Robert Newton
ActingAbout Robert Newton
Robert Newton was one of the great character actors -- and great characters -- of the British cinema, best remembered today for playing Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950) and its sequel in 1954. His portrayal of Long John Silver and of Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) created a persona that was so indelible that his vocal intonations created the paradigm for scores of people who want to "Talk Like a Pirate." The performance overshadows Newton's legacy, which is based on many first-rate performances in such movies as This Happy Breed (1944), Odd Man Out (1947) and Oliver Twist (1948), where his Bill Sykes is truly chilling. Oliver Reed, who played Sykes in the Oscar-winning movie musical Oliver! (1968) was influenced by Newton.
Best Robert Newton Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Robert Newton's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Robert Newton.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | The Epic That Never Was | Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage; uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Around the World in 80 Days | Mr. Fix | Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | Long John Silver | Long John Silver | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | The Beachcomber | Ted Wilson | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | The High and the Mighty | Gustave Pardee | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Desert Rats | Tom Bartlett | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Blackbeard, the Pirate | Blackbeard | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Androcles and the Lion | Ferrovius | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Les Miserables | Etienne Javert | Flop | Similar → |
| 1951 | Tom Brown's Schooldays | Thomas Arnold | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Soldiers Three | Pvt. Bill Sykes | Flop | Similar → |
| 1950 | Waterfront | Peter McCabe | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Treasure Island | Long John Silver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Obsession | Dr. Clive Riordan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Kiss the Blood Off My Hands | Harry Carter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Oliver Twist | Bill Sykes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Snowbound | Derek Engles | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Temptation Harbour | Bert Mallinson | Flop | Similar → |
| 1947 | Odd Man Out | Lukey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Night Boat to Dublin | Capt. David Grant | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Henry V | Ancient Pistol | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | This Happy Breed | Frank Gibbons | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | They Flew Alone | Jim Mollison | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Hatter's Castle | James Brodie | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Major Barbara | Bill Walker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Gaslight | Ullswater | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Busman's Honeymoon | Frank Crutchley | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Channel Incident | Tanner | Flop | Similar → |
| 1940 | 21 Days Together | Tolly | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Hell's Cargo | Cmdr. Tomasou | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | Poison Pen | Sam Hurrin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Jamaica Inn | James "Jem" Trehearne | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Dead Men Are Dangerous | Aylmer Franklyn | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | Vessel of Wrath | The Controleur | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Green Cockatoo | Dave Connor | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Squeaker | Larry Graeme | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Dark Journey | Officer of U-Boat | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Fire Over England | Don Pedro | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Farewell Again | Jim Carter | Flop | Similar → |
Robert Newton - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Robert Newton?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Robert Newton is "Oliver Twist" with a rating of 7.6/10.
How many movies has Robert Newton acted in?
Robert Newton has been featured in at least 39 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Robert Newton?
Other notable films include "Odd Man Out", "This Happy Breed", and "Gaslight".