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Jack Warner (actor)
Encyclopedia
Jack Warner OBE
(24 October 1895 – 24 May 1981) was an English
film and television actor
. He is closely associated with the role of PC George Dixon, which he played until the age of eighty.
He was born in London
, his real name being Horace John Waters. His sisters Elsie and Doris Waters were well-known comediennes who usually performed as "Gert and Daisy
". Like them, Jack Warner made his name in music hall
and radio
, but he became known to cinema audiences as the patriarch
in a trio of popular post-World War II
family films beginning with Here Come the Huggetts
. He also co-starred in the 1955 Hammer film version of The Quatermass Xperiment
and as a police superintendent in the 1955 Ealing Studios
black comedy The Ladykillers
.
Warner attended the Coopers' Company's Grammar School for Boys
in Mile End
, while his sisters both attended the nearby sister school, Coborn School for Girls
in Bow
. The three children were choristers at St. Leonard's Church, Bromley-by-Bow
, and for a time, Warner was the choir's soloist.
By the early war years Warner was nationally known and starred in a BBC radio comedy show Garrison Theatre
, invariably opening with, "A Monologue Entitled...".
It was in 1949
that Warner first played the role for which he would be remembered, PC George Dixon, in the film The Blue Lamp
. One observer predicted, "This film will make Jack the most famous policeman in Britain
". Although the police constable was shot dead in the film, the character was revived in 1955 for the BBC
television series Dixon of Dock Green
, which ran until 1976. In later years though, Warner and his long-past-retirement-age character were confined to a less prominent desk sergeant
role. The series had a prime-time slot on Saturday evenings, and always opened with Dixon giving a little soliloquy to the camera, beginning with the words, "Good evening, all". According to Warner's autobiography, Jack of All Trades, Elizabeth II
once visited the television studio where the series was made and told Warner "that she thought Dixon of Dock Green had become part of the British way of life".
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE) in 1965. In 1973, he was made a Freeman of the City of London. Warner commented in his autobiography that the honour "entitles me to a set of 18th century rules for the conduct of life urging me to be sober and temperate". Warner added, "Not too difficult with Dixon to keep an eye on me!"
The characterisation by Warner of Dixon was held in such high regard that officers from Paddington Green Police Station
bore the coffin at his funeral in 1981.
Warner is buried in East London Cemetery
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(24 October 1895 – 24 May 1981) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
film and television actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is closely associated with the role of PC George Dixon, which he played until the age of eighty.
He was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, his real name being Horace John Waters. His sisters Elsie and Doris Waters were well-known comediennes who usually performed as "Gert and Daisy
Gert and Daisy
Gert and Daisy were the two characters of a British female comedy act who are particularly remembered for their contribution to film and radio entertainment during World War II...
". Like them, Jack Warner made his name in music hall
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
and radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, but he became known to cinema audiences as the patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
in a trio of popular post-World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
family films beginning with Here Come the Huggetts
Here Come the Huggetts
Here Come the Huggetts is a 1948 British film, the first of the Huggetts Trilogy about a working class English family. All three films were directed by Ken Annakin and released by Gainsborough Pictures....
. He also co-starred in the 1955 Hammer film version of The Quatermass Xperiment
The Quatermass Xperiment
The Quatermass Xperiment is a 1955 British science fiction horror film. Made by Hammer Film Productions, it was based on the 1953 BBC Television serial The Quatermass Experiment written by Nigel Kneale. It was directed by Val Guest and stars Brian Donlevy as the eponymous Professor Bernard...
and as a police superintendent in the 1955 Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios
Ealing Studios is a television and film production company and facilities provider at Ealing Green in West London. Will Barker bought the White Lodge on Ealing Green in 1902 as a base for film making, and films have been made on the site ever since...
black comedy The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers
The Ladykillers is a 1955 British black comedy film made by Ealing Studios. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, it stars Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner and Katie Johnson...
.
Warner attended the Coopers' Company's Grammar School for Boys
Coopers' Company and Coborn School
The Coopers' Company and Coborn School is a 11-18 school in Upminster, in the London Borough of Havering, and is part of Essex.-Admissions:The school is a non-selective voluntary aided state comprehensive school describe by Ofsted as "an exceptional school of real excellence". The school excels at...
in Mile End
Mile End
Mile End is an area within the East End of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is located east-northeast of Charing Cross...
, while his sisters both attended the nearby sister school, Coborn School for Girls
Coopers' Company and Coborn School
The Coopers' Company and Coborn School is a 11-18 school in Upminster, in the London Borough of Havering, and is part of Essex.-Admissions:The school is a non-selective voluntary aided state comprehensive school describe by Ofsted as "an exceptional school of real excellence". The school excels at...
in Bow
Bow, London
Bow is an area of London, England, United Kingdom in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a built-up, mostly residential district located east of Charing Cross, and is a part of the East End.-Bridges at Bowe:...
. The three children were choristers at St. Leonard's Church, Bromley-by-Bow
Bromley-by-Bow
Bromley-by-Bow, historically and officially Bromley, is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is an inner-city district situated east north-east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
, and for a time, Warner was the choir's soloist.
By the early war years Warner was nationally known and starred in a BBC radio comedy show Garrison Theatre
Garrison Theatre
The Garrison Theatre is a 280 capacity venue in Lerwick, Shetland with a sprung proscenium stage with fixed raked seating. It has 19 rows, named A to S which either has 8, 12, 13, 15 or 16 seats in each row....
, invariably opening with, "A Monologue Entitled...".
It was in 1949
1949 in film
The year 1949 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello...
that Warner first played the role for which he would be remembered, PC George Dixon, in the film The Blue Lamp
The Blue Lamp
The Blue Lamp is a British crime film released in early 1950 by Ealing Studios, directed by Basil Dearden and produced by Michael Balcon. It stars Jack Warner as police constable George Dixon, Jimmy Hanley and Dirk Bogarde in an early role...
. One observer predicted, "This film will make Jack the most famous policeman in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
". Although the police constable was shot dead in the film, the character was revived in 1955 for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television series Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series that ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially produced by the BBC's light entertainment department.-Overview:...
, which ran until 1976. In later years though, Warner and his long-past-retirement-age character were confined to a less prominent desk sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
role. The series had a prime-time slot on Saturday evenings, and always opened with Dixon giving a little soliloquy to the camera, beginning with the words, "Good evening, all". According to Warner's autobiography, Jack of All Trades, Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
once visited the television studio where the series was made and told Warner "that she thought Dixon of Dock Green had become part of the British way of life".
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE) in 1965. In 1973, he was made a Freeman of the City of London. Warner commented in his autobiography that the honour "entitles me to a set of 18th century rules for the conduct of life urging me to be sober and temperate". Warner added, "Not too difficult with Dixon to keep an eye on me!"
The characterisation by Warner of Dixon was held in such high regard that officers from Paddington Green Police Station
Paddington Green Police Station
Paddington Green Police Station is located in Paddington, central London, England. The station is operated by the Metropolitan Police Service, and is a conventional police station, open to members of the public twenty-four hours a day. It also serves as the most important high-security station in...
bore the coffin at his funeral in 1981.
Warner is buried in East London Cemetery
East London Cemetery
The East London Cemetery and Crematorium are located in Plaistow in the London Borough of Newham. It is owned and operated by the East London Cemetery Company.-History:...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | The Dummy Talks The Dummy Talks The Dummy Talks is a 1943 British crime film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Jack Warner, Claude Hulbert and Beryl Orde.-Cast:* Jack Warner - Jack* Claude Hulbert - Victor Harbord* Beryl Orde - Beryl* Evelyn Darvell - Peggy... |
Jack | |
| 1946 | The Captive Heart The Captive Heart The Captive Heart is a 1946 British war drama, directed by Basil Dearden for Ealing Studios. The film was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:... |
Cpl. Horsfall | |
| 1947 | Hue and Cry Hue and Cry (film) Hue and Cry is a British film directed by Charles Crichton and starring Alastair Sim, Harry Fowler and Joan Dowling.It is generally considered to be the first of the "Ealing comedies", although it is better characterised as a thriller for children... |
Nightingale | |
| Dear Murderer Dear Murderer Dear Murderer is a 1947 British thriller, directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures, and starring Eric Portman and Greta Gynt. The film was well-received for its tautness and ingenuity, with one reviewer noting: "Dear Murderer is a shrewd, semi-psychological thriller with Eric Portman,... |
Insp. Penbury | ||
| Holiday Camp | Joe Huggett | ||
| It Always Rains on Sunday It Always Rains on Sunday It Always Rains on Sunday is a film adaptation of the novel by Arthur La Bern, adapted and directed by Robert Hamer. In its gritty, unsentimental depiction of everyday life in post-war Britain, and in its exploration of the tedium, frustration and desperation wrought by grinding poverty, the film... |
Detective Sergeant Fothergill | ||
| 1948 | Easy Money Easy Money (1948 film) Easy Money, a satirical 1948 British film about one of the most beloved traditions of the English middle class, the football pool, is composed of four tales about the effect a major win has on four different groups in the postwar period... |
Philip Stafford | |
| Against the Wind Against the Wind (1948 film) Against the Wind is a black-and-white British film directed by Charles Crichton and produced by Michael Balcon, released through Ealing Studios in 1948... |
Max Cronk | ||
| My Brother's Keeper | George Martin | ||
| Here Come the Huggetts Here Come the Huggetts Here Come the Huggetts is a 1948 British film, the first of the Huggetts Trilogy about a working class English family. All three films were directed by Ken Annakin and released by Gainsborough Pictures.... |
Joe Huggett | ||
| 1949 | Vote for Huggett Vote for Huggett Vote for Huggett is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison and Diana Dors. Warner reprises his role as the head of a London family, in the post-war years. It was the second in the Huggetts Trilogy, after 1948's Here Come the Huggetts. In it,... |
Joe Huggett | |
| The Huggetts Abroad The Huggetts Abroad The Huggetts Abroad is a 1949 British film starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Petula Clark and Susan Shaw. It was the final film of the Huggetts Trilogy. After Joe Huggett loses his job, the family decide to emigrate to South Africa travelling via a land route which takes them across Africa.... |
Joe Huggett | ||
| Train of Events Train of Events Train of Events is a 1949 British film made by Ealing Studios directed by Sidney Cole, Charles Crichton and Basil Dearden.A portmanteau work, it tells the various stories of the passengers who are on a train which crashes into a stalled petrol tanker at a level crossing.-Plot:The film opens with a... |
Jim Hardcastle | (segment: "The Engine Driver") | |
| Boys in Brown Boys in Brown Boys in Brown is a 1949 British drama film directed by Montgomery Tully. Depicting life in a borstal for young offenders, it starred Jack Warner, Richard Attenborough, Dirk Bogarde and Jimmy Hanley.-Cast:* Jack Warner as Governor... |
Governor | ||
| 1950 | The Services Show | TV series | |
| The Blue Lamp The Blue Lamp The Blue Lamp is a British crime film released in early 1950 by Ealing Studios, directed by Basil Dearden and produced by Michael Balcon. It stars Jack Warner as police constable George Dixon, Jimmy Hanley and Dirk Bogarde in an early role... |
PC George Dixon | ||
| 1951 | Talk of a Million Talk of a Million Talk of a Million is a 1951 British film directed by John Paddy Carstairs starring Jack Warner, with an early appearance from Sid James.-Cast:*Jack Warner as Bartley Murnahan*Barbara Mullen as Bessie Murnahan*Joan Kenny as Sally Murnahan... |
Bartley Murnahan | |
| Valley of Eagles Valley of Eagles Valley of Eagles is a 1951 British drama film directed by Terence Young and starring Jack Warner, Nadia Gray and John McCallum. A Norwegian scientist's crucial new invention is stolen by his wife who tries to take it to the Soviet Union.-Cast:... |
