6 Best John Laurie Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 5, 2026

John Laurie brought a distinctive, gruff Scottish presence to British film for decades and later became beloved for a memorably pessimistic recurring role on television. Dad’s Army (1971) prepares a bumbling Home Guard platoon for invasion, Henry V rallies outnumbered troops, Hamlet plots revenge on his uncle, and I Know Where I’m Going! complicates a woman’s marriage plans on a Scottish island. The Ghost Goes West and The 39 Steps round out the list.

Dad's Army (1971)

TMDB ★ 6.1

A bumbling Home Guard platoon prepares to defend their English town against a feared German invasion.

Directed by Norman Cohen · 1h 35m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video · Buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Hamlet (1948)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A Danish prince seeks revenge on his uncle for murdering his father and seizing the throne.

Directed by Laurence Olivier · 2h 33m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A determined young woman's plans to marry a rich man are complicated by an unexpected encounter on a Scottish island.

Directed by Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell · 1h 31m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Henry V (1944)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A young English king rallies his outnumbered troops for a decisive battle against the French.

Directed by Laurence Olivier · 2h 17m

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Ghost Goes West (1935)

TMDB ★ 6.9

Jean Parker appears as a Scottish ghost is transported with his ancestral castle to modern-day Florida.

Directed by René Clair · 1h 35m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Criterion Channel, FlixFling · Rent or buy: FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The 39 Steps (1935)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A man wrongly accused of murder goes on the run to expose a dangerous spy ring, with John Laurie in the cast.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 1h 26m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best John Laurie Movies

Dad's Army (1971)

Hamlet (1948)

I Know Where I'm Going! (1945)

Henry V (1944)

The Ghost Goes West (1935)

The 39 Steps (1935)

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