Fay Compton

Acting

Fay Compton

Born 1894-09-18 · Fulham, London, England, UK

From Wikipedia Fay Compton CBE (18 September 1894 – 12 December 1978) was an English actress from a notable acting lineage; her father was actor/manager Edward Compton; her mother, Virginia Bateman, was a distinguished member of the profession, as were her elder sister, the actress Viola Compton, and her uncles and aunts. Her grandfather was the 19th-century theatrical luminary Henry Compton. Author Compton Mackenzie was her elder brother. Compton's film work is not as well known as her stage appearances. She appeared in more than forty films between 1914 and 1970. Her most popular performances in films are Odd Man Out (1947), Laughter in Paradise (1951), Orson Welles' Othello (1952), The Haunting (1963) and I Start Counting (1969). Among her television performances, she appeared in 1965 with Michael Hordern in the television play, Land of My Dreams by Clive Exton. One of her last major roles was as Aunt Ann in the BBC's 1967 television adaptation of The Forsyte Saga. She had a successful career in the radio, television and gramophone recordings.

Acting credits

The Haunting poster
7.1

Dr. John Markway recruits three strangers for a sleep-disorder study at the eerie and isolated Hill House. It soon becomes clear his real interest lies in the mansion itself and its sinister history, as they are forced to confront the nature of its horror…

The Haunting

1963

Othello poster
7.4

Manipulated by his jealous ensign Iago, the Moorish general Othello is driven to believe that his new wife Desdemona is unfaithful, setting in motion a chain of deception, jealousy, and violence that leads to tragedy.

Othello

1951

No artwork available
NR

A rich man's chauffeur kills his mistress and frames his daughter's fiancé.

London Love

1927

Odd Man Out poster
7.3

Belfast police conduct a door-to-door manhunt for an IRA gunman wounded in a daring robbery.

Odd Man Out

1947

Aunt Clara poster
5.0

A wealthy old man dies and leaves his holdings--including a brothel and a gambling den, racing greyhounds and a sleazy bar--to his eccentric Aunt Clara. Clara vows to "clean up" her new establishments, but complications ensue when she visits the crooked gambling den--just as it's being raided by the police.

Aunt Clara

1954

Uncle Vanya poster
5.5

Adaptation of Chekhov's play from the Chichester Festival.

Uncle Vanya

1963

Uneasy Virtue poster
7.0

A comedy film directed by Norman Walker

Uneasy Virtue

1931

Lady Possessed poster
5.5

A pianist takes his ailing wife out of a London hospital at the same time that another female patient there has suffered a miscarriage. Afterwards, the second woman feels empty and withdrawn, and, thinking that getting her away from London will help, her husband takes her to live at a country estate, which turns out to be the former residence of the pianist who left after his wife died. The woman begins to get visions of the wife and her final days; is she becoming possessed by the dead wife of the pianist?

Lady Possessed

1952

Laughter in Paradise poster
6.5

When an eccentric practical joker dies, he divides his fortune among four heirs. But before they can collect the cash they must each do something which goes completely against their nature. NB: This is the film which introduced Audrey Hepburn.

Laughter in Paradise

1951

Waltzes from Vienna poster
5.4

In Vienna, aspiring composer Johann Strauss Jr. clashes with his domineering father, who wants him to abandon music for a steady job in a bakery. Torn between his love for the baker’s daughter, Resi, and the encouragement of a wealthy countess, Strauss finds inspiration that leads to the creation of "The Blue Danube."

Waltzes from Vienna

1934

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby poster
6.7

A fatherless boy tries to make his fortune despite interference from his rich uncle.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

1947

No artwork available
7.7

A Cornish fisherman becomes involved with Iron Curtain spies.

Doublecross

1956

So This Is London poster
9.0

American (Churchill) in London dislikes England until his daughter (Lehmann) falls for the son (Granger) of the Lord (Drayton) with whom he wants to conclude a business deal.

So This Is London

1939

The Forbidden Street poster
6.9

In Victorian London, young Adelaide is born into luxury, but marries starving artist Henry. His alcoholism and their lack of money lead to many quarrels. During one such fight, Henry slips down a flight of stairs and dies. A neighbor, Mrs. Mounsey, is the only witness, and she blackmails the young widow by threatening to tell the cops that Adelaide killed her husband. Luckily, lawyer Gilbert swoops in to help Adelaide.

The Forbidden Street

1949

I Start Counting poster
6.5

An English schoolgirl suspects the foster brother she worships is a serial killer.

I Start Counting

1970

Somehow Good poster
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Somehow Good

1927

The Vanquished poster
6.3

Three tales of privileged youth entangled in murder: French students kill for money, an Italian student smuggles cigarettes, and an English poet exploits a grim discovery.

The Vanquished

1953

Robinson Crusoe poster
6.8

Daniel Defoe's classic tale of survival is handsomely brought to the movies for the first time in this rarely seen 1927 film, produced by Rex Pictures, a division of Universal. M. A. Wetherell, who stars as Robinson Crusoe, produced, directed and adapted the story for the screen, admirably condensing a lengthy slow-moving novel into a taut, exciting screen adventure. The costumes and production values match the fine performances and all of the island sequences appear to have been shot outdoors, convincingly on location. Crusoe's improvised island apparel and makeshift architectural constructions are creatively and faithfully rendered.

Robinson Crusoe

1927

The Virgin and the Gypsy poster
3.1

Film adaptation from the novel by D.H. Lawrence, discovered after the celebrated author's death in 1930, a romantic love story tells of a prim young English girl who is sexually attracted to a seductively virile gypsy. The climatic dam burst is linked with the consummation of her desire.

The Virgin and the Gypsy

1970

No artwork available
7.0

A wastrel returns to blackmail his wife who has told her children that he died a hero.

The Happy Ending

1925

No artwork available
9.0

A woman leaves her husband to run a Paris boarding house, and reunites with her sister after the war.

The Old Wives' Tale

1921

Blackmailed poster
4.3

A blackmailer is murdered, and those who witnessed the scene agree to keep quiet; the complication is that the scene is also witnessed by a young artist, a victim of blackmail as well. (BFI Website)

Blackmailed

1951

Town on Trial poster
6.5

When an attractive young girl is murdered, suspicion falls on several members of the local tennis club. It falls to Police Inspector Halloran to sort out all the red herrings, and finally after a confrontation at the top of the local church spire, arrest the culprit. Another fascinating look at what life was like in Britain during the 50's.

Town on Trial

1957

Esther Waters poster
6.4

Esther goes into service in Victorian England, only to be seduced by the sweet talking groom William, who then takes off with his employer's daughter. Left alone to bring up the child, Esther manages and after 7 years has a chance at happiness. Then William turns up again...

Esther Waters

1948