Sarah Edwards

Born: 1881-10-09

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sarah Edwards (October 11, 1881 – January 7, 1965) was a Welsh-born American film and stage actress. She often played dowagers or spinsters in numerous Hollywood movies of the 1930s and 1940s, mostly in minor roles. Edwards started her acting career as a stage actress, she was described in 1916 by a newspaper article as a leading actress "very popular with West End theatre-goers".[1] She eventually settled in the United States and appeared in six Broadway plays between 1919 and 1931, primarily in comedies like The Merry Malones by George M. Cohan. Among her first movies was the New York-filmed 1929 musical Glorifying the American Girl (1929), where she portrayed the mercenary mother of leading actress Mary Eaton. She came to Hollywood in the mid-1930s where she appeared in about 190 films until her retirement 1951, mostly in uncredited, small character roles. Sarah Edwards died in Hollywood in 1965, aged 83. Edwards seemed older than she was and often portrayed a "kindly grandmother, imperious dowager, hardy pioneer wife, ill-tempered teacher and strict governess". She remains perhaps best-known to modern audiences as the imperious mother of Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) in Frank Capra's film classic It's a Wonderful Life (1946) who tries to keep her daughter away from George Bailey. Edwards also played a customer in Ernst Lubitsch's The Shop Around the Corner (1940) with James Stewart. She also appeared in another Christmas classic, The Bishop's Wife (1947) with Cary Grant, and as the wife of a doctor on the train in Hitchcock's thriller Shadow of a Doubt (1943). Edwards sometimes also portrayed more substantial roles, for instance in the Charlie Chan movie Charlie Chan in the Secret Service (1944).


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as Mrs. Hatch
Released: 1946-12-20

A holiday favourite for generations... George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the...

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The Shop Around the Corner

as Woman Customer
Released: 1940-01-12

Two employees at a gift shop can barely stand one another, without realising that they are...

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The Bishop's Wife

as Mrs. Duffy
Released: 1947-12-25

An Episcopal Bishop, Henry Brougham, has been working for months on the plans for an elaborate...

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Shadow of a Doubt

as Doctor's Wife on Train (uncredited)
Released: 1943-01-15

Just when Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Newton, is feeling especially frustrated by the lack of excitement...

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The Awful Truth

as Lucy's Attorney's Wife (uncredited)
Released: 1937-10-21

Unfounded suspicions lead a married couple to begin divorce proceedings, whereupon they start...

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Undercurrent

as Cora (uncredited)
Released: 1946-11-11

After a rapid engagement, a dowdy daughter of a chemist weds an industrialist, knowing little of...

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The Invisible Woman

as Showroom Buyer (uncredited)
Released: 1940-12-28

Kitty Carroll, an attractive store model, volunteers to become a test subject for a machine that...

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Ruggles of Red Gap

as Mrs. Myron Carey
Released: 1935-03-08

In this comedy of an Englishman stranded in a sea of barbaric Americans, Marmaduke Ruggles, a...

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I Wake Up Screaming

as Customer (uncredited)
Released: 1941-10-31

A young promoter is accused of the murder of Vicky Lynn, a young actress he "discovered" as a...

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Lady on a Train

as uncredited
Released: 1945-08-03

While watching from her train window, Nikki Collins witnesses a murder in a nearby building....

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New Moon

as Marquise della Rosa
Released: 1940-06-28

A revolutionary leader romances a French aristocrat in Louisiana.

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

as Annie Rucker (uncredited)
Released: 1939-02-10

Huckleberry Finn, a rambunctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes...

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Good News

as Miss Pritchard (uncredited)
Released: 1947-12-04

At fictitious Tait University in the Roaring '20s, co-ed and school librarian Connie Lane falls...

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Bathing Beauty

as Faculty Member (uncredited)
Released: 1944-06-27

After breaking up with her fiancé, a gym teacher returns to work at a women's college, but a...

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H.M. Pulham, Esq.

as Mrs. Motford - Kay's Mother (uncredited)
Released: 1941-12-04

A middle-aged businessman who has lived a conservative life according to the routine conventions...

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Theodora Goes Wild

as Mrs. Moffat (uncredited)
Released: 1936-11-12

The small-town prudes of Lynnfield are up in arms over 'The Sinner,' a sexy best-seller. They...

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Strike Up the Band

as Miss Hodges
Released: 1940-09-27

Jimmy and Mary get a group of kids together to play in a school orchestra. A huge contest...

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The Cowboy and the Lady

as Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)
Released: 1938-11-17

Mary Smith decides after a lifetime of being a shut-in to do something wild while her father is...

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Gold Is Where You Find It

as Party Guest (uncredited)
Released: 1938-02-12

Colonel Ferris, a wealthy farmer in northern California, is strongly opposed to hydraulic...

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Blondie Meets the Boss

as Saleswoman (uncredited)
Released: 1939-03-08

Dagwood inadvertently gets cornered in to resigning. When his wife Blondie tries to ask Dagwoods...

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Merrily We Live

as Mrs. Fleming
Released: 1938-03-04

Society matron Emily Kilbourne has a habit of hiring ex-cons and hobos as servants. Her latest...

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Young People

as Mrs. Stinchfield
Released: 1940-08-30

Wendy Ballantine's parents decide to retire from show biz so she can have a normal life. They...

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The Golden Arrow

as Mrs. Lizzie Burke-Meyers
Released: 1936-05-23

A fake heiress marries a common reporter to thwart the advances of gold-digging playboys.

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Charlie Chan in the Secret Service

as Mrs. Hargue
Released: 1944-02-14

Charlie Chan is an agent of the US government working in Washington DC and he is assigned to...

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The Shining Hour

as Chairwoman of Morals Society (uncredited)
Released: 1938-11-18

A nightclub dancer shakes the foundations of a wealthy farming family after she marries into it.

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American Madness

as Gossip on Phone (uncredited)
Released: 1932-08-15

Socially-conscious banker Thomas Dickson faces a crisis when his protégé is wrongly accused of...

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Espionage Agent

as Militant American Tourist
Released: 1939-09-30

When Barry Corvall discovers that his new bride is a possible enemy agent, he resigns from the...

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Saratoga Trunk

as Miss Diggs (uncredited)
Released: 1945-11-21

An opportunistic Texas gambler and the exiled Creole daughter of an aristocratic family join...

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Two O'Clock Courage

as Mrs. Tuttle (Patty's Landlady) (uncredited)
Released: 1945-04-13

A cab driver nearly hits a man with amnesia, then helps him unravel his past, only to discover...

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The General Died at Dawn

as Companion of American without Matches (uncredited)
Released: 1936-11-17

China, 1930s, during the ravaging civil war. General Pen entrusts O'Hara, an intrepid American...

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Girls of the Big House

as Dormitory Matron
Released: 1945-11-02

A women's prison provides the setting for this drama that centers around a naive small-town...

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Carson City

as Stagecoach Passenger (uncredited)
Released: 1952-06-13

Mine owner William Sharon keeps having his gold shipments held up by a gang of bandits. Sharon...

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Glorifying the American Girl

as Mrs. Hughes
Released: 1929-12-07

A young woman, who wants to be in the Follies, is making ends meet by working at a department...

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Judge Hardy's Children

as Miss Adams (uncredited)
Released: 1938-03-26

Judge Hardy takes a business trip to Washington, DC, where Andy promptly falls for the French...

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The Howards of Virginia

as Neighbor Girl
Released: 1940-09-19

Beautiful young Virginian Jane steps down from her proper aristocratic upbringing when she...

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The Amazing Mr. Williams

as Citizens Committee Woman (uncredited)
Released: 1939-11-22

Kenny Williams, a lieutenant on the homicide squad, is engaged to Maxine Carroll, the Mayor's...

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Love Is a Headache

as Mrs. Warden, Fan from New Jersey (uncredited)
Released: 1938-01-14

A press agent for a Broadway actress whose career is going downhill attempts to get her some...

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Storm Over Lisbon

as Maude Perry-Tonides
Released: 1944-10-16

A nightclub star helps trap an enemy agent on the trail of an American newsman.

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Arise, My Love

as Spinster (Uncredited)
Released: 1940-11-08

A dashing pilot and a vivacious reporter have romantic and dramatic adventures in Europe as...

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It's Love I'm After

as Mrs. Hinkle
Released: 1937-10-08

An infatuated debutante renews a Shakespearean actor's running feud with his leading lady.

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My Favorite Blonde

as Mrs. Weatherwax (uncredited)
Released: 1942-04-02

Larry Haines, a mediocre vaudeville entertainer, boards a train for Los Angeles. Aboard, he...

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The Forest Rangers

as Mrs. Hansen (uncredited)
Released: 1942-10-21

Ranger Don Stuart fights a forest fire with timber boss friend Tana 'Butch' Mason, and finds...

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Tom, Dick and Harry

as Mrs. Burton (uncredited)
Released: 1941-06-13

Janie is a telephone operator who is caught up in the lines of love of three men: car salesman...

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Sons of the Pioneers

as Housekeeper
Released: 1942-07-02

A singing entomologist (Roy Rogers) acts meek to help a juggling sheriff (George "Gabby" Hayes)...

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A Man to Remember

as Clerk (uncredited)
Released: 1938-10-14

On the day of his funeral, a dedicated smalltown doctor is remembered by his neighbors and patients.

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Here I Am a Stranger

as Chaperone at Dance
Released: 1939-09-29

The story of a young man's discovery of his father.

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Lucky Cisco Kid

as Spinster
Released: 1940-06-28

Cisco and Gordito arrive to find there is an outlaw operating in the area who is assumed to be...

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Mr. District Attorney

as Miss Petherby
Released: 1941-03-27

An assistant prosecutor and his spunky friend investigate a suddenly hot case.

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Three Girls About Town

as Clubwoman
Released: 1941-10-23

Faith and Hope Banner, sisters, are "convention hostesses" in a hotel. A body is discovered next...

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The Corn Is Green

as Mrs. Watty's Friend (uncredited)
Released: 1945-03-29

When a teacher reads an essay written by Morgan Evans, one of the boys, moved by his rough...

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Dixie Dugan

as Mrs. Kelly
Released: 1943-03-12

Roger Hudson, a wealthy businessman who has moved to Washington to work for the government as a...

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Shadow of Doubt

as Dowager in Taxi
Released: 1935-02-15

When a Hollywood producer is murdered, the most likely suspect is a man who is smitten with the...

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All by Myself

as Mrs. Vincent
Released: 1943-06-11

Career woman Jean. almost a partner in Mark's advertising firm, has been falling in love with...

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Dudes Are Pretty People

as Miss Priddle
Released: 1942-03-13

Western comedy about a cowhand falling in love with the pretty guest at a local dude ranch.

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One Foot in Heaven

as Mrs. Spicer (uncredited)
Released: 1941-11-01

Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.

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Apache Trail

as Stagecoach Passenger (uncredited)
Released: 1942-09-01

The brother of a notorious outlaw is put in a charge of a stagecoach line way station in...

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We're on the Jury

as Evelyn Bottomley
Released: 1937-02-12

A juror at a murder trial is convinced the defendant is innocent.

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The Fuller Brush Girl

as Mrs. East (uncredited)
Released: 1950-09-15

A daffy door-to-door saleswoman blunders into a murder investigation.

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Remember?

as Lady in Revolving Door
Released: 1939-12-19

Sky and Linda meet on vacation and become engaged. When Sky introduces Linda to his best friend,...

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Persons in Hiding

as Beauty Shop Proprietor (uncredited)
Released: 1939-02-10

During a stick-up, a woman is excited by the criminal and joins him on his crime spree.

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I Live My Life

as Professor Douglas (Uncredited)
Released: 1935-10-04

A society girl tries to make a go of her marriage to an archaeologist.

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Woman Against Woman

as Party Guest
Released: 1938-06-24

A newlywed unhappily discovers that her husband's scheming ex-wife still has a controlling...

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Coast Guard

as Florence (uncredited)
Released: 1939-08-04

Steady, dependable Coast Guard Lieutenant Raymond "Ray" Dower and reckless aviator Thomas...

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Free, Blonde and 21

as Undetermined Role
Released: 1940-03-28

Stories of women who live in an all-women hotel. One (Bari) works hard and marries a...

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Public Wedding

as Mrs. Van Drexel
Released: 1937-07-09

The operators of a bankrupt carnival sideshow hope to restore their fallen fortunes by staging a...

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Varsity Show

as Mrs. Biddle
Released: 1937-09-04

Winfield College students rebel against a stodgy professor who won't permit "swing" music be...

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It's in the Air

as Old Maid (uncredited)
Released: 1935-10-10

Con men Calvin Churchill and Clip McGurk know how to fix a horse-race or boxing match. Calvin...

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Stars Over Broadway

as Woman Dancing with Fat Man
Released: 1935-11-23

An aggressive agent turns a hotel porter into an overnight sensation.

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Boy Trouble

as Mrs. Moots
Released: 1939-01-27

A fussy shopkeeper's life drastically changes when his wife takes in two homeless boys.

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Curtain Call

as Literary Committee Member
Released: 1940-04-18

Two theatrical producers plan to get even with a demanding actress by tricking her into starring...

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Air Hostess

as Bertha Hallum
Released: 1949-08-25

The Hansen School for Air Hostesses, operated by Celia Hansen, welcomes a new group of students;...

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Scattergood Survives a Murder

as Selma Quentin
Released: 1942-10-01

Rural sage Scattergood Baines (Guy Kibbee) shows big-city newsman how to solve a mystery.

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Family Honeymoon

as Mrs. Carp (uncredited)
Released: 1948-12-06

Grant Jordan, bachelor botany professor, marries Katie, a widow with three kids, despite the...

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Meet Dr. Christian

as Mrs. Minnows
Released: 1939-11-17

The first of six films in the "Dr. Christian" series, starring Jean Hersholt as a small town...

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Little Men

as Landlady
Released: 1940-11-29

Jo March and her husband Professor Bhaer operate the Plumfield School for poor boys. When Dan, a...

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Miss Polly

as Angie Turner
Released: 1941-11-14

A small-town spinster, who's a born romantic, takes on the strict members of the local "Purity...

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Rings on Her Fingers

as uncredited
Released: 1942-03-20

Susan Miller works behind the girdle counter in a department store and dreams about the...

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Palm Springs

as Miss Pinchon
Released: 1936-06-05

A gambler in need of cash plots a romance between his daughter and a wealthy Englishman. The...

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Song of Arizona

as Dolly Finnuccin
Released: 1946-03-08

Roy Rogers rides to the rescue when a bank robber's orphaned son (Tommy Cook), who is living at...

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Sabotage

as (uncredited)
Released: 1939-10-13

The night before his grandson, Tommy Grayson, a mechanic at the Midland Aircraft Corporation, is...

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Allotment Wives

as Sadie
Released: 1945-11-08

Unscrupulous women marry servicemen for their pay.

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Two-Fisted

as Abigail Adams
Released: 1935-10-03

A fast-talking boxing manager and the somewhat hapless fighter he manages happen to run into a...

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Three Loves Has Nancy

as Autograph Session Chairwoman (uncredited)
Released: 1938-09-02

A small-town country homebody goes to New York to find her missing fiancé and gets romantically...

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Wayward

as Nurse (uncredited)
Released: 1932-02-19

Story of a mother's antagonism to her son's wife. Based on the novel "Wild Beauty" by Mateel...

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The Beloved Brat

as School Board Member Miss Brundage
Released: 1938-04-30

Roberta Morgan is being raised in a wealthy home where her mother is occupied with her...

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Henry Aldrich's Little Secret

as Mrs. Bradley
Released: 1944-06-10

Teenager Henry Aldrich and his pal Dizzy decide to try and earn extra money by starting a...

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Sunset in Wyoming

as Susanna Hawkins Peabody
Released: 1941-07-15

By stripping all the timber from the land, a lumber baron threatens everyone with flooding. Gene...

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A Doggone Mixup

as uncredited
Released: 1938-12-05

Harry, who can't resist a bargain, buys a St. Bernard dog.

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Drunk Driving

as Driver (uncredited)
Released: 1939-10-28

In this Crime Does Not Pay series entry, John Jones is an up and coming businessman who drinks...

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Women Are Like That

as Mrs. Snell
Released: 1938-04-23

Businesswoman Claire King is the daughter of a powerful advertising executive. When Claire...

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People Will Talk

as Martie Beemish
Released: 1935-05-24

Henry and Clarice Wilkins have been married twenty-three years and are a model suburban couple...

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Colleen

as First Society Woman (uncredited)
Released: 1936-03-21

Musical about dingaling millionaire businessman Cedric Ames and his various employees

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Opened by Mistake

as Mrs. Karff (uncredited)
Released: 1940-05-10

A wise-guy reporter and a tippling sportswriter acquire an unclaimed trunk with a corpse inside.

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The World Accuses

as Lucille Weymouth
Released: 1934-11-11

When a middle aged woman accepts a job at a day care center she comes across the child she gave...

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Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid

as Mrs. Bradley
Released: 1944-04-01

High-school student Henry Aldrich hopes to improve his grades by finding a sweetheart for his...

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California Firebrand

as Granny Hortense Mason
Released: 1948-04-01

Directed by Philip Ford in 1948. When cowboy Monte Hale (Monte Hale) returns home to investigate...

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Big Business

as Miss Collins - School Principal
Released: 1937-06-18

A small town drugstore owner (Jed Prouty) hopes to strike it rich by investing his savings in an...

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Unmarried

as Mrs. Jones
Released: 1939-05-20

Pals Pat Rogers and Slag Bailey try to collect a debt from Slag's recently deceased boxing...

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Early to Bed

as Miss Barton
Released: 1936-06-05

Chester Beatty and Tessie Weeks have been engaged for 5 years and going together for 15 years...

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The Main Street Kid

as Mrs. Clauson
Released: 1948-01-01

A young boy is struck by lightning, and discovers afterwards that he has the power of telepathy.

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Nearly Eighteen

as Miss Perkins
Released: 1943-11-12

A singer pretends to be younger so she can enter a music school.

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Too Busy to Work

as uncredited
Released: 1939-11-17

The Jones family females decide to teach Father a lesson. He's neglecting the family business to...

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Two-Fisted Gentleman

as Mrs. O'Shea
Released: 1936-08-15

Mickey, is a prizefighter whose bright career hits the skids when he comes under the guidance of...

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