Cyril Edward Bruce-Smith (4 April 1892 – 5 March 1963) was a Scottish actor who began his career as a child in 1900 and went on to appear in numerous stage plays as well as over 100 films between 1914 and his death almost 50 years later. The son of Frederick and Elsa Smith; his mother travelled with him on his engagements during his boyhood.

Career

Smith first became known as a child stage actor in 1900, and by the age of 13 in 1905, he travelled to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

to appear as Cosmo in a production of the

J. M. Barrie Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, (; 9 May 1860 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several succe ...

play ''Alice-Sit-By-The Fire'', opposite

Ethel Barrymore Ethel Barrymore (born Ethel Mae Blythe; August 15, 1879 – June 18, 1959) was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors. Barrymore was a stage, screen and radio actress whose career spanned six decades, and was regarde ...

; at the time, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' hailed him as "one of the best-known child actors in England". Smith's film career began in 1914 in the

Wilfred Noy Wilfred Noy (born Wilfred Noy Blumberg, 24 December 1883 – 29 March 1948) was an English film director, actor, screenwriter and film producer, producer of the silent film, silent era. Noy was the maternal uncle of Leslie Howard (actor), Le ...

-directed ''Old St. Paul's'' and he appeared in almost 20 other

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

s of the 1910s and 1920s before making the transition to sound. From the early 1930s until his death, he featured in dozens of films ranging from the

quota quickies Quota may refer to: Economics * Import quota, a restriction on the quantity of goods that can be imported into a country * Market Sharing Quota, an economic system used in Canadian agriculture * Milk quota, a quota on milk production in Europe * ...

of the 1930s and the

B-movies A B movie, or B film, is a type of cheap, low-budget commercial motion picture. Originally, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, this term specifically referred to films meant to be shown as the lesser-known second half of a double feature, s ...

of the 1940s and 1950s, through to more prestigious productions starring names such as

Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; born Vivian Mary Hartley; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. After completing her drama school education, Leigh appeared in small roles in four films in 1935 and progress ...

Trevor Howard Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith (29 September 1913 – 7 January 1988) was an English stage and screen actor. After varied work in the theatre, he achieved leading man star status in the film '' Brief Encounter'' (1945), followed by '' The Third M ...

and

Deborah Kerr Deborah Jane Trimmer CBE (30 September 192116 October 2007), known professionally as Deborah Kerr (), was a Scottish actress. She was nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, becoming the first person from Scotland to be no ...

. Smith was not a name-billed film actor, and many of his roles were uncredited

bit part In acting, a bit part is a role in which there is direct interaction with the principal actors and no more than five lines of dialogue, often referred to as a five-or-less or under-five in the United States, or under sixes in British televisio ...

s or minor roles with generic titles such as "Publican", "Reporter" or "Bailiff"; however towards the end of his life he achieved several more prominent billings after finding a late-career niche portraying scatty and doddery elderly men. For instance, in 1956, he had a leading role in the

Peggy Mount Margaret Rose Mount (2 May 1915 – 13 November 2001) was an English actress. As a child, she found acting an escape from an unhappy home life. After playing in amateur productions, she was taken on by a repertory company and spent nine years i ...

comedy, '' Sailor Beware!'' and a similar leading role in the

Hylda Baker Hylda Baker (4 February 1905 – 1 May 1986) was an English comedian, actress and music hall performer. Born and brought up in Farnworth, Lancashire, she is perhaps best remembered for her role as Nellie Pledge in the Granada ITV sitcom ' ...

comedy, '' She Knows Y'Know'' (1962) . Smith also moved into television, as

Merlin The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...

the magician in the 1956 ITV series ''

The Adventures of Sir Lancelot ''The Adventures of Sir Lancelot'' is a British television series first broadcast in 1956, produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and screened on the ITV network. The series starred William Russell as the eponymous Sir Lancelot, a ...

'' which was also a success in the U.S. and as Harold Wormold in the first series of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

sitcom '' Hugh and I'' in 1962. Smith suffered a heart attack in December 1962 and died on 5 March 1963, aged 70."Actor dies"
''Ottawa Citizen'', 1963-06-03. ''Retrieved 2010-02-09''

Filmography

* '' Old St. Paul's'' (1914) - Boy (film debut) * '' Pallard the Punter'' (1919) - Horace Callender * ''

Walls of Prejudice ''Walls of Prejudice'' is a 1920 British silent drama film directed by Charles Calvert and starring Josephine Earle, Dallas Anderson and Humberston Wright. It was based on a play by Alexander Grossman. Cast * Josephine Earle as Margaret ...

'' (1920) - Karpat * '' The Fordington Twins'' (1920) - Cyril Raleigh * '' Class and No Class'' (1921) - Lord Daventry * '' Fires of Fate'' (1923) - Lord Howard Cecil * '' The Desert Sheik'' (1924) * '' The Innocents of Chicago'' (1932) - Gangster * ''

The Mayor's Nest ''The Mayor's Nest'' is a 1932 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Claude Hulbert and Al Bowlly. It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.75 Synopsis A trombonist becomes mayor of a small town, but he str ...

'' (1932) - Magistrate * '' The Man from Toronto'' (1933) - Gossiping Villager (uncredited) * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a Concert Party (entertainment), concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established hi ...

'' (1933) - Leonard Oakroyd * '' Channel Crossing'' (1933) - Beach * '' Friday the Thirteenth'' (1933) - Fred the Driver * '' The Roof'' (1933) - McNair * '' The Black Abbot'' (1934) - Alf Higgins * '' Waltzes from Vienna'' (1934) - Secretary (uncredited) * ''

It's a Cop ''It's a Cop'' is a 1934 Cinema of the United Kingdom, British police-themed comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Sydney Howard, Chili Bouchier and Garry Marsh. It was made at British and Dominions Imperial Studios, British and Do ...

'' (1934) - Lewis * ''

Evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has Leaf, foliage that remains green and functional throughout the year. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which lose their foliage completely during the winter or dry season. Consisting of many diffe ...

'' (1934) - Stage Manager (uncredited) * '' Wild Boy'' (1934) - Kennel Boy * ''

Oh, Daddy! ''Oh, Daddy!'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Graham Cutts and Austin Melford and starring Leslie Henson, Frances Day, Robertson Hare, and Barry MacKay. It was made at Islington Studios. The film's sets were designed by the art ...

'' (1935) - Alfred the Butler (uncredited) * ''

Key to Harmony ''Key to Harmony'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Norman Walker and starring Belle Chrystall, Fred Conyngham and Reginald Purdell. The film is a quota quickie made at British and Dominions Elstree Studios for release by Paramount ...

'' (1935) - Fred * ''

Hello, Sweetheart ''Hello, Sweetheart'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Monty Banks and starring Claude Hulbert, Gregory Ratoff and Jane Carr. The film was made by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers at the company's Teddington Studios.Wood p. ...

'' (1935) - Mac McGuire * '' Me and Marlborough'' (1935) - Corporal Fox * '' Bulldog Jack'' (1935) - Duke (uncredited) * '' Lend Me Your Wife'' (1935) - Charles Harwood * ''

Brown on Resolution ''Brown on Resolution'' is a 1929 nautical novel written by C. S. Forester, set during World War I. The hero of the novel, Leading Seaman Albert Brown, is the sole able-bodied survivor of a sunken Royal Navy warship, who single-handedly dela ...

'' (1935) - William Brown, Jr. * '' The Tunnel'' (1935) - Casualty Announcer (uncredited) * '' Music Hath Charms'' (1935) - BBC Producer (uncredited) * '' Pot Luck'' (1936) - Miller * ''

The Last Journey ''The Last Journey'' is a 1936 British drama film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and starring Godfrey Tearle, Hugh Williams and Judy Gunn. Synopsis A train driver (Julien Mitchell) on his last journey before retirement thinks his fireman is having ...

'' (1936) - Postal Sorter (uncredited) * '' Jack of All Trades'' (1936) - (uncredited) * '' O.H.M.S.'' (1937) - Steward (uncredited) * '' Dark Journey'' (1937) - Baron von Marwitz's Valet (uncredited) * '' The Frog'' (1937) - PC Balder * ''

Storm in a Teacup Storm in a Teacup may refer to: Film and television * ''Storm in a Teacup'' (film), a 1937 British film * ''A Storm in a Teacup'', a 2000 film directed by Ding Sheng * "A Storm in a Teacup" (''Porridge''), a 1977 television episode Literature * ...

'' (1937) - Councillor * '' The Challenge'' (1938) - Customs Officer * ''

No Parking ''No Parking'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Jack Raymond. The film features Charles Carson, Geraldo, Fred Groves, Gordon Harker and Leslie Perrins in the lead roles. The story was written by Carol Reed who later directed '' ...

'' (1938) - Stanley * ''

Sidewalks of London ''St Martin's Lane'', also known as ''Sidewalks of London'', ''London After Dark'', and ''Partners of the Night'', is a 1938 British black-and-white comedy drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represen ...

'' (1938) - Black Face * '' The Return of the Frog'' (1938) - Maggs * ''

Sword of Honour The ''Sword of Honour'' is a trilogy of novels by Evelyn Waugh which loosely parallel Waugh's experiences during the World War II, Second World War. Published by Chapman & Hall from 1952 to 1961, the novels are: Men at Arms (Waugh novel), ''M ...

'' (1939) - Bright * ''

Traitor Spy ''Traitor Spy'' is a 1939 British thriller film directed by Walter Summers and starring Bruce Cabot, Marta Labarr, Tamara Desni and Edward Lexy. It was shot at Welwyn Studios with sets designed by Ian White. It has also been released under the ...

'' (1939) - Det. Sgt. Trotter * '' The Flying Squad'' (1940) - Tiser * '' They Flew Alone'' (1942) - Radio Operator On 'Aquitania' * ''

We'll Smile Again ''We'll Smile Again'' is a 1942 British musical film, musical comedy film directed by John Baxter (director), John Baxter and starring Bud Flanagan, Chesney Allen and Meinhart Maur. Premise A ring of Nazi spies infiltrate a film studio planning ...

'' (1942) - Assistant Cutter (uncredited) * ''

When We Are Married ''When We Are Married'' is a three-act play by the English dramatist J. B. Priestley, described as "A Yorkshire Farcical Comedy". Written in 1934, it is set about thirty years earlier, and depicts the consequences when three middle-aged couples ...

'' (1943) - Fred Dyson * '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) - Publican (uncredited) * '' One Exciting Night'' (1944) - Joe * '' Meet Sexton Blake'' (1945) - Belford * '' On Stage Everybody'' (1945) - Talent Show Winner * '' Don Chicago'' (1945) - Flash Kelly * '' The Agitator'' (1945) - Dunham * '' Murder in Reverse?'' (1945) - Customer * '' The Echo Murders'' (1945) - P.C. Smith * '' This Man Is Mine'' (1946) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * ''

Appointment with Crime ''Appointment with Crime'' is a 1946 British crime film directed and written by John Harlow (director), John Harlow and starring William Hartnell, Raymond Lovell, Joyce Howard and Robert Beatty. Plot Leo Martin works for a criminal gang run by ...

'' (1946) - Det. Sgt. Charlie Weeks * '' School for Secrets'' (1946) - Flight Sgt. Cox * ''

They Made Me a Fugitive ''They Made Me a Fugitive'' (also known as ''They Made Me a Criminal''; U.S. title: ''I Became a Criminal'') is a 1947 British black-and-white film noir directed by Alberto Cavalcanti and starring Sally Gray and Trevor Howard. It was written b ...

'' (1947) - Bert * '' So Well Remembered'' (1947) - 2nd Publican (uncredited) * '' If Winter Comes'' (1947) - Truck Driver (uncredited) * '' Daughter of Darkness'' (1948) - Joe * '' Escape'' (1948) - Policeman (uncredited) * '' One Night with You'' (1948) - Second Ticket Collector * ''

Romance on the High Seas ''Romance on the High Seas'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''It's Magic'') is a 1948 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Michael Curtiz, and starred Jack Carson, Janis Paige, Don DeFore and Doris Day in her film debut. Bus ...

'' (1948) - English Bartender (uncredited) * '' No Room at the Inn'' (1948) - Store Detective (uncredited) * ''

It's Hard to Be Good ''It's Hard to Be Good'' is a 1948 British comedy film directed by Jeffrey Dell and starring Jimmy Hanley, Anne Crawford and Raymond Huntley. In the film, an ex-army officer finds his altruistic attempts to improve the world are unsuccessful. ...

'' (1948) - Fred Hobson * '' Hills of Home'' (1948) - Signor Rimini (uncredited) * '' The History of Mr. Polly'' (1949) - Mr. Voules * '' Conspirator'' (1949) - Detective Inspector * ''

The Interrupted Journey ''The Interrupted Journey'' is a 1949 British thriller film directed by Daniel Birt and starring Valerie Hobson, Richard Todd, Christine Norden and Tom Walls. It was written by Michael Pertwee. Plot John North, a struggling writer, plans ...

'' (1949) - Publican * '' The Rocking Horse Winner'' (1949) - Bailiff * '' The Body Said No!'' (1950) - Sergeant * '' Old Mother Riley Headmistress'' (1950) - Maltby * '' The Third Visitor'' (1951) - Detective Horton * '' The Dark Man'' (1951) - Samuel Denny * ''

No Highway in the Sky ''No Highway in the Sky'' (also known as ''No Highway'') is a 1951 black-and-white aviation drama film directed by Henry Koster from a screenplay by R. C. Sherriff, Oscar Millard, and Alec Coppel, based on the 1948 novel '' No Highway'' by ...

'' (1951) - Airport Officer (uncredited) * '' Mystery Junction'' (1951) - Station Master * '' Green Grow the Rushes'' (1951) - Hubert Hewitt * '' Night Was Our Friend'' (1951) - Rogers the Reporter * '' Judgment Deferred'' (1952) - (uncredited) * '' Stolen Face'' (1952) - Alf Bixby, Innkeeper * '' Mother Riley Meets the Vampire'' (1952) - Mr. Paine, the rent collector * '' The Lost Hours'' (1952) - Det. Sgt. Roper * '' Women of Twilight'' (1952) - Flinton (uncredited) * '' Hindle Wakes'' (1952) - Hotel Porter * '' The Steel Key'' (1953) - Boat Owner (uncredited) * '' Wheel of Fate'' (1953) - Perce * '' The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp'' (1954) - Dog Owner * ''

Svengali Svengali () is a character in the novel ''Trilby'' which was first published in 1894 by George du Maurier. Svengali is a Jewish man who seduces, dominates and exploits Trilby, a young half-Irish girl, and makes her into a famous singer. Defini ...

'' (1954) - 1st Stage Manager * '' Burnt Evidence'' (1954) - Alf Quinney * '' The Brain Machine'' (1955) - Prison Warder * '' John and Julie'' (1955) - Ticket Inspector * ''

Value for Money In economics, economic value is a measure of the benefit provided by a good or service to an economic agent, and value for money represents an assessment of whether financial or other resources are being used effectively in order to secure such ...

'' (1955) - Writ Server (uncredited) * '' Who Done It?'' (1956) - Refrigeration Plant Worker (uncredited) * '' Sailor Beware!'' (1956) - Henry Hornett * ''

'' (1956-1957, TV Series) -

* '' The Rough and the Smooth'' (1959) - Taxi Driver * '' Light Up the Sky!'' (1960) - 'Spinner' Rice * '' Watch It, Sailor!'' (1961) - Henry Hornett * '' On the Fiddle'' (1961) - Ticket Collector * '' Over the Odds'' (1961) - Sam * '' She Knows Y'Know'' (1962) - Joe Worswick (final film)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Cyril 1892 births 1963 deaths Scottish male film actors Scottish male silent film actors Scottish male stage actors Scottish male television actors People from Peterhead 20th-century Scottish male actors