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James Gleason

James Gleason

Actor and writer · Died April 12, 1959, aged 76 · New York City, New York, USA

James Gleason was born in New York City to William Gleason and Mina Crolius, who were both in the theatre. He was married to Lucile Gleason (born Lucile Webster), and had a son, Russell Gleason. As a young man James fought in the Spanish-American War. After the war he joined the stock company at the Liberty Theater in Oakland, California, which his parents were running. James and his wife then moved to Portland, Oregon, where they played in stock at the Baker Theater. For several years afterward they toured in road shows until James enlisted in the army during World War I. When he returned he appeared on the stage in "The Five Million." He then turned to writing, including "Is Zat So", which he produced for the NY stage. He also wrote and acted in "The Fall Guy" and "The Shannons on Broadway." Next he wrote The Broadway Melody (1929) for MGM. He collaborated, in 1930, on The Swellhead (1930), Dumbbells in Ermine (1930), What a Widow! (1930), Rain or Shine (1930) and His First Command (1929). He and his wife were then contracted to Pathe, Lucille to act, and James (or Jimmie as he was known) as a writer. Probably his most famous acting role was as Max Corkle, the manager of Joe Pendleton who was wrongly plucked from this life into the next, in the hit fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 23, 1882
Died
April 12, 1959 (aged 76)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor and writer
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 150 credits in all

What are James Gleason's films like?

Across their 60 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 60 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

Light 41 · Serious 13 · Dark 6

Grounded 40 · Stylized 17 · Heightened 3

Gentle 26 · Charged 29 · Intense 5

Steady 38 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced 20 · Some laughs 21 · Funny 19

A split, not a type: Slow burn 29 · Even-paced 26 · Relentless 5

Casual 41 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 2

Resolved 56 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

26 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 14 of 26 analyzed roles.

Ally
14 of 26
Mentor
3 of 26
Threshold guardian
3 of 26
Herald
3 of 26
Trickster
2 of 26
Shadow
1 of 26
Show the 26 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
28
Warm
21
Joyful
17
Romantic
21
Absurd
15
Other
52

How their films end · 8 with a twist

  • Happy33
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • 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 James Gleason's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Subscription and free streaming for James Gleason'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

150 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Last Hurrah(1958)

    as Cuke Gillen

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
  • Money, Women and Guns(1958)

    as Henry Devers

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
  • Once Upon a Horse... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Postmaster

  • Rock-a-Bye Baby(1958)

    as Doc Simpkins

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Man or Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Sheriff Jim Jackson

  • No Time at All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Dolph Grimes

  • The Female Animal(1957)

    as Tom Maloney

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
  • Man in the Shadow(1957)

    as Hank James

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
  • Leave It to Beaver(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Pete

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows
  • Loving You(1957)

    as Carl Meade

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
  • Spring Reunion(1956)

    as Collie

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • Star in the Dust(1956)

    as Orval Jones

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Rookie of the Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Ed Shafer

  • Screen Director's Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed Shafer

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Howard Fieldstone · as Mr. Jorgy

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows
  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows
  • The Girl Rush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Ether Ferguson

  • The Night of the Hunter(1955)

    as Uncle Birdie Steptoe

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Hartford Simpson

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Reverend Mr. McCarkle

  • Suddenly(1954)

    as Peter 'Pop' Benson

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films
  • Hollywood Thrill-Makers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Risky Russell

  • Forever Female(1953)

    as Eddie Woods

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Noah Larkin

  • What Price Glory(1952)

    as General Cokely

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films
  • The Story of Will Rogers(1952)

    as Bert Lynn

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
  • We're Not Married!(1952)

    as Duffy

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
  • I'll See You in My Dreams(1951)

    as Fred Townsend

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Come Fill the Cup(1951)

    as Charley Dolan

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Joe Palooka in Triple Cross(1951)

    as Knobby Walsh

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Two Gals and a Guy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Max Howard

  • Racket Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Knobby Walsh

  • The Jackpot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Harry Summers

  • Riding High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Racing Secretary

  • The Yellow Cab Man(1950)

    as Mickey Corkins

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Key to the City(1950)

    as Sergeant Hogan

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • Miss Grant Takes Richmond(1949)

    as Timothy Gleason

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • Take One False Step(1949)

    as Captain Gledhill

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films
  • The Life of Riley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Gillis

  • Bad Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Chief

  • When My Baby Smiles at Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Lefty Moore

  • The Return of October (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Uncle Willie Ramsey

  • The Dude Goes West(1948)

    as Sam Briggs

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Smart Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Sam Corkle

  • Tycoon(1947)

    as Pop Mathews

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • The Bishop's Wife(1947)

    as Sylvester

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films
  • Down to Earth(1947)

    as Max Corkle

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • The Homestretch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Doc Kilborne

  • Lady Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Sacramento Sam

  • Home Sweet Homicide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Sgt. O'Hare

  • The Well Groomed Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Captain Hornby

  • The Hoodlum Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Snarp

  • Captain Eddie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Tom Clark

  • The Clock(1945)

    as Al Henry

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn(1945)

    as McGarrity

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • This Man's Navy(1945)

    as Jimmy Shannon

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
  • The Keys of the Kingdom(1944)

    as Rev. Dr. Wilbur Fiske

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Arsenic and Old Lace(1944)

    as Lt. Rooney

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Once Upon a Time(1944)

    as Moke McGillicuddy

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films
  • A Guy Named Joe(1943)

    as “Nails” Kilpatrick

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
  • Crash Dive(1943)

    as Chief Mike 'Mac' McDonnell

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • Manila Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Tim O'Rourke

  • Tales of Manhattan(1942)

    as Father Joe

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films
  • Footlight Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Bruce McKay

  • The Falcon Takes Over(1942)

    as Inspector Mike O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
  • My Gal Sal(1942)

    as Pat Hawley

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • A Date with the Falcon(1942)

    as Inspector Michael 'Mike' O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
  • Hay Foot(1942)

    as Colonel J. A. Barkley

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films
  • Babes on Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Thornton Reed

  • Nine Lives Are Not Enough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Sergeant Daniels

  • Tanks a Million(1941)

    as Col. 'Spitfire' Barkley

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • Here Comes Mr. Jordan(1941)

    as Max Corkle

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Affectionately Yours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as 'Chet' Phillips

  • Meet John Doe(1941)

    as Henry Connell

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Earl of Puddlestone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Joe Higgins

  • Grandpa Goes To Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Joe Higgins

  • Money To Burn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Joe Higgins

  • The Covered Trailer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Joe Higgins

  • On Your Toes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Phil Dolan Sr.

  • Should Husbands Work? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Joe Higgins

  • My Wife's Relatives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Joe Higgins

  • Army Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Hennessy

  • Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as James Gleason

  • The Higgins Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Joe Higgins

  • Manhattan Merry-Go-Round(1937)

    as Danny The Duck

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
  • Forty Naughty Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

  • The Plot Thickens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

  • The Big Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as George Scott

  • Don't Turn 'em Loose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Detective Daniels

  • Yours for the Asking(1936)

    as Saratoga

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • The Ex-Mrs. Bradford(1936)

    as Inspector Corrigan

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
  • Murder on a Bridle Path(1936)

    as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films
  • Song and Dance Man(1936)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • We're Only Human(1935)

    as Detective Danny Walsh

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films
  • Hot Tip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director · as Jimmy McGill

  • Murder in the Fleet(1935)

    Additional Writing · Writer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films
  • West Point of the Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Joe 'Bags'

  • Murder on a Honeymoon(1935)

    as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films
  • Helldorado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Sam Barnes

  • Murder on the Blackboard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

  • Change of Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay · as Hot Dog Vendor (uncredited)

  • Search for Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Dan Healy

  • The Meanest Gal in Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Duke Slater

  • The World Moves On(1934)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
  • Hoopla(1933)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
  • The Bowery(1933)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • Orders Is Orders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Screenplay · as Ed Waggermeyer

  • Clear All Wires!(1933)

    as Lefty Williams

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
  • The Billion Dollar Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as "Ratsy" Harris

  • The Devil Is Driving (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as 'Beef' Evans

  • The Penguin Pool Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Police Insp. Oscar Piper

  • Always Kickin' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Yoo-Hoo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jimmy Gleason

  • The All-American (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Chick Knipe

  • The Crooked Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Arthur Crimmer

  • Off His Base (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · as Picture in Opening Credits

  • Blondie of the Follies(1932)

    as Pa McClune

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
  • High Hats and Low Brows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Danny Ruff

  • Lady and Gent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Pin Streaver

  • Fast Companions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Silk Henley

  • Rule 'Em and Weep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Spike Mc Gorey

  • Suicide Fleet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Skeets

  • The Big Gamble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Fred 'Squint' Dugan

  • Sweepstakes(1931)

    as Sleepy Jones

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • A Free Soul(1931)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
  • It's a Wise Child(1931)

    as Cool Kelly

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • Beyond Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Writer · as Jim Mobley

  • Three Hollywood Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Writer

  • Big Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Tom

  • Her Man(1930)

    as Steve

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
  • What a Widow! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Adaptation · Screenplay

  • Rain or Shine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • The Matrimonial Bed(1930)

    as Gustave Corton

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
  • The Fall Guy(1930)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films
  • Dumb-bells in Ermine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer · as Mike

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

    Theatre Play

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

    Dialogue · as Johnny Trump

  • Puttin' on the Ritz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Dialogue · as James 'Jimmy' Tierney

  • Don't Believe It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Jimmy

  • His First Command (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Screenplay · Story

  • The Shannons of Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Writer · as Mickey Shannon

  • Fairways and Foul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Husband

  • Oh, Yeah! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Dusty

  • The Flying Fool (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Additional Dialogue

  • High Voltage(1929)

    Dialogue · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films
  • Meet the Missus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Bert La Motte

  • The Broadway Melody(1929)

    Dialogue · as Music Publisher (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films
  • The Count of Ten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Johnny's Manager

  • Polly of the Follies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Paul Gordon

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 148 titles from 1922 to 1958.

Film career

Top draw in 3 MovieCove titles.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting137 of 148: 127 only acting, 10 with another role · typical Midcredits score61stDirecting3 of 148: 1 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting16 of 148: 8 only writing, 8 with another roleOther crew2 of 148: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

148 titles, 10 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 8 of them.

By decade

1920s10 · 7 acting · 5 crew1930s61 · 53 acting · 16 crew1940s40 · acting1950s37 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 23 roles
294449

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 James Gleason's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 62; across their 60 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Approval · how many liked their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 60

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th26
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

33 of their 65 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser33
  • Broadly Agreed12
  • Mixed12

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 57 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. 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 James Gleason's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 9 · minimalMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 5 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 22 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does James Gleason work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Gleason's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alexander Hall shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles