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Lionel Atwill

Lionel Atwill

Actor · Died April 22, 1946, aged 61 · Croydon, London, England, UK

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Lionel Atwill (1 March 1885 – 22 April 1946) was an English stage and film actor born in Croydon, London, England. He studied architecture before his stage debut at the Garrick Theatre, London in 1904. He become a star in Broadway theatre by 1918, and made his screen debut in 1919. He acted on the stage in Australia but was most famous for his U.S. horror roles in the 1930s. His two most memorable parts were as the crazed, disfigured sculptor in Mystery of the Wax Museum (Warner Brothers, 1933), and as Inspector Krogh in Son of Frankenstein (1939), memorably sent up by Kenneth Mars in Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein (1974). When he was not cast in macabre roles, Atwill often appeared in the 1930s as righteous-minded authority figures. For example, in 1937's less memorable The Wrong Road for RKO, investigator Atwill persuades a young, bank-robbing ingenue played by Helen Mack and her boyfriend Richard Cromwell to return their ill-gotten $100,000 and give up a life of crime. Two of Atwill's other notable non-horror roles were opposite his contemporary Basil Rathbone in films featuring Arthur Conan Doyle's character Sherlock Holmes, including a role as Dr. James Mortimer in 20th Century Fox's 1939 film rendition of the Conan Doyle novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, and the 1943 Universal Studios film Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, in which he played Holmes' archenemy and super-villain, Professor Moriarty. Atwill remained a stalwart of the Universal horror films until his career flagged in the 1940s because of a widely publicized sex scandal in 1941, during the investigation of which he was charged in 1942 with perjury at a trial in which Atwill had been accused of staging a sex orgy at his home. He died while working on the 1946 film serial Lost City of the Jungle. His ashes were once inurned in Chapel of the Pines Crematory. Description above from the Wikipedia article Lionel Atwill, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 27, 1885
Died
April 22, 1946 (aged 61)
From
Croydon, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 80 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 6% in 30 days

What are Lionel Atwill's films like?

Across their 42 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Fantasy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Fantasy movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror 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
Morality
46%
Bonds
20%
Self
13%
Survival
9%
Power
7%
Society
3%
Ideas
3%
Justice16 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themePower4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 42 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 18 · Serious 14 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 15 · Stylized 21 · Heightened 6

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 33 · Intense 5

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

Steady 14 · Shifting 27 · Whiplash 1

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 20 · Some laughs 19 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 3

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

Casual 18 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 33 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

33 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 18 of 33 analyzed roles.

Shadow
18 of 33
Ally
4 of 33
Threshold guardian
3 of 33
Hero
3 of 33
Shapeshifter
2 of 33
Herald
2 of 33
Mentor
1 of 33
Show the 33 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
35
Dread
13
Thrilling
12
Melancholic
16
Romantic
8
Other
18

How their films linger

Fun16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous4

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 Lionel Atwill's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lionel Atwill'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

80 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page.

  • Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Dr. Xavier (archive footage)

  • In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Doctor Bohmer / Krogh (archive footage)

  • The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes(1985)

    as Professor Moriarty

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Horror of It All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Dr. Otto von Niemann (archive footage)

  • The Horror Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as (archive footage)

  • Genius at Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Latimer Marsh / The Cobra

  • Lost City of the Jungle(1946)

    as Sir Eric Hazarias

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • House of Dracula(1945)

    as Police Inspector Holtz

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Crime, Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Pat Coyle

  • Fog Island(1945)

    as Alec Ritchfield

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • House of Frankenstein(1944)

    as Inspector Arnz

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Secrets of Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Waterlow

  • Raiders of Ghost City(1944)

    as Erich von Rugen, alias Alex Morel

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Lady in the Death House(1944)

    as Charles Finch

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Captain America(1944)

    as Cyrus Maldor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man(1943)

    as Mayor of Vasaria

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon(1942)

    as Professor Moriarty

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Night Monster(1942)

    as Dr. King

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Dead End Kids Go To War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as The Baron

  • Cairo(1942)

    as Teutonic Gentleman

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Pardon My Sarong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Varnoff

  • Junior G-Men of the Air(1942)

    as The Baron

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Strange Case of Doctor Rx (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Dr. Fish

  • The Ghost of Frankenstein(1942)

    as Dr. Bohmer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • To Be or Not to Be(1942)

    as Rawitch

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Mad Doctor of Market Street(1942)

    as Dr. Ralph Benson, posing as Graham

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Man Made Monster(1941)

    as Dr. Paul Rigas

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Boom Town(1940)

    as Harry Compton

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Great Profile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Dr. Bruce

  • Girl in 313 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Russell aka Henry Woodruff

  • Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Dr. Suderman

  • Johnny Apollo(1940)

    as Jim McLaughlin

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Charlie Chan in Panama(1940)

    as Cliveden Compton

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Mad Empress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as General Bazaine

  • Balalaika(1939)

    as Professor Marakov

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of Dr. Kildare(1939)

    as Paul Messenger

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation(1939)

    as Prof. Roger Chauncey Hildebrand

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Sun Never Sets(1939)

    as Hugo Zurof

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Gorilla (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Walter Stevens

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles(1939)

    as Dr. James Mortimer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Three Musketeers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as De Rochefort

  • Son of Frankenstein(1939)

    as Inspector Krogh

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Great Waltz(1938)

    as Count Anton 'Tony' Hohenfried

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Three Comrades(1938)

    as Breuer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Great Garrick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as M. Beaumarchais

  • The Wrong Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mike Roberts

  • Lancer Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Col. Fenwick

  • The High Command(1937)

    as Maj. Gen. Sir John Sangye

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Last Train from Madrid(1937)

    as Col. Vigo

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Road Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Prosecutor

  • Absolute Quiet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Gerald A. Axton

  • Till We Meet Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Ludwig

  • Lady of Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mr. Stephen Whittaker

  • Captain Blood(1935)

    as Colonel Bishop

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Rendezvous(1935)

    as Maj. William Brennan

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Murder Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Captain Cole

  • The Devil Is a Woman(1935)

    as Capt. Don Pasqual 'Pasqualito' Costelar

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Mark of the Vampire(1935)

    as Inspector Neumann

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Henry Dumont

  • The Firebird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as John Pointer

  • The Age of Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Julius Beaufort

  • One More River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Brough

  • Stamboul Quest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Herr Von Sturm

  • Beggars in Ermine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as John 'Flint' Dawson aka John Daniels

  • Nana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Colonel André Muffat

  • The Solitaire Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Inspector Wallace

  • Secret of the Blue Room(1933)

    as Robert von Helldorf

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Song of Songs(1933)

    as Baron von Merzbach

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Sphinx(1933)

    as Jerome Breen

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Murders in the Zoo(1933)

    as Eric Gorman

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Mystery of the Wax Museum(1933)

    as Ivan Igor

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Secret of Madame Blanche(1933)

    as Aubrey St. John

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Vampire Bat(1933)

    as Dr. Otto von Niemann

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Doctor X(1932)

    as Dr. Jerry Xavier

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Silent Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sir Austin Howard

  • The Knife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as The Surgeon

  • The Highest Bidder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Lester

  • The Marriage Price (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Kenneth Gordon

  • Eve's Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Courtenay Urquhart

Career shape

Star power in the 98th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 79 titles from 1918 to 2007.

Biggest box office

Doctor X (1932)

$1.3M worldwide

Highest rated

To Be or Not to Be (1942)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout

Top draw in 10 MovieCove titles.

  • 1932Screen debut· Doctor X
  • 1932First top-billed film· Doctor X
  • 1933Breakout· Mystery of the Wax Museum

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting79 of 79: 79 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score50th

By decade

1910s2 · acting1920s2 · acting1930s42 · acting1940s28 · acting1970s1 · acting1980s1 · acting1990s2 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 17% of 24 roles
323742

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Lionel Atwill's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 42; across their 42 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Approval · how many liked their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 42

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Captain America (1944)

75th percentile spread · 30% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

To Be or Not to Be (1942)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 48. 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.

Is Lionel Atwill's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles0–11 · median 5 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 1 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles12–28 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles23–50 · median 29 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Lionel Atwill work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lionel Atwill's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Basil Rathbone shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers