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Dorothy Alison

Dorothy Alison

Actor · Died January 17, 1992, aged 66 · Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

Dorothy Alison was an Australian stage, film and television actress. She was known for See No Evil (1971), The Nun's Story (1959) and A Cry in the Dark (1988). Alison, from 1949, afterinitially working as a secretary, spend most of her professional life in London, England. She returned to Australia in 1980 for the mini-series, A Town Like Alice (1981) and remained her for the rest of the 1980s. She was married to Leslie Linder. She died at the age of 66 in London in 1992.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 4, 1925
Died
January 17, 1992 (aged 66)
From
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Works as
Actor
Titles
15 on MovieCove · 41 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 27% in 30 days

What are Dorothy Alison's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st 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
Self
31%
Morality
27%
Bonds
16%
Society
11%
Survival
9%
Power
6%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

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 7 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 5 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 2

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Hopeful
3
Bittersweet
3
Contemplative
4
Dread
3
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet3
  • Tragic1

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 Dorothy Alison's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 15 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dorothy Alison'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

41 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page.

  • Australia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Doreen Swanson

  • A Cry in the Dark(1988)

    as Avis Murchison

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Rikky and Pete (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Mrs. Menzies

  • Two Brothers Running (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Mrs. Widmore

  • The Flying Doctors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Essie Harrington

  • The Winds of Jarrah (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mrs. Sullivan

  • The Return of the Soldier(1982)

    as Brigadier's Wife

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • A Town Like Alice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs. Frith

  • The Errand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as The Farmer's Wife

  • The Amazing Mr. Blunden(1972)

    as Mrs. Richard Allen

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde(1971)

    as Mrs. Spencer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • See No Evil(1971)

    as Betty Rexton

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Main Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Chairman of Magistrates

  • Journey to the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Latham

  • Journey Into Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Mrs. Latham

  • A Matter of Innocence(1967)

    as Mrs. Barlow

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • ITV Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Swink

  • Callan(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Georgy Girl(1966)

    as Health Visitor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Prince and the Pauper(1962)

    as Mrs. Canty

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Stryker of the Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Two Living, One Dead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Esther Kester

  • Theatre '70 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Lois Jerrard

  • The Nun's Story(1959)

    as Sister Aurelie

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Life In Emergency Ward 10 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Sister Jane Fraser

  • The Man Upstairs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mrs. Barnes

  • A Time Of Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • The Scamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Barbara Leigh

  • Overseas Press Club - Exclusive! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss MacPherson

  • Pickup Alley(1957)

    as Helen

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Silken Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Mrs. Tweakham

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Beth · as Stella Gilmore

  • Reach for the Sky(1956)

    as Nurse Brace

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Feminine Touch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as The Suicide

  • The Third Key(1956)

    as Mary Halliday

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • ITV Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret Sellman

  • The Adventures of Robin Hood(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · as Duchess Constance · as Matilda

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • High and Dry(1954)

    as Miss Peters

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Turn the Key Softly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Joan

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

    as Miss Stockton

  • Eureka Stockade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Mrs. Bentley

Career shape

Star power in the 89th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 41 titles from 1949 to 1989; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

A Cry in the Dark (1988)

$6.9M worldwide

Highest rated

Reach for the Sky (1956)

Midcredits 86th

Most popular right now

A Cry in the Dark (1988)

Film career

19491989

Peak 1970 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting41 of 41: 41 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score73rd

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s17 · acting1960s11 · acting1970s3 · acting1980s9 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 0% of 9 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 Dorothy Alison's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 13; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

71stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 15 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th2

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 15 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor

A Matter of Innocence (1967)

56th percentile spread · 20% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Nun's Story (1959)

Midcredits 91st · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 42. 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 Dorothy Alison work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dorothy Alison's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Geoffrey Keen shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers