During World War II, Manvell worked in the Ministry of Information, creating propaganda films for the British government.
He joined the Boston University faculty in 1975 teaching film history classes at the College of Communications.
He then worked for two year at the BFI, before taking up a position in 1947 as Director of the British Film Academy.
[5] Manvell recalled his interest in cinema began when he was five years old, specifically due to film serials and slapstick comedy.
He received his London PhD on the verse and critical work of poet W. B. Yeats.