By Vlad Zakh · March 4, 2026
Sybil Thorndike was celebrated as one of the great classical stage actresses of her era and brought warmth and gravitas to a select but memorable body of film work. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie draws scrutiny to an unconventional teacher, Melody follows two schoolboys’ friendship, Alive and Kicking sends three elderly women from a retirement home to Ireland, and The Prisoner interrogates an imprisoned cardinal. Stage Fright and Nicholas Nickleby round out the list.
01 Sybil Thorndike appears in this British drama about two young schoolboys who form an intense friendship that leads them into their own secret childhood marriage.
Directed by Waris Hussein · 1h 43m · Rated G
Stream: Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Rent: JustWatch TV
02 An unconventional Edinburgh schoolteacher exerts a dangerous influence over her impressionable students.
Directed by Ronald Neame · 1h 56m · Rated PG
03 Three elderly women escape their retirement home to look for adventure and independence in Ireland.
Directed by Cyril Frankel · 1h 34m · Rated NR
04 Sybil Thorndike features in this Alec Guinness drama about an imprisoned cardinal who endures relentless psychological interrogation by a totalitarian state.
Directed by Peter Glenville · 1h 35m
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Rent: Amazon Video
05 Michael Wilding appears in this Hitchcock thriller about a drama student who investigates a murder to help clear the name of a friend she believes is innocent.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 1h 50m
Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Sky Store, YouTube
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo, YouTube, Amazon Video
Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
06 Sybil Thorndike appears in this Dickens adaptation about a young man who fights to protect his family from a cruel, exploitative uncle in Victorian England.
Directed by Alberto Cavalcanti · 1h 48m
Rent or buy: Amazon Video
Stream: Studiocanal Presents Amazon Channel, Channel 4 Plus
Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.
