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Robert Newton

Robert Newton

Actor · Died March 25, 1956, aged 50 · Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, UK

Robert Newton was one of the great character actors -- and great characters -- of the British cinema, best remembered today for playing Long John Silver in Treasure Island (1950) and its sequel in 1954. His portrayal of Long John Silver and of Blackbeard, the Pirate (1952) created a persona that was so indelible that his vocal intonations created the paradigm for scores of people who want to "Talk Like a Pirate." The performance overshadows Newton's legacy, which is based on many first-rate performances in such movies as This Happy Breed (1944), Odd Man Out (1947) and Oliver Twist (1948), where his Bill Sykes is truly chilling. Oliver Reed, who played Sykes in the Oscar-winning movie musical Oliver! (1968) was influenced by Newton.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 1, 1905
Died
March 25, 1956 (aged 50)
From
Shaftesbury, Dorset, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 50 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 28Up 15% in 30 days

What are Robert Newton's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Adventure8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action 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
Morality
41%
Bonds
22%
Society
16%
Self
7%
Survival
7%
Power
5%
Ideas
1%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 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 9 · Serious 5 · Dark 7

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 6

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 6 · Charged 6 · Intense 9

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 9 · Engaged 12 · 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 9 · Affecting 6 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 20 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Shapeshifter: 5 of 16 analyzed roles.

Shapeshifter
5 of 16
Shadow
4 of 16
Trickster
2 of 16
Hero
2 of 16
Mentor
2 of 16
Ally
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
8
Warm
5
Thrilling
4
Hopeful
5
Other
12

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic1
  • 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 Robert Newton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Newton'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

50 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics(2008)

    as Long John Silver

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Epic That Never Was (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Cassius, Captain of Caligula's guard (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Adventures of Long John Silver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 26 episodes · as Long John Silver

  • Around the World in 80 Days(1956)

    as Mr. Fix

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter J. Goodfellow

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Long John Silver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Long John Silver

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Keith Dorrant

  • The Beachcomber(1954)

    as Ted Wilson

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The High and the Mighty(1954)

    as Gustave Pardee

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Desert Rats(1953)

    as Tom Bartlett

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Blackbeard, the Pirate(1952)

    as Blackbeard

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Androcles and the Lion(1952)

    as Ferrovius

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Les Miserables(1952)

    as Etienne Javert

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as John Lindsey, the Baker · as Simon Mantle

  • Tom Brown's Schooldays(1951)

    as Thomas Arnold

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Soldiers Three(1951)

    as Pvt. Bill Sykes

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Fishkettle · as Philip Marshall

  • Waterfront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Peter McCabe

  • Treasure Island(1950)

    as Long John Silver

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Obsession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Dr. Clive Riordan

  • Kiss the Blood Off My Hands(1948)

    as Harry Carter

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Oliver Twist(1948)

    as Bill Sykes

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Snowbound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Derek Engles

  • Temptation Harbour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Bert Mallinson

  • Odd Man Out(1947)

    as Lukey

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Night Boat to Dublin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Capt. David Grant

  • Henry V(1944)

    as Ancient Pistol

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • This Happy Breed(1944)

    as Frank Gibbons

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • They Flew Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Jim Mollison

  • Hatter's Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as James Brodie

  • Major Barbara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Bill Walker

  • Angel Street(1940)

    as Ullswater

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Busman's Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Frank Crutchley

  • Channel Incident (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Tanner

  • 21 Days Together(1940)

    as Tolly

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Hell's Cargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Cmdr. Tomasou

  • Poison Pen(1939)

    as Sam Hurrin

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Jamaica Inn(1939)

    as James "Jem" Trehearne

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Dead Men Are Dangerous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Aylmer Franklyn

  • Yellow Sands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Joe Varwell

  • Vessel of Wrath (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as The Controleur

  • The Green Cockatoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Dave Connor

  • Murder on Diamond Row(1937)

    as Larry Graeme

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Dark Journey(1937)

    as Officer of U-Boat

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Fire Over England(1937)

    as Don Pedro

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Farewell Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Jim Carter

  • I, Claudius (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Cassius

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 49 titles from 1937 to 1969.

Biggest box office

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

$42M worldwide

Highest rated

Oliver Twist (1948)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout

Top draw in 9 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting49 of 49: 49 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1930s12 · acting1940s16 · acting1950s20 · acting1960s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 22% of 18 roles
374252

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 Robert Newton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics (2008)

60th percentile spread · 10% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Oliver Twist (1948)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 20 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 48. 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.

Who does Robert Newton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Newton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; James Mason shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers