Porter Hall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Clifford Porter Hall (September 19, 1888 – October 6, 1953) was an American character actor known for appearing in a number of films in the 1930s and 1940s. Hall played movie villains or comedic incompetent characters. Hall was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and began his career touring as a stage actor with roles in productions of The Great Gatsby and Naked in 1926. Hall made his film debut in the 1931 drama Secrets of a Secretary. He made his last onscreen appearance in the 1954 film Return to Treasure Island, which was released after his death. He was probably best remembered for four roles: a senator in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, an atheist in Going My Way, the nervous, ill-tempered Granville Sawyer, who administers a psychological test to Kris Kringle in Miracle on 34th Street, and a train passenger who encounters a man (Fred MacMurray) who has just committed a murder in Double Indemnity. On October 6, 1953, Hall died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, California at the age of 65. His interment was at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. Hall had two children, David and Sarah Jane.
Double Indemnity
(Mr. Jackson)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
(Senator Monroe)
His Girl Friday
(Murphy)
The Thin Man
(Herbert MacCaulay)
The Princess Comes Across
(Darcy)
Miracle on 34th Street
(Granville Sawyer)
Ace in the Hole
(Jacob Q. Boot)
Holiday for Sinners
(Louie)
Satan Met a Lady
(Milton Ames)
Dark Command
(Angus McCloud)
Make Way for Tomorrow
(Harvey Chase)
The Great Moment
(President Franklin Pierce)
The Mark of the Whistler
(Joe Sorsby)
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
(Jacob Woodson, Justice of the Peace)
Bulldog Drummond Escapes
(Norman Merridew)
Sullivan's Travels
(Mr. Hadrian)
The Petrified Forest
(Jason Maple)
Going My Way
(Mr. Belknap)
Intruder in the Dust
(Nub Gowrie)
Unconquered
(Leach)
Singapore
(Mr. Bellows)
The Story of Louis Pasteur
(Dr. Rossignol)
Blood on the Sun
(Arthur Bickett)
Vice Squad
(Jack Hartrampf)
Week-End at the Waldorf
(Stevens)
Secrets of a Secretary
(Drunk)
This Way Please
(S.J. Crawford)
Butch Minds the Baby
(Brandy Smith)
Murder, He Says
(Mr. Johnson)
Wells Fargo
(James Oliver)
The General Died at Dawn
(Peter Perrie)
Return to Treasure Island
(Maximillian 'Maxie' Harris)
True Confession
(Mr. Hartman)
They Shall Have Music
(Mr. Flower)
Bulldog Drummond's Peril
(Dr. Botulian)
The Case of the Lucky Legs
(Col. Bradbury)
Stolen Heaven
('Von' Offer)
A Stranger in Town
(Judge Austin Harkley)
Too Many Parents
(Mrs. Saunders)
Chicken Every Sunday
(Sam Howell)
Snowed Under
(Arthur Layton)
Standing Room Only
(Hugo Farenhall)
The Arkansas Traveler
(Mayor Daniels)
Men with Wings
(Hiram F. Jenkins)
Kiss and Tell
(Bill Franklin)
Tom Sawyer, Detective
(Uncle Silas Phelps)
Souls at Sea
(Court Prosecutor)
Murder in the Private Car
(Alden Murray)
Pony Express
(Jim Bridger)
Dangerous to Know
(Mayor Bradley)
The Plainsman
(Jack McCall)
That Wonderful Urge
(Attorney Ketchell)
Arizona
(Lazarus Ward)
Prison Farm
(Chiston R. Bradby)
Henry Goes Arizona
(Banker Edward G. Walsh (uncredited))
Grand Jury Secrets
(Anthony Pelton)
The Desperadoes
(Banker Clanton)
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
(Judge O'Toole)
Wild Money
(Bill Court)
The Parson of Panamint
(Jonathan Randall)
Trail of the Vigilantes
(Sheriff Korley)
The Woman of the Town
(Mayor Dog Killey)
King of Gamblers
(George Kramer)
And Sudden Death
(District Attorney)
Bring on the Girls
(Dr. Efrington)
The Half-Breed
(Kraemer)
The Cheat
(Leslie (uncredited))
The Remarkable Andrew
(Chief Clerk Art Slocumb)
Scandal Street
(James Wilson)
King of Alcatraz
(Matthew Talbot)
Bulldog Drummond's Secret Police
(Man in Drummond's Dream)
You Gotta Stay Happy
(Mr. Caslon)
Let's Make a Million
(Spencer)
Mr. and Mrs. North
(George Heyler)
Carbine Williams
(Sam Markley)
Four Star Playhouse
(J. R. Martin)