The 50+ Best Jack Hawkins Movies
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1William Holden, Alec Guinness, Sessue HayakawaSet against the backdrop of World War II, The Bridge on the River Kwai is an epic war film. It narrates the tale of British POWs, commanded by Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness), who are forced by their Japanese captors to construct a strategic railway bridge. Under extreme conditions, they must grapple with questions of duty and honor. The film's climax unfolds around an American commando mission led by Major Shears (William Holden) to destroy the bridge. Noteworthy for its memorable performances and gripping narrative, the film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
2Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick, Richard AttenboroughIn this British crime caper, Hyde (Jack Hawkins), a bitter former military officer, decides to rob a bank and recruits a number of ex-army men to join in on the scheme. Along with Lexy (Richard Attenborough), Race (Nigel Patrick) and others, Hyde meticulously plans the heist, with preliminary missions resulting in tense and ridiculous situations, including a quest for much-needed explosives. Can Hyde and his cohorts pull off the big robbery and get away with it?
3Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony QuinnLawrence of Arabia, a sweeping epic drama, chronicles the remarkable life and adventures of T.E. Lawrence (Peter O'Toole), a British officer stationed in the Middle East during World War I. The narrative unfolds as Lawrence is dispatched to Arabia, where he forges an unlikely alliance with Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) to launch a guerrilla war against the Turks. Despite grappling with his own moral quandaries and the harsh desert conditions, Lawrence's strategic brilliance shapes the course of history in the Arabian Peninsula. This cinematic masterpiece bagged seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, underscoring its timeless appeal and technical excellence.More Lawrence of Arabia
4Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, Denholm ElliottDespite his guilt over a recent harrowing sea battle in which many of his men were lost, Lt. Cmdr. George Ericson (Jack Hawkins) is assigned to helm the new H.M.S. Compass Rose with the help of steadfast seaman Lt. Lockhart (Donald Sinden). When the small vessel is sent to escort convoys of ships fighting German U-boats in the North Atlantic, the mettle of the novice crew is tested by the weather, the turbulent sea and enemy attacks -- one of which nearly destroys the Compass Rose.More The Cruel Sea- #208 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #12 of 20 onThe 20 Best Movies About Battleships
- #5 of 49 onThe Best British War Movies
5Charlton Heston, Jack Hawkins, Stephen BoydBen-Hur is a historical drama set in the 1st century AD. The film portrays the life of Judah Ben-Hur, played by Charlton Heston, a Jewish prince betrayed and enslaved by his childhood friend Messala (Stephen Boyd). After enduring years of hardship, Ben-Hur earns his freedom and returns home seeking revenge but instead finds redemption. The movie features epic chariot races and sea battles, bringing ancient Rome to vivid life. Directed by William Wyler, Ben-Hur won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, underscoring its standing as a cinematic masterpiece.More Ben-Hur- Dig Deeper...Movies That Won Best Picture at the Oscars and Golden Globes
- #24 of 96 onThe Very Best Oscar-Winning Movies For Best Picture
- #621 of 769 onThe Most Rewatchable Movies
6Gideon's Day
Jack Hawkins, Cyril Cusack, James HayterGideon's Day is a 1958 police procedural crime film starring Jack Hawkins, Dianne Foster and Cyril Cusack. The film, which was directed by John Ford, was adaptated from John Creasey's novel of the same name. It was released in the United States as Gideon of Scotland Yard. Although this is the first film to feature the named character of George Gideon, Jack Hawkins had already played a very similar role in the British film The Long Arm two years earlier.
7Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla JacobssonIn 1879, the Zulu nation hands colonial British forces a resounding defeat in battle. A nearby regiment of the British Army takes over a station run by a missionary (Jack Hawkins) and his daughter (Ulla Jacobsson) as a supply depot and hospital under the command of Lieutenant John Chard (Stanley Baker) and his subordinate Gonville Bromhead (Michael Caine). Unable to abandon their wounded soldiers even in dire circumstances, the regiment defend their station against the Zulu warriors.More Zulu- Dig Deeper...The Most Brutal Military Training Exercises Throughout History
- #32 of 264 onThe 200+ Best War Movies Of All Time
- #296 of 375 onThe Best Movies Based On Books
8The Long Arm
Jack Hawkins, John Stratton, Dorothy AlisonAfter an elusive burglar robs a safe and leaves innocent victims in his wake, police detective Tom Halliday (Jack Hawkins) is on the case, meticulously following up every possible lead. Halliday leaves his desk behind and enlists the help of not only his assistant but people outside the police force, including fingerprint and safe-building experts. Though his wife, Mary (Dorothy Alison), doesn't approve of his job and worries for his safety, he won't rest until the perpetrator is behind bars.
9Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Anthony SteeleDuring World War II, British photo-reconnaissance pilot Peter (Alec Guinness) discovers that the Italians are planning a secret invasion of Malta, a strategically important island nation critical to keeping the Allied supply lines open. Though they have few resources left, Peter and his commanding officer, Frank (Jack Hawkins), resolve to fight off the enemy and save the island. At the same time, Peter struggles to keep his relationship with a local girl from falling apart.
10Orson Welles, Christopher Plummer, Rod SteigerWaterloo is a 1970 Soviet-Italian film directed by Sergei Bondarchuk and produced by Dino De Laurentiis. It depicts the story of the preliminary events and the Battle of Waterloo, and is famous for its lavish battle scenes. It stars Rod Steiger as Napoleon Bonaparte and Christopher Plummer as the Duke of Wellington with a cameo by Orson Welles as Louis XVIII of France. Other stars include Jack Hawkins as General Thomas Picton, Virginia McKenna as the Duchess of Richmond and Dan O'Herlihy as Marshal Ney. The film includes some 15,000 Soviet foot soldiers and 2,000 cavalrymen as extras—it was said that, during its making, director Sergei Bondarchuk was in command of the seventh largest army in the world. Fifty circus stunt riders were used to perform the dangerous horse falls. These numbers brought an epic quality to the battle scenes.
11Peter O'Toole, James Mason, Curd JürgensYoung merchant seaman Jim (Peter O'Toole) signs onto a ship bound for Mecca. During a storm, the crew flees, and Jim goes with them, leaving the passengers to fend for themselves. A guilty Jim confesses to his dereliction of duty and becomes a drifter. A chance for redemption comes when he is offered a dangerous job: transporting gunpowder and rifles up the river to a village that is fending off bandits. Jim sets off to lead the fight, earning the villagers' gratitude.
12Ralph Richardson, Michèle Morgan, Bobby HenreyThe young son of a diplomat, Phillipe (Bobby Henrey), often finds himself alone. To entertain the boy, the household butler, Baines (Ralph Richardson), creates adventurous stories of his past. As a result, Phillipe idolizes the servant, seeing him as a hero. But when Baines' wife (Sonia Dresdel) falls to her death, the police believe Baines was behind it. Phillipe, who witnessed the event, will do anything to protect the butler -- but he only makes things worse by doing so.
13Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Wilfrid LawsonIn the early post-World War II years, a cardinal (Alec Guinness) in an unnamed eastern European country is thrown in jail for treason. While there, he is subject to an intense degree of torture, both physical and psychological, by his captors. These are led by a wily man known only as the Interrogator (Jack Hawkins), who uses every tool at his disposal to get the strong-willed prisoner to issue a statement to his flock renouncing the role of religion in society.
14Donald Pleasence, Jack Hawkins, Lionel JeffriesMan in the Sky is a 1957 film starring Jack Hawkins and produced by Ealing Studios, although the on - screen credit was changed to Ealing Films as this was the first Ealing production to be made at MGM British Studios following the sale of the Ealing site.
15The Intruder
Jack Hawkins, George Cole, Michael MedwinThe horrors of war come back to haunt Col. Wolf Merton (Jack Hawkins) in unexpected ways. Now a successful businessman, the former military colonel is surprised in his home by a burglar, whom he recognizes as Ginger Edwards (Michael Medwin), who had served under his command. At first surprised that a brave fighting man would stoop to a life of crime, Merton soon decides to find out what happened to Edwards -- and his conversations with old wartime buddies reveal the tragedy of Edwards' life.
16Jack Hawkins, Joan Collins, Dewey MartinObsessed with his fate in the afterlife, the egotistical Pharaoh Khufu (Jack Hawkins) recruits oppressed architect Vashtar (James Robertson Justice) and forces him to design the most lavish and well-secured pyramid ever built. Vashtar struggles to meet Khufu's lofty expectations, knowing that, if he does so, the ruler will release his enslaved brethren from bondage. As construction begins, Khufu's new wife, Princess Nellifer (Joan Collins), plots to secure her own piece of the tyrant's riches.
17Jack Hawkins, Dulcie Gray, John GregsonAngels One Five is a 1952 British film directed by George More O'Ferrall, and starring Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray, John Gregson, Cyril Raymond and Veronica Hurst. Based on the book What Are Your Angels Now? by Pelham Groom, the plot centres on a young fighter pilot immediately before and during the Battle of Britain in the Second World War. Some scenes in the film were shot at RAF Uxbridge, home to a wartime operations room. "Angels One Five" refers to RAF radio procedure words, from the Second World War, indicating the altitude of a radar contact is 15,000 feet.
18Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier, John GielgudWorld War I gets the musical treatment in a series of a song-and-dance vignettes. Throughout it follows the Smith family -- stand-ins for the British working class -- who initially view the war with sunny optimism. But after the Smith boys -- Jack (Malcolm McFee), Freddie (Richard Attenborough), Harry (Maurice Roëves) and George (Paul Shelley) -- witness the reality of trench warfare, their illusions are shattered, and the best they can hope for is survival.
19James Stewart, Marlene Dietrich, Glynis JohnsTheodore Honey (James Stewart) is a mathematician charged with discovering what caused the crash of a "Reindeer" airliner. As he travels to investigate, he realizes en route that he's flying on the very same type of airplane. Convinced it will suffer a similar accident, he deliberately sabotages it once it lands, and soon finds himself defending his sanity in an English courtroom. Fortunately, a sympathetic actress (Marlene Dietrich) and a stewardess (Glynis Johns) come to his defense.
20Phyllis Calvert, Mandy Miller, Jack HawkinsSix-year-old Mandy Garland (Mandy Miller) was born deaf and has been mute all her life. Postwar English society sees her as disabled, but her mother, Christine (Phyllis Calvert), believes she can learn to talk if enrolled in a school for the deaf. To do so, she has to battle her husband (Terence Morgan), his meddling mother (Marjorie Fielding) and his stern father (Godfrey Tearle), and eventually she has to leave with Mandy. Christine's sacrifice is doubled when she's accused of adultery.
21Richard Attenborough, Jack Hawkins, Flora RobsonThe East African nation of Batasi is tearing apart at the seams, and a group of British soldiers are caught in the middle. As fighting breaks out between two rival factions in the former British colony, by-the-books Regimental Sgt. Maj. Lauderdale (Richard Attenborough) attempts to preserve peace and order. But his rigid style of command becomes increasingly ill-suited to a volatile political situation in which the stability of the old era has been replaced by violent conflict.
22Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, Tom BakerWhen Tsar Nicholas weds the German princess Alexandra, the marriage proves unpopular with the Russian people, a situation not improved when she has four daughters. When she finally bears a son, the infant's acute hemophilia can only be controlled by the powers of the fanatical monk Rasputin.- Dig Deeper...Every Oscar Winning Film Ever
- #249 of 419 onThe 400+ Best Movies Produced By Columbia Pictures
- #8 of 45 onThe 45 Best PG History Movies
23Tyrone Power, Orson Welles, Cecile AubryFollowing the 13th-century death of his nobleman father, Walter of Gurnie (Tyrone Power) and his confidant, Tristram (Jack Hawkins), join a caravan led by the North African Bayan (Orson Welles) en route to China. Along the way, the beautiful Maryam (Cecile Aubry), known as the Black Rose, begs Walter to take her to England with him. When the warlord Bayan reveals his intention to invade and subjugate China's advanced society, the trio attempt their escape back to England.- 24Jack Hawkins, Elizabeth Allan, Eva BartokGrant (Jack Hawkins), the determined editor of a London newspaper, has planned a vacation with his wife (Elizabeth Allan) but stays behind at the last moment due to his hunch that a hot story is going to break. As predicted, Grant is inundated with front-page news -- everything from a loose-cannon atomic scientist to a tragic twist in a mercy killer's trial. But the biggest story of all is when an airplane crashes, and Grant believes it is the plane on which his wife was traveling.
25The Two-Headed Spy
Jack Hawkins, Gia Scala, Erik SchumannIn the midst of World War II, an unusual revelation about Gen. Alex Schottland (Jack Hawkins), a prominent member of the Third Reich's inner circle, raises the eyebrows of the obsessive Lt. Reinisch (Erik Schumann). After Reinisch alerts Schottland's superiors about a potentially traitorous connection to the enemy, the "German" general struggles to keep secret his true identity: He is Alex Scotland, a brave spy working undercover on behalf of the British.
26Anthony Hopkins, Jack Hawkins, Robert MorleyWhen Eight Bells Toll is a 1971 action film set in Scotland, based upon Scottish author Alistair MacLean's 1965 novel of the same name. Producer Elliott Kastner planned to produce a string of realistic gritty espionage thrillers to rival the James Bond series, but the film's poor box office receipts ended his plans.
27Who Goes Next?
Jack Hawkins, Sophie Stewart, Charles EatonWho Goes Next? is a 1938 British war film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Barry K. Barnes, Sophie Stewart and Jack Hawkins. During the First World War, a number of captured British officers attempt to escape a prisoner-of-war camp. The story was inspired by the real-life escape of 29 officers through a tunnel from Holzminden prisoner-of-war camp in Lower Saxony, Germany, in July 1918.
28Claudette Colbert, Jack HawkinsThe Planter's Wife is a 1952 British drama film directed by Ken Annakin, and starring Claudette Colbert, Jack Hawkins and Anthony Steel. It is set against the backdrop of the Malayan Emergency and focuses on a rubber planter and his neighbours who are fending off a campaign of sustained attacks by Communist insurgents while also struggling to save their marriage. The film was retitled Outpost in Malaya in the USA.
29David Farrar, Kathleen Byron, Jack HawkinsBrilliant but tormented bomb expert Sammy Rice (David Farrar) works for the British government during World War II. Army captain Dick Stuart (Michael Gough) drafts him into a secret project concerning a new small land mine that German planes have been dropping over England's beaches. But despite the ministrations of his faithful assistant and girlfriend, Susan (Kathleen Byron), Rice's increasingly problematic alcoholism and a recent injury threaten his ability to work.
30Judi Dench, Richard Attenborough, Jack HawkinsThe Third Secret is a 1964 British drama film directed by Charles Crichton. The screenplay by Robert L. Joseph focuses on an American newscaster who investigates the mysterious death of his psychoanalyst. According to the film there are three kinds of secrets; the First Secret you keep from others, the Second Secret you keep from yourself, and the Third Secret is the truth.
