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Betty Grable

Betty Grable

Actor · Died July 2, 1973, aged 56 · Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

Betty Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Grable was enrolled in Clark's Dancing School at the age of three. At age 13, Grable and her mother set out for Hollywood with the hopes of stardom. There she landed several minor parts in films such as Whoopee!, New Movietone Follies of 1930, Happy Days and Let's Go Places. In 1932, she signed with RKO Radio Pictures. The bit parts continued for the next three years until Grable was cast in By Your Leave. One of her big roles was in College Swing.. When she landed the role of Glenda Crawford in Down Argentine Way, the public finally took notice of her. Stardom came through comedies such as Coney Island and Sweet Rosie O'Grady. Her famous pin-up pose during World War II adorned barracks all around the world. With that pin-up and as the star of lavish musicals, Betty became the highest-paid star in Hollywood in 1947. Later her studio 20th Century-Fox insured her legs for a million dollars. Betty continued to be popular until the mid-1950s, when musicals went into a decline. Her last film was How to Be Very, Very Popular. She then concentrated on Broadway and nightclubs. She was married to actor Jackie Coogan (1937–1939) and musician Harry James (1943–1965). Betty Grable died at age 56 of lung cancer on July 2, 1973.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 18, 1916
Died
July 2, 1973 (aged 56)
From
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 96 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 39% in 30 days

What are Betty Grable's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Musical4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Musical movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
46%
Self
19%
Morality
18%
Society
10%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Survival
2%
Romantic love16 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 22 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 20 · Serious 1 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 4

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 13 · Charged 9 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 9

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 12 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 19 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 5 of 13 analyzed roles.

Hero
5 of 13
Ally
4 of 13
Shapeshifter
2 of 13
Herald
2 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
15
Romantic
15
Absurd
6
Warm
4
Tense
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Betty Grable's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Betty Grable's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

96 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Becoming Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as (archive footage)

  • Marilyn Monroe: In The Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing(2009)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as (archive footage)

  • The Casting Couch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Showbiz Goes to War(1982)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Hollywood Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as (archive footage)

  • Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as archive footage

  • Some of Manie's Friends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Actor

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Betty Grable

  • How to Be Very, Very Popular(1955)

    as Stormy Tornado

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Three for the Show(1955)

    as Julie Lowndes

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • How to Marry a Millionaire(1953)

    as Loco Dempsey

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Farmer Takes a Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Molly Larkins

  • Meet Me After the Show(1951)

    as Delilah Lee

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Call Me Mister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Kay Hudson

  • My Blue Heaven(1950)

    as Kitty Moran

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Wabash Avenue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Ruby Summers

  • The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend(1949)

    as Freddie

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • When My Baby Smiles at Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Bonny Kane

  • That Lady in Ermine(1948)

    as Francesca / Angelina

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Mother Wore Tights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Mother

  • The Shocking Miss Pilgrim(1947)

    as Cynthia Pilgrim

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Do You Love Me(1946)

    as Barry's Fan in Taxi

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Dolly Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Jenny Dolly

  • The All-Star Bond Rally (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Pat Lambert (archive footage)

  • Diamond Horseshoe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Bonnie Collins

  • Take It or Leave It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Pin Up Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Lorry Jones

  • Four Jills in a Jeep(1944)

    as Betty Grable

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Wing and a Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as (archive footage)

  • Sweet Rosie O'Grady(1943)

    as Madeleine Marlowe/Rosie O'Grady

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Coney Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Kate Farley

  • Springtime in the Rockies(1942)

    as Vicky Lane

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Footlight Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Pat Lambert

  • Song of the Islands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Eileen O'Brien

  • Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Actor

  • I Wake Up Screaming(1941)

    as Jill Lynn

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • A Yank in the RAF(1941)

    as Carol Brown

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Moon Over Miami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer, also called Miss Adams

  • Tin Pan Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Lily Blane

  • Down Argentine Way(1940)

    as Glenda Crawford

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Day the Bookies Wept(1939)

    as Ina Firpo

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Legs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Carol Parker

  • Man About Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Susan Hayes

  • Campus Confessions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Joyce Gilmore

  • Give Me a Sailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nancy Larkin

  • College Swing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Betty

  • Thrill of a Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Gwen

  • This Way Please (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Jane Morrow

  • Pigskin Parade(1936)

    as Laura Watson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Don't Turn 'em Loose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mildred Webster

  • Follow the Fleet(1936)

    as Singer in Trio

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Actor

  • Collegiate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Dorothy

  • A Quiet Fourth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Actor

  • Old Man Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Sylvia

  • Drawing Rumors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Actor

  • A Night at the Biltmore Bowl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Vocalist

  • The Nitwits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mary Roberts

  • The Spirit of 1976 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Actor

  • This Band Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Betty - Band Singer

  • Ferry-Go-Round (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Betty

  • By Your Leave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Frances

  • The Gay Divorcee(1934)

    as Guest

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Student Tour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Cayenne

  • Susie's Affairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Susie Lee

  • Business Is a Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Actor

  • Elmer Steps Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Actor

  • Love Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Alice

  • School for Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Student

  • Air Tonic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Betty Grable - Band Singer

  • The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito

  • What Price Innocence? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Beverly Bennett

  • Melody Cruise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as First Stewardess (uncredited)

  • Child of Manhattan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Lucy McGonagle

  • Cavalcade(1933)

    as Girl on Couch · as Blonde Girl on Couch (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Kid from Spain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

  • Over the Counter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Customer Who Wants to Buy a Baby (uncredited)

  • Hold 'Em Jail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Barbara Jones

  • The Age of Consent(1932)

    as Student at Dormitory (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Hollywood Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Betty

  • The Flirty Sleepwalker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Blonde Girl

  • Probation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Ruth Jarrett

  • Hollywood Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Actor

  • Lady! Please! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed)

  • The Greeks Had a Word for Them(1932)

    as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Once a Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Actor

  • Palmy Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

  • Ex-Sweeties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Undetermined Minor Role

  • Crashing Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Betty

  • Kiki (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

  • Whoopee!(1930)

    as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • New Movietone Follies of 1930 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Chorine

  • Let's Go Places (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Chorine (uncredited)

  • Happy Days(1929)

    as Chorus Woman

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 96 titles from 1929 to 2022.

Biggest box office

The Gay Divorcee (1934)

$6.9K worldwide

Highest rated

The Gay Divorcee (1934)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Film career

  • 1933Screen debut· Cavalcade
  • 1941First top-billed film· I Wake Up Screaming
  • 1941Career best· I Wake Up Screaming

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting96 of 96: 96 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score54th

By decade

1920s1 · acting1930s53 · acting1940s24 · acting1950s10 · acting1960s1 · acting1970s1 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 13% of 8 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Betty Grable's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 22 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Reach · how many have seen their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 22

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Happy Days (1929)

76th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Gay Divorcee (1934)

Midcredits 87th · 79% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 41. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Betty Grable work with?

People who share at least 2 of Betty Grable's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Cyril J. Mockridge shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers