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J.P. McGowan

J.P. McGowan

Director, actor and writer · Died March 26, 1952, aged 72 · Terowie, Australia

From Wikipedia John Paterson McGowan (February 24, 1880 – March 26, 1952) was a pioneering Hollywood actor and director and occasionally a screenwriter and producer. J. P. McGowan, as he was usually known, remains the only Australian to have been made a life member of the Screen Directors Guild (now Directors Guild of America). Born in the then-bustling railway centre of Terowie in South Australia, McGowan grew up in Adelaide (Islington) and Sydney. He was a capable horseman and served in the Second Boer War with Montmorency's Scouts as a special dispatch rider. McGowan directed and often acted in the first 33 episodes of Kalem's 1914 adventure film series, The Hazards of Helen, which eventually ran to 54 episodes, some still with McGowan's participation. While filming he began a relationship with Helen Holmes, the film's star, and the two married. They left Kalem to set up their own production company, Signal Films, which successfully made a series of railroad melodramas but lost out when their distributor (Mutual) failed. The collaboration ended when they divorced in 1925. There was an adopted daughter, Kaye. McGowan successfully made the transition from silent film to talkies. While never a major star, in a busy career that spanned four decades he is credited with acting in 232 films—mostly strong roles like sheriff or villain—writing 26 screenplays and directing 242 productions. In 1932 he directed a young John Wayne in the 12-episode rail vs airplane serial The Hurricane Express for the independent Mascot Pictures. From 1938 to 1951, as Executive Secretary of the Screen Directors Guild, he fought to secure recognition for the director within the studio systems of the film and emerging television industry. J.P. McGowan died in 1952 in Hollywood and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 23, 1880
Died
March 26, 1952 (aged 72)
From
Terowie, Australia
Works as
Director, actor and writer
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 255 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 24% in 30 days

What are J.P. McGowan's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Action 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
54%
Bonds
25%
Survival
9%
Society
6%
Power
4%
Self
2%
Justice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 9 · Serious 4 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 12 · Intense 0

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

Steady 10 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 11 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 14 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 5 of 6 analyzed roles.

Shadow
5 of 6
Herald
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
9
Tense
9
Hopeful
9
Romantic
2
Contemplative
1
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet1

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 J.P. McGowan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for J.P. McGowan'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

255 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page.

  • Savage Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Ship's Captain

  • The Lady and the Bandit(1951)

    as Old Man

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Stagecoach(1939)

    as Bit Part (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Code of the Fearless(1939)

    as Undetermined Minor Role

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Great Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Scudder

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

    as Cop

  • Kidnapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Clansman

  • The Buccaneer(1938)

    as Jailer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Where the West Begins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Prairie Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Col. Stanton

  • Heart of the Rockies(1937)

    as Ed Dawson

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Roaring Six Guns(1937)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Rough Riding Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director · as Pete Hobart

  • Empty Holsters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as U.S. Marshal Billy O'Neill

  • She Had to Eat(1937)

    as Police Sergeant (uncredited)

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

  • Slave Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Helmsman

  • What Price Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Writer

  • Hit the Saddle(1937)

    as Rance McGowan

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Borderland(1937)

    as El Rio Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Jungle Jim(1937)

    as Ship Captain J.S. Robinson

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Sinner Take All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Police Officer Murphy (uncredited)

  • Stampede(1936)

    as Matt Stevens

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Accusing Finger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Inner Guard

  • Fury and the Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Anderson

  • The Three Mesquiteers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Brack Canfield

  • Ride 'Em Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Jim Howard

  • Guns and Guitars(1936)

    as Dave Morgan

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Secret Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Screenplay · as Blacksmith Barstow

  • Robin Hood of El Dorado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Danglong

  • The Prisoner of Shark Island(1936)

    as Ship's Captain (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Silverspurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Webb Allison

  • Bar 20 Rides Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Buck Peters

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

    as Sergeant, Rescue Party

  • The Silent Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Commissioner

  • Diamond Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Engineer

  • Border Brigands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Inspector Winston - RCMP

  • Murder in the Fleet(1935)

    as Chief of Police (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Whispering Smith Speaks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Caboose Passenger (uncredited)

  • Les Misérables(1935)

    as Javert's Plainclothesman

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Call of the Savage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Freighter Captain

  • Mississippi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Dealer (uncredited)

  • The Outlaw Tamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director · as Sheriff Jim Porter

  • The Lone Bandit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Rustlers of Red Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Capt. Trent [Chs. 3-4]

  • When Lightning Strikes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Lafe Broderick

  • Wagon Wheels(1934)

    as Couch

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Red Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Scotty McKee

  • No More Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Captain of The Hawk

  • War of the Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • Somewhere in Sonora(1933)

    as Monte Black

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Deadwood Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • Drum Taps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director · Screenplay

  • When a Man Rides Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • Flaming Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mack

  • The Hurricane Express(1932)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Scarlet Brand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Tangled Fortunes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Lawless Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · as Big Mike Carter, aka El Lobo, aka Texas Rand

  • Mark of the Spur (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Human Targets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Quick Trigger Lee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director · as Brings note / Director

  • Shotgun Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • The Cyclone Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • Headin' for Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • So This Is Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • Riders of the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • Under Texas Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • Code of Honor(1930)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Beyond the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • Canyon Hawks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • The Oklahoma Sheriff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • Near the Rainbow's End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • The Canyon of Missing Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · as Slug Sagel

  • Western Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • The Man from Nowhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • The Hunted Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • Call of the Desert(1930)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Covered Wagon Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · Actor

  • Breezy Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · as Sheriff

  • O'Malley Rides Alone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director · Producer · as Angus McGregor

  • A Texas Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · as Brute Kettle

  • Señor Americano(1929)

    as Maddox

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Code of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • Pioneers of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Adaptation · Producer · as Tom Dorgan

  • The Oklahoma Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Actor

  • The Cowboy and the Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · as Pepper Hardcastle

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

    Director · Actor

  • Riders of the Rio Grande (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • The Law of the Plains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · as Seagrue

  • The Fighting Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Actor

  • The Man from Nevada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Producer

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

    Director · as Hash

  • Captain Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Writer

  • Plunging Hoofs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Jim Wales

  • Bad Men's Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · as Sheriff Bud Jennings

  • The Lawless Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Matson

  • Headin' Westward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · as Sneezer Clark

  • Below the Deadline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · as Taggart

  • 'Neath Western Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director · Producer · as Dugan

  • Ships of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Motilla

  • Two Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Abner Whitcomb

  • The Old Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Raoul de Valle

  • Manhattan Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • The Lightnin’ Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • The Black Ace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Actor

  • The Chinatown Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Actor

  • Arizona Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · as Ed Hicks

  • Mystery Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Writer

  • The Code of the Scarlet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Blake

  • The Devil’s Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · as George Stilwell

  • Dugan of the Dugouts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Writer · as Capt. von Brinken

  • Trail Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Writer

  • Trailin’ Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Writer

  • Painted Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • The Slaver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as ’Iron' Larsen

  • Gun Gospel(1927)

    as Bill Brogan

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Red Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Captain Ortwell

  • Arizona Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Jeff Decker

  • The Royal American (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Capt. Burke

  • The Outlaw Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • The Lost Limited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director · as Thomas Webber

  • Thunderbolt's Tracks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • Tarzan and the Golden Lion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • Red Signals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director · as Jim Twyler

  • When a Dog Loves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • Perils of the Rail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director · as Barker's Accomplice at Smelter Junction

  • Crack O' Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Earle Thorpe Sr.

  • Crossed Signals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • The Lost Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director · as Train Engineer

  • Moran of the Mounted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Sgt. Churchill

  • Senor Daredevil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Jesse Wilks

  • The Brown Derby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Writer

  • Danger Quest(1926)

    as Col. Spiffy

  • The Patent Leather Pug (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as James Curtis

  • Peggy of the Secret Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • Webs of Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • The Road Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • The Ace of Clubs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • The Bandit Tamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • A Desperate Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

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

    Director

  • Red Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director · as Eagle Custer

  • The Fast Freight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director · Scenario Writer · Actor

  • Mistaken Orders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • Cold Nerve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • The Fighting Sheriff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

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

    Director · as 'Hard Rock' Ralston

  • Barriers of the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director · as Steve Redding

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

    Director · Writer · as Tiger McGuire

  • Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director

  • A Desperate Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director

  • Crossed Trails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director · as 'Pepper' Baldwin

  • A Two Fisted Tenderfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director · as Stephen Lawlor

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

    Director · as Livingston

  • Baffled (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director · as Jack Norton

  • Stormy Seas(1923)

    Director · as Capt. Morgan

  • Perils of the Yukon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • Captain Kidd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • Hills of Missing Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director · Writer · as Capt. Brandt / The Dragon

  • Below the Deadline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director

  • Cold Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Steele Weir

  • Tiger True (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director

  • Do or Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director · as Capt. Alvarez / Satan

  • The Vanishing Dagger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director

  • Elmo the Fearless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director · Actor

  • King of the Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director · Actor

  • The Red Glove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Elmo, the Mighty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • The Lure of the Circus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • The Lost Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • The Railroad Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director · Editor · Producer · as Thomas Desmond

  • The Hazards of Helen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director · as Various roles

  • The Manager of the B & A (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • The Diamond Runners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Scenario Writer

  • Judith of the Cumberlands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Producer

  • Medicine Bend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Whispering Smith

  • Whispering Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Whispering Smith

  • A Lass of the Lumberlands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Producer

  • When Rogues Fall Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • A Desperate Leap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · Actor

  • The Mettle of Jerry McGuire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · as Jerry McGuire

  • Blackbirds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Broken Rail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Trow - of the Working Crew

  • The Girl on the Engine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • A Deed of Daring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Fate of Number One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • A Wild Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Midnight Limited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • In Danger's Path (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • Near Eternity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Pay Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Human Chain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • A Railroader's Bravery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · as Thomas - the Chief of the Gang

  • The Broken Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · as Warren - Railroad Employee

  • The Hazards of Helen Ep26: The Wild Engine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Box Car Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • A Race for a Crossing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Girl Engineer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Girl on the Trestle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • A Life in the Balance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Girl at Lone Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Railroad Raiders of '62 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · as Lockwood - the old one-armed Flagman

  • The Death Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Open Drawbridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Engineer's Peril (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Little Engineer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Fast Mail's Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Broken Circuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Leap from the Water Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · as Rand - the Fireman

  • The Girl and the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · Writer · as Spike

  • The Girl Telegrapher's Peril (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · as Blake - a Lineman

  • The Escape on the Limited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director · as Brandt - a Defaulting Cashier

  • The Black Diamond Express (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director · as Dan Haddon - a Cowboy

  • The Flying Freight's Captive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director · as Rand - a Yeggman

  • The Stolen Engine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • The Girl at the Throttle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • The Plot at the Railroad Cut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • His Nemesis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director · Writer · as Mammoth - Manning's Business Rival

  • Helen's Sacrifice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director · as Benton

  • The Lost Mail Sack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • The Car of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • The Operator at Black Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • Kaintucky Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director · as Kaintucky Bill - a Moonshiner

  • The Flaw in the Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • A String of Pearls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • The Pursuit of the Smugglers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director

  • A Sawmill Hazard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director

  • The Wives of Jamestown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as The O’Rourke

  • The Shaughraun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Corry Kinchela

  • Ireland, the Oppressed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Lord Kilhannack

  • The Mayor from Ireland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Shamus Foley

  • The Little Gluers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Valentine Hay

  • From the Manger to the Cross(1912)

    as Wise Man 1

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Poacher's Pardon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Mr. Wallace - the Gamekeeper

  • The Grit of the Girl Telegrapher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director · Actor

  • Winning a Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Actor

  • Tragedy of the Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as The Arab Sheik

  • Captured by Bedouins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Lt. Greig

  • An Arabian Tragedy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Actor

  • Dust of the Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Sheik Mohammad

  • Far from Erin's Isle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Actor

  • Vagabonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Big Jim

  • His Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as John Foster

  • The Fishermaid of Ballydavid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Policeman

  • The Colleen Bawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Hardress Cregan

  • Rory O'More (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Commander of the English troops

  • The Special Messenger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Royal

  • Railroad Raiders of '62 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Federal Officer

  • When the Dead Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Jacques

  • The Fiddler’s Requiem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Dolores' father

  • Slim Jim's Last Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as The Rancher

  • By a Woman's Wit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    Actor

  • A Sawmill Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    Actor

  • When Lovers Part (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1910)

    Actor

  • The Lad from Old Ireland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1910)

    as Election Agent

Career shape

A full career of 255 titles, 254 of them dated from 1910 to 1956.

Highest rated

From the Manger to the Cross (1912)

Midcredits 28th

Most popular right now

Call of the Desert (1930)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting153 of 255: 90 only acting, 63 with another role · typical Midcredits score48thDirecting161 of 255: 89 only directing, 72 with another roleWriting19 of 255: 2 only writing, 17 with another roleProducing8 of 255: 0 only producing, 8 with another roleEditing1 of 255: 0 only editing, 1 with another role

255 titles, 74 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 61 of them.

By decade

1910s89 · 47 acting · 61 crew1920s85 · 53 acting · 67 crew1930s78 · 50 acting · 37 crew1950s2 · acting

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 J.P. McGowan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of the 23 of 25 with a score; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

12thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 23 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Señor Americano (1929)

97th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Stagecoach (1939)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 61/100 and the pacing 52/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 J.P. McGowan work with?

People who share at least 2 of J.P. McGowan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Harry Joe Brown shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles