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Richard Todd

Richard Todd

Actor, also producer · Died December 3, 2009, aged 90 · Dublin, Ireland

Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd (11 June 1919 – 3 December 2009) was an Irish actor known for his leading man roles of the 1950s. He received a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male, and an Academy Award for Best Actor nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor nomination for his performance as Corporal Lachlan MacLachlan in the 1949 film The Hasty Heart. His other notable roles include Jonathan Cooper in Stage Fright (1950), Wing Commander Guy Gibson in The Dam Busters (1955), Sir Walter Raleigh in The Virgin Queen (1955), and Major John Howard in The Longest Day (1962). He was previously a Captain in the British Army during the Second World War, fighting in the D-Day landings as a member of the 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion. Description above from the Wikipedia article Richard Todd, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 11, 1919
Died
December 3, 2009 (aged 90)
From
Dublin, Ireland
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 69 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 64 days to Oct 27Down 39% in 30 days

What are Richard Todd's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 12th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
43%
Bonds
21%
Self
10%
Power
10%
Survival
6%
Ideas
5%
Society
5%
Justice12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 27 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 11 · Serious 8 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 14 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 15 · Intense 8

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 13 · 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 11 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 2

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 13 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 6

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

21 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 13 of 21 analyzed roles.

Hero
13 of 21
Mentor
3 of 21
Shadow
2 of 21
Ally
2 of 21
Shapeshifter
1 of 21
Show the 21 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Romantic
6
Melancholic
9
Contemplative
6
Thrilling
5
Other
22

How their films linger

Fun11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic3
  • 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 Richard Todd's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Richard Todd'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

69 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • British Film Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Royal(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Hugh Hirst

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

  • Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Edmonton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • No Angel: A Life of Marlene Dietrich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Silent Witness(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Beautiful Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as H.G. Wells

  • Virtual Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Rawcliffe

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold Beecham

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Sherlock Holmes: Incident at Victoria Falls(1992)

    as Lord Roberts

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Olympus Force: The Key (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Lord Wisden

  • Jenny's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Gen. Benjamin Cutler

  • Jenny's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 4 episodes · as Gen. Benjamin Cutler

  • The Last Place on Earth(1985)

    Show 7 episodes · as Mr. Barnes

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Alec Scofield

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • House of the Long Shadows(1983)

    as Sam Allyson

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: Kinda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Sanders

  • Home Before Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Geoffrey Steele

  • The Big Sleep(1978)

    as Commander Barker

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • No. 1 of the Secret Service(1977)

    as Arthur Loveday

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Sky is Falling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Terence

  • The Next Scream You Hear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as George Tulliver

  • Boy Dominic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 13 episodes · as Capt. Richard Bulman

  • Thriller(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as George Tulliver

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Asylum(1972)

    as Walter

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Dorian Gray(1970)

    as Basil Hallward

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Subterfuge(1968)

    as Col. Victor Redmayne

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • The Love-Ins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Dr. Jonathan Barnett

  • The Battle of the Villa Fiorita(1965)

    as Darrell

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Operation Crossbow(1965)

    as Wing Cmdr. Kendall

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Coast of Skeletons(1965)

    as Harry Sanders

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Theatre 625 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Edmund Gurney

  • Death Drums Along the River(1963)

    as Inspector Harry Sanders

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Sanders

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Very Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Geoffrey Lawrence

  • The Longest Day(1962)

    as Maj. John Howard

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Boys(1962)

    as Victor Webster

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

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

    as Sam Hargis

  • Why Bother to Knock!(1961)

    Producer · as Bill Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Jungle Fighters(1961)

    as Sgt. 'Mitch' Mitchem

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Never Let Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as John Cummings

  • Danger Within (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Lieutenant Colonel David Baird

  • Intent to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Dr. Bob McLaurin

  • The Naked Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Danny

  • Chase a Crooked Shadow(1958)

    as Williams, alias Ward McKenzie Prescott Jr.

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Saint Joan(1957)

    as Dunois, Bastard of Orleans

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Battle Hell(1957)

    as Lieutenant-Commander John Simon Kerans

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • D-Day the Sixth of June(1956)

    as Lt. Col. John Wynter

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Comte Axel von Fersen

  • The Virgin Queen(1955)

    as Sir Walter Raleigh

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Dam Busters(1955)

    as Wing Commander Guy Gibson, V.C., D.S.O., D.F.C.

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • A Man Called Peter(1955)

    as The Rev. Peter Marshall

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Bed(1954)

    as Captain Davidson (segment "Billet de logement, Le")

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Wuthering Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Heathcliff

  • Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue(1953)

    as Rob Roy MacGregor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Sword and the Rose(1953)

    as Charles Brandon

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Assassin(1952)

    as Edward Mercer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • 24 Hours of a Woman's Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as the young man

  • The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men(1952)

    as Robin Hood

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Lightning Strikes Twice(1951)

    as Richard Trevelyan

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Flesh and Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Charles Cameron/Charles Cameron Sutherland

  • Portrait of Clare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Robert Hart

  • Stage Fright(1950)

    as Jonathan Cooper

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Interrupted Journey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as John North

  • The Hasty Heart(1949)

    as Cpl. Lachlan "Lachie" MacLachlan

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • For Them That Trespass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Herbert Edward Logan

  • A Yank at Oxford(1938)

    as Extra in Sporting Event (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Gap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Orderly (uncredited)

  • Good Morning, Boys! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Extra in crowd scene (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 69 titles from 1937 to 2007; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

The Sword and the Rose (1953)

$2.5M worldwide

Highest rated

The Dam Busters (1955)

Midcredits 91st

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19372007

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 5 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.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting69 of 69: 69 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1930s3 · acting1940s3 · acting1950s22 · acting1960s15 · acting1970s9 · acting1980s7 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 40% of 15 roles
5060

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 Richard Todd's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 27 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Subterfuge (1968)

52nd percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Longest Day (1962)

Midcredits 96th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 47. 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 Richard Todd's 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 20 · mildMedian of all films: 32

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

Who does Richard Todd work with?

People who share at least 2 of Richard Todd's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Harry Alan Towers shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers