Ronald George Hinings Adams (31 December 1896 – 28 March 1979), known professionally as Ronald Adam, was a British officer of the

RFC RFC may refer to: Computing * Request for Comments, a memorandum on Internet standards * Request for change, change management * Remote Function Call, in SAP computer systems * Rhye's and Fall of Civilization, a modification for Sid Meier's Civ ...

and

RAF The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

, an actor on stage and screen, and a successful theatre manager.

Early life

Adam was born in

Bromyard Bromyard is a town in Herefordshire, England, in the valley of the River Frome. It lies near the county border with Worcestershire on the A44 between Leominster and Worcester. Bromyard has a number of traditional half-timbered buildings, inclu ...

Herefordshire Herefordshire () is a county in the West Midlands of England, governed by Herefordshire Council. It is bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh counties of Monmouthshire ...

on 31 December 1896, the son of Blake Adams and his wife Mona Robin. His parents and grandparents were all in the theatrical profession. He was educated at

University College School ("Slowly but surely") , established = , closed = , type = Public schoolIndependent day school , religion = , president = , head_label = Headmaster , head = Mark Beard , r_head_label = , r_hea ...

.Who's Who in the Theatre: Adam, Ronald
/ref>

First World War

When still only 17 years old Adams volunteered to join the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

on the outbreak of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. On 2 December 1914 he was commissioned as a temporary

Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the 15th (Reserve) Battalion of the

Middlesex Regiment The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers Re ...

. Adams soon transferred to the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

(RFC) and served as an observer with No. 18 Squadron in France, before returning home to re-train as a pilot. Once qualified as a pilot, Adams remained in

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

and flew

Sopwith Camel The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the b ...

s with No. 44 Squadron on

Home Defence A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. H ...

duties. The squadron was based at Hainault Farm aerodrome in

Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and G ...

and was pioneering the use of night-fighters against

Zeppelin A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship named after the German inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin () who pioneered rigid airship development at the beginning of the 20th century. Zeppelin's notions were first formulated in 1874Eckener 1938, pp ...

raids on

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. He was then posted back to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, still on Sopwith Camels, to No. 73 Squadron, at

Champien Champien () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography Champien is situated on the D186 road, some southeast of Amiens. Population See also *Communes of the Somme department *Réseau des Bains de M ...

. On 1 April 1918, the Royal Flying Corps amalgamated with the

Royal Naval Air Service The Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) was the air arm of the Royal Navy, under the direction of the Admiralty's Air Department, and existed formally from 1 July 1914 to 1 April 1918, when it was merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps t ...

(RNAS) to become the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

(RAF), but Adams had barely had time to get used to the new title before he was shot down, on 7 April 1918, near

Villers-Bretonneux Villers-Bretonneux () is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Geography Villers-Bretonneux is situated some 19 km due east of Amiens, on the D1029 road and the A29 motorway. Villers-Bretonneux border ...

in Northern

, either by

Hans Kirschstein Hans Kirschstein (5 August 1896 – 16 July 1918), winner of the Pour le Merite, Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, and the Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class, was a German lieutenant and World War I flying ace credited with 27 aerial victories. Earl ...

, or possibly

Manfred von Richthofen Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (; 2 May 1892 – 21 April 1918), known in English as Baron von Richthofen or the Red Baron, was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of ...

and captured. Adams was badly wounded in the engagement and on the evening of his capture he was visited by a German orderly who passed on the compliments of von Richthofen. Adams spent eight months in hospitals and prison camps before he was repatriated on 17 December 1918.IMDb biography
/ref>

Acting career

After the war he trained as a chartered accountant, but his interest moved to theatre. He dropped the final "s" from his surname and adopted the stage name "Ronald Adam". From 1924 to 1926, he was engaged as manager for

Leslie Henson Leslie Lincoln Henson (3 August 1891 – 2 December 1957) was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comed ...

and

Dion Titheradge Dion Titheradge (30 March 1889 – 16 November 1934) was an Australian-born actor and writer of revues, plays and screenplays. Early life Dion Titheradge was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1889, son of the actor George Sutton Titheradge. He was ...

, and at the

Little Little is a synonym for small size and may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Little'' (album), 1990 debut album of Vic Chesnutt * ''Little'' (film), 2019 American comedy film *The Littles, a series of children's novels by American author John P ...

, His Majesty's, and

Strand Strand may refer to: Topography *The flat area of land bordering a body of water, a: ** Beach ** Shoreline * Strand swamp, a type of swamp habitat in Florida Places Africa * Strand, Western Cape, a seaside town in South Africa * Strand Street ...

theatres. He entered on the management of the Embassy Theatre, in April 1932, with the production of ''Madame Pepita'', and made over 150 new productions and revivals from 1932 to 1939. Thirty of his productions were transferred to various West End theatres, including ''Ten Minute Alibi'', ''Close Quarters'', ''The Dominant Sex'', ''

Professor Bernhardi ''Professor Bernhardi'' (1912) is one of the best known plays written by the Viennese dramatist, short story writer and novelist Arthur Schnitzler. It was first performed in Berlin at the Kleines Theater in 1912, but banned in Austria until the ...

'' and ''Judgment Day''. He presented several plays on tour, and acted in many of them, both at the Embassy and on their transfer. He made his film debut with ''

Strange Boarders ''Strange Boarders'' is a 1938 British comedy thriller film, directed by Herbert Mason, produced by Edward Black for Gainsborough Pictures, and starring Tom Walls, Renée Saint-Cyr, Googie Withers and Ronald Adam. The film is an adaptation o ...

'', '' The Drum'' (both 1938) and '' Too Dangerous to Live'' (1939).IMDb films by year
/ref> Meanwhile, he continued with live theatre. At the

Old Vic Old or OLD may refer to: Places *Old, Baranya, Hungary * Old, Northamptonshire, England *Old Street station, a railway and tube station in London (station code OLD) *OLD, IATA code for Old Town Municipal Airport and Seaplane Base, Old Town, Ma ...

in June 1939 he played Lord Stagmantle in ''

The Ascent of F6 ''The Ascent of F6: A Tragedy in Two Acts'', by W. H. Auden and Christopher Isherwood, was the second and most successful play in the Auden-Isherwood collaboration, first published in 1936. It was a major contribution to English poetic drama in ...

'' and at the

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

in November 1939, Judge Tsankov in ''Judgment Day''. He was director of

Howard and Wyndham Howard & Wyndham Ltd was a theatre owning, production and management company named after John B. Howard and Frederick W. P. Wyndham, founded in Glasgow in 1895, and which became the largest of its type in Britain. The company continued well into the ...

's Repertory Seasons in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

and

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, 1938–39.

Second World War

On the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Adam rejoined the RAF as a

wing commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...

and served from 1939 to 1945. During the

Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...

in the summer of 1940 he was the Fighter Controller for the

Hornchurch Hornchurch is a suburban town in East London, England, and part of the London Borough of Havering. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross. It comprises a number of shopping streets and a large residential area. It historically formed ...

sector. It was Adam's job to co-ordinate the

fighter command RAF Fighter Command was one of the commands of the Royal Air Force. It was formed in 1936 to allow more specialised control of fighter aircraft. It served throughout the Second World War World War II or the Second World War, oft ...

interceptions by using data gathered by radar and ground observers and then to dispatch fighters to intercept.There exists brief film footage of him in this role and can often be seen in documentaries on the war in the air.

Jeffrey Quill Jeffrey Kindersley Quill, (1 February 1913 – 20 February 1996) was a British test pilot who served on secondment with the Royal Air Force and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He was also the second man to fly the S ...

, the distinguished Spitfire test pilot on attachment to 65 Squadron at Hornchurch during the Battle of Britain, wrote of Adam: 'Apart from being highly competent at the actual job, his voice had a quality of calm and unhesitating certainty. The contribution of such men to the outcome of the Battle of Britain was incalculable.' During the war he continued to take part in films, for example as a German bomber chief in ''

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), as Mons. Besnard in '' At the Villa Rose'' (1940) and as Sir Charles Fawcett in ''

The Foreman Went to France ''The Foreman Went to France'' (released in the USA as ''Somewhere in France'' ) is a 1942 British Second World War war film starring Clifford Evans, Tommy Trinder, Constance Cummings and Gordon Jackson. It was based on the real-life wartime ex ...

'' (1942).

Postwar period

Adam was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(OBE) in 1946. After 1946 he continued to act in live theatre. At the

Garrick Garrick may refer to: * Garrick (name), for the name's origin and people with either the surname or given name, the most famous being: ** David Garrick (1717–1779), English actor * Garrick Club, a London gentlemen's club named in honour of David ...

in March 1950 he played Mr Gibb in ''Mr Gillie''. He made his

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

debut in December 1951 in

Antony and Cleopatra ''Antony and Cleopatra'' (First Folio title: ''The Tragedie of Anthonie, and Cleopatra'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was first performed, by the King's Men, at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre in around ...

at the Ziegfeld Theatre. In 1954 he featured in

William Douglas Home William Douglas Home (3 June 1912 – 28 September 1992) was a British dramatist and politician. Early life Douglas-Home (he later dropped the hyphen from his surname) was the third son of Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home, and Lady Lili ...

's comedy '' The Manor of Northstead'' in the West End. His main activity at this stage, however, was in film and television. From 1946 to 1978 he took part in over 140 film or television productions. He portrayed the Group Controller in ''

Angels One Five ''Angels One Five'' is a 1952 British war film directed by George More O'Ferrall and starring Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray, John Gregson, Cyril Raymond and Veronica Hurst. Based on the book ''What Are Your Angels Now?'' by Pelham G ...

'', a 1952 British war film about the

(Adam reprised his actual wartime role as a fighter Controller).

Selected filmography

* '' The Drum'' (1938) as Major Gregoff * ''

'' (1938) as Barstow * '' Kate Plus Ten'' (1938) as Police Chief * ''

Luck of the Navy ''Luck of the Navy'' is a 1938 British comedy thriller film directed by Norman Lee and starring Geoffrey Toone, Judy Kelly and Clifford Evans. Shot at Elstree StudiosWood p.98 it was based on the play '' The Luck of the Navy'' by Mrs Clifford ...

'' (1938) as Enemy Ship's Captain (uncredited) * ''

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) as Pollack - Aviation Engineer (uncredited) * ''

Inspector Hornleigh Inspector Hornleigh is a fictional British detective from Scotland Yard, the protagonist of a popular BBC radio series of the 1930s, three British films, a German television series, and three books (two of them language text books). The radio ser ...

'' (1939) as Wittens, Pheasant Inn Manager * '' Too Dangerous to Live'' (1939) as Murbridge / Wills * ''

The Missing People ''The Missing People'' is a 1940 British, black-and-white, mystery film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Ronald Shiner as Sam Hackett and Will Fyffe as Mr. J. G. Reeder. It was produced by Jack Raymond Productions. Ronald Shiner, Will Fy ...

'' (1939) as Surtees * ''

'' (1939) as German Bomber Chief * ''

Hell's Cargo ''Hell's Cargo'' is a 1939 British adventure film directed by Harold Huth and starring Walter Rilla, Kim Peacock and Robert Newton. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.100 The film is a remake of the 1938 French hit '' Alert in the Mediterran ...

'' (1939) as Capt. Dukes * '' Meet Maxwell Archer'' (1940) as Nicolides * '' At the Villa Rose'' (1940) as Mons. Besnard * ''

The Big Blockade ''The Big Blockade'' is a 1942 British black-and-white war propaganda film in the style of dramatised documentary. It is directed by Charles Frend and stars Will Hay, Leslie Banks, Michael Redgrave and John Mills. It was produced by Michael Bal ...

'' (1942) as German businessman (uncredited) * '' The Avengers'' (1942) as Daily Express Reporter in Phone Booth (uncredited) * ''

'' (1942) as Sir Charles Fawcett Managing Director (uncredited) * ''

Escape to Danger ''Escape to Danger'' is a 1943 British thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and Victor Hanbury and starring Eric Portman, Ann Dvorak and Karel Stepanek. Plot During the Second World War a British schoolteacher working in Denmark is caught u ...

'' (1943) as George Merrick * ''

Journey Together ''Journey Together'' is a 1945 British drama war film directed by John Boulting and starring Richard Attenborough, Jack Watling and David Tomlinson. It is Boulting's film directorial debut. The film was produced by the Royal Air Force Film Prod ...

'' (1945) as Commanding Officer at Falcon Field * ''

Pink String and Sealing Wax ''Pink String and Sealing Wax'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Robert Hamer and starring Mervyn Johns. It is based on a play with the same name by Roland Pertwee. It was the first feature film Robert Hamer directed on his own. The ti ...

'' (1945) as Clerk of the Court * ''

Green for Danger ''Green for Danger'' is a popular 1944 detective novel by British writer Christianna Brand, praised for its clever plot, interesting characters, and wartime hospital setting. It was made into a 1946 film which is regarded by film historians ...

'' (1946) as Dr. White * ''

Take My Life ''Take My Life'' is a 1947 British crime film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Hugh Williams, Greta Gynt and Marius Goring. It was adapted from Winston Graham's 1947 novel of the same name. It was shot at Pinewood Studios and on location ...

'' (1947) as Det Sgt Hawkins. (Deaf Man.) (uncredited) * ''

The Phantom Shot ''The Phantom Shot'' is a 1947 British mystery film directed by Mario Zampi and starring John Stuart, Olga Lindo and Howard Marion-Crawford. It marked Zampi's return to filmmaking after he had been interned during the Second World War.Chibnall & ...

'' (1947) as Caleb Horder * '' Fame Is the Spur'' (1947) as Radshaws' Doctor (uncredited) * ''

An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...

'' (1947) as Member of Parliament (uncredited) * ''

Counterblast ''Counterblast'' is a 1948 British thriller film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Robert Beatty, Mervyn Johns and Nova Pilbeam. It was made by British National Films at Elstree Studios. Plot A Nazi scientist escapes from prison, murders ...

'' (1948) as Col Ingram, Gillington POW Camp Commandant * ''

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) as Macleod * '' The Case of Charles Peace'' (1949) as Counsel for Defence * ''

All Over the Town ''All Over the Town'' is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Derek N. Twist and starring Norman Wooland, Sarah Churchill (actress), Sarah Churchill and Cyril Cusack. It was based on the 1947 novel by R. F. Delderfield. Premise After serving ...

'' (1949) as Sam Vane * ''

That Dangerous Age ''That Dangerous Age'' is a 1949 British romance film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring Myrna Loy, Roger Livesey and Peggy Cummins. It was adapted from the play ''Autumn'' by Margaret Kennedy and Ilya Surguchev. The film was released und ...

'' (1949) as Prosecutor * ''

The Bad Lord Byron ''The Bad Lord Byron'' is a 1949 British historical drama film about the life of Lord Byron. It was directed by David MacDonald and starred Dennis Price as Byron with Mai Zetterling, Linden Travers and Joan Greenwood. Plot The film sees life ...

'' (1949) as Judge * ''

Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus * lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo * es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón * pt, Cristóvão Colombo * ca, Cristòfor (or ) * la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...

'' (1949) as Talavera * '' Helter Skelter'' (1949) as Director General of the BBC (uncredited) * '' Obsession'' (1949) as Clubman #1 * ''

Black Magic Black magic, also known as dark magic, has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes, specifically the seven magical arts prohibited by canon law, as expounded by Johannes Hartlieb in 145 ...

'' (1949) as Court President * ''

Under Capricorn ''Under Capricorn'' is a 1949 British historical thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock about a couple in Australia who started out as lady and stable boy in Ireland, and who are now bound together by a horrible secret. The film is based on ...

'' (1949) as Mr. Riggs * '' Diamond City'' (1949) as Robert Southey * '' Boys in Brown'' (1949) as Judge (uncredited) * '' My Daughter Joy'' (1950) as Col. Fogarty * ''

Shadow of the Past ''Shadow of the Past'' is a 1950 British crime film directed by Mario Zampi and starring Joyce Howard, Terence Morgan, and Michael Medwin. The screenplay involves a man who catches sight of a woman believed by everyone to be dead. Cast * Joyce ...

'' (1950) as Solicitor * ''

Seven Days to Noon ''Seven Days to Noon'' is a 1950 British drama/thriller film directed by John and Roy Boulting. Paul Dehn and James Bernard won the Academy Award for Best Story for their work on the film. Plot In 1950, the British Prime Minister receives ...

'' (1950) as The Prime Minister * ''

The Late Edwina Black ''The Late Edwina Black'' (U.S. ''Obsessed'') is a 1951 British drama film, directed by Maurice Elvey and starring David Farrar, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Roland Culver. The film is a melodramatic murder mystery set in the Victorian era and was ...

'' (1951) as Head-Master * '' The Adventurers'' (1951) as van Thaal Snr. * ''

Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. ''Captain Horatio Hornblower'' (a.k.a. ''Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.'' in the UK, "R.N." standing for "Royal Navy") is a 1951 British naval swashbuckling war film in Technicolor from Warner Bros., produced by Gerry Mitchell, directed by Rao ...

'' (1951) as Adm. McCartney * ''

Hell is Sold Out ''Hell Is Sold Out'' is a 1951 British drama film directed by Michael Anderson and starring Mai Zetterling, Herbert Lom and Richard Attenborough. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Maurice Dekobra. Plot A Swedish-born woman, V ...

'' (1951) as Specialist * ''

Laughter in Paradise ''Laughter in Paradise'' is a 1951 British comedy film, starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. The film was remade as ''Some Will, Some Won't'' (1970). Plot In his will, notorious practical joker Henry Russell leave ...

'' (1951) as Mr. Wagstaffe * ''

The Lavender Hill Mob ''The Lavender Hill Mob'' is a 1951 comedy film from Ealing Studios, written by T. E. B. Clarke, directed by Charles Crichton, starring Alec Guinness and Stanley Holloway and featuring Sid James and Alfie Bass. The title refers to Lavender Hil ...

'' (1951) as Turner * ''

The House in the Square ''The House in the Square'' (also titled ''I'll Never Forget You'' in the United States and ''Man of Two Worlds'') is a 1951 fantasy film about an American atomic scientist who is transported to the 18th century, where he falls in love. It star ...

'' (1951) as Ronson (uncredited) * ''

Mr. Denning Drives North ''Mr. Denning Drives North'' is a 1951 British mystery film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring John Mills, Phyllis Calvert and Sam Wanamaker. The plot concerns an aircraft manufacturer (Mills) who accidentally kills the boyfriend (Herbert ...

'' (1951) as Coroner * ''

'' (1952) as Group Controller * ''

My Wife's Lodger ''My Wife's Lodger'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Dominic Roche, Olive Sloane and Leslie Dwyer. The screenplay concerns a who soldier returns home after the Second World War only to find a spiv lodger has es ...

'' (1952) as Doctor * ''

Circumstantial Evidence Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact—such as a fingerprint at the scene of a crime. By contrast, direct evidence supports the truth of an assertion directly—i.e., without need ...

'' (1952) as Sir William Hanson QC * ''

Top Secret Classified information is material that a government body deems to be sensitive information that must be protected. Access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of people with the necessary security clearance and need to know, ...

'' (1952) as Barworth Controller * '' Hindle Wakes'' (1952) as Mr. Jeffcote * ''

Appointment in London ''Appointment in London'' (known as ''Raiders in the Sky'' in the U.S.) is a 1953 British war film set during the Second World War and starring Dirk Bogarde. The film was directed by Philip Leacock and based on a story by John Wooldridge, who a ...

'' (1953) as Instructor (uncredited) * ''

Martin Luther Martin Luther (; ; 10 November 1483 – 18 February 1546) was a German priest, theologian, author, hymnwriter, and professor, and Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinian friar. He is the seminal figure of the Reformation, Protestant Refo ...

'' (1953) * ''

Malta Story ''Malta Story'' is a 1953 British war film, directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, which is set during the air defence of Malta during the Siege of Malta in the Second World War. The film uses real and unique footage of the locations at which the ba ...

'' (1953) as British Officer (uncredited) * ''

Flannelfoot ''Flannelfoot'' is a 1953 British crime film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Ronald Howard, Mary Germaine and Jack Watling.Chibnall & MacFarlane p.119 It was made at Walton Studios. The film's sets were designed by John Stoll. The film ...

'' (1953) as Insp. Duggan * '' Escape by Night'' (1953) as Tallboy * '' Stryker of the Yard'' (1953) * ''

The Million Pound Note ''The Million Pound Note'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and starring Gregory Peck, Ronald Squire, Wilfrid Hyde-White and Jane Griffiths. It is based on the 1893 Mark Twain short story ''The Million Pound Bank Note'', ...

'' (1954) as Samuel Clements (uncredited) * ''

Front Page Story ''Front Page Story'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Jack Hawkins, Elizabeth Allan and Eva Bartok. It was shot in black-and-white at Shepperton Studios with some location shooting in London. The film's sets we ...

'' (1954) as Editor * ''

Johnny on the Spot ''Johnny on the Spot'' is a 1954 British crime drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Hugh McDermott, Elspet Gray and Paul Carpenter. It was shot at Bushey Studios and on location in London. It was produced as a second feature. ...

'' (1954) as Insp. Beveridge * ''

Forbidden Cargo Forbidden Cargo may refer to: * Forbidden Cargo (1925 film), ''Forbidden Cargo'' (1925 film), an American film starring Boris Karloff: rum-running from Bahamas to United States * Forbidden Cargo (1954 film), ''Forbidden Cargo'' (1954 film), a Brit ...

'' (1954) as Mr. Bennett (uncredited) * ''

Seagulls Over Sorrento ''Seagulls Over Sorrento'' is a 1954 British war drama film made by the Boulting brothers based on the play of the same name by Hugh Hastings. The film stars Gene Kelly and was one of three made by Kelly in Europe over an 18-month period to ma ...

'' (1954) as Member of Admiralty Board (uncredited) * '' The Beachcomber'' (1954) as Sir Henry Johnstone (uncredited) * '' The Black Knight'' (1954) as The Abbot * ''

To Dorothy a Son ''To Dorothy a Son'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Muriel Box and starring Shelley Winters, John Gregson and Peggy Cummins. Known in the U.S. as ''Cash on Delivery'', it is based on the 1950 play ''To Dorothy, a Son'' by Roger MacDo ...

'' (1954) as Parsons * ''Thought to Kill'' (1954) as Gooch * '' Tons of Trouble'' (1956) as Psychiatrist * ''

Private's Progress ''Private's Progress'' is a 1956 British comedy film based on the novel by Alan Hackney. It was directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting, from a script by John Boulting and Frank Harvey. Plot During the Second World War, young undergrad ...

'' (1956) as Doctor at Medical * ''

The Man Who Never Was ''The Man Who Never Was'' is a 1956 British espionage thriller film produced by André Hakim and directed by Ronald Neame. It stars Clifton Webb and Gloria Grahame and features Robert Flemyng, Josephine Griffin and Stephen Boyd. It is base ...

'' (1956) as Adams (uncredited) * ''

Bhowani Junction ''Bhowani Junction'' is a 1954 novel by John Masters, which was the basis of a 1956 film starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger. It is set amidst the turbulence of the British withdrawal from India. It is notable for its portrayal of the Eu ...

'' (1956) as General Ackerby (uncredited) * ''

Reach for the Sky ''Reach for the Sky'' is a 1956 British biographical film about aviator Douglas Bader, based on the 1954 biography of the same name by Paul Brickhill. The film stars Kenneth More and was directed by Lewis Gilbert. It won the BAFTA Award for Bes ...

'' (1956) as Air Vice-Marshal Leigh-Mallory * '' Lust for Life'' (1956) as Commissioner De Smet * ''

Assignment Redhead ''Assignment Redhead'' (released in the US as ''Million Dollar Manhunt'') is a 1956 British crime thriller film written and directed by Maclean Rogers. It is based on the novel ''Requiem for a Redhead'' by Lindsay Hardy. The UK title of this fil ...

'' (1956) as Dumetrius * ''

Around the World in 80 Days ''Around the World in Eighty Days'' (french: link=no, Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours) is an adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in French in 1872. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employe ...

'' (1956) as Club Steward * ''

Sea Wife ''Sea Wife'' is a 1957 British CinemaScope drama thriller war film photographed in DeLuxe Color, based on the 1955 James Maurice Scott novel ''Sea-Wyf and Biscuit''. Shot in Jamaica, the film follows a group of survivors from a torpedoed Briti ...

'' (1957) as Army Padre * ''

Kill Me Tomorrow ''Kill Me Tomorrow'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Pat O'Brien and Lois Maxwell. It was made by Tempean Films at Southall Studios in West London. The film features a cameo by Tommy Steele.Tom Weaver, ''The H ...

'' (1957) as Mr. Brook * '' Carry On Admiral'' (1957) as First Sea Lord * ''

The Surgeon's Knife ''The Surgeon's Knife'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Donald Houston, Adrienne Corri and Lyndon Brook. It is an adaptation of the 1940 novel '' The Wicked Flee'' by Anne Hocking. Synopsis When his patient ...

'' (1957) as Maj. Tilling * ''

The Naked Truth The Naked Truth may refer to: Literature * ''The Naked Truth'' (novel), a 1993 fictional memoir by Leslie Nielsen * ''The Naked Truth'' (book), a 2007 commentary on film ratings Film * ''The Naked Truth'' (1914 film), a silent Italian film * ...

'' (1957) as Chemist (uncredited) * ''Woman and the Hunter'' (1957) as Insp. McGregor * '' The Golden Disc'' (1958) as Mr. Dryden * ''

Carlton-Browne of the F.O. ''Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' (U.S. title: ''Man in a Cocked Hat'') is a 1959 British comedy film made by the Boulting Brothers and starring Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers, and Luciana Paluzzi. It centres on an inept Foreign and Commonwealth Offic ...

'' (1959) as Sir John Farthing * ''

The Man Who Could Cheat Death ''The Man Who Could Cheat Death'' is a 1959 British horror film, directed by Terence Fisher and starring Anton Diffring, Hazel Court, and Christopher Lee. Jimmy Sangster adapted the screenplay from the play '' The Man in Half Moon Street'' b ...

'' (1959) as Second Doctor (uncredited) * ''

Please Turn Over ''Please Turn Over'' is a 1959 British comedy film written by Norman Hudis, produced by Peter Rogers and directed by Gerald Thomas. It featured Ted Ray, Julia Lockwood, Jean Kent, Joan Sims, Leslie Phillips, Charles Hawtrey, Lionel Jeffries ...

'' (1959) as Mr. Appleton * '' And the Same to You'' (1960) as Trout * ''

Carry On Constable ''Carry On Constable'' is a 1960 British comedy film, the fourth in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was released in February 1960. Of the regular team, it featured Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joa ...

'' (1960) as Motorist (uncredited) * ''

Snowball A snowball is a spherical object made from snow, usually created by scooping snow with the hands, and pressing the snow together to compact it into a ball. Snowballs are often used in games such as snowball fights. A snowball may also be a large ...

'' (1960) as Mr. King * '' Shoot to Kill'' (1960) as Wood * '' Offbeat'' (1961) as J. B. Wykenham * ''

Three on a Spree ''Three on a Spree'' is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Sidney J. Furie and starring Jack Watling, Carole Lesley and John Slater. It is based on the 1902 novel ''Brewster's Millions'' by George Barr McCutcheon, which became the hit 19 ...

'' (1961) as Judge * ''

Two Letter Alibi ''Two Letter Alibi'' is a 1962 British crime film directed by Robert Lynn and starring Peter Williams, Petra Davies and Ursula Howells. It was made at Shepperton Studios as a second feature. The sets were designed by the art director George P ...

'' (1962) as Sir John Fawcett * ''

Satan Never Sleeps ''Satan Never Sleeps '' (also known as ''The Devil Never Sleeps'') is a 1962 American drama romance war film directed by Leo McCarey, his final film, in which he returns to the religious themes of his classics '' Going My Way'' (1944) and ''The Be ...

'' (1962) as Father Lemay (uncredited) * '' Postman's Knock'' (1962) as Mr. Fordyce * ''

Heavens Above! ''Heavens Above!'' is a 1963 British satirical comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by John and Roy Boulting, who also co-wrote along with Frank Harvey, from an idea by Malcolm Muggeridge. It is in a similar vein to the earlier collab ...

'' (1963) as Cabinet Minister #1 (uncredited) * '' The Haunting'' (1963) as Eldridge Harper * ''

Espionage (TV series) ''Espionage'' is a British-produced TV spy anthology series broadcast in the United States on NBC from October 2, 1963, until September 2, 1964. Synopsis Made from actual case histories, episodes used newsreel and documented narratives to sho ...

'' ('Do You Remember Leo Winters', episode) (1964) - Roger Upton * ''

The Tomb of Ligeia ''The Tomb of Ligeia'' is a 1964 British horror film directed by Roger Corman. Starring Vincent Price and Elizabeth Shepherd, it tells of a man haunted by the spirit of his dead wife and her effect on his second marriage. The screenplay by Robe ...

'' (1964) as Minister at Graveside * ''

Who Killed the Cat? ''Who Killed the Cat?'' is a 1966 British crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Mary Merrall, Ellen Pollock and Amy Dalby. It was based on the 1956 play ''Tabitha'' by Arnold Ridley and Mary Cathcart Borer. Plot Three elderly s ...

'' (1966) as Gregory * ''

Song of Norway ''Song of Norway'' is an operetta written in 1944 by Robert Wright and George Forrest, adapted from the music of Edvard Grieg and the book by Milton Lazarus and Homer Curran. A very loose film adaptation with major changes to both the book ...

'' (1970) as Gade * ''

'' (1971) as Prime Minister * '' The Ruling Class'' (1972) as Lord * ''The Zoo Robbery'' (1973) as Zoologist * The Man from Nowhere (1975) as George Harvey * ''L'Amour en question'' (1978) as Le juge anglais (final film role)

Personal life

He married firstly Tanzi Cutava Barozzi; the marriage was dissolved. His second wife was Allyne Dorothy Franks. He had two children, Jane and David. After the Second World War Ronald Adam lived in

Surbiton Surbiton is a suburban neighbourhood in South West London, within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames (RBK). It is next to the River Thames, southwest of Charing Cross. Surbiton was in the historic county of Surrey and since 1965 it has ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

, and died on 28 March 1979.

Written works

Adam was part-adaptor of ''

'' and ''The Melody That Got Lost'', among other works. He was the author of the plays ''An English Summer'' (1948), ''A Wind on the Heath'' (1949) and ''Marriage Settlement'' (1950), which he also produced. He published a book on his theatrical memories: * In the middle of the war he wrote two novels arising from his experiences in the RAF. Initially they were published using the pseudonym "Blake", * * Both of these were later republished under his own name. He wrote again about his wartime experiences in: *

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Adam, Ronald 1896 births 1979 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors English aviators British World War I pilots Royal Flying Corps officers Shot-down aviators British World War I prisoners of war World War I prisoners of war held by Germany Royal Air Force wing commanders Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Officers of the Order of the British Empire People educated at University College School Male actors from Worcestershire 20th-century English male actors