Richard Cameron Wattis (February 25, 1912 in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, England — February 1, 1975), was a British character actor.
His first appearance in a film was A Yank At Oxford in 1938, but war service interrupted his career as an actor. Wattis served as a Second Lieutenant with the Arms Section of Special Operations Executive at Station VI during World War II.
He is best known for his appearances in innumerable British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s, including in the St Trinian's films (The Belles of St Trinian's, Blue Murder at St Trinian's and The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery), as "Manton Bassett", who is a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Education
Other films included Hay Fever, The Colditz Story, Dentist on the Job, Very Important Person, The Happiest Days of Your Life and even The Longest Day, among many others.
Richard Wattis also appeared on television, including a long-running role opposite Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques in Sykes as their next-door neighbour, as well...
Created by dipity on Feb 7, 2008
Last updated: 02/14/08 at 12:42 PM
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The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery is a comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1966, three years after the historical Great Train Robbery had taken place. It also parodies the technocratic ideas of the Harold Wilson government and its support of the comprehensive school system.Directed by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat to a script by Sidney and Leslie Gilliat, it was the last of a series of four films starring well-known English actors such as George Cole as "Flash Harry", and Frankie Howerd as Alphonse Askett. Also appearing were Reg Varney as Gilbert, and Dora Bryan, as Miss Spottiswood, the school headmistress. Despite being asked twice, Joyce Grenfell refused the chance to reprise her role as Sergeant Ruby Gates. She later said that she had regretted appearing in the St Trinian's films.[citation needed]Raymond Huntley appeared as the Minister of Education, with the Civil Servants of the Ministry of Education being played by: Eric Barker as Culpepper...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060476
This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.WikiProject Film or the Film Portal may be able to help recruit one.
If a more appropriate WikiProject or portal exists, please adjust this template accordingly.Dentist on the Job was a 1961 British comedy film, in black and white, directed by C.M. Pennington-Richards. It was released in the USA with the title Get on with it! It is the sequel to Dentist in the Chair. The film was co-written by Bob Monkhouse (who also appeared in the film) and Hazel Adair. Notable actors appearing in the film include Kenneth Connor, Shirley Eaton, Richard Wattis, Charles Hawtrey and Arthur Mullard (uncredited).The film is referenced in the Special Edition DVD of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, since it is the film which is erroneously shown by the projectionist (Terry Jones) at the beginning of the film. This film was presumably chosen for its alternate title, Get on with it!, a phrase used throughout The Holy Grail.Colonel...,
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054798
Very Important Person is a 1961 British comedy film, directed by Ken Annakin, and written by Henry Blyth and Jack Davies. In the United States, the film was re-titled A Coming Out Party.
The film contains fine performances from several well-known British comedy and character actors, including James Robertson Justice, Stanley Baxter as both a dour Scottish prisoner and the camp Kommandant, Eric Sykes as a sports fanatic, John Le Mesurier as the Escape officer, Leslie Phillips, and Richard Wattis as the emotional Entertainments officer, desperately trying to coax quality performances out of would-be entertainers.
Sir Earnest Pease (James Robertson Justice) is a brilliant but acerbic scientist working on aircraft research during World War II. He needs to takes a trip on a bomber to observe the results of his work. At first the plan is to fly in an RAF plane but when he is told to shave off his beard he refuses and gets to go in a Royal Navy bomber where beards are allowed.
Because it is...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055593
The Colditz Story is a 1955 prisoner of war film starring John Mills and Eric Portman. It is based on the book written by P.R. Reid, a British army officer who was imprisoned in Oflag IV-C, Colditz Castle, in Germany during the Second World War.British, French, Dutch and Polish Prisoners of War (POWs), of many nationalities who have repeatedly tried to escape are sent to Oflag IV-C, a supposedly secure castle or schloss, in Saxony in the heart of Nazi Germany during World War II. At first the different nationalities try to initiate their own plans until the Senior British Officer (SBO) steps in, and suggests co-operation between the different contingents. There then follow a number of escapes; some successful, some not.A BBC TV series also based on Reid's book followed in 1972, and starred David McCallum, Robert Wagner, Jack Hedley and Edward Hardwicke....
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047945
The Happiest Days of Your Life is a 1950 British comedy film based on the play by John Dighton and directed by Frank Launder. The two also wrote the screenplay.Set during World War 2. Glorious confusion reigns when St. Swithins Girls School is accidentally billeted with Nutborne Boys School. The two heads, Wetherby Pond (Alastair Sim) and Muriel Whitchurch (Margaret Rutherford) try to control the chaos as the students try to live with the cramped conditions and make the most of the opportunities arising. Things come to a head as Nutborne's governors pay a visit at the same time as some of St.Swithin's parents unexpectedly come for a tour - frantic classroom changes, hockey, lacrosse and rugby posts and nets are swapped about. Ultimately it ends in utter chaos, and the punchline is delivered - a clever swipe at bureaucracy - as a Ministry man appears to declare everything sorted - "Nutborne is co-educational, isn't it? That's OK, we've got you another co-ed school to billet!"...
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042541
Richard Wattis was born
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