![James Stephenson](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/zVMYn8Vo2nXK4dPCjpwleGoC970.jpg)
James Stephenson
British stage actor James Stephenson made his film debut quite late in life, at the age of 49, in 1937, making four pictures that year. Warner Bros. got a glimpse of this distinguished gent and signed him to a contract where he indulged himself in urbane villainy. Proving a reliable support in such films as Boy Meets Girl (1938), You Can't Get Away with Murder (1939), The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), and the classic adventure The Sea Hawk (1940), he was entrusted by director William Wyler and mega-star Bette Davis to play the sympathetic role of the family attorney Howard Joyce in The Letter (1940). It was the role of a lifetime and he didn't let them down for he earned an Oscar nomination in the process. Stephenson was soon on a roll, playing the titular sleuth in Calling Philo Vance (1940) and was first-billed in the above-average "B" movie Shining Victory (1941) when he died suddenly in 1941 of a heart attack at the rather young age of 53.
Date of Death: 29 July 1941, Pacific Palisades, California (heart attack)
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 5.928 |
Birthday | 1889-04-13 |
Place of Birth | Selby, Yorkshire, England, UK |
Also Known As |
![Devil's Island](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mDEoEggNmvDQPxUov32a7JXOvjn.jpg)
1939
![Devil's Island](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mDEoEggNmvDQPxUov32a7JXOvjn.jpg)
Devil's Island
5.4/13
A French doctor sentenced for treason performs brain surgery on the prison commandant's daughter.
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Devil's Island
![The Sea Hawk](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mBJhR84lKoScUPSUfC9mO4yEhjf.jpg)
1940
![The Sea Hawk](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/mBJhR84lKoScUPSUfC9mO4yEhjf.jpg)
The Sea Hawk
7.143/122
Dashing pirate Geoffrey Thorpe plunders Spanish ships for Queen Elizabeth I and falls in love with Dona Maria, a beautiful Spanish royal he captures.
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The Sea Hawk
![King of the Underworld](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/j3UhHLF1qgIWL8GLDJBKiCIkUDi.jpg)
1939
![King of the Underworld](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/j3UhHLF1qgIWL8GLDJBKiCIkUDi.jpg)
King of the Underworld
6.4/23
Physician Carole Nelson, suspected of having ties to notorious gangster Joe Gurney, must prove her innocence or the Medical Board will revoke her lice...
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King of the Underworld
![Beau Geste](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/xDRHfwghNNXy4ASdus5GSzyTX6x.jpg)
1939
![Beau Geste](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/xDRHfwghNNXy4ASdus5GSzyTX6x.jpg)
Beau Geste
6.923/91
When three brothers join the Foreign Legion to escape a troubled past, they find themselves trapped under the command of a sadistic sergeant deep in t...
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Beau Geste
![The Old Maid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/taG1vwcjXkwCdy03hhrisnyShvO.jpg)
1939
![The Old Maid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/taG1vwcjXkwCdy03hhrisnyShvO.jpg)
The Old Maid
7.1/47
The lives of two cousins are complicated by the return of an ex-boyfriend and an illegitimate child.
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The Old Maid
![The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/76UbFh03IvO8fwD8MywFpdfUCcj.jpg)
1939
![The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/76UbFh03IvO8fwD8MywFpdfUCcj.jpg)
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
6.2/79
This period drama frames the tumultuous affair between Queen Elizabeth I and the man who would be King of England.
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The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
![The Letter](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fe43qXp2sRAZbPDKX1puKGEwOon.jpg)
1940
![The Letter](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fe43qXp2sRAZbPDKX1puKGEwOon.jpg)
The Letter
7.278/207
After a woman shoots a man to death, a damning letter she wrote raises suspicions.
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The Letter
![Nancy Drew… Detective](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Ptkn6MnB2pyFJpJuHyxSBG3Qlh.jpg)
1938
![Nancy Drew… Detective](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/Ptkn6MnB2pyFJpJuHyxSBG3Qlh.jpg)
Nancy Drew… Detective
6.4/18
After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.
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Nancy Drew… Detective
![Murder in the Air](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/i63s7SripKvtkxC2aOhLRWrBdwW.jpg)
1940
![Murder in the Air](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/i63s7SripKvtkxC2aOhLRWrBdwW.jpg)
Murder in the Air
4.6/5
Enemy agents are everywhere and they are sabotaging all important war deliveries. The body of a hobo found in a train wreck had a money belt with $50,...
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Murder in the Air
![Espionage Agent](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/yDrhSqXSzMCeUoUCt8Zm4ls0K4j.jpg)
1939
![Espionage Agent](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/yDrhSqXSzMCeUoUCt8Zm4ls0K4j.jpg)
Espionage Agent
5.9/9
When Barry Corvall discovers that his new bride is a possible enemy agent, he resigns from the diplomatic service to go undercover to route out an esp...
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Espionage Agent
![The Monroe Doctrine](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/nFBXWA73fh9cCtTIKkGwYusNNFs.jpg)
1939
![The Monroe Doctrine](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/nFBXWA73fh9cCtTIKkGwYusNNFs.jpg)
The Monroe Doctrine
7/2
The story of President Monroe's response to attempts by Spain to interfere in South America.
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The Monroe Doctrine
![Flight from Destiny](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dtHkpJkKAlG8H0Ur3rwAXRurv60.jpg)
1941
![Flight from Destiny](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/dtHkpJkKAlG8H0Ur3rwAXRurv60.jpg)
Flight from Destiny
5.2/5
After his doctor informs him he will die in six months, Professor Henry Todhunter decides to spend his last days killing someone who contributes nothi...
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Flight from Destiny
![Wolf of New York](https://movieunlimited.net/assets/no-poster.png)
1940
![Wolf of New York](https://movieunlimited.net/assets/no-poster.png)
Wolf of New York
7/1
A New York attorney defends a young man with a criminal past who has been accused of murdering a police inspector.
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Wolf of New York
![Secret Service of the Air](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ucb1MsqDNtQJjiEetBGvYtqoFjl.jpg)
1939
![Secret Service of the Air](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ucb1MsqDNtQJjiEetBGvYtqoFjl.jpg)
Secret Service of the Air
5.8/3
Brass Bancroft and his sidekick Gabby Watters are recruited onto the secret service and go undercover to crack a ruthless gang that smuggles illegal a...
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Secret Service of the Air
![On Trial](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6qpzeYESGsR8e2M13FRxoKzsVRy.jpg)
1939
![On Trial](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6qpzeYESGsR8e2M13FRxoKzsVRy.jpg)
On Trial
5.5/3
An ambitious attorney (Edward Norris) tries to prove a man (John Litel) who killed to protect his wife's (Margaret Lindsay) honor was justified.
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On Trial
![River's End](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8Fu3oXYZAnoGXhXKcgxUE5rvfpM.jpg)
1940
![River's End](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8Fu3oXYZAnoGXhXKcgxUE5rvfpM.jpg)
River's End
6/4
An escaped criminal pretends to be a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in order to prove his innocence of murder. Star Dennis Morgan plays t...
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River's End
![Calling Philo Vance](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/pASeVyhbUHI1j9U0lKLTFongFAP.jpg)
1940
![Calling Philo Vance](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/pASeVyhbUHI1j9U0lKLTFongFAP.jpg)
Calling Philo Vance
5.8/11
Philo is in Vienna working for the US Government to see if Archer Coe is selling aircraft designs to foreign powers. He grabs the plans with Archer's...
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Calling Philo Vance
![The Adventures of Jane Arden](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/95BSmqsYQLy2VxwEmXnaKaP8npX.jpg)
1939
![The Adventures of Jane Arden](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/95BSmqsYQLy2VxwEmXnaKaP8npX.jpg)
The Adventures of Jane Arden
5.7/3
Reporter Jane Arden goes undercover to try to expose a gang of jewel thieves and smugglers. Her mission becomes more dangerous when her identity is di...
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The Adventures of Jane Arden
![When Were You Born](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9NGS0aVq2mqbAfpmn5iBMBY1dFF.jpg)
1938
![When Were You Born](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9NGS0aVq2mqbAfpmn5iBMBY1dFF.jpg)
When Were You Born
5.1/6
A San Francisco astrologer correctly predicts a ship passenger's death and then helps the police look for the murderer.
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When Were You Born
![Shining Victory](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/93p074mZN47yPJiS3ktFjsdT4sH.jpg)
1941
![Shining Victory](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/93p074mZN47yPJiS3ktFjsdT4sH.jpg)
Shining Victory
5.9/8
In a Scottish sanitarium, a brilliant research psychiatrist works on a treatment for dementia praecox. He falls for his altruistic female lab assistan...
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Shining Victory
![Sons of Liberty](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/hXTX4dtIYt0amXAaRKsnoNZ2y3T.jpg)
1939
![Sons of Liberty](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/hXTX4dtIYt0amXAaRKsnoNZ2y3T.jpg)
Sons of Liberty
5.7/7
Set during the American Revolution, this colorful 2 reel short tells the story of Haym Salomon, American patriot and financier of the American Revolut...
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Sons of Liberty
![White Banners](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/iPRDvS1r6WMNNETe2aEVBEuYzKL.jpg)
1938
![White Banners](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/iPRDvS1r6WMNNETe2aEVBEuYzKL.jpg)
White Banners
5.8/4
A homeless woman named Hannah drifts into the lives of the kindly Ward family, in a small Indiana town in 1919. Hannah makes herself useful as a cook...
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White Banners
![Cowboy from Brooklyn](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ayCsV82Ks9dBCh87CjLB87z86yH.jpg)
1938
![Cowboy from Brooklyn](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ayCsV82Ks9dBCh87CjLB87z86yH.jpg)
Cowboy from Brooklyn
4/1
A singing cowboy turns out to be a tenderfoot.
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Cowboy from Brooklyn
![Boy Meets Girl](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d5eGIYZKLHRCMthkiKwF8mNSnZh.jpg)
1938
![Boy Meets Girl](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/d5eGIYZKLHRCMthkiKwF8mNSnZh.jpg)
Boy Meets Girl
6.2/5
Two lazy screenwriters need a story for the studio's cowboy star. A studio waitress turns out to be pregnant. This gives them the idea for a movie abo...
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Boy Meets Girl
![South of Suez](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/n4O4PU4WAlXzDlJLNpxPEnfS14k.jpg)
1940
![South of Suez](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/n4O4PU4WAlXzDlJLNpxPEnfS14k.jpg)
South of Suez
5/3
Greedy diamond mine owner Eli Snedeker, resentful that his ex-foreman John Gamble stopped him from taking over kindly, but drunken, mine owner Roger S...
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South of Suez
![Confessions of a Nazi Spy](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/344MutCY2Xd6nxztXa1tkTR9Nml.jpg)
1939
![Confessions of a Nazi Spy](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/344MutCY2Xd6nxztXa1tkTR9Nml.jpg)
Confessions of a Nazi Spy
6/27
FBI agent Ed Renard investigates the pre-War espionage activities of the German-American Bund.
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Confessions of a Nazi Spy
![We Are Not Alone](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8nPzdAUUw3hY3PjX24TpCKUQIDZ.jpg)
1939
![We Are Not Alone](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/8nPzdAUUw3hY3PjX24TpCKUQIDZ.jpg)
We Are Not Alone
6.2/3
A British doctor and his son's Austrian governess have an affair and are accused of killing his wife.
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We Are Not Alone
![Heart of the North](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/zJKyTZIQwDnqaixfpk8elK8rG88.jpg)
1938
![Heart of the North](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/zJKyTZIQwDnqaixfpk8elK8rG88.jpg)
Heart of the North
3.7/3
A two-fisted Canadian Mountie leads lawmen in pursuit of the thieves who stole an Edmonton-bound freighter's cargo.
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Heart of the North
![Torchy Blane in Chinatown](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/kF85nJj1x8162aRHCQxMtHNOr4h.jpg)
1939
![Torchy Blane in Chinatown](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/kF85nJj1x8162aRHCQxMtHNOr4h.jpg)
Torchy Blane in Chinatown
6/2
Torchy Blane joins her police-detective fiance to solve a series of murders involving a set of Chinese grave tablets taken and sold to a collector and...
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Torchy Blane in Chinatown
![A Dispatch from Reuters](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2F9pvBtYhDOO1NgvdSL54N0SHXI.jpg)
1940
![A Dispatch from Reuters](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/2F9pvBtYhDOO1NgvdSL54N0SHXI.jpg)
A Dispatch from Reuters
5.7/11
German Julius Reuter sends 19th-century news by carrier pigeon and then by wire, founding a news agency.
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A Dispatch from Reuters
![International Squadron](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/aHdTCfJhSj0tH5bQDojDukhjmyB.jpg)
1941
![International Squadron](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/aHdTCfJhSj0tH5bQDojDukhjmyB.jpg)
International Squadron
5.5/2
The true story of the exploits of the RAF's (Royal Air Force) foreign legion battling the German Luftwaffe (Nazi Germany's Air Force) during the early...
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International Squadron
![Wanted by Scotland Yard](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6r2wdtV957Z0spwzYprgQWtvGcY.jpg)
1939
![Wanted by Scotland Yard](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/6r2wdtV957Z0spwzYprgQWtvGcY.jpg)
Wanted by Scotland Yard
0/0
A safecracker, just released from prison, falls in love with a young woman who wants him to go straight. He finds, however, that going straight is eas...
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Wanted by Scotland Yard
![You Live and Learn](https://movieunlimited.net/assets/no-poster.png)
1937
![You Live and Learn](https://movieunlimited.net/assets/no-poster.png)
You Live and Learn
0/0
American chorus-girl Mamie Wallace (Farrell) travels to Paris with a ramshackle touring musical revue. The company runs out of money, and it looks as...
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