Charles Bennett
Biography
Charles Alfred Selwyn Bennett was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and director born on August 2, 1899, in Shoreham-by-Sea, England. He was also known as John H. Kneub. Bennett made his writing debut as a child in 1911, fought in France during World War I as a teen, and later resumed his acting career. In 1926, he stopped acting to focus on playwriting, eventually adapting his play Blackmail into a screenplay directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Bennett's collaboration with Hitchcock extended into the early 1940s after both moved to Hollywood. Over his career, he wrote for various producers, including Cecil B. DeMille, Irwin Allen, and AIP. Bennett died on June 15, 1995, at the age of 95.
Career overview
Charles Alfred Selwyn Bennett was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and director born on August 2, 1899, in Shoreham-by-Sea, England. He made his writing debut as a child in 1911, fought in France during World War I while still a teenager, and subsequently resumed his acting career after the war ended. In 1926, he stopped acting to focus on being a playwright. Among his notable works, he turned one of his most famous plays, Blackmail, into a screenplay for production directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
His professional relationship with Hitchcock continued into the early 1940s, by which time both men were working in Hollywood. Over the course of his career, Bennett wrote for a wide variety of producers ranging from Cecil B. DeMille to Irwin Allen and the staff at AIP. Also known by the name John H. Kneub, Bennett was credited with fifty-nine known credits in writing. He lived to the age of ninety-five, passing away on June 15, 1995. Regarding his profession, Bennett famously commented that if he could not write, he would not want to live.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
67 titles- A State of Emergency (1986) as Charlie
- Land of the Giants (1968) Writer
- The Wild Wild West (1965) Writer
- War-Gods of the Deep (1965) Screenplay
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964) Writer
- Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) Screenplay
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) Screenplay
- The Lost World (1960) Screenplay
- The Big Circus (1959) Screenplay
- Behind Closed Doors (1958) Writer
- Night of the Demon (1957) Screenplay
- The Story of Mankind (1957) Writer
- The Count of Monte Cristo (1956) Director
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) Story
- Climax! (1954) Writer
- Casino Royale (1954) Teleplay
- Dangerous Mission (1954) Writer
- No Escape (1953) Director
- No Escape (1953) Writer
- Cavalcade of America (1952) Writer
- Cavalcade of America (1952) Director
- The Green Glove (1952) Screenplay
- The Green Glove (1952) Story
- Kind Lady (1951) Screenplay
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) Writer
- Where Danger Lives (1950) Screenplay
- Black Magic (1949) Screenplay
- Madness of the Heart (1949) Director
- Madness of the Heart (1949) Screenplay
- The Sign of the Ram (1948) Screenplay
- Unconquered (1947) Screenplay
- Ivy (1947) Screenplay
- The Story of Dr. Wassell (1944) Screenplay
- Forever and a Day (1943) Writer
- Reap the Wild Wind (1942) Screenplay
- Joan of Paris (1942) Screenplay
- They Dare Not Love (1941) Writer
- Foreign Correspondent (1940) Screenplay
- Balalaika (1939) Screenplay
- The Young in Heart (1938) Adaptation
- Young and Innocent (1937) Screenplay
- Sabotage (1937) Screenplay
- King Solomon's Mines (1937) Writer
- Secret Agent (1936) Screenplay
- All at Sea (1936) Writer
- The 39 Steps (1935) as Second Passerby Near the Bus (uncredited)
- The 39 Steps (1935) Adaptation
- The Clairvoyant (1935) Adaptation
- The Clairvoyant (1935) Screenplay
- Night Mail (1935) Writer
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) Writer
- The Secret of the Loch (1934) Writer
- Matinee Idol (1933) Writer
- Hawleys of High Street (1933) Writer
- The House of Trent (1933) Writer
- Mannequin (1933) Screenplay
- Partners Please (1932) Writer
- Two Way Street (1931) Script
- Two Way Street (1931) Story
- Deadlock (1931) Story
- Painted Pictures (1930) Director
- Painted Pictures (1930) Writer
- The Last Hour (1930) Theatre Play
- Blackmail (1929) Theatre Play
- Hobbled Hearts (1917)
- The Rainbow Girl (1917) as Amos Divine
- John Halifax, Gentleman (1915) as John as a Child
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Charles Bennett best known for?
Charles Bennett is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Flick (1970), Willard (2003), War-Gods of the Deep (1965), Mambo Italiano (2003).
When and where was Charles Bennett born?
Charles Bennett was born on August 2, 1899 in Shoreham-by-Sea, England. They passed away on June 15, 1995.
How many credits does Charles Bennett have?
Charles Bennett has accumulated over 67 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1929 to 1986.
What is Charles Bennett's background in cinema and television?
Charles Alfred Selwyn Bennett was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and director born on August 2, 1899, in Shoreham-by-Sea, England. He was also known as John H. Kneub. Bennett made his writing debut as a child in 1911, fought in France during World War I as a teen, and later resumed his acting career. In 19...
Charles Bennett by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The 39 Steps (1935) as Second Passerby Near the Bus (uncredited) — aged about 35
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