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Stratford Johns

Stratford Johns

Actor · Died January 29, 2002, aged 76 · Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

South African-born Stratford Johns was forever associated with the role of tough, abrasive Superintendant Charlie Barlow on TV's Z Cars (1962) and its sequels Softly Softly: Task Force (1969) and Barlow at Large (1971). In between, he also played Barlow in the miniseries Jack the Ripper (1973) (which, in turn, led to a 'cold case' investigation series called Second Verdict (1976)). He even spoofed his famous screen detective on The Two Ronnies (1971). His perennial sidekick was the actor Frank Windsor (in the role of Sergeant Watt), who once jokingly referred to their on-screen partnership as being "the Morecambe & Wise of serious television". Johns was educated in Pietermaritzburg in Natal Province. He began working life as a deckhand with the South African Navy during World War II. He then had a brief spell as an accountant, before finding his vocation in the dramatic arts. After some work in local repertory companies, he went to England on a one-way ticket in 1948, acting for four and a half years on stage in Southend-on-Sea, followed by a comedy act in the variety halls. Since this amounted to little more than a meager income, Johns was forced to make ends meet by doing handyman jobs, building fences, painting and gardening. His big break came in 1962, when he was presented with the choice of whether to accept a small part in the epic blockbuster Cleopatra (1963), or, alternatively, screen test for a new BBC police series (initially called "Crime Cars"). Though tempted by the gentler Roman climate, he wisely chose the latter. For better or worse, Johns became identified with Barlow to such an extent over the years, that he was even sought-after by police for recruitment drives on television. Conversely, though he occasionally attempted to break away from typecasting, especially on stage, he was rarely deemed to have succeeded.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
September 22, 1925
Died
January 29, 2002 (aged 76)
From
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Works as
Actor
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 81 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 25% in 30 days

What are Stratford Johns' films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits 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
Bonds
24%
Self
20%
Power
18%
Morality
15%
Survival
15%
Ideas
8%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 2 · Dark 4

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 0

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 4

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Absurd
5
Melancholic
5
Dread
5
Joyful
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous4

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 Stratford Johns' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Stratford Johns' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits 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

81 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Neverwhere(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Stockton

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Scarlet and Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Abbe Pirard

  • Splitting Heirs(1993)

    as Butler

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Home Secretary

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Cyril Isaiah Greengrass

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Actor

  • Murder Most Horrid(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr Maddox

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • A Demon in My View(1991)

    as Stanley Caspian

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • 'Itch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Clive

  • The Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Arthur Shillibeer

  • Shooting Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Mr. Groves

  • Perfect Scoundrels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Keighley

  • A Small Mourning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Arnold

  • The Lair of the White Worm(1988)

    as Peters

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Salome's Last Dance(1988)

    as Herod / Alfred Taylor

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Brond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 3 episodes · as Brond

  • The Little Match Girl(1986)

    as Rich Man

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Foreign Body(1986)

    as Mr. Plumb

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • ScreenPlay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Arnold

  • The Secret Diaries of the Film Censors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Colonel J.C. Hanna

  • Car Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Reg Sampson

  • Wild Geese II(1985)

    as Mustapha El Ali

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Dance with a Stranger(1985)

    as Morrie Conley

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Hitler's S.S.: Portrait in Evil(1985)

    as Uncle Walter

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Mr Moon's Last Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mr Moon

  • The Beggar's Opera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Peachum

  • Union Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Monarch

  • Tales from the Thousand and One Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Genie of the Lamp

  • Great Expectations(1981)

    Show 7 episodes · as Abel Magwitch

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Lord Rothermere

  • Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Mr Omelet

  • Dear Brutus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Matey

  • George & Mildred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Harry Pinto

  • The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu(1980)

    as Ismail

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Knowles

  • The Marti Caine Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Saint and the Brave Goose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Duchamp

  • Return of the Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as George Duchamp

  • Blake's 7(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Belkov

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It(1977)

    as Chief Commisioner Blocker

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Sound of Laughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert Sculley

  • Ramsey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Robert Kester

  • Jubilee 1977 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Kester

  • I, Claudius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Piso

  • Second Verdict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 6 episodes · as DCS Charles Barlow

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Omelet

  • Jack the Ripper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Barlow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 29 episodes · as DCI Charles Barlow

  • Cromwell(1970)

    as President Bradshaw

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Softly Softly: Task Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 6 episodes · as Det. Chief Supt. Barlow · as Det. Chief Supt. Charles Barlow

  • Department S (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Trenton

  • Those Fantastic Flying Fools(1967)

    as Warrant Officer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Plank (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Station Sergeant

  • The Great St. Trinian's Train Robbery(1966)

    as The Voice (voice)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Softly, Softly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 44 episodes · as DCS Charles Barlow

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 4 episodes · as Monarch

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Z-Cars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 170 episodes · as DCI Charlie Barlow · as Det. Chief Insp. Barlow · as Det. Chief Inspector Charles Barlow

  • Two Letter Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Bates

  • Serjeant Musgrave's Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Mayor

  • The Younger Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Viney

  • Hand in Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Farmer

  • The Avengers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sidney

  • Maigret(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Keller

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Days of Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sgt. Willis

  • The Professionals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Lawson

  • International Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as The Registrar

  • Interpol Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Chaublin

  • A Night to Remember(1958)

    as Crewman on Upturned Lifeboat (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Violent Playground(1958)

    as Police Constable (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The One That Got Away(1957)

    as Second Detective

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Overseas Press Club - Exclusive! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Paddock

  • Tiger in the Smoke(1956)

    as Police Constable

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Curly · as Mr. Cornelius · as Police Inspector · as Simpson

  • The Third Key(1956)

    as Constable (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Who Done It? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as PC Coleman

  • The Count of Monte Cristo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Gendarme

  • The Ladykillers(1955)

    as Security Guard (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Lilli Palmer Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Andrew

  • PT Raiders(1955)

    as Garage Worker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Burnt Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as 2nd Fireman (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 81 titles from 1954 to 1996; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980)

$11M worldwide

Highest rated

Dance with a Stranger (1985)

Midcredits 68th

Most popular right now

The Lair of the White Worm (1988)

Film career

19541996

Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. 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
Acting81 of 81: 81 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1950s15 · acting1960s16 · acting1970s15 · acting1980s23 · acting1990s12 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
5580

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 Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, 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 Stratford Johns' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

A Demon in My View (1991)

74th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A Night to Remember (1958)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; 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 Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove 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.

Is Stratford Johns' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 58 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Stratford Johns work with?

People who share at least 2 of Stratford Johns' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ken Russell shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers