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Jessie Ralph

Jessie Ralph

Actor · Died May 30, 1944, aged 79 · Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jessie Ralph (born Jessie Ralph Chambers, November 5, 1864 – May 30, 1944) was an American stage and screen actress, best known for her matronly roles in many classic motion pictures. She was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1864. She made her acting debut in 1880, at the age of sixteen. She made it to Broadway, where George M. Cohan cast her in many of his musicals, but she also excelled at dramatic roles. Although she made her Hollywood debut in 1916, in a motion picture career that would eventually span 25 years, she only became a permanent Hollywood actress in 1933. She was nearly 70 at this time, so her roles were limited to matronly roles, but her expertise at stealing scenes captured the imagination of cinema-goers of the time. Her best-known roles are as Greta Garbo's maid in Camille, as W.C. Fields' battle-axe of a mother-in-law in The Bank Dick, as Myrna Loy's supercilious aunt Katherine in After the Thin Man, and as Nurse Peggotty in David Copperfield. She starred in 55 movies altogether, 52 between 1933 and 1941. Jessie Ralph retired from Hollywood in 1941, after her leg was amputated. She died four years later in her home town of Gloucester at the age of 79. She was buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 4, 1864
Died
May 30, 1944 (aged 79)
From
Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 53 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 44% in 30 days

What are Jessie Ralph's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: 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
Bonds
40%
Morality
32%
Self
17%
Power
6%
Survival
3%
Society
1%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 11 · Serious 6 · Dark 4

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 10 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 8 · Charged 10 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 11 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 3

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 6

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 10 · 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 13 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 19 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

8 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 8 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 8
Threshold guardian
2 of 8
Ally
2 of 8
Herald
1 of 8
Show the 8 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Romantic
9
Joyful
9
Tense
8
Melancholic
5
Hopeful
5
Other
15

How their films linger

Feel-good13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet7
  • 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 Jessie Ralph's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 4 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).

Subscription and free streaming for Jessie Ralph'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

53 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • They Met in Bombay(1941)

    as Duchess of Beltravers

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Lady from Cheyenne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mrs. McGuinness

  • The Bank Dick(1940)

    as Mrs. Hermisillo Brunch

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • I Want a Divorce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Grandma Brokaw

  • The Girl from Avenue A (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mrs. Van Dyne

  • I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mama McGann

  • Star Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Aunt Martha Parker

  • The Blue Bird(1940)

    as Fairy Berylune

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Drums Along the Mohawk(1939)

    as Mrs. Weaver

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Mickey the Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Veronica Hudson

  • The Kid from Texas(1939)

    as Aunt Minetta

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Cafe Society (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mrs. De Witt

  • St. Louis Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Aunt Tibbie

  • Four Girls in White (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Miss Tobias

  • Port of Seven Seas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Honorine

  • Hold That Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Aunt Lucy

  • Love Is a Headache(1938)

    as Sheriff Janet Winfield

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Double Wedding(1937)

    as Mrs. Kensington-Bly

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Good Earth(1937)

    as Cuckoo

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Last of Mrs. Cheyney(1937)

    as The Duchess of Ebley

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Camille(1936)

    as Nanine

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • After the Thin Man(1936)

    as Katherine Forrest

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Walking on Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Evelyn Bennett

  • Bunker Bean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Grandmother

  • San Francisco(1936)

    as Mrs. Maisie Burley

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Unguarded Hour(1936)

    as Lady Agatha Hathaway

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Yellow Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mrs. Brian

  • Little Lord Fauntleroy(1936)

    as Applewoman

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Garden Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Mrs. Hammle

  • Captain Blood(1935)

    as Mrs. Barlow

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • I Found Stella Parish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Nana

  • Metropolitan(1935)

    as Charwoman

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • I Live My Life(1935)

    as Mrs. O.H.B. Gage, Kay's Grandmother

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

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

    as Gran Whiteoaks

  • Paris in Spring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Countess de Charelle

  • Mark of the Vampire(1935)

    as Midwife

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Les Misérables(1935)

    as Madame Magloire

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Vanessa, Her Love Story(1935)

    as Lady Mullion

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Enchanted April (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mrs. Phoebe Fisher

  • David Copperfield(1935)

    as Clara Peggotty

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Evelyn Prentice(1934)

    as Mrs. Blake

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • We Live Again(1934)

    as Matrona Pavlovna

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Affairs of Cellini(1934)

    as Beatrice

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • One Night of Love(1934)

    as Angelina

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Murder at the Vanities(1934)

    as Mrs. Helene Smith

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Coming Out Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Nora

  • Nana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Zoe

  • Cocktail Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Princess

  • Ann Carver's Profession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Terry

  • Elmer, the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Sarah Crosby (uncredited)

  • Child of Manhattan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Aunt Minnie

  • Such a Little Queen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Mary

  • The Madonna of the Slums (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1919 to 1941.

Biggest box office

Drums Along the Mohawk (1939)

$10K worldwide

Highest rated

After the Thin Man (1936)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Camille (1936)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 53: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1910s1 · acting1920s1 · acting1930s43 · acting1940s8 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles

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.

How do Jessie Ralph's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 68th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

I Live My Life (1935)

79th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

After the Thin Man (1936)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 53. 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 Jessie Ralph work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jessie Ralph's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Herbert Stothart shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles