--- name: "Harry Davenport" canonical: "https://film.one/person/harry-davenport" roles: ["Actor"] born: "19 January 1866" died: "9 August 1949" reviewed_on_fi1m: 8 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 8 updated: "2026-09-20T01:02:14.784383+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Harry Davenport Actor. Born 19 January 1866 in Canton, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 9 August 1949. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 19 January 1866, Canton, Pennsylvania, USA - **Died:** 9 August 1949 - **Active:** 1937–1943 - **Also known as:** Harold George Bryant Davenport, H. Davenport - **Frequently works with:** [Casey Robinson](https://film.one/person/casey-robinson.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 8 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 71 (3), 1940s 74 (5) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 76 across 4 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 5, Romance 4, Mystery 2, Action 1, Comedy 1, History 1 - **Screen time:** 18 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $410m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Davenport_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q744955, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003193/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11502 ## Streaming the US now - **Hulu:** [*Foreign Correspondent*](https://film.one/film/foreign-correspondent.md) (76) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Harry Davenport > Davenport spent the last fifteen years of his life playing kind old men and stern old men, and made each of them seem to have been there long before the camera arrived. Small parts, done properly, more than a hundred times. A Harry Davenport character has usually been sitting there a long time before anyone thinks to speak to him. He listens. When he does talk it is in the voice of a man who has heard all this before and sees no cause for alarm, and the scene tends to settle around him. Hollywood cast him as grandfathers, judges, doctors and ministers, over and over, and he played each one as though nobody had told him the part was small. He came to films late for good. He had been on stage since 1871, when he was five, and on Broadway from 1894; he worked in and directed silent shorts from 1913, including the *Mr. and Mrs. Jarr* series. The sound-era career most people know began in the mid-1930s, when he was nearly seventy, and ran to more than a hundred films before his death in 1949. In that stretch he was the Judge in *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Dr. Meade in *Gone with the Wind* (1939), Louis XI in *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (1939), Arthur Davies, the one man against the mob, in *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943), and Grandpa in *Meet Me in St. Louis* (1944). Of the two films of his we have reviewed, *Foreign Correspondent* (1940) uses him as Mr. Powers, the newspaper editor who sets Hitchcock's chase going, and then gets on with the chase; our review did not stop to notice him, which is roughly what the film does. *All This, and Heaven Too* (1940) gives him more. He is Pierre, a servant who takes to the governess at once, and our review called it his kind old man, which is accurate and slightly ungenerous. The film is 141 minutes and spends a third of them waiting. We were glad of him in those stretches: he does almost nothing except be sure of the young woman, and being sure, quietly, in a house full of people who are not, turned out to be the thing we held on to. That is the trick, and it is also the limit. From seventy onward the parts were nearly all old men, and a lesser actor would have let the kindness turn to syrup. What kept Davenport out of it was authority. The Judge, the King, the lone voice of reason at a lynching: he could play the man who is right and disliked for it as easily as the man everyone loves, and the two were not far apart. Asked why he kept working into his seventies, he said, "A man should stand on his feet at any age." If you find him in something tonight he will be the one who is not worried. Give it a scene and you will not be either. ## Biography Harry Davenport (born Harold George Bryant Davenport) was an American stage and film actor. He worked in show business from the age of six until his death, beginning with a long Broadway career before moving to Hollywood in the 1930s. He appeared in numerous films, often in supporting roles as grandfathers, judges, doctors and ministers. Notable credits include Dr. Meade in *Gone with the Wind* (1939), Judge in *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Mr. Powers in *Foreign Correspondent* (1940), Arthur Davies in *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943) and Grandpa in *Meet Me in St. Louis* (1944). He also played Pierre in *All This, and Heaven Too* (1940). *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (8) - *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943), Fi1m 84, as Arthur Davies — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ox-bow-incident.md) - *Kings Row* (1942), Fi1m 70, as Colonel Skeffington — [page](https://film.one/film/kings-row.md) - *One Foot in Heaven* (1941), Fi1m 74, as Elias Samson — [page](https://film.one/film/one-foot-in-heaven.md) - *All This, and Heaven Too* (1940), Fi1m 64, as Pierre — [page](https://film.one/film/all-this-and-heaven-too.md) - *Foreign Correspondent* (1940), Fi1m 76, as Mr. Powers — [page](https://film.one/film/foreign-correspondent.md) - *Gone with the Wind* (1939), Fi1m 74, as Dr. Meade — [page](https://film.one/film/gone-with-the-wind.md) - *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), Fi1m 70, as Judge — [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md) - *The Life of Emile Zola* (1937), Fi1m 70, as Chief of Staff — [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-emile-zola.md) ## Complete filmography (128) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Riding High* (1950), as Johnson - *Tell It to the Judge* (1949), as Judge MacKenzie Meredith - *That Forsyte Woman* (1949), as Old Jolyon Forsyte - *Little Women* (1949), as Dr. Barnes - *Down to the Sea in Ships* (1949), as Benjamin Harris - *The Decision of Christopher Blake* (1948), as Courtroom Attendant - *For the Love of Mary* (1948), as Justice Peabody - *That Lady in Ermine* (1948), as Luigi - *The Man from Texas* (1948), as Pop Hickey - *Three Daring Daughters* (1948), as Dr. Cannon - *The Fabulous Texan* (1947), as Rev. Baker - *That Hagen Girl* (1947), as Judge Merrivale - *The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer* (1947), as Thaddeus - *Keeper of the Bees* (1947), as Michael Worthington - *Sport of Kings* (1947), as Maj. Denning - *Stallion Road* (1947), as Dr. Stevens - *The Farmer's Daughter* (1947), as Dr. Matthew Sulven - *A Boy and His Dog* (1946), as Squire Jim Kirby - *Courage of Lassie* (1946), as Judge Payson - *Lady Luck* (1946), as Judge Martin - *Three Wise Fools* (1946), as The Ancient - *Faithful in My Fashion* (1946), as Great Grandpa - *G.I. War Brides* (1946), as Grandpa Giles - *A Boy, a Girl and a Dog* (1946), as Gramps - *Claudia and David* (1946), as Dr. Harry - *Adventure* (1945), as Dr. Ashton - *Pardon My Past* (1945), as Grandpa Pemberton - *The Enchanted Forest* (1945), as Old John - *Too Young to Know* (1945), as Judge Boller - *She Wouldn't Say Yes* (1945), as Albert - *This Love of Ours* (1945), as Dr. Wilkerson - *The Thin Man Goes Home* (1944), as Dr. Bertram Charles - *Music for Millions* (1944), as Doctor - *Meet Me in St. Louis* (1944), as Grandpa - *Kismet* (1944), as Agha - *The Impatient Years* (1944), as Minister - *Jack London* (1943), as Prof. Hilliard - *Government Girl* (1943), as Senator MacVickers - *Gangway for Tomorrow* (1943), as Fred Taylor - *Princess O'Rourke* (1943), as Supreme Court Judge - *Headin' for God's Country* (1943), as Clem Adams - *We've Never Been Licked* (1943), as Pop Lambert - *Shantytown* (1943), as 'Doc' Herndon - *The Ox-Bow Incident* (1943), as Arthur Davies — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ox-bow-incident.md) - *December 7th* (1943), as Mr. 'C' - *The Amazing Mrs. Holliday* (1943), as Commodore Thomas Spencer Holliday - *Tales of Manhattan* (1942), as Professor Lyons - *Ten Gentlemen from West Point* (1942), as Bane - *Larceny, Inc.* (1942), as Homer Bigelow - *Kings Row* (1942), as Colonel Skeffington — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/kings-row.md) - *Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake* (1942), as Amos Kidder - *One Foot in Heaven* (1941), as Elias Samson — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/one-foot-in-heaven.md) - *Hurricane Smith* (1941), as Robert Ingersoll Reed - *The Bride Came C.O.D.* (1941), as Pop Tolliver - *That Uncertain Feeling* (1941), as Jones - *I Wanted Wings* (1941), as 'Sandbags' Riley - *Meet John Doe* (1941), as Former Bulletin Owner (uncredited) - *I Want a Divorce* (1940), as Grandpa Brokaw - *Earl of Puddlestone* (1940), as Grandpa Ed Carson - *Foreign Correspondent* (1940), as Mr. Powers — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/foreign-correspondent.md) - *Lucky Partners* (1940), as Judge - *All This, and Heaven Too* (1940), as Pierre — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/all-this-and-heaven-too.md) - *Grandpa Goes To Town* (1940), as Grandpa - *Too Many Husbands* (1940), as George - *Dr. Ehrlich's Magic Bullet* (1940), as Judge - *Granny Get Your Gun* (1940), as Nathaniel "Nate" Paulson - *Money To Burn* (1939), as Grandpa Ed Carson - *Gone with the Wind* (1939), as Dr. Meade — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/gone-with-the-wind.md) - *The Covered Trailer* (1939), as Grandpa Ed Carson - *The Hunchback of Notre Dame* (1939), as King Louis XI - *Death of a Champion* (1939), as Guy Lanyard - *Should Husbands Work?* (1939), as Grandpa Higgins - *Juarez* (1939), as Dr. Samuel Basch - *Exile Express* (1939), as Dr. Hite - *My Wife's Relatives* (1939), as Grandpa Ed Carson - *The Story of Alexander Graham Bell* (1939), as Judge Rider - *Tail Spin* (1939), as T.P. Lester - *Made for Each Other* (1939), as Dr. Healy (uncredited) - *The Long Shot* (1939), as Henry Sharon - *The Cowboy and the Lady* (1938), as Uncle Hannibal Smith - *The Sisters* (1938), as Doc Moore - *You Can't Take It with You* (1938), as Judge — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/you-cant-take-it-with-you.md) - *Marie Antoinette* (1938), as Monsieur de Cosse (uncredited) - *Young Fugitives* (1938), as Joel Bentham - *The Rage of Paris* (1938), as Pop, Caretaker - *The Higgins Family* (1938), as Grandpa William Jordan - *The First Hundred Years* (1938), as Uncle Dawson - *Reckless Living* (1938), as 'General' Jeff - *Gold Is Where You Find It* (1938), as Dr. Parsons - *Saleslady* (1938), as Miles Cannon - *Man-Proof* (1938), as Hitchhiker (uncredited) - *Wells Fargo* (1937), as Ingalls, banker - *First Lady* (1937), as Charles - *The Perfect Specimen* (1937), as Carl Carter - *Radio Patrol* (1937), as John P. Adams, inventor - *The Life of Emile Zola* (1937), as Chief of Staff — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-life-of-emile-zola.md) - *Fit for a King* (1937), as Archduke Julio - *Mr. Dodd Takes the Air* (1937), as Doc Quinn - *White Bondage* (1937), as Pop Craig - *They Won't Forget* (1937), as Confederate Soldier - *Fly Away Baby* (1937), as Colonel Higgam - *Armored Car* (1937), as Pop Logan - *As Good as Married* (1937), as Jessup - *Her Husband's Secretary* (1937), as Dan Kingdon - *Paradise Express* (1937), as Jed Carson - *Under Cover of Night* (1937), as Dr. Reed - *King of Hockey* (1936), as Tom McKenna - *The Case of the Black Cat* (1936), as Peter Laxter - *The Scoundrel* (1935), as Slezack - *No More West* (1934), as Judge - *Get That Venus* (1933), as Mr. Rendleby - *The Campus Mystery* (1932), as Dean Perry - *His Woman* (1931), as Customs Inspector - *My Sin* (1931), as Roger Metcalf - *Her Unborn Child* (1930), as Dr. Remington - *Dawn* (1919), as Daniel Burton - *A Girl at Bay* (1919), as Frank Galt - *The Unknown Quantity* (1919), as Septimus Kinsolving - *The Planter* (1917), as Short - *Sowers and Reapers* (1917), as Henry Ainsworth - *The Millionaire's Double* (1917), Director - *Tillie Wakes Up* (1917), Director - *A Woman Alone* (1917), Director - *The Wheel of the Law* (1916), as John Daniels - *For a Woman’s Fair Name* (1916), Director - *Father and the Boys* (1915), as Tobias Ford - *C.O.D.* (1915), as C.O. Darlington - *Damon and Pythias* (1914), as Phillistus (as H. Davenport) ## Gallery - ![Harry Davenport](https://film.one/media/person/447508/gallery-cc1a33ca3eb8.jpg) Harry Davenport — Harrison & Coover, Central Music Hall, Chicago, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Harry_Davenport.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Actor Harry Davenport](https://film.one/media/person/447508/gallery-499533dbdb26.jpg) Actor Harry Davenport — Unknown photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Harry_Davenport_ca._1900.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Stage actor Harry Davenport. Subjects: actors (1911)](https://film.one/media/person/447508/gallery-88a89bd7509e.jpg) Stage actor Harry Davenport. Subjects: actors (1911) — J. E. Purdy and Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Stage_actor_Harry_Davenport_%28SAYRE_22101%29.jpg/1280px-Stage_actor_Harry_Davenport_%28SAYRE_22101%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Harry Davenport](https://film.one/media/person/447508/gallery-0e5ebe457ca1.jpg) Harry Davenport — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/harry-davenport