---
name: "Noël Coward"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/noel-coward"
fi1m_id: "noel-coward"
imdb_id: "nm0002021"
tmdb_id: 12718
wikidata_id: "Q298388"
roles: ["Writer","Producer","Director"]
born: "15 December 1899"
died: "26 March 1973"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 62
average_as: "writer"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-10-04T08:08:03.321711+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."
---

# Noël Coward

## Identity

Noël Coward

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/noel-coward
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** noel-coward
- **IMDb ID:** nm0002021
- **TMDB ID:** 12718
- **Wikidata ID:** Q298388
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No%C3%ABl_Coward, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298388, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002021/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12718

Writer and producer. Born 15 December 1899 in Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK. Died 26 March 1973.

## Details

- **Work:** Writer, Producer, Director
- **Born:** 15 December 1899, Teddington, Middlesex, England, UK
- **Died:** 26 March 1973
- **Active:** 1933–2020
- **Also known as:** Noël Peirce Coward, Sir Noël Peirce Coward, Sir Noël Coward, Noel Coward, Sir Noel Coward
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 1 acting, 1 directing, 3 writing
- **Frequently works with:** [Celia Johnson](https://film.one/person/celia-johnson.md), [David Lean](https://film.one/person/david-lean.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 62, as writer, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 57 (1), 1940s 82 (2), 1950s 63 (1), 2020s 40 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 62 to 68 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Romance 2, Comedy 1, Fantasy 1, War 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $9m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No%C3%ABl_Coward, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q298388, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002021/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/12718

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Brief Encounter*](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter.md) (90), [*In Which We Serve*](https://film.one/film/in-which-we-serve.md) (74)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Noël Coward

> Noël Coward's people say less than they feel. With something under it, as in *Brief Encounter*, that restraint makes a film we would send a stranger to see; with nothing under it, as in *Cavalcade*, it is only good manners.

A Coward character in trouble does not raise their voice. In *Brief Encounter* (1945) two married people fall in love and neither of them stops respecting the life they already have; the pain is in what cannot be said across a station buffet table. In *In Which We Serve* (1942) his own Captain Kinross tells a new crew he wants a happy ship and an efficient ship, never once lifting his voice, and the quiet does what shouting would not. Celia Johnson, as his wife, toasts the ship at Christmas as the other woman in her marriage, and the joke stops being one somewhere in the middle. It moved us more than we expected, because nobody at the table quite knows where to look.

He came to the cinema late and from the stage. A child actor first, he broke through as a playwright with *The Vortex* (1924), and *Hay Fever* (1925), *Private Lives* (1930) and *Blithe Spirit* (1941) are still revived because the talk is quick and the later acts quicker. The films that matter came in the war, both with David Lean: *In Which We Serve*, which Coward wrote, produced, scored, co-directed and starred in, and *Brief Encounter*, which he only wrote, from his one-act play *Still Life*. The one with less of him in front of the camera is the better film.

What goes wrong is the speech. Coward likes one, and he does not much like an argument. *In Which We Serve* has the discipline to run 115 minutes without wasting many of them, so the habit is bearable. In *Cavalcade* (1933), Frank Lloyd's film of his stage pageant, it is fatal: every public calamity from 1899 to 1933 passes in front of one family's window, Robert Marryot says what England stands for, and nobody in the room is allowed to answer him. The servants are loved so long as they know their place. It is polite about everything, including death.

*Brief Encounter* is the same instinct pointed the right way. The restraint belongs to Laura, and Celia Johnson gives her anxiety enough weight that we feel what keeping quiet costs her. Our one reservation is Alec, who is less fully drawn, so that Trevor Howard has to fall back on plain decency where Johnson can suggest a whole inner life. Coward knew the woman better than the man.

He once said, "I think on the whole I am a better writer than I am given credit for being." On the evidence of these three films he was right, and he was also the one standing in the way. Start with *Brief Encounter*; watch *In Which We Serve* for the toast; keep *Cavalcade* for a wet afternoon when you want to see what the same good manners look like with nothing underneath.

## Biography

Noël Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and writer. He wrote the screenplay for and produced the 1945 film *Brief Encounter*, directed by David Lean and adapted from his one-act play *Still Life*.

Coward wrote more than fifty plays, many of which remain in the theatre repertoire, including *Hay Fever*, *Private Lives*, *Design for Living*, *Present Laughter* and *Blithe Spirit*. His other notable screen credits include the screenplay for *Cavalcade* (1933) and writing and directing *In Which We Serve* (1942). He was knighted in 1970.

