Raymond Massey

August 30, 1896 - July 29, 1983
Born Raymond Hart Massey in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Father of actress Anna Massey and actor Daniel Massey.

See Internet Movie Database Filmography

A Lot of Favorite Memories of Raymond Massey

• As one of the pacifists trying to prevent world destruction in the early English sound / silent sci-fi fantasy (set in futuristic 1950!), High Treason (1928), directed by Maurice Elvey.
  
  
• As "Sherlock Holmes" in The Speckled Band (1931), based on the story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and directed by Jack Raymond. With Athole Stewart as Dr. Watson, Angela Baddeley as the threatened heroine, and Lyn Harding as the villain, Dr. Grimesby Rylott.
  
  
• As "Philip Waverton," one of the unfortunate travelers forced to spend the night in The Old Dark House (1932), a classic dark comedy-horror directed by James Whale, and based on the novel by J. B. Priestley. With Melvyn Douglas, Charles Laughton, Lilian Bond, Gloria Stuart, Boris Karloff, Ernest Thesiger, Eva Moore, Elspeth Dudgeon and Brember Wills.
  
  
• As "Paul le Gros" (the villain?) in the oft-filmed melodrama about a killer whose victims are distracted by the face of his hideous accomplice, The Face at the Window (1932). Directed by Leslie S. Hiscott, based on the play by Brooke Warren, which was filmed most famously with Tod Slaughter in 1939.
  
  
• As the bloodthirsty Revolutionist "Citizen Chauvelin," a Frenchie seeking that damned, elusive Leslie Howard in Alexander Korda's production The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), directed by Harold Young.
  
  
• As "John Cabal" and his grandson "Oswald Cabal" in the groundbreaking and cautionary science fiction classic, Things to Come (1936), produced by Alexander Korda, directed by William Cameron Menzies, and scripted by H.G. Wells, based on his book "The Shape of Things to Come". Cast includes Edward Chapman, Ralph Richardson, Margaretta Scott, Cedric Hardwicke, Derrick De Marney, Ann Todd, George Sanders, Abraham Sofaer and Terry-Thomas.
  
  
• As "King Philip II of Spain" in Fire Over England (1937).
  
  
• As "Cardinal Richelieu" in Under the Red Robe (1937).
  
  
• As the colorful villain "Black Michael," Duke of Strelsau in The Prisoner of Zenda (1937).
  
  
• As "Governor Eugene De Laage" in The Hurricane (1937).
  
  
• As "Prince Ghul" in The Drum (1938).
  
  
• In his most famous role, "Abraham Lincoln" in Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1940).
  
  
• As the fanatical abolitionist "John Brown" laying down his life for the cause in Santa Fe Trail (1940).
  
  
• As the Nazi villain "Major Otto Baumeister" in an overblown but exciting wartime action film, Warner Bros. Desperate Journey (1942), directed by Raoul Walsh. Starring Errol Flynn, with Ronald Reagan and Alan Hale.
  
  
• As merchant marine "Captain Steve Jarvis," plagued by Nazi U-boats in Warner Bros.' WWII adventure Action in the North Atlantic (1943), directed by Lloyd Bacon. Co-starring Humphrey Bogart, with Alan Hale, Julie Bishop and Ruth Gordon.
  
  
• Under heavy Karloffian makeup as "Jonathan Brewster" in the black comedy-thriller Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), based on Joseph Kesselring's famous stage play and directed by Frank Capra. Starring Cary Grant, Josephine Hull and Jean Adair, with hilarious support from Peter Lorre, Priscilla Lane, John Alexander, Jack Carson, James Gleason, Grant Mitchell, Edward Everett Horton and Charles Lane. Though it's undeniably unfortunate that Boris Karloff didn't get to play the role that was written for him, Massey does an excellent job with it.
  
  
• As District Attorney "Frank Lalor," friend of Edward G. Robinson's character, in deep trouble because of The Woman in the Window (1945), directed by Fritz Lang.
  
  
• As "Major Gen. Claire L. Chennault," commander of the famous "Flying Tigers" fighting the Japanese in China, in God Is My Co-Pilot (1945).
  
  
• As Nazi officer " Arnim von Dahnwitz" in Hotel Berlin (1945).
  
  
• As "Abraham Farlan," Heaven's prosecuting lawyer, in a wartime fantasy about a British aviator who must argue for his life before a celestial court, Stairway to Heaven (1946; original UK title: A Matter of Life and Death). Written, produced and directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, with a fine cast including David Niven (the flyer), Kim Hunter, Robert Coote, Kathleen Byron, Richard Attenborough, Marius Goring, Roger Livesey and Abraham Sofaer.
  
  
• As "Junius Brutus Booth," patriarch of an acting family that included the assassin of Abraham Lincoln (Massey's most famous role) in Prince of Players (1955), directed by Philip Dunne. Starring Richard Burton as Edwin Booth, John Derek as John Wilkes Booth,
  
  
• As "Adam Trask," stern father of troubled James Dean in East of Eden (1955), based on John Steinbeck's novel and directed by Elia Kazan.
  
  
• As "General Cummings" in The Naked and the Dead (1958), based on Norman Mailer's novel and directed by Raoul Walsh.
  
  
• As "Sam Pine" in the "Road Hog" episode (December 6, 1959) of the television anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents, hosted by Hitchcock.
  
  
• As "Dr. Leonard Gillespie," mentor of the young intern hero in the popular dramatic TV series Dr. Kildare (1966). The Dr. Gillespie was played by Lionel Barrymore in fourteen MGM feature films and a radio show.
  
  
• Reprising his signature "Abraham Lincoln" role in a cameo in "The Civil War" episode of the star-packed epic How the West Was Won (1962), directed by John Ford (other segments directed by Henry Hathaway, George Marshall and Richard Thorpe).
  
  
• As the diabolical villain "B. Elzie Bubb" in the "The Faustus Affair" episode (December 27, 1966) of the TV secret-agency series The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., starring Stefanie Powers, Noel Harrison and Leo G. Carroll.
  
  
• As "The Preacher" in another western blockbuster, Mackenna's Gold (1969), directed by J. Lee Thompson. A cast of pure gold, including Gregory Peck, Omar Shariff, Telly Savalas, Camilla Sparv, Keenan Wynn, Julie Newmar, Ted Cassidy, Lee J. Cobb, Burgess Meredith, Anthony Quayle, Edward G. Robinson, Eli Wallach, Eduardo Ciannelli , Trevor Bardette, and Victor Jory as Narrator.
  
  
• Starring in two segments of the episodic TV horror-fantasy series Night Gallery, hosted by Rod Serling:
  
  
  • As "Colonel Archie Dittman" in "Clean Kills and Other Trophies" (January 6, 1971).
    
    
  • As "Dr. Glendon" in "Rare Objects" (October 22, 1972).

Last revised May 9 2021 by George "E-gor" Chastain.

Maintained by George "E-gor" Chastain (e-mail: egorschamber@gmail.com)