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T. E. B. Clarke is a Scriptwriter and Additional Dialogue British born on 7 june 1907 at Watford (United-kingdom)

T. E. B. Clarke

T. E. B. Clarke
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Birth name Thomas Ernest Bennett Clarke
Nationality United-kingdom
Birth 7 june 1907 at Watford (United-kingdom)
Death 11 february 1989 (at 81 years) at London (United-kingdom)

Thomas Ernest Bennett "Tibby" Clarke (7 June 1907 – 11 February 1989) was a movie scriptwriter who wrote several of the Ealing Studios comedies. His scripts always feature careful logical development from a slightly absurd premise to a farcical conclusion. In 1952 he was awarded a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for his script for The Lavender Hill Mob, making him one of just a handful of Britons to receive this award. He continued to work as a scriptwriter after Ealing ceased production in the mid-fifties, his later contributions including Sons and Lovers and the Disney film The Horse without a Head.

Clarke was also a novelist and writer of non-fiction, and was not above presenting his fictions as fact – most notably the 1981 book Murder at Buckingham Palace, which purports to tell the story of a hushed-up murder in the Royal residence in 1935. Despite its including 'documentary' photographs, there is no external evidence that the book is anything but pure fiction.

Clarke was the younger brother of military deception pioneer Dudley Clarke.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1960 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.

Biography

Après l'obtention d'un diplôme en droit de l'université de Cambridge, il émigre en Australie, où il travaille dans le milieu de la presse féminine. En 1930, il se rend en Argentine et rédige un récit de voyage, Go South, Go West.

De retour en Angleterre, il mène en parallèle des carrières de journaliste et d'écrivain. Pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, il sert dans les forces de police de réserve de Londres. En 1944, il signe, en collaboration avec Harry Watt et J.O.C. Orton, son premier scénario. C'est le début d'une fructueuse activité de scénariste qui, en 1953, lui vaut un Oscar pour De l'or en barre, réalisé par Michael Crichton.

Il revient à la littérature dans les années 1960 et s'y consacre presque exclusivement à partir des années 1970. En 1981 paraît sa dernière publication, Meurtre au Palais de Buckingham, un roman policier sur un scandale, étouffé dans les années 1930, causé par un meurtre perpétré dans la maison royale.

Best films

Sons and Lovers (1960)
(Scriptwriter)
The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
(Scriptwriter)

Usually with

Source : Wikidata

Filmography of T. E. B. Clarke (23 films)

Display filmography as list

Scriptwriter

A Man Could Get Killed, 1h37
Directed by Ronald Neame, Cliff Owen
Origin USA
Genres Comedy, Action, Spy
Themes Spy films
Actors James Garner, Melina Mercouri, Sandra Dee, Anthony Franciosa, Robert Coote, Roland Culver
Rating57% 2.8992152.8992152.8992152.8992152.899215
A search is on for stolen diamonds and a government agent has been killed trying to recover them. When an unsuspecting William Beddoes arrives in Lisbon on behalf of an American bank, he is mistaken for the dead agent's replacement.
The Horse Without a Head, 2h
Directed by Don Chaffey
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Adventure
Themes Films about animals, Mise en scène d'un mammifère
Actors Jean-Pierre Aumont, Herbert Lom, Leo McKern, Pamela Franklin, Vincent Winter, Lee Montague
Roles Writer
Rating9% 0.462290.462290.462290.462290.46229
De jeunes enfants sont confrontés à des dévaliseurs de trains dans un petit village français.
Sons and Lovers, 1h43
Directed by Jack Cardiff, Peter Yates
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Actors Trevor Howard, Dean Stockwell, Wendy Hiller, Mary Ure, Conrad Phillips, Donald Pleasence
Rating70% 3.5408253.5408253.5408253.5408253.540825
A young man with artistic talent who lives in a close-knit, English coal-mining town during the early 20th century finds himself inhibited by his emotionally manipulative, domineering mother — a literary, psychological interpretation of the Oedipus story. Gertrude Morel, miserable in her marriage, puts her hope into her son, Paul. In her attempt to manipulate Paul's life she jealously attempts to prevent Paul from having a relationship with any woman. However, Paul goes to the city for a job and becomes enchanted with self-actualized and "liberated" feminist co-worker, Mrs. Clara Dawes, who is married. Paul and Clara become involved sexually and Clara realizes that Paul's emotional attachment, as with her own, lies with another person — in Paul's case, his mother. Gertrude learns of Paul's involvement with Clara, and she slips into a morose depression and physical sickness. Paul flees to his mother, to care for her and sit by her side. After his mother's death, Paul meets the girlfriend of his youth, Miriam, and tells her that because of his codependency with his mother he intends to live the rest of his life without any serious relationship with another woman — in essence fulfilling his mother's desire and objective.
Gideon's Day, 1h31
Directed by John Ford
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy, Action, Crime, Politic
Actors Jack Hawkins, Dianne Foster, Cyril Cusack, Andrew Ray, Anna Massey, James Hayter
Roles Ecrivain
Rating65% 3.295173.295173.295173.295173.29517
The film follows a day in the life of Detective Chief Inspector George Gideon of the Metropolitan Police. His day starts when he received information that one of his officers has been taking bribes. Despite his hectic schedule, his wife reminds him his daughter has a violin recital that evening; she also tells him her aunt and uncle are coming for tea before the concert. This becomes a recurring theme throughout the film, as Gideon is continually hampered in his efforts to finish work and return home.
A Tale of Two Cities, 1h52
Directed by Ralph Thomas
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Historical, Romance
Themes Political films, Films about capital punishment, French Revolution films
Actors Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin, Paul Guers, Marie Versini, Ian Bannen, Cecil Parker
Rating70% 3.544123.544123.544123.544123.54412
Sydney Carton, a drunken English lawyer, discovers that Charles Darnay, a man he once defended, is a French aristocrat trying to escape the French Revolution. While he envies the man over the love of a woman, Lucie Manette, his conscience is pricked and he resolves to help him escape the guillotine.
Law and Disorder, 1h16
Directed by Charles Crichton
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Actors Michael Redgrave, Robert Morley, Ronald Squire, Elizabeth Sellars, Joan Hickson, Lionel Jeffries
Rating62% 3.1446153.1446153.1446153.1446153.144615
Percy Brand is a crook and a veteran of various cons and schemes. His success is tempered by the fact that he is regularly sent away
The Rising of the Moon, 1h21
Directed by John Ford
Origin Irlande
Genres Drama, Comedy
Themes Transport films, Rail transport films
Actors Cyril Cusack, Noel Purcell, Denis O'Dea, Tyrone Power, John Cowley, Jack MacGowran
Rating65% 3.297953.297953.297953.297953.29795
Police Inspector Dillon (Cyril Cusack) reluctantly sets out to see an old friend, Dan O'Flaherty (Noel Purcell). Along the way, he encounters Mickey J. (Jack MacGowran), a poitín maker who, fortunately for him, is not Dillon's target today. The inspector has the unfortunate duty of serving a warrant on O'Flaherty for striking Phelim O'Feeney (John Cowley) on the head. O'Flaherty refuses to pay the fine, as he feels he has done nothing wrong, nor will he allow O'Feeney to pay it for him. Instead, he heads off to prison.
Barnacle Bill, 1h27
Directed by Charles Frend
Origin USA
Genres Comedy
Actors Alec Guinness, Maurice Denham, Frederick Piper, Percy Herbert, Fred Griffiths, Allan Cuthbertson
Rating66% 3.344333.344333.344333.344333.34433
William Horatio Ambrose (Guinness) wants desperately to live up to the proud family tradition; the Ambroses have always been mariners (if not exactly distinguished ones), hence their family motto, "Omnes per Mare" ("All at Sea"). In humorous vignettes, Guinness portrays six of his ancestors, starting with a confused caveman pioneer and ending with his own father's ignominious demise at the Battle of Jutland. Ambrose has a debilitating problem however: he gets violently seasick at the slightest excuse. As a result, his contribution to the Second World War consists of testing cures for the malady.
Who Done It?, 1h25
Directed by Basil Dearden
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Action, Crime
Actors Belinda Lee, Benny Hill, David Kossoff, Garry Marsh, Irene Handl, Ernest Thesiger
Rating57% 2.8525652.8525652.8525652.8525652.852565
One of the last Ealing Comedies has Benny Hill making his screen debut in this film about an ice rink sweeper, Hugo Dill, who dreams of being a private investigator. His dream comes true when he manages to capture a ring of Eastern Bloc spies.
The Rainbow Jacket, 1h39
Directed by Basil Dearden
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama
Themes Films about animals, Sports films, Films about horses, Horse sports in film
Actors Robert Morley, Kay Walsh, Edward Underdown, Bill Owen, Honor Blackman, Charles Victor
Roles Writer
Rating63% 3.1925453.1925453.1925453.1925453.192545
A champion jockey, having forfeited his own career by taking a bribe, takes a young rider under his wing.
The Titfield Thunderbolt, 1h24
Directed by Charles Crichton
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy
Themes Transport films, Rail transport films
Actors Stanley Holloway, George Relph, Naunton Wayne, John Gregson, Hugh Griffith, Godfrey Tearle
Roles Créateur d'histoire originale
Rating69% 3.496953.496953.496953.496953.49695
The residents of the (fictional) rural village of Titfield rely on the railway branch line to commute to work and transport their produce to market. So they are shocked when the government announces that the line is to be closed. Particularly hard hit is the local vicar, railway enthusiast Rev. Sam Weech (George Relph); he comes up with the idea to run it locally. He and the local squire, Gordon Chesterford (John Gregson), persuade wealthy Walter Valentine (Stanley Holloway) to provide the financial backing by telling him they can legally operate a bar while the train is running, so he will not have to wait all morning for the local pub to open.
The Lavender Hill Mob, 1h21
Directed by Jim O'Connolly, Charles Crichton
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Comedy, Crime
Themes Heist films, Gangster films, Escroquerie
Actors Alec Guinness, Stanley Holloway, Audrey Hepburn, Sid James, Alfie Bass, Edie Martin
Rating74% 3.747063.747063.747063.747063.74706
Henry Holland (Alec Guinness) is dining with a fellow Englishman in a posh restaurant in Rio de Janeiro where he is well known. He relates a story explaining his presence in Rio. It seems he was a seemingly unambitious London bank clerk in charge of gold bullion deliveries for over 20 years. He had a reputation for fussing over details and suspecting all cars he observed following the bullion van, but all in all appeared to be a man dedicated to his job and the gold's security. In fact, he had hatched the "perfect" plot to steal a load of bullion and retire. The one thing stopping him had been that selling the gold on the black market in Britain was too risky, and he was at a loss as to how to smuggle it abroad.
Encore
Encore (1951)
, 1h25
Directed by Harold French, Anthony Pelissier, Pat Jackson
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Anthology film
Actors Nigel Patrick, Roland Culver, Charles Victor, Alison Leggatt, Noel Purcell, Glynis Johns
Rating68% 3.436343.436343.436343.436343.43634
Idle Tom Ramsay (Nigel Patrick) continually borrows from his hard-working brother George (Roland Culver). George later puts up the Ramsay estate for sale so he can buy out his business partner, despite Tom's protests. Shortly afterwards, George is approached by car dealer Philip Cronshaw (Peter Graves), who notifies him that Tom has stolen one of his automobiles. To avoid a scandal, George pays for it. However, it was a fraud; Cronshaw and Tom split George's money.
The Blue Lamp, 1h24
Directed by Basil Dearden, Alexander Mackendrick
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Action, Noir, Crime, Romance
Actors Jack Warner, Jimmy Hanley, Dirk Bogarde, Robert Flemyng, Jack Warner, Bernard Lee
Rating67% 3.3959253.3959253.3959253.3959253.395925
The action mostly takes place in the Paddington area of London, and is set in July 1949, a few years after the end of the Second World War. PC George Dixon (Warner) a long-serving traditional "copper" who is due to retire shortly, takes a new recruit, Andy Mitchell (Hanley), under his aegis, introducing him to the easy-going night beat. Dixon is a classic Ealing "ordinary" hero, but also anachronistic, unprepared and unable to answer the violence of Tom Riley (Bogarde). Called to the scene of a robbery at a local cinema, Dixon finds himself face-to-face with Riley, a desperate youth armed with a revolver. Dixon initially tries to talk Riley into surrendering the weapon, but Riley panics and fires. Dixon is taken to hospital, but dies some hours later. The ending is another Ealing quirk, with ordinary, decent society banding together with professional criminals and dog-track identities to track down and catch the murderer, who tries to hide in the crowd at White City greyhound track in West London. To Andy Mitchell falls the honour of arresting Riley.
The Magnet
The Magnet (1950)
, 1h19
Directed by Charles Frend
Origin United-kingdom
Genres Drama, Comedy
Actors James Fox, Kay Walsh, Meredith Edwards, Dame Thora Hird, Wylie Watson, Anthony Oliver
Roles Writer
Rating67% 3.384463.384463.384463.384463.38446
Johnny Brent (Fox), home from school during a scarlet fever outbreak, manages to con a younger boy out of a magnet by trading it for an "invisible watch". The other boy's nanny accuses Johnny of stealing, which makes Johnny feel guilty. He runs away from home. After an older boy uses the magnet to cheat at pinball and Johnny is implicated, Johnny tries to get rid of the magnet. He meets an eccentric iron lung maker who is raising funds for the local hospital, and gives him the magnet to be auctioned for charity. The iron lung maker tells the story of the magnet at various fund-raising events, exaggerating wildly and portraying Johnny as everything from a spoiled brat to a Dickensian ragamuffin.