Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Michael Bates

Highest Rated: 91% Frenzy (1972)

Lowest Rated: 74% Bedazzled (1967)

Birthday: Dec 4, 1920

Birthplace: Jhansi, British India

The years 1971 and 1972 provided Michael Bates with the unique honor of working with Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock on two consecutive projects. The memorable energy of his performances may indicate what attracted the two master directors to him. Anyone who has seen 1971's "A Clockwork Orange" will recall Bates' cartoonish authoritarian Chief Guard barking orders at the imprisoned Malcolm McDowell, always referring to him by his prisoner number--"Six double-five three two one!" He had used this militaristic quality of his comportment to a brilliant effect one year previous in Franklin J. Schaffner's Best-Picture winning "Patton." He played Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery opposite George C. Scott's General George S. Patton. It almost seems to be the role Bates was meant to play, not least because he bears a truly astonishing resemblance to the Field Marshal. Bates himself had served as a Major in World War II, where he was stationed in Burma. Following his discharge, he became a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1948 until 1953, the year that marks his first screen role in the television series "The Teckman Biography." He alternated between film and television productions throughout the remainder of his career, seeing the bulk of his work in the 1960s and '70s. He appeared in Hitchcock's thrilling penultimate film "Frenzy" in 1972.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

91% 78% Frenzy
Watchlist
86% 93% A Clockwork Orange
Watchlist
74% 73% Bedazzled
Watchlist
35% Salt and Pepper
Watchlist
41% No Sex Please, We're British
Watchlist
26% Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush
Watchlist
Hammerhead
Watchlist
47% Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
Watchlist
65% The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer
Watchlist
Think Dirty
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 41% No Sex Please, We're British Mr. Needham (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet 61% The Stone Tape Eddie Holmes (Character) - 1972
91% 78% Frenzy Sergeant Spearman (Character) - 1972
86% 93% A Clockwork Orange Chief Guard Barnes (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet 65% The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Mr. Spimm (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Think Dirty Magistrate (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet 26% Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Mr. McGregor (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hammerhead Andreas / Sir Richard (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet 35% Salt and Pepper Inspector Crabbe (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet 47% Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River Dr. Spink (Character) - 1968
74% 73% Bedazzled Inspector Clarke (Character) - 1967

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Masterpiece Theatre Unknown (Character) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet It Ain't Half Hot, Mum Rangi Ram (Character) 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Last of the Summer Wine Blamire (Character) 1973 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet El Santo Joe (Guest Star) 1963