
Alan Mowbray
ActingAbout Alan Mowbray
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Alan Mowbray MM, (18 August 1896 - 25 March 1969), was an English stage and film actor who found success in Hollywood. Born Alfred Ernest Allen in London, England, he served with distinction the British Army in World War I, being awarded the Military Medal for bravery. He began as a stage actor, making his way to the United States where he appeared in Broadway plays and toured the country as part of a theater troupe. As Alan Mowbray, he made his motion picture debut in 1931, going on to a career primarily as a character actor in more than 140 films including the sterling butler role in the comedy Merrily We Live, and playing the title role in the TV series The Adventures of Colonel Flack. During World War II, he made a memorable appearance as the Devil in the Hal Roach propaganda comedy The Devil with Hitler. He appeared in some two dozen guest roles on various television series. Mowbray was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild, with outside interests that led to membership in Britain's Royal Geographic Society. He played the title role in the television series Colonel Humphrey Flack, which first appeared in 1953-1954 and then was revived in 1958-1959. In the 1954-1955 television season Mowbray played Mr. Swift, the drama coach of the character Mickey Mulligan, in NBC's short-lived situation comedy The Mickey Rooney Show: Hey, Mulligan. Mowbray died of a heart attack in 1969 in Hollywood and was interred in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Description above from the Wikipedia article Alan Mowbray, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Alan Mowbray reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Alan Mowbray's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 70% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Alan Mowbray remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Going Hollywood: The '30s, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Alan Mowbray Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Alan Mowbray's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Alan Mowbray.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Going Hollywood: The '30s | (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Around the World in 80 Days | British Consul | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The King and I | Sir John Hay | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Man Who Knew Too Much | Val Parnell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The King's Thief | Sir Gilbert Talbot | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Social Lion | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Jackpot | Leslie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Wagon Master | Dr. A. Locksley Hall | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff | Melton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Captain from Castile | Prof. Botello | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Merton of the Movies | Frank Mulvaney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Lured | Lyle Maxwell | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | My Darling Clementine | Granville Thorndyke | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Terror by Night | Major Duncan-Bleek | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Bring on the Girls | August | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Doughgirls | Breckinridge Drake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | His Butler's Sister | Buzz Jenkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Holy Matrimony | Mr. Pennington | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Stage Door Canteen | Alan Mowbray | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Slightly Dangerous | English Gentleman | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Powers Girl | John Robert Powers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Isle of Missing Men | Dr. Brown | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Perfect Snob | Freddie Browning | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | I Wake Up Screaming | Robin Ray | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | That Uncertain Feeling | Doctor Vengard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | That Hamilton Woman | Sir William Hamilton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Curtain Call | Donald Avery | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Music in My Heart | Charles Spencer Gardner III | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Never Say Die | le Prince Smirnov | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Topper Takes a Trip | Wilkins - Topper's Butler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | There Goes My Heart | Penny E. Pennypepper | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Merrily We Live | Grosvenor | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Stand-In | Koslofski | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Topper | Wilkins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | As Good as Married | Wally | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | On the Avenue | Frederick Sims | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Rainbow on the River | Ralph Layton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | My Man Godfrey | Tommy Gray | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Mary of Scotland | Throckmorton | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Desire | Dr. Maurice Pauquet | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Give Us This Night | Forcellini | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Rose Marie | Premier | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | In Person | Jay Holmes | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Gay Deception | Lord Clewe | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Charlie Chan in London | Geoffrey Richmond | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Girl from Missouri | Lord Douglas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The House of Rothschild | Prince Metternich | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Jewel Robbery | Detective Fritz | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | The World and the Flesh | Dimitri | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | The Man in Possession | Sir Charles Cartwright | Hit | Similar → |
Alan Mowbray - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Alan Mowbray?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Alan Mowbray is "Going Hollywood: The '30s" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Alan Mowbray acted in?
Alan Mowbray has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Alan Mowbray?
Other notable films include "Rainbow on the River", "My Man Godfrey", and "The Man Who Knew Too Much".