*Sources: imdb.com, web.archive.org.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (1)

- *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), Fi1m 63, as Roland Hesketh-Baggott — [page](https://film.one/film/around-the-world-in-80-days.md)

### Directed (1)

- *In Which We Serve* (1942), Fi1m 74, as Captain E. V. Kinross R.N. / Captain 'D' — [page](https://film.one/film/in-which-we-serve.md)

### Wrote (3) — the average rests on these

- *Blithe Spirit* (2020), Fi1m 40, Theatre Play — [page](https://film.one/film/blithe-spirit-2020.md)
- *Brief Encounter* (1945), Fi1m 90, as Train Station Announcer (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter.md)
- *Cavalcade* (1933), Fi1m 57, Writer, Screenplay, Novel — [page](https://film.one/film/cavalcade.md)

## Complete filmography (94)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Fallen Angels* (2026), Writer
- *Blithe Spirit* (2023), Writer, Theatre Play
- *Blithe Spirit* (2020), Theatre Play — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/blithe-spirit-2020.md)
- *Blithe Spirit* (2020), Writer
- *National Theatre Live: Present Laughter* (2019), Screenplay
- *Noël Coward's Present Laughter* (2017), Theatre Play
- *Alice* (2017), Original Story
- *Private Lives* (2013), Theatre Play
- *Burton and Taylor* (2013), Theatre Play
- *Easy Virtue* (2008), Theatre Play
- *The Red Peppers* (2001), Novel
- *Relative Values* (2000), Story, Original Story
- *Twentieth Century Blues: The Songs of Noël Coward* (1998), Music
- *I'm a Gigolo* (1994), as Songs
- *Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker* (1991), as actor 'Bunny Lake Is Missing' (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Tonight at 8.30* (1991), series, Writer
- *Final Act* (1987), Writer
- *Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill* (1985), Original Story
- *Bon Voyage* (1985), Story
- *Me and the Girls* (1985), Writer
- *What Mad Pursuit* (1985), Writer
- *Mrs Capper's Birthday* (1985), Short Story
- *Star Quality* (1985), Writer
- *Hay Fever* (1984), Writer
- *A Song At Twilight* (1982), Writer
- *Come Into The Garden Maud* (1982), Writer
- *Present Laughter* (1981), Writer
- *The Kindness of Mrs Radcliffe* (1981), Writer
- *The Marquise* (1980), Writer
- *Intimitäten* (1980), Writer
- *Design for Living* (1979), Writer
- *Private Lives* (1976), Writer
- *Brief Encounter* (1976), Theatre Play
- *Fallen Angels* (1974), Original Story
- *Playhouse* (1974), series, Theatre Play, Writer
- *Play for Today* (1970), series, Writer
- *Alta comedia* (1970), series, Theatre Play
- *The Vortex* (1969), Writer
- *The Italian Job* (1969), as Mr. Bridger
- *This Happy Breed* (1969), Writer
- *The Jazz Age* (1968), series, Writer
- *Boom!* (1968), as The Witch of Capri
- *Um Breve Encontro* (1968), Story
- *Mrs. Capper's Birthday* (1968), Story, Songs
- *Interlude* (1968), Writer
- *Androcles and the Lion* (1967), as Caesar
- *Pretty Polly* (1967), Story, Original Story
- *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, Writer
- *Anglická sobota* (1967), Short Story
- *Present Laughter* (1967), Writer
- *Blithe Spirit* (1966), Theatre Play
- *Oh, diese Geister* (1966), Theatre Play
- *Al calar del sipario* (1965), Writer
- *Estudio Uno* (1965), series, Writer
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, Writer
- *Bunny Lake Is Missing* (1965), as Wilson
- *Geisterkomödie* (1965), Theatre Play
- *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, Writer
- *A Choice of Coward: Design for Living* (1964), Writer
- *A Choice of Coward: The Vortex* (1964), Original Story
- *A Choice of Coward: Blithe Spirit* (1964), Original Story
- *A Choice of Coward: Present Laughter* (1964), Original Story
- *A Choice of Coward* (1964), series, Theatre Play, Creator
- *Paris When It Sizzles* (1964), as Alexander Meyerheim
- *The Caretaker* (1964), Associate Producer
- *Festival* (1963), series, Writer
- *Geisterkomödie* (1962), Theatre Play
- *Surprise Package* (1960), as King Pavel II
- *Our Man in Havana* (1960), as Hawthorne
- *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), as Roland Hesketh-Baggott — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/around-the-world-in-80-days.md)
- *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, Writer
- *Blithe Spirit* (1956), as Charles Condomine · Theatre Play, Director
- *Meet Me Tonight* (1952), Theatre Play, Writer
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Story
- *The Astonished Heart* (1950), as Dr. Christian Faber · Original Music Composer, Writer
- *Brief Encounter* (1945), as Train Station Announcer (uncredited) · Producer, Theatre Play, Screenplay — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/film/brief-encounter.md)
- *Blithe Spirit* (1945), as Narrator (uncredited) · Theatre Play, Producer, Screenplay
- *This Happy Breed* (1944), Theatre Play, Producer
- *In Which We Serve* (1942), as Captain E. V. Kinross R.N. / Captain 'D' · Director, Writer, Music, Producer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/in-which-we-serve.md)
- *We Were Dancing* (1942), Theatre Play
- *Bitter Sweet* (1940), Theatre Play, Songs, Lyricist
- *Private Lives* (1940), Writer
- *Men Are Not Gods* (1936), as Passer-by (uncredited)
- *The Scoundrel* (1935), as Anthony Mallare
- *Design for Living* (1933), Theatre Play
- *Bitter Sweet* (1933), Novel
- *Cavalcade* (1933), Screenplay, Novel, Writer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/cavalcade.md)
- *Tonight Is Ours* (1933), Author
- *The Little Damozel* (1933), Music
- *Private Lives* (1931), Theatre Play
- *Easy Virtue* (1928), Writer
- *The Vortex* (1928), Author
- *The Queen Was in the Parlour* (1927), Theatre Play
- *Hearts of the World* (1918), as The Man with the Wheelbarrow / A Villager in the Streets

## Gallery

- ![Noël Coward](https://film.one/media/person/63/gallery-bd18827ac1cf.jpg) Noël Coward — Allan Warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Noel_Coward_Allan_warren_edit_1.jpg/1280px-Noel_Coward_Allan_warren_edit_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Zena Dare as Mrs. Kendall Frayne and Noel Coward as Clark Storey in the West End production of 'The Second Man' (1928)](https://film.one/media/person/63/gallery-1bea14ad81ff.jpg) Zena Dare as Mrs. Kendall Frayne and Noel Coward as Clark Storey in the West End production of 'The Second Man' (1928) — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/%27The_Second_Man%27_%281928%29_West_End_production_with_Zena_Dare_and_Noel_Coward.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Cole Lesley with Sir Noel Coward Les Avants 'Chalet Coward' Switerland (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/63/gallery-82be96be290f.jpg) Cole Lesley with Sir Noel Coward Les Avants 'Chalet Coward' Switerland (1972) — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Cole_Lesley_%26_Noel_Coward_Allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Cole_Lesley_%26_Noel_Coward_Allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Noël Coward (1972)](https://film.one/media/person/63/gallery-2ec0794c9995.jpg) Noël Coward (1972) — Allan warren, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Cole_Lesley_%26_Sir_Noel_Coward_allan_Warren.jpg/1280px-Cole_Lesley_%26_Sir_Noel_Coward_allan_Warren.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dormer's Cottage 23 High Street Dymchurch Romney Marsh TN29 0NH (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/63/gallery-47b9dda54e71.jpg) Dormer's Cottage 23 High Street Dymchurch Romney Marsh TN29 0NH (2022) — Spudgun67, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Dormer%27s_Cottage_23_High_Street_Dymchurch_Romney_Marsh_TN29_0NH.jpg/1280px-Dormer%27s_Cottage_23_High_Street_Dymchurch_Romney_Marsh_TN29_0NH.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Contient : 1 programme (1948)](https://film.one/media/person/63/gallery-97f0a7cb18b2.jpg) Contient : 1 programme (1948) — Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Joyeux_chagrins_-_coupures_de_presse_-_btv1b10525862s_%2813_of_82%29.jpg/1280px-Joyeux_chagrins_-_coupures_de_presse_-_btv1b10525862s_%2813_of_82%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1944: Best Writing, Original Screenplay (nominated), for *In Which We Serve*

### Other awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- Tony Award for Best Author 1964: Tony Award for Best Author (nominated), for *The Girl Who Came to Supper*
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical 1964: Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominated)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© 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/noel-coward