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Cecil Cunningham

Cecil Cunningham

Actor · Died April 17, 1959, aged 70 · Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cecil Cunningham (August 2, 1888 – April 17, 1959) was an American film and stage actress. With whitish hair cut like a man's, she was a Hollywood character actress, often cast in roles as a general "know-it-all". She made more than 80 appearances in movies between 1929 and 1946, many of them uncredited. Cunningham started her working life as a switchboard operator in a commerce bank and did some sittings as a photographer's model. Her first show business job was in the chorus line of 'Mademoiselle Modiste' at the age of eighteen. Cunningham trained as a singer and appeared in opera. She worked as a vaudeville comedian at the Palace Theatre in New York City until the commencement of her movie career in 1929.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 2, 1888
Died
April 17, 1959 (aged 70)
From
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
39 on MovieCove · 74 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 12% in 30 days

What are Cecil Cunningham's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
39%
Morality
22%
Self
17%
Power
13%
Survival
7%
Society
2%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 5 · Charged 8 · Intense 0

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 3 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Romantic
9
Tense
5
Joyful
4
Melancholic
4
Warm
3
Other
7

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Cecil Cunningham's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 39 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Cecil Cunningham'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

74 credits, 39 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Woman (Hotel)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • My Reputation(1946)

    as Stella Thompson

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • In Old Oklahoma(1943)

    as Mrs. Ames

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Du Barry Was a Lady(1943)

    as Wife Checking Her Coat (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Above Suspicion(1943)

    as Countess

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • My Heart Belongs to Daddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Mrs. Whitman

  • The Hidden Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Lorinda Channing

  • Cairo(1942)

    as Mme. Laruga

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Affairs of Martha(1942)

    as Mrs. Llewellyn Castle

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Twin Beds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Miss MacMahon, Secretary

  • The Wife Takes a Flyer(1942)

    as Countess Oldenburg

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Cowboy Serenade(1942)

    as Priscilla Lock

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Feminine Touch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

  • Blossoms in the Dust(1941)

    as Mrs. Marcus Gilworth

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Hurry, Charlie, Hurry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mrs. Diana Boone

  • Repent at Leisure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mrs. Morgan

  • Back Street(1941)

    as Mrs. Miller

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Play Girl(1941)

    as Dowager at Concert (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Kitty Foyle(1940)

    as Grandmother

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • New Moon(1940)

    as Governor's Wife

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Captain is a Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mrs. Jane Homans

  • Lillian Russell(1940)

    as Mrs. Hobbs

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Abe Lincoln in Illinois(1940)

    as Undetermined Supporting Role (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Laugh It Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Tess Gibson

  • Lady of the Tropics(1939)

    as Countess Berichi

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Winter Carnival(1939)

    as Miss Ainsley

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • It's a Wonderful World(1939)

    as Madame J. L. Chambers

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Family Next Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Cora Stewart

  • Girls' School(1938)

    as Miss Brewster

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Marie Antoinette(1938)

    as Mme. 'Feldy' de Lerchenfeld (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Blond Cheat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Genevieve Trent

  • Wives Under Suspicion(1938)

    as Sharpy

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • You and Me(1938)

    as Mrs. Morris

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Kentucky Moonshine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Landlady

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

    as Dean Sleet

  • Four Men and a Prayer(1938)

    as Piper

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Scandal Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Maybelle Murphy

  • Daughter of Shanghai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mrs. Mary Hunt

  • Night Club Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mrs. Alvin

  • The Awful Truth(1937)

    as Aunt Patsy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

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

    as Miss Eberhardt

  • Artists & Models (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Stella

  • King of Gamblers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Big Edna

  • Swing High, Swing Low(1937)

    as Murphy

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Come and Get It(1936)

    as Josie

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Deeds Goes to Town(1936)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • People Will Talk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Nellie Simpson

  • We Live Again(1934)

    as Theodosia

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Return of the Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Miss Doolittle

  • The Life of Vergie Winters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Pearl Turner

  • Manhattan Love Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Pancake Annie Jones

  • The Druggist's Dilemma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mrs. Finch

  • From Hell to Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Mrs. Chadman

  • Ladies They Talk About(1933)

    as Mrs. Arlington (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • If I Had a Million(1932)

    as Agnes - Emily's Friend (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Blonde Venus(1932)

    as Cabaret Manager in Norfolk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Those We Love(1932)

    as Mrs. Henry Abbott

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Love Me Tonight(1932)

    as Laundress (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Candid Camera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Townes' Aunty

  • Love is a Racket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Aunt Hattie Donovan

  • Is My Face Red?(1932)

    as Millionaire's Wife

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Rich Are Always with Us(1932)

    as Woman Talking with Julian at Party (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Just a Pain in the Parlor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Smith

  • The Wet Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Twombey - Hotel Guest (uncredited)

  • The Impatient Maiden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Rosy

  • Never the Twins Shall Meet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Carp

  • Mata Hari(1931)

    as Gambler Selling Ring (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Safe in Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Angie

  • The Age for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Pamela

  • Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)(1931)

    as Madame Panoramia aka Pansy

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Playboy of Paris(1930)

    as Mlle. Hedwige

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Anybody's Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Dot

  • Paramount on Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Society Woman ('Impulses') (uncredited)

  • Their Own Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Aunt Caroline

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 74 titles from 1929 to 1952.

Highest rated

The Awful Truth (1937)

Midcredits 95th

Most popular right now

In Old Oklahoma (1943)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting74 of 74: 74 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score61st

By decade

1920s1 · acting1930s50 · acting1940s22 · acting1950s1 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
3136

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 Cecil Cunningham's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 38; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 39 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 39 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Playboy of Paris (1930)

51st percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 50. 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 Cecil Cunningham work with?

People who share at least 2 of Cecil Cunningham's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Fred MacMurray shares the most, 2.

Actors

Cinematographers

Mixed roles