Skip to content
MovieCove
Esmond Knight

Esmond Knight

Actor · Died February 23, 1987, aged 80 · East Sheen, Surrey, England

Esmond Penington Knight (4 May 1906 – 23 February 1987) was an English actor. He was an accomplished actor with a career spanning over half a century. For much of his career Esmond Knight was virtually blind. He had been badly injured in 1941 whilst on active service on board HMS Prince of Wales when she fought the Bismarck at the Battle of the Denmark Strait, and remained totally blind for two years, though he later regained some sight in his right eye. During this period, Esmond dictated an early autobiography to his secretary, Annabella Cloudsley, Seeking The Bubble (Hutchinson & Co. 1943). He played the captain of the HMS Prince of Wales in the 1960 movie Sink the Bismarck! He starred as Professor Ernest Reinhart in the 1961 British science fiction television series, A for Andromeda, alongside Patricia Kneale and Peter Halliday. His daughter is the actress Rosalind Knight. Knight died of a heart attack. He was cremated. Description above from the Wikipedia article Esmond Knight, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 4, 1906
Died
February 23, 1987 (aged 80)
From
East Sheen, Surrey, England
Works as
Actor
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 113 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 37 days to Oct 26Up 20% in 30 days

What are Esmond Knight's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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%
Morality
22%
Survival
21%
Self
12%
Society
11%
Power
9%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 1 · Dark 9

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 9 · Intense 4

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 5 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
10
Joyful
4
Warm
3
Romantic
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Haunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous1

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 Esmond Knight's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Esmond Knight's 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

113 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Fortunes of War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Liversage

  • Superman IV: The Quest for Peace(1987)

    as Second Elder

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Miss Marple: Sleeping Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Galbraith

  • The Invisible Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Blind Man

  • The Element of Crime(1984)

    as Osborne

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • A Voyage Round My Father(1982)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Old Man

  • My Cousin Rachel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Bates

  • Fame Is the Spur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Etchells

  • Troilus & Cressida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Priam

  • Antony & Cleopatra(1981)

    as Lepidus

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Drake's Venture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as John Dee

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

    Show 1 episode · as Coroner

  • Romeo and Juliet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Old Capulet

  • The BBC Television Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Capulet

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

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Hanson

  • 1990 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mitchell

  • The Man in the Iron Mask(1977)

    as Armand

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Sir Charles

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

    Show 1 episode · as Domitius

  • Robin and Marian(1976)

    as Old Defender

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Quiller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as General Pickford

  • Churchill's People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Penda's Father

  • Fall of Eagles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as General Ruzski

  • Bedtime Stories (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Vere Rawley

  • Wessex Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Conjuror Trendle

  • Yellow Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Mundt

  • Arthur of the Britons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Athel

  • The Boy Who Turned Yellow(1972)

    as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • New Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as General Travers

  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Captain Cutler

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Cousin Bette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · as General Hulot · as Marshal Hulot

  • Elizabeth R(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Bishop de Quadra

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Anne of the Thousand Days(1969)

    as Kingston

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Justice Ruddy

  • Doctor Who: The Space Pirates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Dom Issigri

  • Where's Jack? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Ballad Singer

  • The Champions(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Minister

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Winter's Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Camillo

  • The Parachute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Helmut

  • King of the River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Donner

  • Lord Raingo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sid Jenkin

  • The Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as General Loren

  • The Spy Who Came in from the Cold(1965)

    as Old Judge

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Helmut

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as President

  • The Troubleshooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Foss

  • Gideon's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Robson

  • Public Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Stowe

  • Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Albert · as Commodore Rupert Gill · as Ernest Guppy

  • The Protectors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Pearce Kettner

  • Decision at Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Peter Hauser

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dom Issigri

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Festival (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Chorus

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Antoine Louvois

  • Dr. Finlay's Casebook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Grahame · as Hugh Armitage

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Albert Wallace

  • A for Andromeda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 7 episodes · as Professor Ernest Reinhart

  • Barnaby Rudge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 5 episodes · as Dennis · as Dennis, the Hangman

  • Sunday-Night Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold P. Jackman

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Baron

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • An Age of Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Cade

  • Peeping Tom(1960)

    as Arthur Baden

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Sink the Bismarck!(1960)

    as Captain Leach - 'Prince of Wales'

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Third Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Theodore Ratteau

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

    Show 1 episode · as Von Schriber

  • The Invisible Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Wilson

  • Missiles from Hell(1958)

    as Stricker

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Nicholas Nickleby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 6 episodes · as Wackford Squeers. Sr

  • The Prince and the Showgirl(1957)

    as Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Sailor of Fortune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Oberon

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

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle Karl

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

    Show 1 episode · as Gustav

  • Helen of Troy(1956)

    as High Priest

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Warriors(1955)

    Dialogue Coach

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Full Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Actor

  • The Steel Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Prof. Newman

  • Girdle of Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Evans the Milk

  • The River(1951)

    as The Father

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Without Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Wild Heart(1950)

    as Abel Woodus

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Bubnov, a Capmaker · as Major Kartuschke, Legal Officer

  • Hamlet(1948)

    as Bernardo

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Red Shoes(1948)

    as Livy

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The End of the River(1947)

    as Dantos

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Uncle Silas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Dr. Bryerly

  • Holiday Camp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Camp Announcer

  • Black Narcissus(1947)

    as The Old General

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Henry V(1944)

    as Fluellen - Captain in the English Army

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • A Canterbury Tale(1944)

    as Narrator / Seven-Sisters Soldier / Village Idiot

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Halfway House(1944)

    as David Davies

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Silver Fleet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Von Schiffer

  • This England(1941)

    as Vicar's Son

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Blackout(1940)

    as Mr. Pidgeon

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Raille

  • Weddings Are Wonderful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Guy Rogers

  • What Men Live By (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Michael

  • The Vicar of Bray (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Dennis Melross

  • Black Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Pavo Collin

  • Pagliacci (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Cadet Silvio

  • Someday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Curly Blake

  • Crime Unlimited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Pete Borden

  • Dandy Dick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Tony Mardon

  • Father and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Michael Bolton

  • The Blue Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Captain Carlo Banti

  • Girls Will Be Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Geoffrey Dawson

  • Waltzes from Vienna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Johann Strauss, the Younger

  • The Bermondsey Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Eddie Martin

  • Deadlock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as John Tring

  • 77 Park Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Philip Connor

  • The Ringer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as John Lenley

  • Romany Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Davy Summers

  • The Blue Peter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Radio operator

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 113 titles from 1928 to 1987; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

Black Narcissus (1947)

$303K worldwide

Highest rated

The Red Shoes (1948)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Peeping Tom (1960)

Film career

19281987

Peak 1960 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 4 MovieCove 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.

  • 1934Screen debut· Waltzes from Vienna
  • 1951Career best· The River

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting112 of 113: 112 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thOther crew1 of 113: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s1 · acting1930s18 · acting1940s12 · acting1950s18 · 17 acting · 1 crew1960s31 · acting1970s21 · acting1980s12 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 18 roles
344964

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 Esmond Knight's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 71st percentile, the median of all 26; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 74th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Antony & Cleopatra (1981)

53rd percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Red Shoes (1948)

Midcredits 98th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 60/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 36. 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 Esmond Knight's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 0 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 55 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

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

Who does Esmond Knight work with?

People who share at least 2 of Esmond Knight's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Michael Powell shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers