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Lionel Jeffries

Lionel Jeffries

Actor, also director and writer · Died February 19, 2010, aged 83 · Forest Hill, London, England, UK

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lionel Charles Jeffries (10 June 1926 – 19 February 2010) was an English actor, screenwriter and film director. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lionel Jeffries, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia. ​

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 10, 1926
Died
February 19, 2010 (aged 83)
From
Forest Hill, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also director and writer
Titles
50 on Motif · 106 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 28% in 30 days

What are Lionel Jeffries' films like?

Across their 39 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy18 titlesTypical Motif score: 31st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Motif score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Motif score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Horror4 titlesTypical Motif score: 57th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Animation2 titlesTypical Motif score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Motif score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their Motif films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Motif score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
26%
Bonds
25%
Self
15%
Power
11%
Survival
9%
Society
7%
Ideas
6%
Deception13 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 39 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 28 · Serious 5 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 6

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 18 · Charged 19 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 25 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 16 · Funny 14

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 30 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 38 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

15 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 15 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 15
Threshold guardian
3 of 15
Mentor
3 of 15
Trickster
2 of 15
Ally
2 of 15
Hero
1 of 15
Show the 15 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
18
Tense
16
Warm
15
Absurd
12
Thrilling
9
Other
31

How their films linger

Fun22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Lionel Jeffries' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 50 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lionel Jeffries' titles on Motif; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Motif score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

106 credits, 50 with a Motif page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Holby City (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry

  • Heaven on Earth (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1998)

    as Isaac Muller

  • Lexx(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Father Borscht

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Bed (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1995)

    as Captain

  • Look At It This Way (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 3 episodes · as Bernie Koppel

  • Performance (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain

  • Rich Tea and Sympathy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · as Grandpa Rudge

  • Dors: The Other Diana (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1990)

    Actor

  • Jekyll and Hyde(1990)

    as Jekyll's Father

    Motif score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • First and Last (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Laurence

  • A Chorus of Disapproval(1989)

    as Jarvis Huntley-Pike

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Danny the Champion of the World(1989)

    as Mr. Snoddy

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Ending Up (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1989)

    as Shorty

  • Abel's Island(1988)

    as Gower (voice)

    Motif score: 76th percentile of all films

  • A Question of Entertainment (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Inspector Morse(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Radford

    Motif score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Casualty(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Tongue

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all shows

  • Lovejoy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Percy Broderick

  • Private Enterprise (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1986)

    as Barman

  • C.A.T.S. Eyes (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Gino: Full Story and Pics (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1984)

    as Taxi Driver

  • Letting the Birds Go Free (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1983)

    as Arthur

  • Better Late Than Never(1983)

    as Bertie Hargreaves

    Motif score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Comic Strip Presents... (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Barman · as Taxi Driver

  • Tom, Dick and Harriet (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • All for Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur

  • Father Charlie (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 6 episodes · as Father Charlie

  • Shillingbury Tales (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Major George Langton

  • Cream in My Coffee (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1980)

    as Bernard Wilsher

  • Minder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Cecil Caine

  • The Prisoner of Zenda(1979)

    as Colonel Zapt

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Water Babies(1978)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Wombling Free(1977)

    Director · Screenplay

    Motif score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Fred Basset (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 19 episodes · as Fred Basset (voice)

  • The Bananas Boat(1975)

    as Houlihan

    Motif score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Royal Flash (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1975)

    as Kraftstein

  • Baxter! (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1973)

    Director

  • The Amazing Mr. Blunden(1972)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?(1972)

    as Police Insp. Willoughby

    Motif score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Railway Children(1970)

    Director · Writer

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Sudden Terror(1970)

    as Grandpa

    Motif score: 49th percentile of all films

  • London Affair(1970)

    as Solicitor

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Twelve Plus One (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1969)

    as Randomhouse

  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang(1968)

    as Grandpa Potts

    Motif score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Camelot(1967)

    as King Pellinore

    Motif score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Those Fantastic Flying Fools(1967)

    as Sir Charles Dillworthy

    Motif score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1967)

    as Airport Commander

  • Arrivederci, Baby!(1966)

    as Parker

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Spy with a Cold Nose(1966)

    as Stanley Farquhar

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of My Success(1965)

    as Inspector Hobart

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • You Must Be Joking!(1965)

    as Sergeant-Major McGregor

    Motif score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Truth About Spring(1965)

    as Cark

    Motif score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Murder Ahoy(1964)

    as Captain Rhumstone

    Motif score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • First Men in the Moon(1964)

    as Joseph Cavor

    Motif score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Long Ships(1964)

    as Aziz

    Motif score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Scarlet Blade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1963)

    as Colonel Judd

  • Call Me Bwana(1963)

    as Ezra

    Motif score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Wrong Arm of the Law(1963)

    as Inspector Fred 'Nosey' Parker

    Motif score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Kill or Cure (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Det. Insp. Hook

  • The Notorious Landlady(1962)

    as Inspector Oliphant

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Gibbons' Boys (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Lester Gibbons

  • Operation Snatch (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1962)

    as Gunner Evans

  • The Hellions (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1961)

    as Luke Billings

  • Fanny(1961)

    as Monsieur Brun

    Motif score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Two Way Stretch(1960)

    as Chief Prison Officer Sidney Crout

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan the Magnificent (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Ames

  • The Trials of Oscar Wilde(1960)

    as Marquis of Queensberry

    Motif score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Let's Get Married (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Marsh

  • Life Is a Circus (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Genie

  • Jazz Boat (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1960)

    as Det. Sgt. Thompson

  • Please Turn Over (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    as Ian Howard

  • The Four Just Men (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Arkwright

  • Bobbikins (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    as Gregory Mason

  • The Nun's Story(1959)

    as Dr. Goovaerts

    Motif score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Idol on Parade (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    as Bertie

  • Nowhere to Go(1958)

    as Pet Shop Owner (uncredited)

    Motif score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Behind the Mask (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Walter Froy

  • Further Up the Creek(1958)

    as Steady Barker

    Motif score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Girls at Sea (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Harry, the Tourist

  • Orders to Kill (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Interrogator

  • Law and Disorder (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Major Proudfoot

  • The Revenge of Frankenstein(1958)

    as Fritz

    Motif score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Up the Creek (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1958)

    as Steady Barker

  • Dunkirk(1958)

    as Colonel (Medical Officer)

    Motif score: 85th percentile of all films

  • All at Sea(1957)

    as Garrod

    Motif score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Blue Murder at St. Trinian's(1957)

    as Joe Mangan

    Motif score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Vicious Circle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Geoffrey Windsor

  • Hour of Decision(1957)

    as Elvin Main

    Motif score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Doctor at Large (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Dr. Hampton Hatchet

  • The Man in the Sky (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1957)

    as Keith

  • Up in the World(1956)

    as Wilson

    Motif score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The High Terrace (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Monkton

  • Lust for Life(1956)

    as Dr. Peyron

    Motif score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Eyewitness (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Man in Pub

  • The Baby and the Battleship(1956)

    as George

    Motif score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Bhowani Junction(1956)

    as Lt Graham McDaniel

    Motif score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Jumping for Joy (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1956)

    as Bert Benton

  • All for Mary (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    as Maitre D', Hotel

  • No Smoking (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Sir Charles

    Motif score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Quatermass Xperiment(1955)

    as Blake

    Motif score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Windfall (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1955)

    as Arthur Lee

  • The Colditz Story(1955)

    as Harry Tyler

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Black Rider (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1954)

    as Martin Bremner

  • Will Any Gentleman...? (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1953)

    as Mr. Frobisher

  • Stage Fright(1950)

    as Bald RADA Student (uncredited)

    Motif score: 79th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 106 titles from 1950 to 1999; peak year 1963.

Biggest box office

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

$7.5M worldwide

Highest rated

The Railway Children (1970)

Motif 89th

Most popular right now

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Film career

19501999

Peak 1963 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 Motif titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting101 of 106: 101 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Motif score64thDirecting5 of 106: 2 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting3 of 106: 0 only writing, 3 with another role

106 titles, 3 with more than one role.

By decade

1950s36 · acting1960s28 · acting1970s13 · 8 acting · 5 crew1980s20 · acting1990s9 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 30 roles
55606575

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Motif score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on Motif, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Lionel Jeffries' films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Motif score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 46; across their 39 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 39

Motif score across 50 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

27 of their 50 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser27
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · director, writer

Wombling Free (1977)

75th percentile spread · 36% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Nun's Story (1959)

Motif 91st · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 38 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Motif score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their Motif titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Lionel Jeffries work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lionel Jeffries' Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bernard Cribbins shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles