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Barbara Bedford

Barbara Bedford

Actor · Died October 25, 1981, aged 78 · Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Barbara Bedford (born Violet May Rose; July 19, 1903 – October 25, 1981) was an American actress who appeared in dozens of silent movies. Her career declined after the introduction of sound, but she continued to appear in small roles until 1945. After high school she set out for Hollywood. She had written many fan letters to actor William S. Hart, and he helped her get a small role in his 1920 movie The Cradle of Courage. While working as an extra that same year on The White Circle, she was noticed by fellow cast member John Gilbert, who recommended her to director Maurice Tourneur. Tourneur cast her alongside Gilbert in Deep Waters. Tourneur also cast her in The Last of the Mohicans, where she was the love interest for Alan Roscoe, whom she later married in real life. In 1925 she appeared opposite Hart in his final film, Tumbleweeds, a key western of the silent period. She starred in the 1926 silent film Old Loves and New and in Mockery with Lon Chaney the following year. When her career declined after the switch to sound, she signed with MGM in 1936 to play bit and extra parts. Her last known film appearance was in 1945.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 19, 1903
Died
October 25, 1981 (aged 78)
From
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 156 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 28Up 23% in 30 days

What are Barbara Bedford's films like?

Across their 6 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy 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
37%
Bonds
36%
Self
23%
Power
4%
Romantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 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 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 1

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 0 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 3 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 2 · 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
4
Dread
2
Hopeful
3
Melancholic
3
Thrilling
2
Other
2

How their films linger

Feel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet1
  • 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 Barbara Bedford's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Barbara Bedford'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

156 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Girls of the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Visitors Matron

  • Meet the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Ritz Patron (uncredited)

  • Lost Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Telephone Operator (uncredited)

  • Best Foot Forward(1943)

    as Chaperone at Dance

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Du Barry Was a Lady(1943)

    as Ambrose's Wife (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Seeing Hands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Ben's Mother (uncredited)

  • Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case(1943)

    as Secretary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Presenting Lily Mars(1943)

    as Assistant Boardinghouse Manager

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Family Troubles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Actor

  • Slightly Dangerous(1943)

    as Customer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Who's Superstitious? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Wife

  • Reunion in France(1942)

    as Mme. Vigouroux (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Tortilla Flat(1942)

    as Nun

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Ship Ahoy(1942)

    as Mrs. Loring

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Lady or the Tiger? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Lady Behind the Door

  • Nazi Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Woman (uncredited)

  • Born to Sing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Woman at Accident Scene (uncredited)

  • Flag of Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Nurse

  • Inflation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Woman in Close-Out Sale Montage (uncredited)

  • Wedding Worries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Miss Douglas (uncredited)

  • Main Street on the March! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Nurse (uncredited)

  • Come Back, Miss Pipps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Angry Parent (uncredited)

  • Honky Tonk(1941)

    as Salvation Army Woman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Whistling in the Dark(1941)

    as Cult Members / Telephone Operator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Sucker List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Secretary (uncredited)

  • Love Crazy(1941)

    as Renny's Secretary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • 1-2-3-Go! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Nurse

  • Maisie Was a Lady(1941)

    as Nurse (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Go West(1940)

    as Baby's Mother on Stagecoach (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • American Spoken Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Corset Buyer (uncredited)

  • You, the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Rooming House Diner

  • Little Nellie Kelly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Miss Wilson (uncredited)

  • Third Finger, Left Hand(1940)

    as Woman at Railroad Station

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Sky Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Grand's Maid

  • Dr. Kildare Goes Home(1940)

    as Carew's Secretary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Boom Town(1940)

    as Nurse (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • I Love You Again(1940)

    as Miss Stingecombe - Larry's Secretary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Gold Rush Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mrs. Hartley (Uncredited)

  • We Who Are Young(1940)

    as Hospital Phone Operator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • A Way in the Wilderness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sick Farmer's Wife (uncredited)

  • Women in Hiding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Head Nurse Miss Townsend (uncredited)

  • Florian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Kingston's Secretary

  • Bubbling Troubles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Alfalfa's Mom (uncredited)

  • All About Hash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Alfalfa's Mother

  • The Domineering Male (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Party Hostess (uncredited)

  • Pound Foolish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mayor's Secretary

  • Alfalfa's Double (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Alfalfa's Mother

  • That Inferior Feeling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Bride (uncredited)

  • The Earl of Chicago(1940)

    as Ramsey's Secretary Martha Jackson (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Neighbor

  • Dancing Co-Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Secretary (voice) (uncredited)

  • Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever(1939)

    as Miss Howard (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • On Borrowed Time(1939)

    as Mrs. James Northrup (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Stronger Than Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Miss Watson - Flagg's Secretary (uncredited)

  • Angel of Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Wife (uncredited)

  • Radio Hams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mrs. Crane

  • Calling Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Dr. Carew's Secretary (uncredited)

  • Broadway Serenade(1939)

    as Gracie (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant Madden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Nurse

  • Within the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Sarah - Gilder's Secretary

  • Tiny Troubles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Alfalfa's mother

  • Four Girls in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Nurse Behind Counter

  • Idiot's Delight(1939)

    as Nurse #1

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Burn 'Em Up O'Connor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Woman in Movie House (uncredited)

  • Alfalfa's Aunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Martha Switzer

  • Men in Fright (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Sonny's Mother (uncredited)

  • Young Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nurse (uncredited)

  • Too Hot to Handle(1938)

    as MacArthur's Secretary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Boys Town(1938)

    as Nun (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • How to Read (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Dental Patient (uncredited)

  • Rich Man, Poor Girl(1938)

    as Kate

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Brandon's Secretary

  • Fast Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as MacMillen's Secretary (uncredited)

  • Woman Against Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nurse Sherwood

  • That Mothers Might Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nun Reading Book (uncredited)

  • Miracle Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Miss Grant (uncredited)

  • The First Hundred Years(1937)

    as Sadie (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Navy Blue and Gold(1937)

    as Hospital Nurse (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Woman Who Screams (uncredited)

  • It May Happen to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Nurse (uncredited)

  • Song of Revolt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Peasant Woman (uncredited)

  • The Grand Bounce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Doctor's Secretary (uncredited)

  • Born to Dance(1936)

    as Hector's Secretary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Public Pays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Markovitz's Secretary (uncredited)

  • Easy Money(1936)

    as Mrs. Ada Turner

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Mine with the Iron Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Secretary

  • Brilliant Marriage(1936)

    as Brenda

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Ring Around the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Carol Anderson

  • Three on a Limb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Addie

  • Forced Landing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mrs. Margaret Byrd

  • Midnight Phantom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Kathleen Ryan

  • 3 Kids and a Queen(1935)

    as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Spanish Cape Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mrs. Munn

  • Condemned to Live(1935)

    as Martha Kristan

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Keeper of the Bees (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Nurse

  • On Probation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mable Gordon

  • Circumstantial Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mrs. Goodwin (uncredited)

  • Sons of Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Miss Peters

  • A Girl of the Limberlost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Elvira Carney

  • Tomorrow's Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Miss Booth

  • Found Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Edith Roberts

  • The Death Kiss(1932)

    as Script Girl

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Lady from Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Mollie Carter

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

    as Doris LaRue

  • Desert Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Anne Dixon

  • The Lash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Lupe

  • Tol'able David (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Rose Kinemon

  • Sunny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Margaret Manners

  • The Love Trader (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Luane

  • Smoke Bellew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Joy Gastrell

  • The Haunted House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Nancy

  • The Cavalier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Lucia D'Arquista

  • Bitter Sweets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Bett Kingston

  • The Port of Missing Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Ruth King

  • Marry the Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Elinor

  • The Broken Mask (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Caricia

  • A Man's Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Yvonne Fontaine

  • The Girl from Gay Paree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Mary Davis

  • Mockery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Countess Tatiana Alexandrova

  • Backstage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Julia Joyce

  • The Notorious Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Mary Marlowe / Mary Brownlee

  • Life of an Actress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Nora Dowen

  • Sunshine of Paradise Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Sunshine O'Day

  • Devil’s Dice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • The Sporting Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Old Loves and New (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Marny

  • Tumbleweeds(1925)

    as Molly Lassiter

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • What Fools Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Jenny McFarlan

  • The Talker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Barbara Farley

  • Percy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Imogene Chandler

  • The Mad Whirl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Margie Taylor

  • Champion of Lost Causes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Beatrice Charles

  • Women Who Give (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Emily Swift

  • Pagan Passions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Shirley Dangerfield

  • The Whipping Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Grace Woodward

  • The Acquittal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Edith Craig

  • The Spoilers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Helen Chester

  • The Forbidden Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Maria Almada

  • The Tie That Binds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Mary Ellen Gray

  • Romance Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Nan Harvess

  • Another Man's Shoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Mercia Solano

  • Arabia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Janice Terhune

  • Man Under Cover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Margaret Langdon

  • The Power of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Maria Almeda

  • Alias Julius Caesar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Helen

  • Out of the Silent North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Marcette Vallois

  • Step on It! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Lorraine Leighton

  • Arabian Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Nadine Fortier

  • The Unfoldment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Martha Osborne

  • Cinderella of the Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Norris Gradley

  • The Face of the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Thora

  • The Big Punch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Hope Standish

  • The Last of the Mohicans(1920)

    as Cora Munro

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Deep Waters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Betty West

  • The Cradle of Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Nora

  • The Miracle of Salt Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Pioneer Woman (Uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 156 titles, 155 of them dated from 1920 to 1945.

Highest rated

Maisie Was a Lady (1941)

Midcredits 71st

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting156 of 156: 156 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1920s46 · acting1930s60 · acting1940s49 · acting

Billing

usually 16th · top billed in 0% of 10 roles
2040

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 Barbara Bedford's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 36; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th18
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 36 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

3 Kids and a Queen (1935)

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

Most loved · actor

On Borrowed Time (1939)

Midcredits 94th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 39. 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 Barbara Bedford work with?

People who share at least 2 of Barbara Bedford's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edwin L. Marin shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers