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John Shrapnel

John Shrapnel

Actor · Died February 14, 2020, aged 77 · Birmingham, England, UK

Shrapnel was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, the son of Mary Lillian Myfanwy (née Edwards) and journalist/author Norman Shrapnel.[1] As a stage actor, he was a member of Laurence Olivier's Royal National Theatre company and the Royal Shakespeare Company and most recently appeared as Sir Oliver Surface in The School for Scandal (directed by Deborah Warner) at the Barbican Centre in 2011. He has also appeared extensively in film and on television in roles in Elizabeth R, Z-Cars, Edward and Mrs. Simpson, 101 Dalmatians, Space: 1999, Inspector Morse, Coogan's Run, Notting Hill and Foyle's War. He presented an episode of the 1983 BBC television travel series Great Little Railways. He gave performances in three entries in the BBC Television Shakespeare plays and as Creon in the BBC's 1984 productions of the Three Theban plays of Sophocles. In America, he has starred in supporting roles as Senator Gaius in Gladiator, Nestor in Troy and Pompey in the second episode of Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. He also played the Jail Warden in the 10th Kingdom, an epic fantasy miniseries. He has the rare achievement of appearing in two episodes of Midsomer Murders as two different characters, in Death in Chorus and Written in Blood. Shrapnel appeared in an episode of Jonathan Creek as Professor Lance Graumann in the episode The Omega Man. He appears in Chemical Wedding alongside Simon Callow, telling the tale of the resurrection of occultist Aleister Crowley. Shrapnel also has experience in the field of BBC radio drama through such characters as Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse and William Gibson's Neuromancer. He is the son-in-law of Deborah Kerr through his 1975 marriage to her younger daughter Francesca Ann Bartley. They have three sons, the actors Lex Shrapnel (b.1979), Tom Shrapnel (b.1981) and the writer Joe Shrapnel (b.1976). They live in Highbury, north London.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 27, 1942
Died
February 14, 2020 (aged 77)
From
Birmingham, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 130 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 63 days to Oct 26Up 10% in 30 days

What are John Shrapnel's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: 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
Morality
30%
Self
18%
Survival
13%
Bonds
12%
Power
12%
Society
9%
Ideas
5%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 17 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 1 · Dark 12

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

Grounded 6 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 10

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

Steady 5 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

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 2

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 11 · 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 6 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 4

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 4 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 4 of 7 analyzed roles.

Shadow
4 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Hero
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
14
Melancholic
9
Dread
7
Absurd
3
Contemplative
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Haunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet10
  • 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 John Shrapnel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 33 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Shrapnel'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

130 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hamlet Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • The Lions Rule(2017)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

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

  • King Charles III(2017)

    as Archbishop of Canterbury

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Britain's Nuclear Bomb - The Inside Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Narrator (Voice)

  • The Return of the Flying Scotsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Narrator - (Voice)

  • Branagh Theatre Live: The Winter's Tale(2015)

    as Camilo

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Hamlet(2015)

    as Claudius/Ghost

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • OXI, an Act of Resistance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Creon

  • Building Burma's Death Railway: Moving Half the Mountain(2014)

    as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • National Theatre Live: Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Duncan/Seyton/Old Man

  • Run. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as St. Peter

  • The Awakening(2011)

    as Reverend Hugh Purslow

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • National Theatre Live: Phèdre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Théramène

  • An Organization of Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Father

  • Apparitions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 6 episodes · as Cardinal Bukovak

  • Merlin(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as The Sarrum

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Duchess(2008)

    as General Grey

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mirrors(2008)

    as Lorenzo Sapelli

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Chemical Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Crowley

  • Elizabeth: The Golden Age(2007)

    as Lord Howard

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Time on the Westway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Billy Palmer

  • Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Pompey

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Alien Autopsy(2006)

    as Michael Kuhn

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Wachau - Valley of Golden Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Narrator (English Version)

  • Shadow of the Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Archbishop

  • Seven Wonders of Ancient Greece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • Troy(2004)

    as Nestor

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • I Am Not an Animal(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • Seven Wonders of Ancient Egypt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • New Tricks(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as DAC John Felsham

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Seven Wonders of Ancient Rome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • The Race for Everest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator

  • Wild Women of Viramba (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Narrator

  • Schönbrunn - Well of Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Narrator (English Version)

  • Foyle's War(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Raymond Brooks

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Whistle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Paul

  • K-19: The Widowmaker(2002)

    as Admiral Bratyeev

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Claim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Lex Vandenberg

  • Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Hannah

  • The Inspector Lynley Mysteries(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Sergent Mike McCaffrey

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Gentleman Thief(2001)

    as Monty Sinclair

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Animals of the Ocean Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • Waking the Dead(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as John Christie

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Mountain Men: The Ghosts of K2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • The Body(2001)

    as Moshe Cohen

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Misfit and the Matterhorn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Narrator

  • Horizon: Supermassive Black Holes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator

  • Gladiator(2000)

    as Gaius

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The 10th Kingdom(2000)

    Show 5 episodes · as Governor of Prison

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Mary, Mother of Jesus(1999)

    as Simon

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Notting Hill(1999)

    as PR Chief

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Horatio Hornblower: The Wrong War(1999)

    as General Charette

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Strange Case of Delfina Potocka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Iwaszkiewicz

  • Solo Shuttle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Cain

  • Lion Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Invasion: Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 6 episodes · as Air Marshal Bentley

  • St. Stephen's: The Living Cathedral (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Narrator (English voice)

  • Predators Killing for a Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Jonathan Creek(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Prof. Lance Graumann

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Bodyguards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 7 episodes · as Commander Alan MacIntyre

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Leo Clarke · as Max Jennings

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • True Tilda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 6 episodes · as Reverand Glasson

  • 101 Dalmatians(1996)

    as Skinner

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Two Deaths(1995)

    as Cinca

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Alien Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 6 episodes · as Narrator

  • Coogan's Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Douglas Crown

  • King Arthur: His Life and Legends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Kavanagh QC(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Justice Griffin

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • England, My England (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Samuel Pepys

  • Fatherland(1994)

    as General Globus

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Wycliffe(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Sam Malvern

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Selling Hitler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Gerd Schulte-Hillen

  • Hamlet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Claudius

  • Shakespeare: The Animated Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Claudius / The Ghost (voice)

  • Between the Lines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 13 episodes · as D.C.C. Dunning · as Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dunning

  • SS-3: The Assassination of Reinhard Heydrich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Narrator

  • Selling Hitler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerd Schülte-Hillen

  • G.B.H. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 3 episodes · as Dr Jacobs

  • For the Greater Good (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 2 episodes · as Norman May-Boys MP

  • The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story(1990)

    as BKA Police Chief

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

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

    Show 4 episodes · as Claud Wareing

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

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Cheyney

  • Blackeyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 3 episodes · as Detective Blake

  • About Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • How to Get Ahead in Advertising(1989)

    as Psychiatrist

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Testimony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Andre Zhdanov

  • The Modern World: Ten Great Writers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Thomas Mann

  • Vanity Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 5 episodes · as Lord Steyne

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

    as General Flood

  • Personal Services(1987)

    as Lionel

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Theban Plays: Antigone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Creon

  • Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Creon

  • Theban Plays: Oedipus the King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Creon

  • The Burston Rebellion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Rev. Charles Tucker Eland

  • Poppyland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as George Sims

  • Screen Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Heiger · as Rev. Charles Tucker Eland

  • Sorrell and Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 6 episodes · as Thomas Roland

  • Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Adrian Vyner

  • Natural World(1983)

    Show 10 episodes · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • King Lear(1982)

    as Earl of Kent

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Woman in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 5 episodes · as Sir Percival Glyde

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

    as Hector

  • Private Schulz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 3 episodes · as German Newsreel Commentator (voice, uncredited)

  • Timon of Athens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Alcibiades

  • The Tom Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • The Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Vincent Craig

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

    Show 1 episode · as Matthias Erzberger

  • Gossip from the Forest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Matthias Erzberger

  • Edward and Mrs Simpson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 5 episodes · as Major Alexander Hardinge

  • Edward & Mrs. Simpson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Maj. Alexander Hardinge

  • Flayed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Robert

  • Armchair Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Vincent Craig

  • The Three Hostages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Gaudian

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as McKendrick · as Robert

  • Professional Foul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as McKendrick

  • Hitting Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Leonard Brazil (voice)

  • Plays for Britain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Voice of Leonard Brazil

  • Hennessy(1975)

    as Tipaldi

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Space: 1999(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Tanner

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • King Lear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Duke of Cornwall

  • Good Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 4 episodes · as Christopher Wimple

  • Pope Joan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Father James

  • Nicholas and Alexandra(1971)

    as Petya

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Roger Anderson

  • Elizabeth R(1971)

    Show 3 episodes · as Earl of Sussex

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • It's Called the Sugar Plum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Wally Zuckerman

  • The Ha-Ha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Jamie

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Zborowski

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Schoner

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

    Show 1 episode · as Duke of Cornwall · as Viktor Myshlaevsky

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 130 titles from 1965 to 2022; peak year 2000.

Biggest box office

Gladiator (2000)

$466M worldwide

Highest rated

Gladiator (2000)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19652022

Peak 2000 · fewer prominent film roles lately. 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
Acting130 of 130: 130 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

By decade

1960s5 · acting1970s19 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s33 · acting2000s37 · acting2010s11 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 19 roles
870207

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 John Shrapnel's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 26; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 57th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Reach · how many have seen their films

82ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 17

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Hamlet (2015)

82nd percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Gladiator (2000)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 82, detractors 43. 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 John Shrapnel's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles33–90 · median 52 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles15–55 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles17–46 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles18–34 · median 30 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles36–86 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Shrapnel work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Shrapnel's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Shakespeare shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers