Ustinov appeared in White Cargo at the Aylesbury Rep in 1939, where he performed in a different accent every night. He served as a private in the British Army during the Second World War, including time spent as batman to David Niven while writing the Niven film The Way Ahead. The difference in their ranksNiven was a lieutenant-colonel and Ustinov a privatemade their regular association militarily impossible; to solve the problem, Ustinov was appointed as Niven's batman. He also appeared in propaganda films, debuting in One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), in which he was required to deliver lines in English, Latin and Dutch. In 1944, under the auspices of Entertainments National Service Association, he presented and performed the role of Sir Anthony Absolute, in Sheridan's The Rivals, with Dame Edith Evans, at the theatre in Larkhill Camp, Wiltshire, England.
Ustinov appeared in White Cargo at the Aylesbury Rep in 1939 where he performed in a different accent every night He served as a private in the British Army during the Second World War including time spent as batman to David Niven while writing the Niven film The Way Ahead The difference in their ranksNiven was a lieutenant-colonel and Ustinov a privatemade their regular association militarily impossible; to solve the problem Ustinov was appointed as Niven's batman He also appeared in propaganda films debuting in One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) in which he was required to deliver lines in English Latin and Dutch In 1944 under the auspices of Entertainments National Service Association he presented and performed the role of Sir Anthony Absolute in Sheridan's The Rivals with Dame Edith Evans at the theatre in Larkhill Camp Wiltshire England