John McCallum

John McCallum

Born: March 14, 1918
Died: February 3, 2010
in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
McCallum's father, John Neil McCallum Sr., was a theatre owner and entrepreneur, who built and for many years ran the 2,000 seat Cremorne Theatre on the banks of the Brisbane River. After emigrating from Scotland, McCallum Snr. became an accomplished musician, and was soon heavily involved in Brisbane's entertainment scene. His mother was an accomplished amateur actress who was born in England.

In 1918, McCallum Jr. was born in Brisbane during the opening night of a comedy performance. After his birth, a family friend sent his father a wire: 'Congratulations on two howling successes'.

McCallum was exposed to acting at a young age: his early childhood was full of backstage encounters at the Cremorne with the wide variety of performers who frequented his father's theatre. Although McCallum and his two younger brothers received their primary school education in the UK, the family returned to Australia once the Great Depression started. His secondary education was at the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane.

His early theatrical training was with Barbara Sisely at the Brisbane Repertory Company.

Movies for John McCallum...

Forever Ealing
Title: Forever Ealing
Character: Self
Released: December 5, 2002
Type: Movie
This is a history of the England's Ealing Film Studios, from its beginnings in 1902. It follows the studio's successes through the 1930's, World War II dramas, the well-known 'Ealing comedies' with Alec Guinness, and the BBC's television productions
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Made In Ealing: The Story of Ealing Studios
Title: Made In Ealing: The Story of Ealing Studios
Character: Interviewee
Released: May 2, 1986
Type: Movie
Documentary about the British film studio. First appeared on the BBC television programme Omnibus.
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Three in One
Title: Three in One
Character: Introductions
Released: January 2, 1957
Type: Movie
This film contains three short stories about life in Australia in the 1950's.
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Smiley
Title: Smiley
Character: Jim Rankin
Released: June 28, 1956
Type: Movie
Smiley Greevins is a cheeky, mischievous, imaginative little boy who lives in the small town of Murrumbilla in the Australian outback. His father Bill is a poor drover who is often away from home. Much to the exasperation of his overworked wife, Ma Greevins, Bill is also very fond of the drink. Smiley is determined to buy himself a push bike and so he takes on odd jobs in an effort to save up enough money. But Smiley always seems to get caught up in some sort of misadventure. Smiley is a classic Australian film that will delight audiences of all ages.
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Port of Escape
Title: Port of Escape
Character: Mitch Gillis
Released: May 1, 1956
Type: Movie
Two sailors dock in London in search of a good time. But when one of them fatally stabs a man during a scuffle in a bar, the pair flee the scene, commandeer a boat and take the three women on board hostage as they try to outrun the law.
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Trouble in the Glen
Title: Trouble in the Glen
Character: Malcolm
Released: June 15, 1954
Type: Movie
Major Jim "Lance" Lansing, an American ex-pilot of the U.S. Air Corps, returns to Scotland after the war and finds much trouble in the glen where he settles because of the high-handed activities of the local laird, Sandy Mengues, a wealthy South American who, with his daughter Marissa, has returned to the land of his forefathers. Led by Lansing, the people eventually prevail upon Mengues to restore peace to the glen, but not before a brief and unconvincing fight between Lansing and Dukes, the Mengues foreman. Written by Les Adams
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Devil on Horseback
Title: Devil on Horseback
Character: Charles Roberts
Released: March 17, 1954
Type: Movie
A boy pursues his ambition to be a jockey
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Melba
Title: Melba
Character: Charles Armstrong
Released: August 7, 1953
Type: Movie
Rural Australian Nellie Melba becomes an opera star in 1900s Europe and the United States.
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The Long Memory
Title: The Long Memory
Character: Supt. Bob Lowther
Released: January 23, 1953
Type: Movie
An innocent man is released from prison after 12 years and tracks down the witnesses who lied about him in court.
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Trent's Last Case
Title: Trent's Last Case
Character: John Marlowe
Released: September 22, 1952
Type: Movie
When a wealthy business man is found dead reporter Philip Trent is sent to investigate. Against the police conclusions, he suspects the assumed suicide is really a murder, and becomes highly interested in the young widow and the dead man's private secretary.
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Derby Day
Title: Derby Day
Character: Tommy Dillon
Released: June 9, 1952
Type: Movie
Entertaining ensemble piece dealing with several characters who are on the way to the races on Derby day. It cleverly blends dramatic, romantic and comic elements, including the woman and lover who have murdered her husband, and the working class couple who are excited about their chance to go to the races, but end up listening to it on the radio in the car-park because they've got such a bad view.
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The Magic Box
Title: The Magic Box
Character: Sitter in Bath Studio
Released: January 1, 1952
Type: Movie
Now old, ill, poor, and largely forgotten, William Freise-Greene was once very different. As young and handsome William Green he changed his name to include his first wife's so that it sounded more impressive for the photographic portrait work he was so good at. But he was also an inventor and his search for a way to project moving pictures became an obsession that ultimately changed the life of all those he loved.
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Lady Godiva Rides Again
Title: Lady Godiva Rides Again
Character: Larry Burns
Released: October 25, 1951
Type: Movie
Marjory Clark wins a competition in her Midland town and finds herself in a Festival of Britain procession as Lady Godiva - though not in the buff. This leads by way of a suspect beauty competition to the show-business world of London. But it could be a slippery slope for simple home-town Marge.
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Valley of the Eagles
Title: Valley of the Eagles
Character: Dr. Nils Ahlen
Released: September 26, 1951
Type: Movie
A Norwegian scientist builds a device that can convert sound waves into electrical energy. However, the machine is stolen by the scientist's wife and assistant, who head across the frozen tundra towards Russia. A police inspector and a local girl team up with the scientist to help recover the device.
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Traveller's Joy
Title: Traveller's Joy
Character: Reggie Pelham
Released: December 25, 1950
Type: Movie
A divorced couple, living hand-to-mouth in Stockholm, must first pay their hotel bill before returning to England. To raise the necessary funds, they must pretend that they're still married.
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The Woman in Question
Title: The Woman in Question
Character: Michael Murray
Released: October 3, 1950
Type: Movie
Agnes "Astra" Huston, a fortune teller at a run-down fair, is found strangled in her bedroom. As the police question five suspects, their interactions with her are shown in flashbacks from their point of view.
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A Boy, a Girl and a Bike
Title: A Boy, a Girl and a Bike
Character: David Howarth
Released: May 23, 1949
Type: Movie
The lives of the members of a West Yorkshire cycling club are complicated by romantic entanglements and a series of bike thefts.
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The Calendar
Title: The Calendar
Character: Capt. Garry Anson
Released: July 5, 1948
Type: Movie
The favourite for the big race is nobbled and suspicion falls on the owner. His secret admirer proves it wasn't him.
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Miranda
Title: Miranda
Character: Nigel
Released: April 6, 1948
Type: Movie
A young married physician discovers a mermaid, and gives into her request to be taken to see London. Comedy and romantic entanglements ensue.
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It Always Rains on Sunday
Title: It Always Rains on Sunday
Character: Tommy Swann
Released: November 28, 1947
Type: Movie
During a rainy Sunday afternoon, an escaped prisoner tries to hide out at the home of his ex-fiance.
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Bush Christmas
Title: Bush Christmas
Character: Narrator (voice)
Released: July 28, 1947
Type: Movie
In Australia, five children pursue horse thieves through the mountains.
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The Loves of Joanna Godden
Title: The Loves of Joanna Godden
Character: Arthur Alce
Released: June 8, 1947
Type: Movie
Joanna Godden falls heir to a farm when her father dies.
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The Root of All Evil
Title: The Root of All Evil
Character: Joe Bartle
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.
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A Son is Born
Title: A Son is Born
Character: John Seldon
Released: September 20, 1946
Type: Movie
This family melodrama, a tale of desertion, vengeful seduction, coincidental meeting and catharsis, spans more than two decades from 1920 to World War II. A woman imprisoned in a loveless marriage finds the courage to leave her husband but is disturbed to find that her son, David, refuses to go with her. She does not give up on him and manages to establish a new life for herself. Her world is turned upside down when David reluctantly moves in with her, determined to ruin their lives. Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, David is about to be sent to New Guinea which may make or break any future relationship he has with the people who love him. A notable aspect of the film is a production design which belies the low budget.