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Leslie Fenton

Leslie Fenton

Actor and director · Died March 25, 1978, aged 76 · Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Leslie Fenton (12 March 1902 – 25 March 1978) was an English-born American actor and film director. He appeared in 62 films between 1923 and 1945. Fenton was born on 12 March 1902 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. He moved to America with his mother, Elizabeth Carter, and his brothers when he was six years old. They sailed as steerage passengers on board the R.M.S. Celtic. As a teenager, Leslie worked as an office clerk. He moved to New York and began a career on the stage. His film career began later with Fox Studios. He also directed 19 films between 1938 and 1951. He married American actress Ann Dvorak in 1932. Dvorak (Anna May McKim) moved to Britain with Fenton while he served in the British armed forces during the Second World War. The union was childless and ended in divorce in 1945. Fenton died 25 March 1978 in Montecito, California, aged 76. Some sources, including IMDb, incorrectly cite Frank Fenton, the noted screenwriter and novelist, as his younger brother. Frank Fenton's parents were actually John Fenton and Eveline Edgington (married Liverpool, 1900), as evidenced by the ship's manifest for the RMS Caronia (page 0817, line 0008), aboard which Frank Fenton arrived in the US on 21 April 1906.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 12, 1902
Died
March 25, 1978 (aged 76)
From
Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK
Works as
Actor and director
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 75 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 3% in 30 days

What are Leslie Fenton's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
39%
Bonds
23%
Self
15%
Ideas
9%
Survival
6%
Power
5%
Society
3%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

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

Grounded 11 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 13 · Intense 1

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

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 5
Herald
2 of 5
Hero
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
12
Joyful
5
Contemplative
5
Romantic
3
Warm
4
Other
11

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic2
  • 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 Leslie Fenton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Subscription and free streaming for Leslie Fenton'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

75 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Redhead and the Cowboy(1951)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Streets of Laredo(1949)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Whispering Smith(1948)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Lulu Belle(1948)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • On Our Merry Way(1948)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Saigon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Pardon My Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director · Producer

  • Tomorrow, the World! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • The Saint's Vacation(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Fleecing(1940)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Man from Dakota (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

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

    Director

  • Tell No Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Director

  • Lady of the Tropics(1939)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Boys Town(1938)

    as Dan Farrow

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • A Criminal Is Born (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • The Forgotten Step (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

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

    Director

  • Captain Kidd's Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director · as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

  • Soak the Poor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Nick Garvey

  • China Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Anthony Durand

  • The House of Secrets(1936)

    as Barry Wilding

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Longest Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Carl Briggs

  • Sworn Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Steve Sherman

  • Murder on a Bridle Path(1936)

    as Don Gregg

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Two in the Dark(1936)

    as Stuart Eldredge

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • White Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Dan Oliver

  • East of Java (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Captain Wong Bo

  • Men Without Names (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Monk Gleason, gang boss

  • Chinatown Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Su Quong

  • Stolen Harmony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Joe Harris (uncredited)

  • Star of Midnight(1935)

    as Tim Winthrop

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Casino Murder Case(1935)

    as Dr. Kane

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Strange Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Svengaart

  • Marie Galante(1934)

    as General Saki Tenoki

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Fugitive Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Frank Riker

  • Take the Stand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Hugh Halliburton

  • I Believed in You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Russell Storm

  • Lady Killer(1933)

    as Duke

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Night Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Jules' Radio Operator / Co-Pilot

  • F.P.1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Capt. B.E. Droste

  • Air Mail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Tony Dressel

  • Thunder Below (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Webb

  • The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Nick 'Nicky' Grant

  • The Famous Ferguson Case(1932)

    as Perrin

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Hatchet Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Harry En Hai

  • The Guilty Generation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Joe Palmero

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

    as Gerald 'Gerry' Willis

  • Murder at Midnight(1931)

    as Walter Grayson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Kick In (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Charlie

  • The Public Enemy(1931)

    as Samuel 'Nails' Nathan

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Came Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Baron le Duc

  • Dynamite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Young 'Vulture'

  • The Last Performance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Buffo

  • Woman Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Eddie Evans

  • Paris Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Richard Parrish

  • Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as 'Scar' Edwards

  • The Man I Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Carlo Vesper

  • A Dangerous Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Peter Allerton

  • Girls Gone Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Boogs

  • The Office Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Andrew 'Andy' Corbin

  • The First Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Carol Talbot

  • The Drag Net (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Shakespeare

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

    as Kilgore Shelton

  • The Gateway of the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Jim Mortlake

  • What Price Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Lt. Moore

  • Black Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as James Callahan

  • The Shamrock Handicap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Neil Ross

  • Sandy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Douglas Keith

  • The Road to Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as David Hale

  • The Ancient Mariner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Joe Barlow

  • East Lynne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Richard Hare

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

    as Dick Ritchie

  • Thunder Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Sam Martin

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

    as Babe

Career shape

Star power in the 79th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 74 titles from 1925 to 1951.

Biggest box office

The Public Enemy (1931)

$1.2M worldwide

Highest rated

The Public Enemy (1931)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

  • 1931Screen debut· The Public Enemy

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting58 of 74: 57 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score51stDirecting17 of 74: 15 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thProducing1 of 74: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1920s23 · acting1930s40 · 35 acting · 6 crew1940s10 · crew1950s1 · crew

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 Leslie Fenton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 47th percentile, the median of all 19; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

None of their 19 titles divides audiences: 8 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed3

Most loved · actor

The Public Enemy (1931)

Midcredits 93rd · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 41. 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 Leslie Fenton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Leslie Fenton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Charles Marquis Warren shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles