Phyllis Calvert

Phyllis Calvert

Born: February 18, 1915
Died: October 8, 2002
in Chelsea, London, England, UK
Phyllis Calvert (18 February 1915 – 8 October 2002) was an English film, stage and television actress.

Born Phyllis Hannah Bickle in Chelsea, she trained at the Margaret Morris School of Dancing and performed from the age of ten, gaining her first film role at the age of 12, in The Arcadians (1927), also known as The Land of Heart's Desire. Calvert performed in repertory theatre and in several films, before making her London stage debut in A Woman's Privilege in 1939.

During the following decade, she starred in many romances, including Fanny by Gaslight, with James Mason and Stewart Granger, and My Own True Love, becoming one of Britain's highest paid stars. However, three Hollywood studios failed to pay her what she asked.

She first found success in the film adaptation of H. G. Wells' Kipps (1941), but it was The Man in Grey (1943) that confirmed her status.

She acted in over 40 films, her later films include Oh! What a Lovely War and The Walking Stick. Calvert had already appeared on television, playing Mrs. March in the 1958 serials Little Women and Good Wives (both adapted from Louisa May Alcott's novel Little Women), as well as individual episodes of several other programmes, when, in 1970, she landed the part of an agony aunt with problems of her own in Kate. She made TV appearances in programmes such as Crown Court, Ladykillers, Tales of the Unexpected, Boon, After Henry and The Line Grove Story.

She was married to the actor and antiquarian bookseller Peter Murray Hill, with whom she had two children, Ann Auriol (born 1943) and Piers Auriol (born 1954). She died in London in 2002, from natural causes, aged 87.

Movies for Phyllis Calvert...

Mrs. Dalloway
Title: Mrs. Dalloway
Character: Aunt Helena
Released: September 1, 1997
Type: Movie
Clarissa Dalloway looks back on her youth as she readies for a gathering at her house. The wife of a legislator and a doyenne of London's upper-crust party scene, Clarissa finds that the plight of ailing war veteran Septimus Warren Smith reminds her of a past romance with Peter Walsh. In flashbacks, young Clarissa explores her possibilities with Peter.
bee
Title: Midsomer Murders
Character: Alice Bly
Released: March 23, 1997
Type: TV
The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.
bee
Bed
Title: Bed
Character: Woman
Released: October 20, 1995
Type: Movie
Surreal drama about seven old people living in the same bed, by Jim Cartwright.
bee
Title: The House of Eliott
Character: Mrs Gurney
Released: August 31, 1991
Type: TV
Two sisters who set up a London fashion house for society of the early 1920s.
bee
Title: Victoria Wood
Character: Hilary
Released: November 16, 1989
Type: TV
Victoria Wood was a series of six one-off situation comedies written by and starring Victoria Wood in 1989, who took a break from sketches, two years after her very successful and award winning series Victoria Wood As Seen on TV. Wood appeared as "Victoria", a fictionalised version of herself, in all six episodes - in The Library it was said that she "worked in TV" and in Over To Pam characters appeared to recognise her celebrity and in the final episode, Staying In, she was taken to a party to perform as a comedienne and was expected to go through her stand-up 'routine'. Her character often broke the 'fourth wall' of TV and spoke directly to the camera, but not in every episode. Bored with the sketch format and with a yearning to recapture previous success as a playwright, Wood came up with six individual sitcoms as a compromise. She admitted to finding the writing difficult. Though Wood was written as the central character, other lead parts were written with specific actresses in mind, like Julie Walters and Una Stubbs. "I want people to like me and the people who play my friends, and not everybody else" she said. Screenonline says of the shows "Modest in ambition and scale but rich in wit and acuity, the six playlets showcase Wood's eye for human foibles and her distinctively eccentric characters.".
bee
The Woman He Loved
Title: The Woman He Loved
Character: Queen Mary
Released: April 3, 1988
Type: Movie
In 1936, Edward VIII abdicated in order to marry the woman he loved, Wallis Simpson, a twice divorced American. These events caused a scandal around the world and Wallis has since been demonised as the woman who stole the King of England.
bee
Across the Lake
Title: Across the Lake
Character: Lady Dolly Campbell
Released: January 1, 1988
Type: Movie
Starring Anthony Hopkins as speed king Donald Campbell. This 1988 film set In 1967 when Campbell broke the 300mph water speed barrier in his beloved BlueBird k7. Unfortunately Campbell never survived the record as his boat hydroplaned out of the water and disintegrated on landing. Campbell's body was never found until 2001.
bee
The Death of the Heart
Title: The Death of the Heart
Character: Mrs. Heccomb
Released: May 3, 1987
Type: Movie
A young orphan girl, Portia, goes to live with her well-to-do aunt and uncle. As she is groomed to become a lady, she is confused by the young man who seems to be courting her. Surrounded by pretentious people who have no clue how to deal with teenagers, she soon loses her naïveté and thinks of running away.
bee
Title: All Passion Spent
Character: Carrie
Released: December 9, 1986
Type: TV
With the death of her husband, elderly Lady Slane deals with a succession of advice from her large flock of middle-aged children. The family is chagrined by, but honors, her choice to live a modest country retirement at some distance, in Hampstead Heath.
bee
All Passion Spent
Title: All Passion Spent
Character: Carrie
Released: December 9, 1986
Type: Movie
his three-part miniseries begins with elderly Lady Slane (Wendy Hiller) sitting watchfully by the deathbed of her husband. Tended by her equally aged French maid Genoux (Eileen Way), who has served her faithfully for a lifetime, Lady Slane deals with a succession of advice from her large flock of middle-aged children. The family is chagrined by, but honors, her choice to live a modest country retirement at some distance, in Hampstead Heath. Lady Slane competently comes to terms to lease and restore a crumbling house, aided by an aging land agent Gervase Bucktrout (Maurice Denham). Once settled, an acquaintance from 50 years past, Mr. Fitzgeorge (Harry Andrews), visits the cottage to rekindle memories of their brief, deep, but unfulfilled brush as soul-mates in colonial India when Lady Slane was a devoted young wife and mother. Great-granddaughter Deborah (Jane Snowden), who has been trapped by a socially desirable but passionless engagement, regularly visits to confide and seek wisdom.
bee
Title: Fifties Features - The Women behind the Pictures
Released: September 21, 1986
Type: TV
A three part series about women working in the British film industry during the 1950s.
bee
Title: Casualty
Character: Mary
Released: September 6, 1986
Type: TV
Drama series about the staff and patients at Holby City Hospital's emergency department, charting the ups and downs in their personal and professional lives.
bee
Title: Sherlock Holmes
Character: Agnes Garrideb
Released: April 24, 1984
Type: TV
Sherlock Holmes uses his abilities to take on cases by private clients and those that the Scotland Yard are unable to solve, along with his friend Dr. Watson.
bee
Title: Lady Killers
Character: Rosaline Fox
Released: July 20, 1980
Type: TV
Compelling crime anthology looks at some of Britain's most notorious murder trials, in which both male and female defendants stood accused of the murder of women. Introduced by Robert Morley, seven hour-long dramas reconstruct sensational trials which shocked Britain, offering in-depth analyses of individuals' motives and methods.
bee
Title: Tales of the Unexpected
Character: Mabel Ince
Released: March 24, 1979
Type: TV
A British television anthology of stories, often with sinister and wryly comedic undertones, and a twist at the end. With early episodes written and presented by Roald Dahl, the series featured a plethora of big name guest stars.
bee
The Walking Stick
Title: The Walking Stick
Character: Erica Dainton
Released: April 15, 1970
Type: Movie
A young woman's highly ordered and structured life is turned upside-down when she meets a handsome stranger at a party. Friendship soon develops into romance and for the first time in her life she is truly happy. This happiness is short lived, however, as little by little she discovers her partner has been lying to her about his past. It is soon revealed that he and his friends have been planning to rob the auction house that she works for and they require her inside knowledge in order to pull off the crime.
bee
Title: Kate
Released: February 4, 1970
Type: TV
bee
Oh! What a Lovely War
Title: Oh! What a Lovely War
Character: Lady Dorothy Haig
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.
bee
Twisted Nerve
Title: Twisted Nerve
Character: Enid Durnley
Released: December 20, 1968
Type: Movie
Martin Durnley is a young man with an infantilizing mother, resentful stepfather and an institutionalized brother with Down's syndrome. To cope, he retreats into an alternate child personality he calls Georgie. After being caught during a theft attempt at a department store, he befriends a female customer who is sympathetic to him, but his friendship soon turns into obsession.
bee
The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Title: The Battle of the Villa Fiorita
Character: Margot
Released: May 26, 1965
Type: Movie
Two British children travel to Italy in an attempt to break up their runaway mother's affair with an Italian concert pianist.
bee
Oscar Wilde
Title: Oscar Wilde
Character: Constance Wilde
Released: May 29, 1960
Type: Movie
England, 1891. Ascending writer Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) meets Lord Alfred Douglas, a young nobleman. Over the years, they will maintain an intimate relationship that will be openly criticized by Alfred's father, the Marquis of Queensberry, in such a harsh way that Wilde, instigated by Alfred, decides to sue Queensberry in 1895, accusing him of defamation.
bee
Indiscreet
Title: Indiscreet
Character: Mrs. Margaret Munson
Released: July 16, 1958
Type: Movie
Anna Kalman is an accomplished actress who has given up hope of finding the man of her dreams. She is in the middle of taking off her face cream, while talking about this subject with her sister, when in walks Philip Adams. She loses her concentration for a moment as she realizes that this is the charming, smart, and handsome man she has been waiting for.
bee
A Lady Mislaid
Title: A Lady Mislaid
Character: Esther Wallace
Released: January 1, 1958
Type: Movie
Esther and her sister Jennifer have just taken a remote country cottage. But there is strange gossip about the previous occupants.
bee
The Young and the Guilty
Title: The Young and the Guilty
Character: Gladys Connor
Released: January 1, 1958
Type: Movie
Parents veto the romance of two high-school students, forcing them to meet in secret.
bee
Child in the House
Title: Child in the House
Character: Evelyn Acheson
Released: August 14, 1956
Type: Movie
A lonely child must stay with her uncaring aunt and uncle after her mother is hospitalized. Her estranged father is a fugitive. For love and companionship, the eleven-year old girl becomes friends with the housemaid. When at long last, she meets her dad, she must vow to never reveal his location to the police.
bee
It's Never Too Late
Title: It's Never Too Late
Character: Laura Hammond
Released: May 7, 1956
Type: Movie
When a sedate wife and mother decides her family takes her for granted, she pens a movie script -- and it becomes a hit film. Suddenly faced with instant celebrity, she must choose between being a highly paid author and a middle-class housewife.
bee
The Net
Title: The Net
Character: Lydia Heathley
Released: February 9, 1953
Type: Movie
A secret jet aircraft capable of traveling three times the speed of sound is being developed by a group of scientists. On the day of the test flight, one of the scientists dies in a mysterious accident, and there are many arguments concerning the flight itself; some think it should be ground-controlled while Heathley (James Donald) wants it to be a manned flight with himself at the controls. Conflict also arises when one of his fellow scientists, taking advantage of Heathley's lack of attention toward his wife, Lydia (Phyllis Calvert), makes some moves on her. Then there is the question of just who is the enemy agent on the project.
bee
Mandy
Title: Mandy
Character: Christine Garland
Released: July 29, 1952
Type: Movie
London, the early 1950s. Born deaf, Mandy is mute for most of her childhood. As she reaches school age her family itself is in danger of breaking up. Christine, Mandy's mother, has heard of a residential school for the oral education of the deaf.
bee
Mr. Denning Drives North
Title: Mr. Denning Drives North
Character: Kay Denning
Released: December 18, 1951
Type: Movie
When well-off aircraft designer Denning finds his daughter's current boyfriend is a nasty character he tries to buy him off, ending up hitting him and causing his death when he falls. Instead of calling the police he dumps the body in a lonely spot on the road to the North, making it look like a hit-and-run accident. Weeks later there is still no report of the body being found, and Denning starts to go to pieces. When he lets his wife into his secret the two start making enquiries, possibly making things worse.
bee
The Woman with No Name
Title: The Woman with No Name
Character: Yvonne Winter
Released: October 31, 1950
Type: Movie
This is a British drama film from 1950 about a young woman in London in WW2 with amnesia.
bee
Appointment with Danger
Title: Appointment with Danger
Character: Sister Augustine
Released: March 31, 1950
Type: Movie
Al Goddard, a detective who works for the United States Postal Inspection Service, is assigned to arrest two criminals who've allegedly murdered a U.S. postal detective.
bee
The Golden Madonna
Title: The Golden Madonna
Character: Patricia Chandler
Released: May 23, 1949
Type: Movie
Patricia (Phyllis Calvert) throws away a painting members of her Italian village consider to be extremely lucky. She goes to great lengths in her attempts to locate it again and bring it back.
bee
My Own True Love
Title: My Own True Love
Character: Joan Clews
Released: July 1, 1948
Type: Movie
Following World War II, a woman tries to help her fiance understand his son's traumatic experience as a G.I., during which he lost a leg and was imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp.
bee
Broken Journey
Title: Broken Journey
Character: Mary Johnstone
Released: April 14, 1948
Type: Movie
A plane flying over the Swiss Alps develops engine trouble and is forced to crash-land on a glacier. Unable to radio for help because of damaged batteries and with limited food supplies, the survivors must come to a decision -- whether to stay and wait for help they believe is coming or to leave the shelter of the wrecked plane and set out in bad weather to try to reach civilization.
bee
Time Out of Mind
Title: Time Out of Mind
Character: Kate Fernald
Released: May 3, 1947
Type: Movie
The son of a wealthy Maine family shocks his relatives by announcing he wants to pursue a career in music.
bee
The Root of All Evil
Title: The Root of All Evil
Character: Jeckie Farnish
Released: February 5, 1947
Type: Movie
Jeckie Farnish is a level-headed young woman, unlike her spoiled younger sister, Rushie. When the sisters become involved with charming businessman Charles Mortimer, the resulting tragedy leads to a lust for revenge on Rushie's part. However, Jeckie knows that she can always turn to reliable Joe Bartle in times of need.
bee
The Magic Bow
Title: The Magic Bow
Character: Jeanne
Released: September 20, 1946
Type: Movie
Biography of the famous Italian violinist Nicola Paganini which focuses as much on the musician's romances as it does on his craft. Phyllis Calvert plays Jeanne de Vermond, the aristocratic French woman who captures Paganini's heart, and real-life violin virtuoso Yehudi Menuhin supplies the breathtaking Paganini solos.
bee
Men of Two Worlds
Title: Men of Two Worlds
Character: Dr. Caroline Munro
Released: September 19, 1946
Type: Movie
An African music student returns home and has to defeat the witch doctor who dominates his tribe and attempt to take them to healthier land away from disease-infestation.
bee
They Were Sisters
Title: They Were Sisters
Character: Lucy Moore
Released: July 2, 1945
Type: Movie
The story of three sisters and the men they marry: one is happily married but childless, the second promiscuously escapes an unhappy, loveless marriage, and the third is tortured by the mental cruelties inflicted by a domineering husband.
bee
Madonna of the Seven Moons
Title: Madonna of the Seven Moons
Character: Maddalena Labardi
Released: January 22, 1945
Type: Movie
In the early part of this century, Maddelena a teenage Italian girl, is attacked whilst walking in the woods. The attack leaves her mentally scarred and our story flashes forward to the 1940s where Maddelena is still troubled. She disappears one day and her daughter vows to find her.
bee
Two Thousand Women
Title: Two Thousand Women
Character: Freda Thompson
Released: November 6, 1944
Type: Movie
During the Second World War, three downed English airmen hide out with women's internment camp in France.
bee
Fanny by Gaslight
Title: Fanny by Gaslight
Character: Fanny
Released: May 8, 1944
Type: Movie
Returning to 1870s London after finishing at boarding school, Fanny winesses the death of her father in a fight with Lord Manderstoke. She then finds that her family has for many years been running a bordello next door to their home. When her mother dies shortly after, she next discovers that her real father is in fact a well-respected politician. Meeting him and then falling in love with his young advisor Harry Somerford leads to a life of ups and downs and conflict between the classes. Periodically the scoundrel of a Lord crosses her path, always to tragic effect.
bee
The Man in Grey
Title: The Man in Grey
Character: Clarissa Richmond Rohan / Clarissa Rohan
Released: August 6, 1943
Type: Movie
After marrying a dour and disinterested lord for status, a young woman falls in love with a stage actor while her best friend from boarding school enters an affair with her husband.
bee
The Young Mr. Pitt
Title: The Young Mr. Pitt
Character: Eleanor Eden
Released: September 21, 1942
Type: Movie
This biopic tells the story of the life of Pitt The Younger, who became Prime Minister of Great Britain at the age of 24.
bee
Uncensored
Title: Uncensored
Character: Julie Lanvin
Released: August 24, 1942
Type: Movie
During the Nazi occupation of Belgium during World War II, a Belgian resistance group revives the newspaper "La Libre Belgique" to expose and counter Nazi propaganda efforts to deceive the people. They are so effective that the Nazis offer a reward for the capture of the paper's staff, although they don't know their identities. One of them is a well-known entertainer, and when his jealous partner hears of the reward, he turns him in. The paper's publishers escape capture, but their staff doesn't. The paper's founders must find not only a way to keep from getting captured by the Nazis but keep their newspaper going and get their staff released.
bee
Kipps
Title: Kipps
Character: Ann Pornick (adult)
Released: June 28, 1941
Type: Movie
A young tradesman learns that money doesn't necessarily bring happiness. Drama.
bee
Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It
Title: Inspector Hornleigh Goes to It
Character: Mrs. Wilkinson
Released: May 17, 1941
Type: Movie
Third and final film in the 'Inspector Hornleigh’ series of comedy-thrillers. Inspector Hornleigh (Gordon Harker), disappointed at not being handed an important spy case, is assigned by Scotland Yard to an army barracks to investigate the mundane thefts of supplies from the stores. This accidentally leads Hornleigh and Sergeant Bingham (Alastair Sim) to a nest of fifth columnists when his dim-witted assistant carelessly talks to a girl in the cafeteria – and that night, news of Hornleigh and Bingham’s arrival is embarrassingly transmitted back to Germany.
bee
Neutral Port
Title: Neutral Port
Character: Helen Carter
Released: December 6, 1940
Type: Movie
A British merchant ship is torpedoed by a German U-Boat and takes shelter in a neutral port. The Captain then strikes back at the German enemy.
bee
Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt
Title: Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt
Character: Betty Forsythe
Released: August 31, 1940
Type: Movie
Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde starring Arthur Askey and Richard Murdoch as Oxford 'scholars'. The film is one of many to be made based on the farce Charley's Aunt. Taking inspiration from a well-known Victorian play, a modern-day prankster poses as a wealthy woman in a ploy to prevent him and his friends from being expelled from college.
bee
Let George Do It!
Title: Let George Do It!
Character: Mary Wilson
Released: July 12, 1940
Type: Movie
Shortly after the start of World War II, a ukelele player (George) takes the wrong boat and finds himself in (still uninvaded) Norway. He is mistaken for a fellow British intelligence agent by a woman (Mary), and becomes involved in trying to defeat Nazi agents.
bee
They Came by Night
Title: They Came by Night
Character: Sally
Released: March 7, 1940
Type: Movie
A man is blackmailed into taking his brother's place in a gang for a jewellery heist.