Inspector Peterson | ||
| Scrooge Scrooge (1951 film) Scrooge, released as A Christmas Carol in the United States, is a 1951 film adaptation of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. It starred Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge and was directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, with a screenplay by Noel Langley.The film also features Kathleen Harrison in an... |
Mr. Jorkin | ||
| 1952 | The Monster of Killoon | Bill Anderson | TV movie |
| Emergency Call Emergency Call Emergency Call is a British film released in 1952 by Nettlefold Films. The film was directed by Lewis Gilbert and stars Jack Warner in a familiar role playing a policeman, Anthony Steel, Joy Shelton and Sid James as a dubious boxing promoter.... |
Inspector Lane | ||
| Meet Me Tonight Meet Me Tonight Meet me Tonight is a 1952 omnibus British comedy film adapted from three one act plays by Noel Coward that are part of his Tonight at 8:30 play cycle... |
Murdoch: Ways and Means | ||
| 1953 | The Final Test The Final Test The Final Test is a 1953 British sports film written by Terence Rattigan, directed by Anthony Asquith, and starring Jack Warner, Robert Morley, George Relph and Ray Jackson. A number of leading cricketers also appear including Denis Compton, Len Hutton and Cyril Washbrook.-Plot:The film is a comedy... |
Sam Palmer | |
| Those People Next Door Those People Next Door Those People Next Door is a 1953 British comedy film directed by John Harlow and starring Jack Warner, Charles Victor and Marjorie Rhodes.-Cast:* Jack Warner ... Sam Twigg* Charles Victor ... Joe Higgins* Marjorie Rhodes ... Mary Twigg... |
Sam Twigg | ||
| The Square Ring The Square Ring The Square Ring is a 1953 British film directed by Basil Dearden and made at Ealing Studios. It stars Jack Warner, Robert Beatty and Bill Owen... |
Danny Felton | ||
| Albert R.N. | Capt. Maddox | ||
| 1954 | Bang! You're Dead Bang! You're Dead Bang! You're Dead is a 1954 British psychological film drama, directed by Lance Comfort and starring Jack Warner, Anthony Richmond and Sean Barrett. The film takes as its subject the accidental killing of a man by a child, and the struggles of the child and his companion to comprehend the gravity... |
Bonsell | |
| Forbidden Cargo Forbidden Cargo (1954 film) Forbidden Cargo is a 1954 British film starring Jack Warner, Nigel Patrick and Elizabeth Sellars. The plot involved a narcotics agent tryinng to halt illegal drug smuggling under the cover of bird-watching.-Cast:* Jack Warner as Major Alec White... |
Maj. Alec White | ||
| 1955 | The Quatermass Xperiment The Quatermass Xperiment The Quatermass Xperiment is a 1955 British science fiction horror film. Made by Hammer Film Productions, it was based on the 1953 BBC Television serial The Quatermass Experiment written by Nigel Kneale. It was directed by Val Guest and stars Brian Donlevy as the eponymous Professor Bernard... |
Insp. Lomax | |
| The Ladykillers The Ladykillers The Ladykillers is a 1955 British black comedy film made by Ealing Studios. Directed by Alexander Mackendrick, it stars Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Danny Green, Jack Warner and Katie Johnson... |
The Superintendent | ||
| Dixon of Dock Green Dixon of Dock Green Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series that ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially produced by the BBC's light entertainment department.-Overview:... |
Sgt. George Dixon | TV series (432 episodes: 1955-1978) | |
| 1956 | Now and Forever Now and Forever - Film and television :* Now and Forever , a drama starring Gary Cooper, Carole Lombard and Shirley Temple* Now and Forever , a 1956 film starring Jack Warner... |
Mr. J. Pritchard | |
| Home and Away Home and Away (1956 film) Home and Away is a 1956 British drama film directed by Vernon Sewell and starring Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison. It depitcts the life of an ordinary working-class man after he wins the football pools. The film reunited Warner and Harrison who had previously appeared together in the Huggetts... |
George Knowles | ||
| 1958 | Carve Her Name with Pride Carve Her Name with Pride Carve Her Name with Pride is a 1958 British drama film based on the book of the same name by R.J. Minney. Set during World War II, the film is based on the true story of the heroism of Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo, with Virginia McKenna in the lead role.The film includes the... |
Mr. Bushell | |
| 1962 | Jigsaw Jigsaw (1962 film) Jigsaw is a 1962 British crime drama film written and directed by Val Guest and starring Jack Warner and Ronald Lewis.-Plot:After a murder is committed in Brighton, two detectives comb the South Coast of England for the killer.-Cast:... |
Det. Insp. Fred Fellows | |
| 1978 | Dominique Dominique (film) Dominique is a 1980 British film directed by Michael Anderson.The film is also known as Dominique Is Dead .-Plot:... |
George |
External links
- Jack Warner British movie community