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Arlene Dahl

Arlene Dahl

Actor · Died November 29, 2021, aged 96 · Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Arlene Carol Dahl (August 11, 1925 – November 29, 2021) was an American actress active in films from the late 1940s. She was one of the last surviving stars from the Classical Hollywood cinema era. She was also an author and entrepreneur. She founded two companies, Arlene Dahl Enterprises and Dahlia, a fragrance company. Born in Minnesota to parents of Norwegian descent, Dahl started her acting career in musicals before transitioning to film, where she gained significant roles in MGM productions such as "My Wild Irish Rose" (1947) and "The Bride Goes Wild" (1948). Dahl also starred in adventure films, notably "Caribbean Gold" (1952) and "Desert Legion" (1953). Despite her acting success, Dahl faced financial challenges, declaring bankruptcy in 1981. She then entered the field of astrology, writing a syndicated column and operating a premium phoneline company. She also wrote numerous books on beauty and astrology. In her personal life, Dahl had six husbands, including actors Lex Barker and Fernando Lamas, and was the mother to three children the eldest of whom is actor Lorenzo Lamas. She lived between New York City and West Palm Beach, Florida, until her death in 2021. Description above from the Wikipedia article Arlene Dahl, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 11, 1925
Died
November 29, 2021 (aged 96)
From
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 44 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 31% in 30 days

What are Arlene Dahl's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 11th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure 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
42%
Morality
28%
Power
13%
Self
6%
Society
4%
Ideas
4%
Survival
2%
Romantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 0

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 0

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

A split, not a type: Casual 10 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 3

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Shapeshifter: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Shapeshifter
3 of 8
Ally
2 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Shadow
1 of 8
Trickster
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Joyful
7
Romantic
8
Thrilling
6
Contemplative
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous3

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 Arlene Dahl's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Arlene Dahl'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

44 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 25 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Air America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Cynthia Garland

  • That's Entertainment! III(1994)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Renegade(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Elaine Carlisle

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Night of the Warrior(1991)

    as Edie Keane

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • That's Dancing!(1985)

    as From 'Three Little Words' (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Kirkwood · as Jessica York · as Monica Cross · as Natalie Martin

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • That's Entertainment!(1974)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Deadly Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Connie

  • Love, American Style (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Katmandu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Laureen

  • Land Raiders(1969)

    as Martha Carden

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Mondo Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Actor

  • The Ponies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Shoura Cassidy

  • Kisses for My President(1964)

    as Doris Reid Weaver

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Valerie

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Eva Martinelli · as Gloria Cooke · as Maggie French · as Princess Kortzoff

  • Journey to the Center of the Earth(1959)

    as Carla Göteborg

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Riverboat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Lucy Belle

  • She Played with Fire(1957)

    as Sarah Moreton Branwell

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Wicked as They Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Kathleen 'Kathy' Allen, nee Alanborg

  • Slightly Scarlet(1956)

    as Dorothy Lyons

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Bengal Brigade(1954)

    as Vivian Morrow

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Woman's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Carol Talbot

  • The Diamond Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Queen Maya

  • Here Come the Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Irene Bailey

  • Sangaree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Nancy Darby

  • Desert Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Morjana

  • Jamaica Run(1953)

    as Ena Dacey

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Jody Hill · as Mary McNeill

  • Caribbean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Christine Barclay McAllister

  • No Questions Asked(1951)

    as Ellen Sayburn Jessman

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Inside Straight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Lily Douvane

  • Watch the Birdie(1950)

    as Lucia Corlane

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Ilsa Lund · as Marianne Stuart

  • Three Little Words(1950)

    as Eileen Percy

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Outriders(1950)

    as Jen Gort

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Your Show of Shows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ambush(1950)

    as Ann Duverall

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Reign of Terror(1949)

    as Madeleine

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Scene of the Crime(1949)

    as Gloria Conovan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • A Southern Yankee(1948)

    as Sallyann Weatharby

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Bride Goes Wild(1948)

    as Tillie Smith Oliver

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • My Wild Irish Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Rose Donovan

  • Life with Father(1947)

    as Girl at Delmonico's (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 82nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 44 titles from 1947 to 1998.

Biggest box office

That's Dancing! (1985)

$4.2M worldwide

Highest rated

That's Dancing! (1985)

Midcredits 82nd

Most popular right now

Slightly Scarlet (1956)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting44 of 44: 44 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1940s6 · acting1950s22 · acting1960s8 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s4 · acting

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.

How do Arlene Dahl's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 21; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Night of the Warrior (1991)

71st percentile spread · 67% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

That's Entertainment! (1974)

Midcredits 92nd · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 43. 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 Arlene Dahl work with?

People who share at least 2 of Arlene Dahl's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Roy Rowland shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors