where he continued to work steadily in theatre and film (including '' An Honourable Murder'' (1960), an adaptation of

Shakespeare's William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

", in which he played tycoon 'Julian Caesar'). He appeared on several episodes of season one of ''

The Adventures of Robin Hood ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' is a 1938 American Technicolor swashbuckler film from Warner Bros. Pictures. It was produced by Hal B. Wallis and Henry Blanke, directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley, and stars Errol Flynn, Olivia de H ...

'' playing various characters, and returned for one episode in season three. He died in London, 26 May 1971, aged 70.

Selected filmography

* '' The Ball of Fortune'' (1926) - Daltry * ''

The House of Marney ''The House of Marney'' is a 1927 British silent crime film directed by Cecil Hepworth and starring Alma Taylor, John Longden and James Carew. It was based on a novel by John Goodwin. Cast * Alma Taylor - Beatrice Maxon * John Longden - ...

'' (1927) - Richard * '' The Glad Eye'' (1927) - Floquet * '' The Flight Commander'' (1927) - Ivan * '' The Arcadians'' (1927) - Jack Meadows * '' Quinneys'' (1927) - Joseph Quinney * ''

Mademoiselle Parley Voo ''Mademoiselle Parley Voo'' is a 1928 British silent drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Estelle Brody, John Stuart and Alf Goddard. It was made as a sequel to Elvey's earlier hit '' Mademoiselle from Armentieres'' (1926), and wa ...

'' (1928) - Le Beau - Illusionist * '' Palais de danse'' (1928) - No. 1 * ''What Money Can Buy'' (1928) - Ralph Tresham * '' You Know What Sailors Are'' (1928) - Minor Role * '' The Flying Squad'' (1929) - Inspector John Bradley * ''

Piccadilly Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road that connects central London to Hammersmith, Earl's Court, ...

'' (1929) - Man from China (uncredited) * ''

'' (1929) - Detective Frank Webber * ''

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

'' (1929) - Lanchester * ''

The Last Post The "Last Post" is either an A or a B♭ bugle call, primarily within British infantry and Australian infantry regiments, or a D or an E♭ cavalry trumpet call in British cavalry and Royal Regiment of Artillery (Royal Horse Artillery and R ...

'' (1929) - David / Martin * ''

Elstree Calling ''Elstree Calling'' is a 1930 British comedy musical film directed by Adrian Brunel and Alfred Hitchcock at Elstree Studios. Synopsis The film, referred to as "A Cine-Radio Revue" in its original publicity, is a lavish musical film revue and ...

'' (1930) * '' The Flame of Love'' (1930) - Lieutenant Boris Boriskoff * '' Juno and the Paycock'' (1930) - Charles Bentham * '' Two Worlds'' (1930) - Lt. Stanislaus von Zaminsky (British Version) * '' Children of Chance'' (1930) - Jeffrey * ''

The Skin Game The Skin Game may refer to: * ''The Skin Game'' (play), a play by John Galsworthy * ''The Skin Game'' (1921 film), a 1921 Dutch film, based on the play * ''The Skin Game'' (1931 film), a 1931 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, also based on the ...

'' (1931) - Charles Hornblower * ''

Two Crowded Hours ''Two Crowded Hours'' is a 1931 British comedy drama film directed by Michael Powell and starring John Longden, Jane Welsh, and Jerry Verno. It was made as a Quota quickie and is the first film where Powell is credited as the director. No known ...

'' (1931, Short) - Harry Fielding * '' The Ringer'' (1931) - Inspector Wembury * '' Hindle Wakes'' (1931) - Boyfriend (uncredited) * ''

Murder on the Second Floor ''Murder on the Second Floor'' is a 1932 British thriller film directed by William C. McGann and starring Pat Paterson, John Longden and Sydney Fairbrother. The screenplay concerns a novelist who imagines the murders of his fellow boarding- ...

'' (1932) - Warder Jackson * ''

The Wickham Mystery ''The Wickham Mystery'' is a 1931 British mystery film directed by G. B. Samuelson and starring Eve Gray, John Longden and Lester Matthews. It was based on a play by John McNally. It was shot at Isleworth Studios in London and distributed by U ...

'' (1932) - Harry Crawford * ''

A Lucky Sweep ''A Lucky Sweep'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by A. V. Bramble and starring John Longden, Diana Beaumont and A. G. Poulton. It was made at Elstree Studios as a quota quickie.Chibnall p.264 Cast * John Longden as Bill Higgins * Dian ...

'' (1932) - Bill Higgins * ''

Rynox ''Rynox'' is a 1932 British crime film directed by Michael Powell and starring Stewart Rome, John Longden and Dorothy Boyd. ''Rynox'' was adapted from a 1930 novel by popular thriller writer of the day Philip MacDonald. It was made at Walton S ...

'' (1932) - Tony Benedik * ''

Born Lucky ''Born Lucky'' is an American television series in which contestants earned mall money and prizes. It was hosted by Bob Goen and announced by Jonathan Coleman. Four contestants competed in a stunt game show taped at various shopping malls for ...

'' (1933) - Frank Dale * ''

'' (1934) - Dean Cyril Maitland * ''

'' (1936) - Bill Peel * ''

'' (1937) - Peter Ashton * '' French Leave'' (1937) - Lt. Glennister * ''

Jennifer Hale Jennifer Hale is a Canadian-American voice actress. She is best known for her work in video game franchises such as ''Baldur's Gate'', '' Mass Effect'', '' Metal Gear Solid'', '' BioShock Infinite'', '' Metroid Prime'', ''Overwatch'', and '' Sta ...

'' (1937) - Police Inspector Merton * ''

Young and Innocent ''Young and Innocent'', released in the US as ''The Girl Was Young'', is a 1937 British crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Nova Pilbeam and Derrick De Marney. Based on the 1936 novel '' A Shilling for Candles'' by Jos ...

'' (1937) - Det. Insp. Kent * ''Little Miss Somebody'' (1937) - Jim Trevor * '' Dial 999'' (1938) - Bill Waring * ''

The Gaunt Stranger ''The Gaunt Stranger'' (released as ''The Phantom Strikes'' in the US) is a 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Walter Forde. It stars Sonnie Hale, Wilfrid Lawson and Alexander Knox. Plot A notorious killer, long believed to have ...

'' (1938) - Inspector Bliss * ''Bad Boy'' (1938) - Inspector Thompson * ''

Q Planes ''Q Planes'' (known as ''Clouds Over Europe'' in the United States) is a 1939 British comedy spy film starring Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier and Valerie Hobson. Olivier and Richardson were a decade into their fifty-year friendship and were ...

'' (1939) - Peters * ''

Jamaica Inn The Jamaica Inn is a traditional inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall in the UK, which was built as a coaching inn in 1750, and has a historical association with smuggling. Located just off the A30, near the middle of the moor close to the hamle ...

'' (1939) - Captain Johnson (uncredited) * ''

Goodbye, Mr. Chips ''Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' is a novella about the life of a school teacher, Mr. Chipping, written by English writer James Hilton and first published by Hodder & Stoughton in October 1934. It has been adapted into two feature films and two televi ...

'' (1939) - Raven (uncredited) * ''

The Lion Has Wings ''The Lion Has Wings'' is a 1939 British, black-and-white, documentary-style, propaganda war film that was directed by Adrian Brunel, Brian Desmond Hurst, Alexander Korda and Michael Powell. The film was produced by London Film Productions and ...

'' (1939) * ''

Contraband Contraband (from Medieval French ''contrebande'' "smuggling") refers to any item that, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold. It is used for goods that by their nature are considered too dangerous or offensive in the eyes o ...

'' (1940) - Passport Officer * '' Tower of Terror'' (1941) - Commandant * ''

Old Mother Riley's Circus ''Old Mother Riley's Circus'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and John Longden. Old Mother Riley takes over a struggling circus and makes a huge success of it. The trade ad poster ...

'' (1941) - Bill * ''

The Common Touch ''The Common Touch'' is a 1941 British drama film directed by John Baxter and starring Geoffrey Hibbert, Harry Welchman, Greta Gynt, and Joyce Howard. The film is a remake by the director of his 1933 film ''Doss House''. Pianist Mark Hambourg ...

'' (1941) - Stuart Gordon * ''

This Was Paris ''This Was Paris'' is a 1942 British Second World War spy film directed by John Harlow and starring Ann Dvorak, Ben Lyon and Griffith Jones. It was shot at Teddington Studios. Plot British Captain Bill Hamilton meets and is attracted to Ame ...

'' (1942) - French Officer (uncredited) * ''

One of Our Aircraft Is Missing ''One of Our Aircraft Is Missing'' (stylized onscreen as ''......one of our aircraft is missing'') is a 1942 British black-and-white war film, mainly set in the German-occupied Netherlands. It was the fourth collaboration between the British writ ...

'' (1942) - Ground Officer (uncredited) * ''

Unpublished Story ''Unpublished Story'' is a 1942 British black-and-white war film directed by Harold French and starring Richard Greene and Valerie Hobson. It was produced and co-written by Anthony Havelock-Allan. The film served as a propaganda film during Wo ...

'' (1942) - Metcalf (uncredited) * '' Rose of Tralee'' (1942) - Paddy O'Brien * ''

The Silver Fleet ''The Silver Fleet'' is a 1943 British war film written and directed by Vernon Sewell and Gordon Wellesley and produced by Powell and Pressburger under the banner of "The Archers". Plot Early during the World War II, Second World War, the Nazi ...

'' (1943) - Jost Meertens * ''

Yellow Canary The yellow canary (''Crithagra flaviventris'') is a small passerine bird in the finch family. It is a resident breeder in much of the western and central regions of southern Africa and has been introduced to Ascension and St Helena islands. T ...

'' (1943) - Officer (uncredited) * ''

Death by Design ''Death by Design'' is a 1943 British mystery film directed by Germain Burger and starring John Longden, Wally Patch and Barbara James. Cast * John Longden as Inspector Slade * Wally Patch Walter Sydney Vinnicombe (26 September 1888 – ...

'' (1943) - Inspector Slade * '' A Matter of Life and Death'' (1946) - Narrator (voice, uncredited) * ''

Dusty Bates ''Dusty Bates'' is a 1947 British, Technicolor, children's film, directed by Darrell Catling and starring Ronald Shiner as 'Squeaky' Watts and Anthony Newley in the title role. It was produced by Gaumont-British Instructional and Children's En ...

'' (1947) - Tod Jenkins * ''

The Ghosts of Berkeley Square ''The Ghosts of Berkeley Square'' is a 1947 British comedy film, directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Robert Morley and Felix Aylmer. The film is an adaptation of the 1944 novel '' No Nightingales'' by Caryl Brahms and S. J. Simon, inspired b ...

'' (1947) - Mortimer Digby * ''

Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, «Анна Каренина», p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever writt ...

'' (1948) - Gen. Serpuhousky * ''The Last Load'' (1948) - Mr. Potter * ''

Bonnie Prince Charlie Bonnie, is a Scottish given name and is sometimes used as a descriptive reference, as in the Scottish folk song, My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean. It comes from the Scots language word "bonnie" (pretty, attractive), or the French bonne (good). That ...

'' (1948) - Col. O'Sullivan * ''Trapped by the Terror'' (1949) - Pierre * ''Feature Story'' (1949) * ''

The Lady Craved Excitement ''The Lady Craved Excitement'' is a 1950 British comedy film directed by Francis Searle and written by John Gilling. It featured Hy Hazell, Michael Medwin and Sid James. An early Hammer film, it is significant as one of five films shot at Oakle ...

'' (1950) - Inspector James * ''

The Fighting Pimpernel ''The Elusive Pimpernel'' is a 1950 British period adventure film by the British-based director-writer team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on the novel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1905) by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. It was rel ...

'' (1950) - The Abbot * '' The Man Who Disappeared'' -

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...

* '' Pool of London'' (1951) - Det. Insp. Williams * '' The Dark Light'' (1951) - Stephen * ''

The Magic Box ''The Magic Box'' is a 1951 British Technicolor biographical drama film directed by John Boulting. The film stars Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, with numerous cameo appearances by performers such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivie ...

'' (1951) - Speaker in Connaught Rooms * '' The Black Widow'' (1951) - Mr. Kemp * '' The Wallet'' (1952) - Man With Pipe * ''

Dangerous Cargo ''Dangerous Cargo'' is a 1954 British second feature crime film directed by John Harlow starring Jack Watling, Susan Stephen and Karel Stepanek. The film was produced by Stanley Haynes for ACT Films. '' Daily Express'' crime reporter Percy H ...

'' (1954) - Worthington * ''

Meet Mr. Callaghan ''Meet Mr. Callaghan'' is a 1954 British crime film, crime drama film directed by Charles Saunders (director), Charles Saunders and starring Derrick De Marney. Based on the 1938 novel ''The Urgent Hangman'' by Peter Cheyney, which Cheyney had t ...

'' (1954) - Jeremy Meraulton * ''

The Ship That Died of Shame ''The Ship That Died of Shame'', released in the United States as ''PT Raiders'', is a black-and-white 1955 Ealing Studios crime film directed by Basil Dearden and starring George Baker, Richard Attenborough, Roland Culver and Bill Owen. The ...

'' (1955) - The Detective * ''

Alias John Preston ''Alias John Preston'' is a 1955 British thriller film directed by David MacDonald and starring Betta St. John, Alexander Knox and Christopher Lee. Its plot is about a mysterious and wealthy man who moves to a small village where he outwardly ...

'' (1955) - Richard Sandford * ''

Count of Twelve Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility.L. G. Pine, Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty'' ...

'' (1955) - Simon Graves (episode "The Count of Twelve") * ''Raiders of the River'' (1956) - Professor Dykes * ''

Quatermass 2 ''Quatermass 2'' (retitled ''Enemy From Space'' in the United States and Canada) is a 1957 black-and-white British science fiction horror film drama from Hammer Film Productions. It was originally released in the UK as ''Quatermass II'' and was ...

'' (1957) - Lomax * ''

Three Sundays to Live ''Three Sundays to Live'' is a low budget 1957 film noir British film directed by Ernest Morris and starring Kieron Moore and Jane Griffiths. The title refers to the law of the period, which required that after a death sentence had been passed, ...

'' (1957) - Warder * ''

Innocent Sinners ''Innocent Sinners'' is a 1958 British black and white film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Flora Robson. It was based on the 1955 novel '' An Episode of Sparrows'' by Rumer Godden. Plot Olivia Chesney is too sick to leave home, somew ...

'' (1958) - Admiral (uncredited) * ''

Woman's Temptation ''A Woman's Temptation'' is a low budget 1959 British crime film directed by Godfrey Grayson and starring Patricia Driscoll and Robert Ayres. Premise A young widow struggling as a single mother is tempted by stolen money she finds, which she hi ...

'' (1959) - Inspector Syms * '' An Honourable Murder'' (1960) - Julian Caesar * ''

So Evil, So Young ''So Evil, So Young'' is a 1961 British Technicolor reform school prison film produced by the Danzigers, directed by Godfrey Grayson, and starring Jill Ireland and Ellen Pollock. Synopsis Lucy and Claire are at a house where Lucy used to w ...

'' (1961) - Turner * ''

Lancelot and Guinevere ''Lancelot and Guinevere'' (known as ''Sword of Lancelot'' in the U.S.) is a British 1963 film starring Cornel Wilde, his real-life wife at the time, Jean Wallace, and Brian Aherne. This lesser-known version of the Camelot legend is a work shap ...

'' (1963) - King Leodogran (uncredited) * ''

The Man Who Finally Died ''The Man Who Finally Died '' is a 1963 British CinemaScope thriller film directed by Quentin Lawrence and starring Stanley Baker, Peter Cushing, Mai Zetterling and Eric Portman. It was based on a 1959 ITV series of the same name. The scree ...

'' (1963) - Munch (uncredited) * ''Frozen Alive'' (1964) - Prof. Hubbard

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Longden, John 1900 births 1971 deaths English male film actors English male silent film actors English emigrants to Australia 20th-century English male actors