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H.B. Warner

Highest Rated: 100% The Devil and Daniel Webster (1941)

Lowest Rated: 50% Supernatural (1933)

Birthday: Oct 26, 1875

Birthplace: London, England, UK

A character lead in silent films and a character player in sound films, H.B. Warner is best recalled for three roles: Jesus Christ is Cecil B. DeMille's "King of Kings" (1927), Chang, assistant to the High Lama, in "Lost Horizon" (1937), and Mr. Gower the pharmacist is the perennial "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). He received a best supporting actor nomination for "Lost Horizon," and in all appeared in more than 100 films. The son of noted British stage actor Charles Warner, H. B. Warner made his stage debut at age seven in 1883, but at first chose to study medicine. But within a few years he was back on stage in both England and the U.S. Warner made his film debut in "The Lost Paradise" (1914). One of his best silent vehicles was "Zaza" (1923), in which he was the married man who falls for Gloria Swanson. Warner was almost 50 years old when he played the 30ish Christ in "King of Kings" (1927), but the result was nevertheless a resounding success. In order to play the role, Warner had to sign an agreement saying he would live an exemplary life not only during production, but for one year after the film's release he would not be involved with any scandal, not even divorce. Even before so-called "modern" acting techniques such as "The Method" permeated Hollywood, DeMille chose to isolate Warner from the rest of the cast so that he might better "feel" the role. Reportedly, Warner took to drinking because of the overwhelming nature of the part. While no "scandal" of which DeMille was so afraid (especially with Hollywood's reputation) erupted, Warner was said to have struggled with alcoholism for the rest of his life. A well-trained and well-versed stage actor, Warner thrived during the sound era. He was the chief magistrate in "Liliom" (1930), estranged from Sylvia Sidney in "Jennie Gerhardt" (1933), Gabelle in "A Tale of Two Cities" (1935), and was a favorite of Frank Capra for whom he performed in "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (1936), as the judge who listens to Gary Cooper's tale of tuba playing, "Lost Horizon" (1937), "You Can't Take It With You" (1938), as Ramsey, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939) as the corrupt Senator Fuller, and, of course, "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). Warner can also be seen in one of screen history's most macabre scenes: as himself, one of "the waxworks," playing cards with Anna Q. Nilsson (his leading lady from "Sorrell and Son," 1927), Buster Keaton, and Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard" (1950). He finished his career playing a small role in "The Ten Commandments" for his "King of Kings" director Cecil B. DeMille (1956), and in a cameo in "Darby's Rangers" (1958) for director William Wellman. In 1939, Warner published his autobiography, "Hollywood Saga."

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Highest-Rated Movies

100% 83% The Devil and Daniel Webster
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97% 94% Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Watchlist
94% 88% You Can't Take It With You
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94% 95% It's a Wonderful Life Watchlist
93% 83% A Tale of Two Cities
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92% 82% Lost Horizon
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91% 79% Five Star Final
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90% 86% Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
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88% 81% Topper Returns
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84% 87% The Ten Commandments
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Filmography

Movies TV Shows
The Ten Commandments 84% 87% 1956 Amminadab Actor Journey Into Light 1951 Wiz Actor Here Comes the Groom 60% 71% 1951 Uncle Elihu Actor Savage Drums 1951 Maou Actor The Judge Steps Out 1949 Chief Justice Hayes Actor Hellfire 1949 Brother Joseph Actor Driftwood 62% 1947 Rev. J. "Grandpappy" Hollingsworth Actor High Wall 52% 1947 Mr. Slocum Actor Strange Impersonation 60% 56% 1946 Dr. Mansfield Actor It's a Wonderful Life 94% 95% 1946 Mr. Gower Actor Rogues Gallery 1945 Professor Reynolds Actor Action in Arabia 1944 Abdul El Rashid Actor Enemy of Women 1944 Colonel Eberhart Brandt Actor Mad Lover 1944 Col. Eberhart Brandt Actor Hitler's Children 20% 1943 The Bishop Actor A Yank in Libya 25% 1942 Herbert Forbes Actor Boss of Big Town 1942 Jeffrey Moore Actor City of Missing Girls 1941 Captain McVeigh Actor The Devil and Daniel Webster 100% 83% 1941 Justice John Hathorne Actor Topper Returns 88% 81% 1941 Mr. Carrington Actor The Corsican Brothers 53% 1941 Dr. Enrico Paoli Actor Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime 1941 Ray Jardin Actor New Moon 55% 1940 Father Michel Actor Bulldog Drummond's Bride 29% 1939 Colonel Nielson Actor Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police 71% 1939 Colonel Nielson Actor
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