Harry Secombe made his film debut in the 1949 British romantic comedy ‘Helter Skelter,’ directed by Ralph Thomas. He made an uncredited appearance as ‘Alf’ in the film. That same year, he also appeared in the television miniseries, ‘Magpie Masquerade.’ He next starred in films and television series like ‘For the Children’ (1950), ‘Fake's Progress’ (1950), ‘Penny Points to Paradise’ (1951), ‘Goonreel’ (1952), ‘Down Among the Z Men’ (1952), ‘Forces' Sweetheart’ (1953), ‘Brass for Brass’ (1954), ‘Svengali’ (1954), ‘Channel Nine’ (1955), ‘Davy’ (1958), ‘Jet Storm’ (1959), and ‘Alice Through the Looking Box’ (1960). In 1963, he joined the voice cast of the comedy puppet show ‘The Telegoons,’ created by Grosvenor Films. The show aired a total of 26 episodes before going off-air in 1964. Secombe next portrayed ‘Mr. Bumble’ in the 1968 British period musical drama film ‘Oliver!,’ directed by Carol Reed. The film received massive acclaim upon release and won 6 Academy Awards. It also performed well at the box office and grossed over $77.4 million on a budget of $10 million.
He continued to star in films and television series like ‘Q6’ (1969), ‘Pickwick’ (1969), ‘The Bed Sitting Room’ (1969), ‘Doctor in Trouble’ (1970), ‘Song of Norway’ (1970), ‘The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins’ (1971), ‘Mr Tumbleweed’ (1971), ‘Sunstruck’ (1972), ‘Cooper’ (1975), and ‘Pepys and So to Bed’ (1983). In 1983, he became a part of the British television series ‘Highway’ as a host and presenter. The series ran for 12 seasons and aired its final episode in 1993. He next appeared in television shows and documentaries such as ‘Aspel & Company’ (1986), ‘Chasing Rainbows - A Nation and Its Music’ (1986), ‘A Tribute to Terry Thomas’ (1990), ‘The Trouble with the Fifties’ (1992), ‘Guest Night’ (1993), ‘Paul Merton's Palladium Story’ (1994), ‘D-Day, 6th June 1944: The Official Story’ (1994), ‘Arena’ (1995), ‘Happy Birthday Ma'am’ (1996), ‘Selection Box’ (1997), ‘One Foot in the Grave’ (1997), ‘Spike Night’ (1998), ‘Everyman’ (1999), and ‘What a Performance!’ (2000). He last appeared in the 2000 television documentary film ‘The Unforgettable Beryl Reid.’
Based on the famous novel by Charles Dickens, Oliver! is a musical drama film which tells the story of a young orphan named Oliver who escapes from his orphanage and joins a group of urchins who work as pickpockets for a criminal. His life takes a turn when he meets a man named Mr Brownlow, who offers to shelter Oliver.
Ernest loses his daughter in a hit-and-run accident. He manages to track down the person responsible for the case, and boards the same flight, from London to New York. He plants a bomb in order to kill the man, although it will not just result in the death of the man but also the crew, the passengers, and himself.
After losing her job as a barmaid at a Paris bar, Trilby is hired by a sculptor. She soon begins to fall for Billy Bagot, one of three British painters, who lives next to her house. Although Billy wants to marry her, his wealthy family does not approve of their marriage. Things get worse when he finds out that Trilby is posing nude for art students. He eventually returns to London. Meanwhile, a street musician takes control of Trilby’s life, and rises her to fame as an opera singer.
Doctor Burke accidentally becomes a stowaway, while he was chasing his girlfriend onto the ship in order to propose to her. He is pursued by the Master-at-Arms, since he is convinced that the doctor is traveling without a ticket. Things take a turn when the doctor of the ship falls ill, and Burke is asked to take over his duties.
The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins is a British comedy film which tells us seven different stories which are based on the seven deadly sins.
Two friends manage to win a contest, after which they go to their regular seaside boarding house. Things get complicated because all the other guests, including two women who want to marry for money, try to come up with a plan to take the fortune off them.
Down Among the Z Men is a comedy film which tells the story of Harry Jones, who works as a clerk in a general mercantile store. Meanwhile, he is also an amateur actor working in community theater, where he is currently playing the role of an inspector working for the Scotland Yard. His life gets complicated after an absent minded Professor leaves a secret military formula in his store. Soon, two enemy spies question Harry regarding the Professor, not realizing that the formula is now in Harry’s possession.
Based on the play of the same name, this musical biography tells the story of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. At an early age, he disappoints his family by getting married to his cousin Nina. Although he was already living in poverty, his life gets even more complicated, after he starts having an affair with a former schoolmate.
