Michael Powell
Biography
Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English film director born in Bekesbourne, Kent. He was the second son and youngest child of Thomas William Powell, a hop farmer from the Welsh Marches, and Mabel Powell, daughter of Frederick Corbett of Worcester. Powell is best known for his collaboration with Emeric Pressburger; together they operated under the banner “The Archers.” Their partnership produced a series of celebrated British films, including The Thief of Bagdad (1940), 49th Parallel (1941), The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), A Matter of Life and Death (1946, also released as Stairway to Heaven), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948). Powell’s 1960 film Peeping Tom provoked severe criticism that damaged his career. He is credited with directing ninety‑four titles.
Career overview
Michael Powell was born on 30 September 1905 in Bekesbourne, Kent, England, and died on 19 February 1990 at the age of 84. He was the second son and youngest child of Thomas William Powell, a hop farmer, and Mabel Powell, whose father was Frederick Corbett of Worcester, England. Powell became a prominent English film director, most noted for his long‑term collaboration with writer‑producer Emeric Pressburger. Working together under the banner “The Archers,” the pair created a series of influential British films in the 1940s, including The Thief of Bagdad (1940), 49th Parallel (1941), The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), A Matter of Life and Death (1946, also released as Stairway to Heaven), Black Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948).
In 1960 Powell directed Peeping Tom, a film that provoked strong negative reaction and was widely vilified, an episode that significantly harmed his professional reputation and curtailed his subsequent directing opportunities. Despite this setback, his earlier work with Pressburger remains celebrated for its artistic ambition and lasting impact on British cinema.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
154 titles- AMR: Dying to Change the World (2025) Sound
- Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (2024) as Self (archive footage)
- Churchill and the Movie Mogul (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Inside Rupert Pupkin (2014) as Self (archive footage)
- Cameraman: The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff (2010) as Self (voice) (archive sound)
- Chaplin Today: A Woman of Paris (2003) as Self (archive sound)
- A Very British Psycho (1997) as Himself
- The Line, the Cross & the Curve (1994) Thanks
- Orlando (1992) Thanks
- I Hired a Contract Killer (1990) In Memory Of
- The Scorsese Machine (1990) as Self
- Laughter (1986) as Himself
- Tears (1986) as Himself
- Fear (1986) as Himself
- The Golden Gong: The Story of Rank Films - British Cinema's Legendary Studio (1985) as Self
- Anna Pavlova (1983) Editor
- A Pretty British Affair (1981) as Interviewee
- Picture Business: Michael Powell at Dartmouth (1980)
- Return to the Edge of the World (1978) as Self
- Return to the Edge of the World (1978) Director
- Return to the Edge of the World (1978) Producer
- The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972) Director
- Age of Consent (1969) Director
- Age of Consent (1969) Producer
- Sebastian (1968) Producer
- They're a Weird Mob (1966) Director
- They're a Weird Mob (1966) Producer
- Espionage (1963) Director
- Bluebeard's Castle (1963) Director
- The Defenders (1961) Director
- The Queen's Guards (1961) Producer
- The Queen's Guards (1961) Director
- Peeping Tom (1960) as Mark's Father - A.N. Lewis (uncredited)
- Peeping Tom (1960) Producer
- Peeping Tom (1960) Director
- Honeymoon (1959) as Guide Describing the Lovers of Teruel (voice) (uncredited)
- Honeymoon (1959) Director
- Honeymoon (1959) Writer
- Ill Met by Moonlight (1957) Director
- Ill Met by Moonlight (1957) Writer
- Ill Met by Moonlight (1957) Producer
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) Writer
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) Director
- The Battle of the River Plate (1956) Producer
- Oh... Rosalinda!! (1955) Director
- Oh... Rosalinda!! (1955) Writer
- Oh... Rosalinda!! (1955) Producer
- The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1955) Director
- The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) Producer
- The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) Writer
- The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) Director
- Aila – Pohjolan tytär (1951) Producer
- Gone to Earth (1950) Screenplay
- Gone to Earth (1950) Producer
- Gone to Earth (1950) Director
- The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) Director
- The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) Producer
- The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) Writer
- The Small Back Room (1949) Writer
- The Small Back Room (1949) Director
- The Small Back Room (1949) Producer
- The Red Shoes (1948) Producer
- The Red Shoes (1948) Director
- The Red Shoes (1948) Writer
- “The Red Shoes” Sketches (1948) Writer
- Black Narcissus (1947) Writer
- Black Narcissus (1947) Director
- Black Narcissus (1947) Producer
- The End of the River (1947) Producer
- A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Screenplay
- A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Director
- A Matter of Life and Death (1946) Producer
- I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) Writer
- I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) Director
- I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) Producer
- A Canterbury Tale (1944) Director
- A Canterbury Tale (1944) Writer
- A Canterbury Tale (1944) Producer
- The Volunteer (1944) as Self
- The Volunteer (1944) Writer
- The Volunteer (1944) Director
- The Volunteer (1944) Producer
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) Producer
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) Director
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) Writer
- The Silver Fleet (1943) Producer
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) as Despatching Officer
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) Director
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) Producer
- One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) Writer
- 49th Parallel (1941) Director
- 49th Parallel (1941) Producer
- An Airman's Letter to His Mother (1941) Director
- An Airman's Letter to His Mother (1941) Writer
- An Airman's Letter to His Mother (1941) Producer
- The Thief of Bagdad (1940) Director
- Contraband (1940) Director
- Contraband (1940) Scenario Writer
- Smith (1939) Director
- The Spy in Black (1939) Director
- The Lion Has Wings (1939) Director
- The Edge of the World (1937) as Mr. Graham - the Yachtsman (uncredited)
- The Edge of the World (1937) Writer
- The Edge of the World (1937) Director
- The Man Behind the Mask (1936) Director
- Crown v. Stevens (1936) Director
- The Brown Wallet (1936) Director
- Oh, Daddy! (1935) Scenario Writer
- The Phantom Light (1935) Director
- The Love Test (1935) Director
- Lazybones (1935) Director
- Her Last Affaire (1935) Director
- The Price of a Song (1935) Director
- Someday (1935) Director
- The Girl in the Crowd (1935) Director
- The Night of the Party (1934) Director
- The Fire Raisers (1934) Story
- The Fire Raisers (1934) Director
- Something Always Happens (1934) Director
- Red Ensign (1934) Director
- Red Ensign (1934) Writer
- Perfect Understanding (1933) Screenplay
- Born Lucky (1933) Director
- The Rasp (1932) Screenplay
- The Rasp (1932) Director
- My Friend the King (1932) Director
- His Lordship (1932) Director
- Hotel Splendide (1932) as Bugging Device Engineer (uncredited)
- Hotel Splendide (1932) Director
- C.O.D. (1932) Director
- 77 Park Lane (1931) Writer
- 77, rue Chalgrin (1931) Screenplay
- The Star Reporter (1931) Director
- Rynox (1931) Screenplay
- Rynox (1931) Director
- Two Crowded Hours (1931) Director
- Caste (1930) Writer
- Blackmail (1929) Assistant Camera
- Blackmail (1929) Writer
- The Compulsory Husband (1929) as Man
- Champagne (1928) Set Designer
- Champagne (1928) Still Photographer
- The First Born (1928) Still Photographer
- A Knight in London (1928) Editor
- Riviera Revels - Travelaugh No. 11: Scents and Nonsense (1927) as Cicero Baedeker Symp
- Riviera Revels - Travelaugh No. 10: Fauny Business (1927) as Cicero Baedeker Symp
- Riviera Revels - Travelaugh No. 12 (1927) as Cicero Baedeker Symp
- The Garden of Allah (1927) as A Tourist
- Riviera Revels - Travelaugh No. 1: Spooky Islands (1927) as Cicero Baedeker Symp
- Riviera Revels - Travelaugh No. 9: Cold Feats (1927) as Cicero Baedeker Symp
- Riviera Revels - Travelaugh No. 2: A Nasty Jar (1927) as Cicero Baedeker Symp
- Riviera Revels - Travelaugh No. 6 (1927) as Cicero Baedeker Symp
- The Magician (1926) as Man with Balloon at Snake Charming (uncredited)
- The Magician (1926) Assistant Director
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Michael Powell best known for?
Michael Powell is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality: The Void War (2025), Orlando (1992), Age of Consent (1969), Age of Consent (1969).
When and where was Michael Powell born?
Michael Powell was born on September 30, 1905 in Bekesbourne, Kent, England. They passed away on February 19, 1990.
How many credits does Michael Powell have?
Michael Powell has accumulated over 154 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1926 to 2025.
What is Michael Powell's background in cinema and television?
Michael Latham Powell (30 September 1905 – 19 February 1990) was an English film director born in Bekesbourne, Kent. He was the second son and youngest child of Thomas William Powell, a hop farmer from the Welsh Marches, and Mabel Powell, daughter of Frederick Corbett of Worcester. Powell is best known for his collabor...
Michael Powell by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Peeping Tom (1960) as Mark's Father - A.N. Lewis (uncredited) — aged about 54
Full filmography (154) Born on September 30 In memoriam 1990
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