Peter Bowles was a British stage and TV actor, born on October 16th, 1936. Unfortunately, the veteran actor passed away on March 17th, 2022, at the age of 85. Ever since his passing viewers and fans have been wondering about his works and what his best movies are. Born in Upper Boddington, Bowles’ parents Herbert Reginald Bowles and Sarah Jane met while working for Beaverbrook’s family.
His father wore many hats, he worked as a valet companion and chauffeur to Drogo Montagu, son of the Earl of Sandwich, and then a butler to the daughter of Beaverbrook, where he met his wife. His mother was from Scotland and worked as a nanny for the family of Duke Argyll before coming to England and working for the Beaverbrooks.
Bowles did several movies and Tv shows in his time and has received many awards and honors as well. He was an amazing actor and he will be missed terribly. Here are 10 of his best and most popular works.
Also Read: Jussie Smollett Movies and TV Shows that you cannot miss
10 Best Peter Bowles Movies and TV Shows
10) The Charge Of The Light Brigade (1968)
Peter Bowles plays Captain Duberly in this war film which shows us the folly of war. The movie shows us the poor state of the British army and its leadership during the Crimean war between them and Russia in the 1850s. The film engages the audience in an infamously reckless strategic debacle against a Russian artillery battery, led by the overbearing Lord Cardigan.
The Charge Of The Light Brigade stars Trevor Howard and Vanessa Redgrave as Lord Cardigan and Clarissa respectively. As with most movies on this list, Peter Bowles may not have played the lead in this film but his role was vital in making it the classic it is today.
9) The Legend Of Hell House (1973)
Peter Bowles plays the character of Hanley in this supernatural horror film, directed by John Hough. A scientist and his wife lead a team into the infamous Belasco House, which is apparently haunted by the spirit of its previous owner, who happened to be a serial killer. Though the scientist himself does not believe in spirits, the other members of his team do, which consists of a devout spiritualist, and a psychic medium. The Legend Of Hell House stars Pamela Franklin and Roddy McDowell as Florence Tanner, the devout spiritualist, and Benjamin Franklin Fischer, the psychic medium, respectively.
8) The Offence (1973)
Peter Bowles plays Detective Inspector Cameron in this crime neo-noir drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and based on the 1968 stage play This Story Of Yours by John Hopkins. A veteran British police inspector grows increasingly disturbed by the rapes and murders that he has investigated over the years. The police begin searching for a suspect when he finds a young girl in the woods who has been raped. The Offence stars Sean Connery, and Trevor Howard as Johnson, the veteran British police inspector, and Cartwright, Detective Superintendent, respectively.
7) The Bank Job (2008)
Peter Bowles plays the character of MI5 Executive Director, Miles Urquhart in this heist thriller film directed by Roger Donaldson, written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. The film is based on the 1971 Baker Street robbery in central London, from which the money and valuables stolen were never recovered. A self reformed petty criminal becomes a financially struggling car dealer and has settled into a pedestrian London life with his wife and children. However, when his ex-girlfriend shows up with an offer to pull off a lucrative bank heist, he takes the plunge into big crime. The Bank Job stars Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows as Terry Leather, the reformed petty criminal, and Martine Love, the ex-girlfriend, respectively.
6) Lilting (2014)
Peter Bowles plays Alan in this romantic drama film written and directed by Cambodian-born British director, Hong Khaou and produced by Dominic Buchanan. Lilting is a beautiful depiction of grief, love, and hardship as well as a fantastic piece of representation for the LGBTQI+ community. The protagonist and his partner’s relationship is presented to us with nothing other than normalcy and tenderness, which is what makes it so beautiful. Lilting stars Ben Whishaw as the protagonist Richard and Andrew Leung as his partner Kai. The film is a beautifully written love story of a mother trying to understand who her son was, after his untimely death.
Also Read: Where is Fix My Flip filmed? Where to watch it?
5) Blow Up (1966)
Peter Bowles plays the character of Ron in this mystery thriller film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni and produced by Carlo Ponti. This film was the director’s first entirely English language film. A London photographer spends his time photographing fashion models. However, one day he learns that he may have caught a murder in one of his photographs. After taking pictures in the park he realizes he may catch a lurking shadow of a man with a gun. The film is a classic. Blow Up stars David Hemmings and Vanessa Redgrave as Thomas, the photographer, and Jane respectively.
4) Ballet Shoes (2007)
Peter Bowles plays Sir Donald Houghton in this TV film adapted by Heidi Thomas from Noel Streatfield’s 1936 novel Ballet Shoes. The film premiered on December 26th, 2007, on BBC One and was produced by Granada Productions and directed by Sandra Goldbacher. Ballet Shoes is a story of how dreams do come true sometimes. The film is set in 1930s London and tells the exhilarating story of three orphans who are adopted. It is a sweet story about these three orphan sisters with great talent who have to fight to survive and work hard to put food on the table. Ballet Shoes stars Emma Watson, Yasmine Paige, and Lucy Boynton as Pauline Fossil, Petrova Fossil, and Posy Fossil respectively.
3) Off The Rails (2021)
Peter Bowles plays the character of Vicar in one of his last movies, Off The Rails. The film is a comedy drama directed by Jules Williamson and written by Jordan Waller. This film was also the final film appearance for Kelly Preston who passed away in July 2020, hence, the movie was dedicated to her memory. The movie follows three friends in their 50s, who embark on a European train adventure to celebrate the life of their friend, who recently passed away. Said friend had left them train tickets and instructed them to take her teenage daughter with them as well. Off The Rails stars Kelly Preston, Jenny Seagrove, Sally Phillips, and Elizabeth Dormer Phillips as Cassie, Kate, Liz, and Maddie respectively.
2) The Steal (1995)
Peter Bowles plays Lord Childwell in this comedy thriller film directed by John Hay. The film follows a London lawyer’s attempts to get even with the property development company that has cheated some poor islanders out of their land. He hires a young female American computer hacker, who then travels to London to take part in the hi-tech robbery in order to restore the developing country which was ruined by the investment company and its crooked boss.
The film may not be the most critically acclaimed but it definitely is a cult classic. The Steal stars Alfred Molina, Helen Slater, and Peter Bowles as Cliff, the London Lawyer, Kim, the American hacker, and Lord Childwell, the crooked boss of the investment company, respectively.
1) To The Manor Born (1979 to 1981)
Peter Bowles stars as Richard de Vere in this TV sitcom which ran from 1979 to 1981 on BBC One. A special one-off episode was also produced in 2007. To The Manor Born stars Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles as Audrey Fforbes Hamilton and Richard de Vere respectively. The first twenty episodes and the special episode were written by Peter Spence, who also happens to be the creator of the show. The final episode in 1981 was written by script associate, Christopher Bond.
The title is a play on a phrase from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “to the manner born”. The show follows Audrey Fforbes Hamilton, a classy upper-class woman. She is forced to sell her vast country estate, Grantleigh Manor, after the death of her husband. However, she manages to keep her butler and her beloved car when she moves into the estate’s small, modest lodge house.
Richard de Vere is the one who buys her manor. He is a nouveau rich millionaire supermarket owner hailing from Czechoslovakia. The pair share a love-hate relationship throughout the show’s run which is eventually resolved in the final episode when get married.
