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Marian Spencer
★ Acting

Marian Spencer

1904 – 1981 · Crouch End, London, England, UK · Active 1936–1971

Marian Spencer, an English actress, is best remembered for her role in The 3 Worlds of Gulliver (1960), where she brings a unique charm to the fantastical narrative. Set against the backdrop of a whimsical adventure, her performance adds depth to the film's exploration of imagination and discovery. Spencer's work in this classic aligns with the era's fascination with fantasy, making her a notable figure in the genre. Her contributions to cult cinema continue to resonate with fans of classic fantasy films.

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The 3 Worlds of Gulliver

The 3 Worlds of Gulliver

1960 ★ 6.4
as Empress of Lilliput

In 1699, Dr Lemuel Gulliver is an impoverished surgeon who seeks riches and adventure as a ship's doctor on a voyage around the world. His fiancée Elizabeth strongly wishes for him to settle down, and the two quarrel. Gulliver embarks on the voyage and is soon discovered that Elizabeth has stowed away aboard his ship to be near him. A storm develops and sweeps him overboard. Gulliver is washed ashore on Lilliput, a land of tiny humans who see him as a threatening giant. The Lilliputians are afraid of Gulliver and tie him down with stakes to the beach, but he eases their fears by performing several acts of kindness. An old quarrel between Lilliput and neighboring Blefuscu is revived, and Gulliver lends a hand by towing Blefuscu's warships far out to sea. Lilliput's Emperor then views the giant as a threat to his throne after Gulliver is critical of the reasons for the war (A debate about which end of an egg to cut). Gulliver escapes in a boat he had previously built when the Emperor orders his execution. He makes his way to a large isle Brobdingnag, unaware that it was inhabited by Brobdingnagians, a race of 60 foot giants. After making shore, he encounters a very kind 40 foot peasant brobdingnagian girl named Glumdalclitch finds him on the shore and carries him to the castle of King Brob. Their law requires that all tiny people be brought to the King, who has a collection of "tiny animals". Gulliver is delighted to find Elizabeth, who was washed ashore following a shipwreck. The King installs the two in a dollhouse and lets Glumdalclitch look after them. The King marries Gulliver and Elizabeth. After the wedding, Gulliver and Elizabeth go outside to celebrate but are attacked by a giant squirrel, which drags Gulliver into its burrow. Glumdalclitch, however, is alerted and saves Gulliver by pulling him out of the burrow using her hair. When Gulliver later defeats the King at Chess and cures the Queen of a simple stomach-ache, Prime Minister Makovan accuses Gulliver of witchcraft. Gulliver attempts explaining science to them, but this is taken as further proof of sorcery. After Gulliver is forced to say what the King wanted to hear from him, the king orders Gulliver's execution and sics his pet crocodile against Gulliver, who is able to slay the creature. The King orders him burned, but Glumdalclitch saves Gulliver and Elizabeth from the pursuing Brobdingnagians by placing them in her sewing basket and tossing it into a brook that flows out to the sea. Gulliver and Elizabeth wake on a beach with Glumdalclitch's now small basket behind them. A passer-by of their own size indicates they are only a short distance from their home in England. Elizabeth asks if it had all been a dream. Gulliver, now happy to settle down with Elizabeth, replies that the bad qualities of the pettiness of Lilliput and ignorance of Brobdingnag are inside everyone. When Elizabeth asks about Glumdalclitch, Gulliver gives her a knowing look and says that she has yet to be born.

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Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB

Filmography

33 credits
1970s 1 credit
1971
Persuasion as Lady Russell
TV ★ 6.6
1960s 13 credits
1968
Infidelity Took Place as Mrs. Hopkins
Movie
1968
Ukridge as Aunt Julia
TV
1967
TV
1966
The Corridor People as Helena of Morphania
TV ★ 5.0
1964
Movie ★ 7.2
1963
Blaze of Glory as Grandmother
Movie ★ 10.0
1961
You Can't Win as Mrs. Culdemhar
TV
1960
The 3 Worlds of Gulliver as Empress of Lilliput
Movie ★ 6.6
1960
Movie ★ 6.6
1960
Movie
1960
A Woman of No Importance as Lady Caroline Pontefract
Movie
1960
Maigret as Mrs. Wilcox
TV ★ 7.1
1960
The Small House at Allington as Lady Julie de Guest
TV ★ 10.0
1950s 5 credits
1958
Pride and Prejudice as Mrs Bennet
TV ★ 7.0
1956
Jane Eyre as Mrs Reed
TV ★ 8.0
1956
Armchair Theatre as Delia Stanton
TV ★ 6.0
1955
The Secret as Aunt Doris Porter
Movie ★ 5.6
1953
Movie ★ 4.6
1940s 10 credits
1948
The Weaker Sex as Harriet Lessing
Movie ★ 6.7
1948
Bond Street as Aunt Lottie
Movie ★ 6.9
1948
Emma as Mrs. Elton
Movie ★ 7.0
1945
Movie
1943
The Demi-Paradise as Mrs. Teddy Beckett
Movie ★ 6.6
1943
When We Are Married as Annie Parker
Movie ★ 7.0
1942
Let the People Sing as Lady Shepshod
Movie ★ 6.8
1941
The Spell of Amy Nugent as Mrs. Olivia Stapleton
Movie ★ 6.0
1941
The Common Touch as Mother at School Cricket Match
Movie ★ 6.8
1941
Dangerous Moonlight as Miss Gratton
Movie ★ 6.8
1930s 4 credits
1937
Movie ★ 6.8
1937
Auld Lang Syne as Clarinda
Movie ★ 7.0
1936
The Captain's Table as Ruth Manning
Movie ★ 5.8
1936
David Livingstone as Mary Moffatt
Movie ★ 10.0