Peter Finch on stage, screen and radio

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Peter Finch (born 1916) is an Australian actor whose career spanned more than forty years.

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Director Company Notes
1935 The Magic Shoes Prince Charming Claude Flemming Pacific Productions A short film, now considered lost, although some stills exist at Australia's National Film and Sound Archive.[1]
1938 Dad and Dave Come to Town Bill Ryan Ken G. Hall Cinesound Productions Finch's first feature. He only has one scene of note, acting opposite Bert Bailey. A copy of the scene is available at Australian Screen Online.
1939 Mr. Chedworth Steps Out Arthur Jacobs Ken G. Hall Cinesound Productions A clip of Finch acting opposite Cecil Kellaway is available at Australian Screen Online
1941 While There is Still Time Jim Charles Chauvel A propaganda short film made for the Australian government during the Second World War.
The Power and the Glory Frank Miller Noel Monkman Argosy Films Feature film
1942 Another Threshold Ken G. Hall Cinesound Productions A propaganda short film made for the Australian government during the Second World War.
1943 South West Pacific RAAF pilot Ken G. Hall Cinesound Productions A propaganda short film made for the Australian government during the Second World War.
These Stars Are Mine Reynolds Jnr George Malcolm Commonwealth Film Unit A propaganda short film
1944 The Rats of Tobruk Peter Linton Charles Chauvel Chamun Productions Feature. A clip of Finch's death scene is available at Australian Screen Online
Jungle Patrol Narrator Tom Gurr Commonwealth Film Unit Documentary made for the Australian government during the Second World War.
1945 Sons of the Anzacs Narrator Commonwealth Film Unit Documentary about the Australian army during World War II.[2]
1946 A Son Is Born Paul Graham Eric Porter Eric Porter Studios Feature co-starring John McCallum, Ron Randell and Muriel Steinbeck.
Indonesia Calling Narration Joris Ivens Waterside Workers Union Documentary
1948 Red Sky at Morning Michael Hartney Arthur Austral-American Productions This is considered a lost film. Shot in 1944.
1949 Eureka Stockade Humffray Harry Watt Ealing Studios Australian film made before he left for Britain. Finch helped with production.
Primitive Peoples Narrator, camera assistant George Heath Three-part documentary about the people of Arnhem Land
Train of Events Philip Mason Harry Watt Ealing Studios (segment: 'The Actor') Finch's first British movie in Britain.
1950 The Wooden Horse Australian in Hospital Jack Lee
The Miniver Story Polish officer First Hollywood film
1952 The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men Sheriff of Nottingham Ken Annakin Disney
1953 The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan Richard D'Oyly Carte Sidney Gilliat London Films
The Heart of the Matter Father Rank George More O'Ferrall London Films
1954 Elephant Walk John Wiley William Dieterle Paramount Pictures Hollywood film
Father Brown Flambeau Robert Hamer Facet Productions
The Queen in Australia Narrator Stanley Haws Film Australia Australian documentary
Make Me an Offer Charlie Cyril Frankel Group Three Films First star part in British films
1955 The Dark Avenger Comte De Ville Henry Levin Allied Artists He stars opposite fellow Australian Errol Flynn.
Passage Home Captain Lucky Ryland Roy Ward Baker Group Film Production First film under contract with Rank
Josephine and Men David Hewer Roy Boulting Charter Film Productions
Simon and Laura Simon Foster Muriel Box Group Film Productions
1956 A Town Like Alice Joe Harman Jack Lee
The Battle of the River Plate Capt. Hans Langsdorff Michael Powell Archers/Rank
1957 The Shiralee Jim Macauley Leslie Norman Ealing Shot in Australia. Clips from the film are available at Australian Screen Online
Robbery Under Arms Captain Starlight Jack Lee Rank Shot in Australia
Windom's Way Alec Windom Ronald Neame Rank
1959 Operation Amsterdam Jan Smit Michael McCarthy Rank
The Nun's Story Dr. Fortunati Fred Zinneman Warner Bros
1960 Kidnapped Alan Breck Stewart Robert Stevenson Walt Disney Productions Second film for Disney
The Day Peter Finch Co-wrote and directed award-winning short film.
The Trials of Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde Ken Hughes Warwick Films
1961 The Sins of Rachel Cade Colonel Henry Derode Gordon Douglas Warner Bros
No Love for Johnnie Johnnie Byrne Ralph Thomas Five Star/Rank
1962 I Thank a Fool Stephen Dane Robert Stevens MGM
1963 In the Cool of the Day Murray Logan Robert Stevens MGM
1964 The Pumpkin Eater Jake Armitage Jack Clayton Romulus
Girl with Green Eyes Eugene Gaillard Desmond Davis Woodfall
First Men in the Moon Baliff Nathan Juran Uncredited cameo
1965 The Flight of the Phoenix Capt. Harris Robert Aldrich Associates and Aldrich Company Production
1966 Judith Aaron Stein Daniel Mann Paramount
10:30 P.M. Summer Paul Jules Dassin
1967 Come Spy with Me Himself Uncredited cameo
Far from the Madding Crowd William Boldwood John Schlesinger MGM
1968 The Legend of Lylah Clare Lewis Zarken Robert Aldrich
1969 The Red Tent General Umberto Nobile
The Greatest Mother of Them All Sean Howard Robert Aldrich Short film
1971 Sunday Bloody Sunday Daniel Hirsh John Schlesinger Replaced Ian Bannen during filming
1972 Something to Hide Harry Field
1973 Lost Horizon Richard Conway
Bequest to the Nation Adm. Lord Horatio Nelson
England Made Me Erich Krogh
1974 The Abdication Cardinal Azzolino
1976 Network Howard Beale Sidney Lumet Won Oscar

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1949 The Forgotten Elite [3]
1976 Raid on Entebbe Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Posthumous releaseTelevision film

Theatre credits[edit]

Australia[edit]

Date Title Author Role Theatre Director Notes
Dec 1933 Caprice Sil Vara Repertory Theatre, Sydney [4]
Sept 1934 The Ringer Edgar Wallace Samuel Hackett Studio Theatre, Sydney [5]
1934 Peter Pan J. M. Barrie pirate Savoy Theatre, Sydney Doris Fitton[6]
24 Nov 1934 Counsellor at Law Elmer Rice the Boot Black Savoy Theatre, Sydney Doris Fitton Sumner Locke Elliott in cast
1935 Richard of Bordeaux Gordon Daviot Page Maudelyn Savoy Theatre, Sydney Doris Fitton Sumner Locke Elliott in cast
1935 Joe Coady's Vaudeville Show Maccabean Hall, Sydney
1935 Bert le Blanc's comedy show stooge to le Blanc Sydney
1935 Jimmy Sharman's Boxing Tent spruiker Royal Easter Show,
1935 Interference Roland Pertwee & Harold Dearden Douglas Helder St James' Hall, Sydney Edward Howell [7]
25 May 1935 False Colours Frank Harvey Independent Theatre, Sydney Frank Harvey [8]
Sept 1935 So This is Hollywood Apollo Theatre, Melbourne [9][10]
1936 Under the Big Top various Queensland towns George Sorlie/William McFowan Herbert Hughes in Laughter of Fools by H. F. Maltby, Smithers in Married by Proxy by Avery Hopwood, Peter in Fair and Warmer by Avery Hopwood, Hunter in Ten Minute Alibi by William Armstrong
29 April 1938 White Cargo Leon Gordon Ashley Theatre Royal, Sydney Ben Lewin One off performance[11]
1938 Personal Appearance Laurence Riley Clyde Pelton Theatre Royal, Sydney and Comedy Theatre, Melbourne Peter Darling [12]
19 June 1944 Night of January 16th Ayn Rand DA Flint Minerva Theatre, Sydney Frederick J Blackman [13]
17 Oct 1944 While the Sun Shines Terence Rattigan Earl of Harpenden Minerva Theatre, Sydney Frederick J Blackman later toured this production to army hospitals and bases in 1945[14]
1945 French Without Tears Terence Rattigan (director only) various army hospitals and bases Peter Finch Later played on radio
16-17 July 1946 Diamond Cuts Diamond Nicolai Gogol Ikharev Conservatorium of Music, Sydney Sydney John Kay
16-17 July 1946 The Pastry Baker Lope de Vega (director only) Conservatorium of Music, Sydney Peter Finch
16-17 July 1946 The Broken Pitcher Heinrich von Kleist Adam Conservatorium of Music, Sydney
1947 French Without Tears Terence Rattigan Killara Hall, Sydney
Sydney Radio Theatre, 1947 		Peter Finch Finch directed a cast including Leonard Thiele, Tom Lake, Alan White, Adele Brown, Ron Patten[15]
1948 Midsummer Night Lajos Bíró touring production, Sydney 1948 Peter Finch directed only
1948 Anatole's Wedding Morning Arthur Schnitzler touring production, Sydney Peter Finch directed only
18 Aug 1948 The Imaginary Invalid Molière adapted by Creswick Jenkinson Argan O'Brien's Glass Factory Sydney John Kay Seen by Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh[16]
20-22 Sept 1948 The Imaginary Invalid Molière adapted by Creswick Jenkinson Argan Sydney Town Hall Sydney John Kay Finch's final performance before leaving for London[17][18]

United Kingdom[edit]

Date Title Author Role Theatre Director Notes
1949 Daphne Laureola James Bridie Ernest Piaste Wyndham's Theatre, London Murray MacDonald for Laurence Olivier Productions with Edith Evans and Felix Aylmer
1950 The Damascus Blade Bridget Boland Henry Adams provincial tour Laurence Olivier for Laurence Olivier Productions with John Mills and Beatrix Lehmann[19]
1950 The White Falcon provincial tour Peter Finch starring Basil Radford and Sheila Burrel – Finch worked on this as a director only
1950 Captain Carvallo Denis Cannan Professor Winke St James Theatre, London Laurence Olivier for Laurence Olivier Productions with Diana Wynyard and Jill Bennett[20]
1951 Point of Departure Jean Anouilh and Kitty Black Orpheus Duke of York Theatre, London Peter Ashmore for the Company of Four with Mai Zetterling and Stephen Murray (Finch replaced Dirk Bogarde for six weeks on 12 March 1951)
1951 Othello William Shakespeare Iago St James Theatre, London Orson Welles For Laurence Olivier Productions with Orson Welles, Gudrun Ure, Maxine Audley and Edward Mulhare[21]
1952 The Happy Time Samuel Taylor Papa St James Theatre, London George Devine Laurence Olivier Productions, with Geneviève Page, Ronald Squire, George Devine, Rachel Kempson
Sept 1952 Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare Mercutio Old Vic Theatre, London Hugh Hunt with Claire Bloom, Alan Badel
Nov 1952 An Italian Straw Hat Eugène Labiche and Marc Michel adapted by Thomas Walton Mons Beaujolais Old Vic Theatre, London Denis Carey with Laurence Payne, Paul Rogers
1958-59 Two for the Seesaw William Gibson Jerry Ryan Theatre Royal, Brighton and Theatre Royal Haymarket, London directed by Arthur Penn for H. M. Tennent with Gerry Jedd
1964 The Seagull Anton Chekhov translated by Ann Jellicoe Trigorin Queen's Theatre, London Tony Richardson with Peggy Ashcroft, Peter McEnery, Vanessa Redgrave, Paul Rogers and George Devine.

Partial radio credits[edit]

Year Title Role Author Notes
1936 Khyber Edmund Barclay Radio serial. Finch's first radio performance.
1939 The Laughing Lady Rene Latour Gordon Daviot
24 May 1939 Send for Paul Temple Paul Temple 8 episode serial
March 1939 Interference Philip Bowes Roland Pertwee & Harry Deardon The first episode of Australia's version of Lux Theatre of the Air[22]
2 April 1939 Men in White[23] Lux Theatre
July 1939 Soldier of Fortune
Sept 1939 The House of a Thousand Whispers Edmund Barclay
June 1939 The Daughter of the Dragon[24]
June 1939 Night Nurse[25]
Oct 1939 The Mysterious Mr. Lynch Jeffrey Blackburn Max Afford Radio serial
Nov 1939 The Playwithout a Name
Nov 1939 Those Who We Love Serial
10 March 1940 Alcestis of Euripides [26]
March 1940 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Jules Verne serial
17 March 1940 There's Always a Juliet Dwight Houston John Van Druten
Apr 1940 The Skin Game Hornblower John Galsworthy
13 May 1940 Grey Face Jeffrey Blackburn Max Afford Radio serial
Oct 1940 The Fall of Edward Barnard Somerset Maugham
1 Nov 1940 The Queer Affair at Kettering Jeffrey Blackburn Max Afford Radio play
Feb 1941 Mutiny on the Bounty[27]
Feb 1941 Information from the Enemy
11 May 1941 Portrait of a Gentleman George Farwell Australian play
18 May 1941 Mr Deeds Comes to Town[28] Longfellow Deeds Robert Riskin
1946 The Laughing Woman reprise of his performance for which Finch won the 1946 Macquarie Award for Best Male Actor on Australian radio[29]
1946 Such Men Are Dangerous Czar Paul I
1946 Crime and Punishment Raskolnikov
1946 Redemption Tolstoy Finch won the 1947 Macquarie Award for Best Male Actor on Australian radio[30]
1946 When You Come Home[31]
1946 Big Sister
1946 Crossroads of Life)[32]
21 February 1947 Inevitable Companion Dr Wilson
June 1948 Dark Lady of the Sonnets Frank Clelow [33]
1 July 1948 Adam Lindsay Gordon Adam Lindsay Gordon [34]
July 1948 Man of Destiny[35]
1 August 1948 If I Were King Lead role Frances Villion [36]
June 1951 The Fire on the Snow Teddy Wilson Douglas Stewart BBC production of Australian radio play directed by Tyrone Guthrie

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "'Lost Treasure Trove' at AFC Archive". Archived from the original on 14 March 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  2. ^ ""Sons of the Anzacs"". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 10 February 1945. p. 9. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ Williams, W. E. (16 October 1949). "Talking off the Cuff". The Observer. London. p. 6.
  4. ^ "The Repertory Theatre". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 December 1933. p. 8. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Up Town And DoWn". The Labor Daily. No. 3363. New South Wales, Australia. 14 September 1934. p. 12. Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "PETER PAN". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 December 1934. p. 6. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  7. ^ "Interference". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 November 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  8. ^ "The Independent Theatre". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 May 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  9. ^ "So This Is Hollywood". The Argus. Melbourne. 9 September 1935. p. 4. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  10. ^ "Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 27, 799. Victoria, Australia. 24 September 1935. p. 19. Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "White Cargo". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 April 1938. p. 7. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  12. ^ "Theatre Royal". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 July 1938. p. 17. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  13. ^ "K.C.s as Jurors in New Play". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 June 1944. p. 5. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Music and Drama The Flying Emus". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 November 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Rattigan Play Presented". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 September 1947. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Sydney Diary". The Sun. No. 12, 036. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1948. p. 9 (Late Final Extra). Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Actor to Appear in Lunch-Hour Play". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. IX, no. 45. New South Wales, Australia. 19 September 1948. p. 6. Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Moliere At Lunch-time". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 34, 555. New South Wales, Australia. 21 September 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 12 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "The Theatres: Lyceum: "French Without Tears"". The Scotsman. Edinburgh, Scotland. 4 April 1950. p. 4.
  20. ^ "Opera House: "Captain Carvallo"". The Manchester Guardian. 27 June 1950. p. 5.
  21. ^ Harold Hobson (27 October 1951). "Soldier-Poet in Portrayal; Climax Misses: Friendly Smile Australian Iago". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 10.
  22. ^ "Leading artists heard in famous plays". The Australian Women's Weekly. 25 March 1939. p. 46. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Iron Lung Inventor at 5 AD Tomorrow". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 1 April 1939. p. 27. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "Broadcasting". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 June 1939. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Night Nurse". The Argus. Melbourne. 24 June 1939. p. 2. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Peter Finch". The ABC Weekly. Vol. 2, no. 8. 24 February 1940. Retrieved 10 November 2023 – via Trove.
  27. ^ "New popularity for old-time plays". The Australian Women's Weekly. 15 February 1941. p. 43. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Melba Memorial Concert". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 17 May 1941. p. 17. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Radio Acting Awards". The Sydney Morning Herald. 14 April 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Acting Awards". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 March 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "This Weeks's Radio Features". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 30 March 1946. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "5 AD's 'Big Sister' Ends Tonight". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 17 August 1946. p. 13. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "Gladys Moncrieff at Sydney Matinee". The ABC Weekly. Vol. 10, no. 31. 31 July 1948. Retrieved 13 November 2023 – via Trove.
  34. ^ "RADIO ROUNDABOUT". The ABC Weekly. Vol. 10, no. 27. 3 July 1948. Retrieved 13 November 2023 – via Trove.
  35. ^ "A.B.C. to Open New Station; Thebarton Match From 5 AD". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 24 July 1948. p. 7. Retrieved 11 February 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "IF I WERE KING: 2GB". The ABC Weekly. Vol. 10, no. 31. 31 July 1948. Retrieved 13 November 2023 – via Trove.
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