Skip to content
MovieCove
Walter McGrail

Walter McGrail

Actor · Died March 19, 1970, aged 81 · Brooklyn, New York, USA

Walter B. McGrail (October 19, 1888 – March 19, 1970) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 150 films between 1916 and 1951. Besides feature films, he appeared in The Scarlet Runner, a 12-chapter serial.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 18, 1888
Died
March 19, 1970 (aged 81)
From
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 124 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 26Up 24% in 30 days

What are Walter McGrail's films like?

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

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 23rd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
59%
Bonds
11%
Survival
11%
Society
10%
Power
5%
Self
3%
Justice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 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 10 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 8 · Intense 2

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

Steady 11 · 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 8 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 5 · Even-paced 9 · 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 9 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 6 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 6
Ally
1 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
9
Tense
6
Hopeful
6
Warm
3
Contemplative
4
Other
6

How their films linger

Feel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet3

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 Walter McGrail's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Walter McGrail'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

124 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page.

  • Death Valley Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Charlie

  • And Then There Were Four (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Tom McCall

  • A Double Life(1947)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Bowery at Midnight(1942)

    as Coroner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Riders of the West(1942)

    as Miller, the Banker

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Billy the Kid Trapped(1942)

    as Judge Jack McConnell

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc.(1941)

    as Junction Heavy 1 / Marine Captain

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Appointment for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Stoddard (uncredited)

  • Along the Rio Grande (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Cattle Buyer (uncredited)

  • Mysterious Doctor Satan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Stoner

  • Marked Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Doctor

  • Billy the Kid Outlawed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Judge Fitzgerald

  • The Grapes of Wrath(1940)

    as Gang Leader (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • My Little Chickadee(1940)

    as Townsman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Green Hornet(1940)

    as Dean

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Calling All Marines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Capt. Chester

  • The Sun Never Sets(1939)

    as Henchman DaCosta

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Stagecoach(1939)

    as Capt. Sickel (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • In Old Montana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Joe Allison

  • Code of the Fearless(1939)

    as Ranger Captain Rawlins

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

  • On the Great White Trail(1938)

    as Garou

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Held for Ransom(1938)

    as Donnelly

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Reefer Madness(1939)

    as The Boss (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • West of Rainbow's End (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as George Reynolds aka Johnson

  • The Shadow Strikes(1937)

    as Winstead Comstock

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Ten Laps to Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Drake - DeSylva's Mechanic

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

    as Guard

  • Special Agent K-7 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Vincent 'Lanny' Landers

  • Sunset Range(1935)

    as Grant

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Men of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Louie

  • A Demon for Trouble(1934)

    as Dyer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The World Moves On(1934)

    as The Duallist (1825)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • David Harum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Townsman (uncredited)

  • Police Call (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Dr. James A. Gordon

  • State Trooper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Burman

  • Sing Sinner Sing(1933)

    as Louis

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Robbers' Roost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Henchman Brad

  • Vanity Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Detective Hanson (uncredited)

  • McKenna of the Mounted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Inspector Oliver P. Logan

  • The Red Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Actor

  • Union Depot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Pickpocket (uncredited)

  • Under Eighteen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Gregg (uncredited)

  • Night Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Martin Andrews

  • Murder by the Clock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Herbert Endicott

  • Night Nurse(1931)

    as The Drunk

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Seas Beneath(1931)

    as Chief Joe Cobb

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Part Time Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Johnny Spence

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

    as Martin

  • The Pay-Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Emory

  • The Last of the Duanes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Bland

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

    as Captain Davis

  • Women Everywhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Lieutenant of Legionnaires

  • Soldiers and Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Capt. Arnold

  • Men Without Women(1930)

    as Cobb

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Lone Star Ranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Phil Lawson

  • The River of Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Major Patterson

  • The Veiled Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Diplomatic Attaché

  • Hey Rube! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Duke

  • Blockade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Hayden

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

    as Pierre Belleu

  • The Play Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as David Courtney

  • Midnight Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Childers

  • Stop That Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as ’Slippery Dick' Sylvaine

  • Man Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Van Breamer

  • American Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Claverhouse

  • Old San Francisco(1927)

    as Vasquez's Grandson - in Prologue

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Secret Studio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Mr. Kyler

  • Prisoners of the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Sergeant McClellan

  • The City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Jim Hannock

  • Across the Pacific (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Capt. Grover

  • Marriage License? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Marcus Heriot

  • The Combat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Milton Symmons

  • Forbidden Waters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as J. Austin Bell

  • When the Door Opened (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Clive Grenfal

  • A Son of His Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Holdbrook

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

    as Roddy Dunton

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

    as Roderick Caswell

  • The Scarlet West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Lt. Harper

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

    as Tudor

  • Her Husband's Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Leon Kent

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

    Actor

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

    as Zanten / Dick Sterling

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

    as The Argentine

  • Is Love Everything? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Boyd Carter

  • Gerald Cranston's Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Gordon Ibbotsleigh

  • Unguarded Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Larry Trent

  • A Son of the Sahara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Capt. Jean Duval

  • Flaming Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Jamieson James

  • Lights Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Sea Bass

  • The Bad Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Morgan Pell

  • The Eleventh Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Dick Manley

  • Where the North Begins(1923)

    as Gabrielle Dupree

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Is Divorce a Failure? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Kelcey Barton

  • Suzanna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Ramón

  • Nobody's Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Frank Carey

  • The Kentucky Derby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Ralph Gordon

  • The Top of New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Emery Gray

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

    as Courtney Webster

  • Her Mad Bargain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as David Leighton

  • The Invisible Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Arthur Comstock

  • Pilgrims of the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Gilbert Hannaway

  • Playthings of Destiny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Hubert Randolph

  • The Breaking Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Richard Janeway

  • Habit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Charles Munson

  • Darling Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Roger Davis

  • Life's Twist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Steven De Koven

  • The Invisible Divorce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Jimmy Ryder

  • Blind Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    as Maurie Monnier

  • The Country Cousin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as George Tewksbury Reynolds III

  • The Girl Problem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Ernest Sanford

  • The Adventure Shop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Josephus Potts, Jr.

  • The Black Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    as Ray McKay

  • Miss Ambition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Larry Boyle

  • Everybody's Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Blinker

  • The Triumph of the Weak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Jim Roberts

  • The Business of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as James Desboro

  • The Song of the Soul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Dr. Evans

  • Brown of Harvard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    as Gerald Thorne

  • Over There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Actor

  • Within the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Dick Gilder

  • Womanhood, the Glory of the Nation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Count Dario

  • Indiscretion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Jimmy Travers

  • Lights of New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Hawk Chovinski

  • The Yosemite Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Ned Thorpe

Career shape

Star power in the 54th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 123 titles, 122 of them dated from 1916 to 1952.

Biggest box office

Where the North Begins (1923)

$961K worldwide

Highest rated

The Green Hornet (1940)

Midcredits 67th

Most popular right now

Where the North Begins (1923)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting123 of 123: 123 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score41st

By decade

1910s15 · acting1920s53 · acting1930s39 · acting1940s13 · acting1950s2 · 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 Walter McGrail's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

15thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 24 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Dick Tracy vs. Crime, Inc. (1941)

72nd percentile spread · 13% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 43. 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 Walter McGrail work with?

People who share at least 2 of Walter McGrail's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Ford shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors