Nicholas Phipps


Nicholas Phipps was a British actor and screenwriter who appeared in more than thirty films during a career lasting from 1938 to 1970. He was born in London and appeared mainly in British comedy films, often specialising in playing military figures. He was also a screenwriter, sometimes working on the script for films in which he acted. Best known for his collaborations with Herbert Wilcox and Ralph Thomas, Phipps wrote some of the most popular British films of all time, including Spring in Park Lane and Doctor in the House. He retired from acting in 1970. His script for Doctor in the House was nominated for a BAFTA.

Biography

Phipps began his association with Herbert Wilcox working on I Live in Grosvenor Square. He wrote This Man Is Mine then had a big hit with Piccadilly Incident which he wrote for Wilcox and Anna Neagle, Wilcox's wife. They reunited on The Courtneys of Curzon Street and Spring in Park Lane, also successfully. Phipps also worked on The First Gentleman then was back with Wilcox and Neagle for Maytime in Mayfair and Elizabeth of Ladymead.
Phipps wrote two films for Stewart Granger, Woman Hater and Adam and Evelyne then did a Wilcox movie without Neagle, Into the Blue.
He wrote a script for David Lean, Madeleine and did one for Ralph Thomas, Appointment with Venus
He was one of several writers on I Believe in You, and did a thriller for George Raft Escape Route.
He did an Alec Guinness comedy, The Captain's Paradise, then had one of the biggest hits of his career with Doctor in the House for Thomas. He did the sequels Doctor at Sea and Doctor at Large, plus a similar comedy, True as a Turtle.
Phipps focused on comedies The Captain's Table ; The Lady Is a Square, the last for Wilcox; Doctor in Love.
For Thomas he wrote No Love for Johnnie. More typical was A Pair of Briefs, The Amorous Prawn and Doctor in Distress.

Partial filmography

Actor