Biography
Leo John Genn (9 August 1905 – 26 January 1978) was an English actor and barrister. Signified by his relaxed charm and smooth, "black velvet" voice, he had a lengthy career in theatre, film, television, and radio; often playing aristocratic or gentlemanly, sophisticate roles. Born to a Jewish family in London, Genn was educated as a lawyer and was a practicing barrister until after World War II, in which he served in the Royal Artillery as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He began his acting career at The...
Known For
Complete Filmography
You Are Free, Dr. Korczak
1975
as Dr. Janusz Korczak
Based on the biography of the Polish doctor and educator Janusz Korczak, the film retells the last phase of his life. Korczak, director of the Jewish ...
Frightmare
1974
as Dr. Lytell
In 1957, Dorothy and Edmund Yates were committed to an institution for the criminally insane, she for acts of murder and cannibalism and he for coveri...
The MacKintosh Man
1973
as Rollins (uncredited)
A member of British Intelligence assumes a fictitious criminal identity and allows himself to be caught, imprisoned, and freed in order to infiltrate ...
The Silent One
1973
as Chief of M.I.5
Who is Anton Haliakov, who has just been abducted by the M.I.5 in London? A Soviet scientist apparently. But sixteen years before the man had another ...
Endless Night
1972
as Psychiatrist (uncredited)
Shiftless dreamer Michael Rogers fantasizes about a lifestyle above his means and marries a wealthy, young girl who just came of age. They hire a famo...
Die Screaming Marianne
1971
as The Judge
After their parents divorce, one daughter lives with her mother in England while the other lives with her father in Portugal. After the untimely death...
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin
1971
as Edmond Brighton
Carol Hammond, daughter of a politician, has vivid nightmares involving sex orgies and LSD. In a dream, she murders a neighbor she envies and wakes up...
Marie Stopes: Sexual Revolutionary
1970
as Patrick Hastings, KC
Set in 1923, a British author named Marie Stopes is having quite the tumultuous life until one day she attempts to sue Dr. Halliday Sutherland for lib...
Connecting Rooms
1970
as Dr. Norman
Explores the relationships shared by the residents of a seedy boarding house in London. Based on the play The Cellist, by Marion Hart.
The Bloody Judge
1970
as Lord Wessex
In 1685 England, an overzealous Lord Chancellor condemns various rebels and "witches" to satisfy his political and sexual whims, ignorant of the true ...
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1968
as Dr. Lanyon
In this Dan Curtis production of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, Jack Palance stars as Dr. Henry Jekyll, a scientist experimenting to reveal the h...
Khartoum
1966
as Narrator (voice)
English General Charles George Gordon is appointed military governor of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan by the Prime Minister. Ordered to evacuate Egyptians from...
Circus of Fear
1966
as Elliott
A circus becomes the location for stolen loot and murder.
Ten Little Indians
1965
as General Mandrake
Ten strangers are invited as weekend guests to a remote mountain mansion. When the host doesn't show up, the guests start dying, one by one, in unique...
The Death Ray of Dr. Mabuse
1964
as Adm. Quency
The evil Dr. Mabuse develops a death ray with which he threatens the world.
The Delhi Way
1964
as Narrator (voice)
A documentary of Delhi, it scans the city's historic past that includes successive Afghan, Moghul, and English invasions, while it reveals its variega...
55 Days at Peking
1963
as Gen. Jung-Lu
Diplomats, soldiers and other representatives of a dozen nations fend off the siege of the International Compound in Peking during the 1900 Boxer Rebe...
The Longest Day
1962
as Brig. Gen. Edwin P. Parker Jr.
The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, US, British, Canadians, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the d...
Life of Adolf Hitler
1961
as Narrator
Carefully chronicling in great detail the early years of Hitler's political life until his fall as the leader of Germany, this archive-footage documen...
Too Hot to Handle
1960
as Johnny Solo
A French reporter working on a steamy story about the secret strip joints found in London's Soho district becomes involved in the lives of the owner a...
Escape by Night
1960
as Michael Pemberton
In Nazi-occupied Rome, a beautiful bootlegger, to the chagrin of her lover, gives sanctuary to three escaped POWs: an American pilot, a Russian sergea...
Mrs. Miniver
1960
as Clem Miniver
A British housewife faces up to the harsh realities of the Second World War.
Tank Force!
1958
as Sgt. Kendall
During World War II, members of a British tank unit in northern Africa are captured and held prisoners by Germans.
I Accuse!
1958
as Maj. Picquart
Alfred Dreyfus, a German-Jewish captain serving in the French Army, is falsely accused of treason and made a scapegoat for military espionage in an ac...
The Steel Bayonet
1958
as Maj. Gerrard
Tunis, 1943. Battle-weary troops of Company C have orders to occupy a derelict Tunisian farmhouse. They are to establish an artillery observation post...
The Immortal Land
1958
Ancient Greece, contrasted with modern Greece.
Beyond Mombasa
1956
as Ralph Hoyt
An American travels to East Africa, where he tries to find out how his brother died.
Moby Dick
1956
as Starbuck
In 1841, young Ishmael signs up for service aboard the Pequod, a whaler sailing out of New Bedford. The ship is under the command of Captain Ahab, a s...
The Titanic Incident
1955
as Paul Bernard
A married pair of gamblers try to fleece a wealthy British nobleman while sailing on the Titanic's fateful cruise, but she begins to have misgivings a...
Lady Chatterley's Lover
1955
as Sir Clifford Chatterley
Based on D. H. Lawrence’s 1928 novel of the same name, Lady Chatterley’s Lover stars Danielle Darrieux, Leo Genn, and Erno Crisa in this controversial...
Blackmail
1955
as Lionel Kendall
An atmospheric tale about a national blackmail organization, where no one can be trusted.
The Green Scarf
1954
as Rodelec
A deaf, dumb and blind man, Jacques Vauthier (Kieron Moore), confesses to committing a murder, apparently without motive. He depends on his defense at...
Tonight in Britain
1954
as Self - Commentator
A short survey of British entertainment and London attractions photographed at Edinburgh, Stratford and in London.
Personal Affair
1953
as Stephen Barlow
A schoolgirl disappears for three days after a frank talk with the wife of a Latin teacher she loves.
The Red Beret
1953
as Major J. Snow
Steve MacKendrick resigns from the US Army after causing the needless death of a fellow officer. Wanting to serve in the war, he enlists as a Canadian...
Elizabeth Is Queen
1953
as Narrator
This spectacular 1953 documentary, released in cinemas, records the events of Elizabeth II's coronation day in glorious colour.
The Girls of Pleasure Island
1953
as Roger Halyard
In the spring of 1945, World War II is coming to a close. Roger Halyard, a dignified, strait-laced Englishmen, lives on a South Sea atoll with his thr...
Plymouth Adventure
1952
as William Bradford
During the Mayflower pilgrims' long voyage across the Atlantic Ocean on their way to America, Captain Christopher Jones falls in love with William Bra...
24 Hours of a Woman's Life
1952
as Robert Sterling
A compulsive gambler stumbles towards losing everything when Merle Oberon decides to save him from himself.
The Magic Box
1952
as Maida Vale Doctor
Now old, ill, poor, and largely forgotten, William Freise-Greene was once very different. As young and handsome William Green he changed his name to i...
Quo Vadis
1951
as Petronius
After fierce Roman commander Marcus Vinicius becomes infatuated with beautiful Christian hostage Lygia, he begins to question the tyrannical leadershi...
Power for All
1951
as Narrator
Part of a six part series, this BAFTA Special award nominated documentary looking at the building of hydro-electric power schemes in the Alps of Weste...
The Undefeated
1950
as Joe Anderson (voice)
Looking at how soldiers injured and disabled during WWII would be helped to live as normal a life as possible in the post war years.
The Miniver Story
1950
as Steve Brunswick
The Second World War is over, and the Miniver family is trying to keep themselves together in post-War Britain, among continuing shortages and growing...
The Wooden Horse
1950
as Peter Howard
True story of three British POWs and their attempt to escape from Nazi Germany
I Went Back
1950
as Narrator
Leo Genn revisits some of the cities he served in during WWII.
No Place for Jennifer
1950
as William Parry
A young girl goes through the trauma of her parent's divorce and seperate re-marriages.
London Belongs to Me
1948
as Narrator (uncredited)
Classic British drama about the residents of a large terrace house in London between Christmas 1938 and September 1939. Percy Boon lives with his mot...
The Snake Pit
1948
as Doctor Mark H. Van Kensdelaerik (Dr. "Kik")
Virginia Cunningham is confused upon finding herself in a mental hospital, with no memory of her arrival at the institution. Tormented by delusions an...
The Velvet Touch
1948
as Michael Morrell
After accidentally killing her lecherous producer, a famous actress tries to hide her guilt.
Mourning Becomes Electra
1947
as Adam Brant
Near the end of the Civil War, the proud residents of Mannon Manor await the return of shipping tycoon Ezra Mannon and son Orin. Meanwhile Ezra’s conn...
Green for Danger
1946
as Mr. Eden
In the midst of Nazi air raids, a postman dies on the operating table at a rural hospital. But was the death accidental?
Theirs Is the Glory
1946
as Narrator (uncredited)
Re-enactment of World War 2 Battle of Arnhem using the survivors from the battle.
Caesar and Cleopatra
1945
as Bel Affris
The aging Caesar finds himself intrigued by the young Egyptian queen. Adapted by George Bernard Shaw from his own play.
Famous Scenes from Shakespeare No. I: Julius Caesar - The Forum Scene - Act III. Scene 2
1945
as Marcus Antonius
The growing ambition of Julius Caesar is a source of major concern to his close friend Brutus. Cassius persuades him to participate in his plot to ass...
Henry V
1944
as The Constable of France
In the midst of the Hundred Years' War, the young King Henry V of England embarks on the conquest of France in 1415.
The Return of the Vikings
1944
as Narrator (voice)
British war documentary
Attack! The Battle for New Britain
1944
as Narrator (voice)
Actual footage by the United States Signal Corps of the landing and attack on Arawe Beach, Cape Glouster, New Britain island in 1943 in the South Paci...
The Way Ahead
1944
as Captain Edwards
A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to ...
Tunisian Victory
1944
as Narrator (voice)
Documentary made by the U.S. Army Signal Corps after the North African campaign.
The Bells Go Down
1943
as Off-Screen Narrator (uncredited)
Comedian Tommy Trinder plays it straight in this tribute to the wartime AFS (Auxiliary Fire Service). The dedicated band who kept the fires of London ...
The Young Mr. Pitt
1942
as Danton (uncredited)
This biopic tells the story of the life of Pitt The Younger, who became Prime Minister of Great Britain at the age of 24.
Girl in the News
1940
as Prosecuting Counsel (Uncredited)
An elderly lady manages to sneak some pills away from her nurse and dies of an overdose. The nurse is tried for murder and acquitted. Some time later ...
Law and Disorder
1940
as Another Agent
On the eve of WWII a young defence lawyer, assisted by his wife, invaigles his way into a gang of foreign saboteurs. Comedy thriller, ably executed by...
Ten Days in Paris
1940
as Lanson
Bob Stevens awakens in a hospital with a gunshot wound to his head, and is told that he has been in Paris for ten days. However, this cannot be true b...
Contraband
1940
as First Brother Grimm
When a neutral Danish merchant ship is forced to put into port after trying to evade British wartime contraband control, its captain becomes involved ...
French Communique
1940
as Commentator
Part of BFI collection "If War Should Come."
Pygmalion
1939
as Prince (uncredited)
When linguistics professor Henry Higgins boasts that he can pass off Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle as a princess with only six months' training,...
Dangerous Medicine
1938
as Murdoch
After a young girl is jailed for a murder she didn't commit, a doctor helps her escape to capture the real killer and clear her name.
Kate Plus Ten
1938
as Dr. Gurdon
Kate is secretary to Lord Flamborough. But she is also leader of a criminal gang. Can Mike Pemberton catch her red-handed?
The Rat
1937
as Defending Counsel
Jean Boucheron the cat burglar is the darling of the Montmartre whores--and catches the eye of slumming socialite Zelia de Chaumont, who decides to "r...
When Thief Meets Thief
1937
as Prosecuting Counsel
A London cat burglar falls for the girlfriend of a stockbroker who used to be his partner.
Accused
1936
as Man
Tony and his dance partner/wife Gaby headline a Paris musical. Tony becomes the unwilling target for the attentions of performer Yvette. She is later ...
The Dream Doctor
1936
as Husband
A British drama film directed by Widgey R. Newman