Michael Bates

Michael Bates

Born: December 4, 1920
Died: January 11, 1978
in Jhansi, British India (now Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India)
​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael Hammond Bates was an Indian-born English actor. He was educated at Uppingham School in Rutland and St Catharine's College, Cambridge.

Bates served as a Major serving with the Brigade of Gurkhas in Burma before his discharge at the end of World War II. In 1953, while an ensemble member with the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, he appeared in Richard III and All's Well That End's Well. In 1956 he appeared in Hotel Paradiso which starred Alec Guinness, at the Winter Garden Theatre in London.

He appeared in many UK television series including Last of the Summer Wine from 1973 to 1975 as Cyril Blamire and It Ain't Half Hot Mum from 1974 to 1977 as Rangi Ram, as well as many others. His role as Rangi Ram caused some controversy as it required Bates to be made-up with fake tan to look like an Indian, which he took to naturally as he was born in India and spoke the Hindi language fluently. On radio he played a variety of characters in the BBC's long-running comedy series The Navy Lark. These were: Able Seaman Ginger, Lt. Bates, Rear Admiral Ironbridge, the Padre and Captain Ignatius Aloysius Atchison.

Bates' film roles include Battle of Britain (1969) as Warrant Officer Warwick, Oh! What a Lovely War (1969) as a Lance-corporal, Patton (1970) as Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery (to whom he bore a striking resemblance), Frenzy (1972) by Alfred Hitchcock, and the Stanley Kubrick film A Clockwork Orange (1971). On stage, he did Shakespeare at Stratford and the Old Vic and made a big impression as Inspector Truscott in the West End production of Loot by Joe Orton in 1966. He died of cancer in Cambridge, aged 57.

Description above from the Wikipedia article Michael Bates (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Movies for Michael Bates...

Hokusai: An Animated Sketchbook
Title: Hokusai: An Animated Sketchbook
Character: Narrator
Released: January 1, 1978
Type: Movie
A BAFTA award winning short tribute to the artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), which explores a small number of the thousands of drawings he is reputed to have produced during his lifetime
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Gulliver's Travels
Title: Gulliver's Travels
Character: (voice)
Released: January 1, 1977
Type: Movie
Based on the novel of the same name by Jonathan Swift and built around the Lilliput and Blefuscu episode. It was made partly in live action and partly animated.
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The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
Title: The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones
Character: Madman
Released: August 1, 1976
Type: Movie
Another stab at Henry Fielding's hilarious novel about the amorous misadventures of a dashing young man in 18th century England. The brilliant 1963 version, starring Albert Finney as the lusty hero, won four Oscars. Joan Collins does a great job as a Wicked Lady style highwaywoman.
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Title: Fall of Eagles
Character: Von Ludendorff
Released: March 15, 1974
Type: TV
"Fall of Eagles" is a 13-part British television drama aired by the BBC in 1974. The series portrays historical events from 1848 to 1918, dealing with the collapse of the ruling dynasties of Austria-Hungary (the Habsburgs), Germany (the Hohenzollerns) and Russia (the Romanovs).
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Title: It Ain't Half Hot Mum
Character: Rangi Ram
Released: January 3, 1974
Type: TV
The comic adventures of a group of misfits who form an extremely bad concert party touring the hot and steamy jungles of Burma entertaining the troops during World War II.
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No Sex Please: We're British
Title: No Sex Please: We're British
Character: Mr. Needham
Released: July 25, 1973
Type: Movie
A porn-store owner orders some new stuff from his supplier, but the delivery address gets mixed with the address of the local Barclays Bank. Here, David (the bank's assistant manager) and his new wife are shocked when photos, then films and finally two girls are sent to them in their bank-supplied flat. They and the banks' head cashier then hatch a plan to get rid of the porn—without letting their boss, the local police and David's mother in on what is happening.
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Title: Last of the Summer Wine
Character: Cyril Blamire
Released: January 4, 1973
Type: TV
Unencumbered by wives, jobs or any other responsibilities, three senior citizens who've never really grown up explore their world in the Yorkshire Dales. They spend their days speculating about their fellow townsfolk and thinking up adventures not usually favored by the elderly. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse in 1973. The show ran for 295 episodes until 2010. It is the longest running comedy Britain has produced and the longest running sitcom in the world.
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The Stone Tape
Title: The Stone Tape
Character: Eddie Holmes
Released: December 25, 1972
Type: Movie
A research team from an electronics company move into an old Victorian house to start work on finding a new recording medium. When team member Jill Greeley witnesses a ghost, team director Peter Brock decides not only to analyse the apparition, which he believes is a psychic impression trapped in a stone wall (dubbed a "stone tape"), but to exorcise it too - with terrifying results...
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Frenzy
Title: Frenzy
Character: Sergeant Spearman
Released: May 25, 1972
Type: Movie
After a serial killer strangles several women with a necktie, London police identify a suspect—but he claims vehemently to be the wrong man.
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A Clockwork Orange
Title: A Clockwork Orange
Character: Chief Guard Barnes
Released: December 19, 1971
Type: Movie
In a near-future Britain, young Alexander DeLarge and his pals get their kicks beating and raping anyone they please. When not destroying the lives of others, Alex swoons to the music of Beethoven. The state, eager to crack down on juvenile crime, gives an incarcerated Alex the option to undergo an invasive procedure that'll rob him of all personal agency. In a time when conscience is a commodity, can Alex change his tune?
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Title: The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
Character: Colonel Sandstream
Released: September 20, 1971
Type: TV
Adaptations of mystery stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's contemporary rivals in the genre.
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Title: Jason King
Released: September 15, 1971
Type: TV
Jason King - a suavely sophisticated former secret agent turned novelist - travels the world searching for material to fill his books, encountering an endless parade of glamorous women, exotic locales, menacing villains and daring intrigue! Before Austin Powers swung into action, Jason King set the standard for the hip crime-fighting international playboy!
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The Fox Trot
Title: The Fox Trot
Character: Arthur
Released: April 29, 1971
Type: Movie
The first in a series of new plays. Arthur and Gwen, a cosy middle-aged couple, remember with nostalgia the pre-Motorway Britain of their youth. When Tom, an old friend, returns from voyaging the world their life takes a strange new turn.
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Title: Six Dates with Barker
Released: January 8, 1971
Type: TV
Six Dates with Barker is a series of six one-off, half hour situation comedies showcasing the talents of Ronnie Barker. All were broadcast by London Weekend Television early in 1971. Writers on the series included John Cleese and Spike Milligan. The producer was Humphrey Barclay.
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The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Title: The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Character: Mr. Spimm
Released: November 12, 1970
Type: Movie
Fresh-faced young Michael Rimmer worms his way into an opinion poll company and is soon running the place. He uses this as a springboard to get into politics and in the mini-skirted flared-trousered world of 1970 Britain starts to rise through the Tory ranks.
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Every Home Should Have One
Title: Every Home Should Have One
Character: Magistrate
Released: March 5, 1970
Type: Movie
Teddy works for a large advertising company. Given the seemingly impossible task of selling frozen porridge, he decides to produce commercials that make the product seem sexy. This leads him to confrontation with the "Keep Television Clean" movement, of which his wife is a senior member.
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Patton
Title: Patton
Character: Field Marshal Sir Bernard Law Montgomery
Released: January 25, 1970
Type: Movie
"Patton" tells the tale of General George S. Patton, famous tank commander of World War II. The film begins with patton's career in North Africa and progresses through the invasion of Germany and the fall of the Third Reich. Side plots also speak of Patton's numerous faults such his temper and habit towards insubordination.
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Arthur? Arthur!
Title: Arthur? Arthur!
Character: Mr. Harrington
Released: October 1, 1969
Type: Movie
The inventor of sure-fire failures leads such an abysmal life that he creates a second identity, that of a dashing, debonair womaniser.
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Battle of Britain
Title: Battle of Britain
Character: Warrant Officer Warwick
Released: September 15, 1969
Type: Movie
In 1940, the Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle against the might of the Luftwaffe for control of the skies over Britain, thus preventing the Nazi invasion of Britain.
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Sling Your Hook
Title: Sling Your Hook
Character: Joe
Released: April 2, 1969
Type: Movie
A group of coal miners from Nottingham go on their annual trip to Blackpool.
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Oh! What a Lovely War
Title: Oh! What a Lovely War
Character: Drunk Lance Corporal
Released: March 10, 1969
Type: Movie
The working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the three boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.
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Title: Male of the Species
Character: Fred
Released: February 1, 1969
Type: TV
Never trust a man whoever he is. This is the bitter lesson learned by Mary MacNeil in her relationships with three different men: her father, a mendacious womaniser; a smooth-talking office flirt, Cornelius; and an ageing barrister, Emlyn, who is enchanted by Mary's youthful vitality and charm. Only one of these men will win her heart in the end... Featuring rare television performances from Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Paul Scofield, this trilogy of plays forms a dramatic and controversial study in male behaviour. Differs slightly from the omnibus version that aired 3 Jan 1969 on NBC (US).
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Male of the Species
Title: Male of the Species
Character: Fred
Released: January 3, 1969
Type: Movie
Never trust a man whoever he is. This is the bitter lesson learned by Mary MacNeil in her relationships with three different men: her father, a mendacious womanizer; a smooth-talking office flirt, Cornelius; and an aging barrister, Emlyn, who is enchanted by Mary's youthful vitality and charm.
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Hammerhead
Title: Hammerhead
Character: Andreas / Sir Richard
Released: September 11, 1968
Type: Movie
An American agent has tracked down the stronghold of an evil criminal mastermind, determined to take over the world (what, another one ?).
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Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
Title: Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
Character: Dr. Spink
Released: July 12, 1968
Type: Movie
George Lester is a man who is chasing rainbows, looking for the pot of gold at the end. When his wife, Pamela grows tired of being dragged all over the world, she leaves him. While she is away, George converts her family home into a discotheque, when she returns, she threatens to send George to jail for fraud, cause she didn't give her approval. George needing some fast bucks, decides to turn to an old cohort of his, William Homer but Willy's a little short. George then decides to steal the plans to a new drill, Pamela's suitor, Dudley Heath is working on. But when George gets the mumps, he can't make it to the meeting place and refuses to give Willy the plans unless he gives him the cash first. And the buyers won't give unless they see the merchandise first.
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Salt & Pepper
Title: Salt & Pepper
Character: Inspector Crabbe
Released: July 3, 1968
Type: Movie
After discovering the body of a murdered female agent in their trendy Soho, London nightclub, groovy owners Charles Salt and Christopher Pepper partake in a fumbling investigation and uncover an evil plot to overthrow the government. Can our cool, yet inept duo stop the bad guys in time?
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The Brahmin Widow
Title: The Brahmin Widow
Character: Mr. Ambekar
Released: April 8, 1968
Type: Movie
A British soldier returns to India to find the woman he fell in love wit
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Title: Ooh La La!
Character: Vatelin
Released: April 6, 1968
Type: TV
Series based on the short French farces written by Georges Feydeau, Eugène Labiche, Marc Michel and Sacha Guitry. All of them include mistaken identities and impeccable timing.
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Title: Cilla
Character: Self
Released: January 30, 1968
Type: TV
A mostly live weekly entertainment show starring Cilla Black and her special guests.
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Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
Title: Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
Character: Mr. McGregor
Released: January 22, 1968
Type: Movie
Jamie McGregor is a virginal sixth-former in suburbia delivering groceries for the local supermarket, but he is more interested in other matters - Mary, Linda, Paula, and Caroline. He tries to seduce the girls of his dreams in the swinging sixties.
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Bedazzled
Title: Bedazzled
Character: Inspector Clarke
Released: October 30, 1967
Type: Movie
A hapless loser sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for seven wishes, but has trouble winning over the girl of his dreams.
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Title: Man in a Suitcase
Character: Delacroix
Released: September 27, 1967
Type: TV
Accused of treason, a former U.S. intelligence officer based in London tries to clear his name, taking on freelance jobs around Europe as he searches for answers.
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Macready's Gala
Title: Macready's Gala
Character: Mike MacFarland
Released: March 2, 1966
Type: Movie
The Headmaster and governors of a boarding school are accidentally locked in the new memorial room with the convicted Great Train Robbers.
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A Passage to India
Title: A Passage to India
Character: Professor Godbole
Released: November 16, 1965
Type: Movie
The BBC's 1965 adaptation of E.M. Forster's novel, screened as part of their Play of the Month strand, adapted by Santha Ramu Rau and John Maynard, and directed by Waris Hussein.
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Title: BBC Play of the Month
Character: Professor Godbole
Released: October 19, 1965
Type: TV
Play of the Month is a BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles. The series was transmitted from October 1965 to September 1983; the producer most associated with the Play of the Month was Cedric Messina. Some of the 121 episodes are missing from the archives, having been junked in the 1960s and 1970s. Unless stated otherwise, the indication that the play is "lost" is taken from the lostshows.com website page as of 25 May 2013.
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Title: Public Eye
Character: George
Released: January 23, 1965
Type: TV
Public Eye is a British television series that ran from 1965 to 1975. It was produced by ABC Television for three series, and Thames Television for a further four series. The series depicted the investigations and cases handled by the unglamorous enquiry agent Frank Marker, an unmarried loner who is in his early forties when the series begins. In the words of an ABC trailer for the third series: "Marker isn't a glamorous detective and he doesn't get glamorous cases—he doesn't even get glamorous girls. What he does get is people who are in trouble—the sort of trouble you can't go to the police about, even if you are innocent."
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Title: The Wednesday Play
Character: Joe
Released: September 30, 1964
Type: TV
The Wednesday Play is an anthology series of British television plays which ran on BBC1 from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually written for television, although adaptations from other sources also featured. The series gained a reputation for presenting contemporary social dramas, and for bringing issues to the attention of a mass audience that would not otherwise have been discussed on screen.
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Title: Cluff
Released: April 6, 1964
Type: TV
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Title: The Dick Emery Show
Released: July 13, 1963
Type: TV
A British sketch comedy show broadcast on the BBC from 1963 to 1981, with frequent performers including Pat Coombs, Deryck Guyler, Roy Kinnear, Joan Sims and Josephine Tewson.
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Title: The Saint
Character: Joe
Released: October 4, 1962
Type: TV
Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.
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Title: No Hiding Place
Released: September 16, 1959
Type: TV
No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.
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I'm All Right Jack
Title: I'm All Right Jack
Character: Bootle
Released: August 18, 1959
Type: Movie
Naive Stanley Windrush returns from the war, his mind set on a successful career in business. Much to his own dismay, he soon finds he has to start from the bottom and work his way up, and also that the management as well as the trade union use him as a tool in their fight for power.
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Dunkirk
Title: Dunkirk
Character: Froome
Released: March 20, 1958
Type: Movie
A British Corporal in France finds himself responsible for the lives of his men when their officer is killed. He has to get them back to Britain somehow. Meanwhile, British civilians are being dragged into the war with Operation Dynamo, the scheme to get the French and British forces back from the Dunkirk beaches. Some come forward to help, others were less willing.
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Title: Ivanhoe
Character: Will The Simple
Released: January 5, 1958
Type: TV
Ivanhoe is a British television series first shown on ITV in 1958-59. The show features Roger Moore in his first starring role, as Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, in a series of adventures aimed at a children's audience. The characters were drawn loosely from Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel.
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The Spanish Gardener
Title: The Spanish Gardener
Character: Consular Official (uncredited)
Released: December 25, 1956
Type: Movie
Harrington Brande, a British diplomat who recently broke up with his wife, is stationed in a small coastal town in Spain with his son, Nicholas. Harrington is unreasonably possessive of Nicholas and becomes jealous when he begins to form a close friendship with Jose, their gentle gardener.
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Carrington V.C.
Title: Carrington V.C.
Character: Major Broke-Smith
Released: December 9, 1954
Type: Movie
Major Charles Carrington (David Niven) is arrested for taking £125 from the base safe. He also faces two other charges that could finish his distinguished service career. He decides to act in his own defence at his court martial hearing, his argument being that he is owed a lot of money from the army for his various postings that have cost him out of his own pocket. To further complicate the proceedings, Carrington alleges he told his superior, the very disliked Colonel Henniker, that he was taking the money from the safe. A man's career, his marriage, and quite a few reputations all hang in the balance.
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The Stratford Adventure
Title: The Stratford Adventure
Character: Self
Released: August 2, 1954
Type: Movie
This short film depicts how a small Canadian city, bearing the name of Stratford and by a river Avon, created its own renowned Shakespearean theatre. The film tells how the idea grew, how a famous British director, international stars and Canadian talent were recruited, and how the Stratford Shakespearean Festival finally became a triumphant reality.