From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Joseph Mansfield Santley (born Joseph Ishmael Mansfield, January 10, 1890 – August 8, 1971) was an American actor, singer, dancer, writer, director, and producer of musical theatrical plays motion pictures and television shows. He adopted the stage name of his stepfather, actor Eugene Santley. Joseph Santley was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. As a boy, he and older brother Fred began performing in live theatre appearing in summer stock and touring with their parents. In 1906, at age seventeen, Joseph Santley co-wrote and starred on Broadway in the play, Billy the Kid. In 1907, he acted in film for the first time for Sidney Olcott at the Kalem Company in a silent Western film short called Pony Express. In 1928, Santley directed his first motion picture, a short talkie for Paramount Pictures that featured singer Ruth Etting. The next year, Paramount had Santley direct three more films that were short singing productions, one with Etting, another with crooner Rudy Vallee, plus a third titled High Hat with Broadway singing star Alice Boulden. Also, he directed A Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic, a musical film featuring Eddie Cantor along with Eddie Elkins and his orchestra. In 1929, Joseph Santley co-directed, with Robert Florey, the first Marx Brothers feature film The Cocoanuts, a musical comedy for which he is most famous. Based on the George S. Kaufman play, and with music by Irving Berlin, the film was billed as "Paramount's All Talking-Singing Musical Comedy Hit." His other notable directorial efforts include 1935's Harmony Lane, a biographical musical on the life of composer Stephen Foster. In 1940, he directed Melody Ranch starring "singing cowboy" Gene Autry. The film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. During World War II, Joseph Santley worked for the war effort and in 1942 made the film Remember Pearl Harbor. In 1950, he made his last feature film but came back at age sixty-five to produce the 1954-55 television comedy The Mickey Rooney Show. In 1956, he put together two segments of Jazz Ball, a made-for-TV musical revue created from various filmed performances by jazz greats from the 1930s to the 1950s. Joseph Santley died in 1971 in Los Angeles.
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Biography from TMDB.
- January 10, 1890
- August 8, 1971 (aged 81)
- Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Director and writer
- 15 on MovieCove · 69 credits in all
What are Joseph Santley's films like?
Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.
Genres
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
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 1 · Wry 1 · Earnest 13
Light 12 · Serious 1 · Dark 2
Grounded 6 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 0
Gentle 11 · Charged 3 · Intense 1
Steady 11 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1
A split, not a type: Straight-faced 1 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 8
A split, not a type: Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 3
Casual 14 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 1
Easy watch 13 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 2
Resolved 14 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy14
- 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 Joseph Santley's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 4 of their 15 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).
Subscription and free streaming for Joseph Santley'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
69 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page.
The Hour of St. Francis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)
Jazz Ball(1956)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
When You're Smiling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
Make Believe Ballroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
Shadow of a Woman(1946)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Hitchhike to Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)
Earl Carroll Vanities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)
Brazil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
Three Little Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
Goodnight, Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)
Jamboree(1944)
Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Rosie the Riveter(1944)
Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films
Here Comes Elmer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
Sleepy Lagoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
Thumbs Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
Chatterbox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
Shantytown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
Call of the Canyon(1942)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all filmsJoan of Ozark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
Yokel Boy(1942)
Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
A Tragedy at Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
Remember Pearl Harbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
Down Mexico Way(1941)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Ice-Capades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
Puddin' Head(1941)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Rookies on Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
Sis Hopkins(1941)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Behind the News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Dancing on a Dime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Melody and Moonlight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Melody Ranch(1940)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films
Music in My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Two Bright Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
The Family Next Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
The Spirit of Culver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
Swing, Sister, Swing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Always in Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
The Return of Carol Deane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Blond Cheat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
She's Got Everything(1937)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
There Goes the Groom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
Meet the Missus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
Smartest Girl in Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Mad Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Walking on Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
We Went to College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
The Harvester (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Laughing Irish Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Dancing Feet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Her Master's Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Beautiful Dreamer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Frisco Waterfront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Harmony Lane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Waterfront Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Million Dollar Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Young and Beautiful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
The Loudspeaker(1934)
Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
I Like It That Way(1934)
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The House on 56th Street(1933)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Oh! Oh! Cleopatra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
The Life of the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Swing High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Radio Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
All Americans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Two Americans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
The Cocoanuts(1929)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
A Ziegfeld Midnight Frolic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
His College Chums (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Ruth Etting in Favorite Melodies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Career shape
A full career of 68 titles from 1929 to 1962.
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 Joseph Santley's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 38th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up1
- 50th to 74th5
- 25th to 49th6
- Below 25th3
Shape of the crowd
7 of their 15 titles are Mixed.
- Crowd Pleaser5
- Broadly Agreed3
- Mixed7
Reviewers score the atmosphere 61/100 and the pacing 54/100 in their films, across 12 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 Joseph Santley work with?
People who share at least 2 of Joseph Santley's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Murray Seldeen shares the most, 5.
Directors
- Robert FloreyShared titles: The House on 56th Street (1933), The Cocoanuts (1929)See all 2 shared titles with Robert Florey
Writers
- Jack TownleyShared titles: Jamboree (1944), Rosie the Riveter (1944), Puddin' Head (1941), Sis Hopkins (1941)See all 4 shared titles with Jack Townley
- Olive CooperShared titles: Call of the Canyon (1942), Down Mexico Way (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Olive Cooper
- Milt GrossShared titles: Puddin' Head (1941), Sis Hopkins (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Milt Gross
Actors
- Gene AutryShared titles: Call of the Canyon (1942), Down Mexico Way (1941), Melody Ranch (1940)See all 3 shared titles with Gene Autry
- Barbara Jo AllenShared titles: Rosie the Riveter (1944), Melody Ranch (1940)See all 2 shared titles with Barbara Jo Allen
- Ruth TerryShared titles: Jamboree (1944), Call of the Canyon (1942)See all 2 shared titles with Ruth Terry
- Eddie Foy Jr.Shared titles: Yokel Boy (1942), Puddin' Head (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Eddie Foy Jr.
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Murray SeldeenShared titles: Yokel Boy (1942), Down Mexico Way (1941), Puddin' Head (1941), Sis Hopkins (1941), Melody Ranch (1940)See all 5 shared titles with Murray Seldeen
- Mort GlickmanShared titles: Yokel Boy (1942), Down Mexico Way (1941), Puddin' Head (1941), Sis Hopkins (1941)See all 4 shared titles with Mort Glickman
- Jack A. MartaShared titles: Down Mexico Way (1941), Puddin' Head (1941), Sis Hopkins (1941)See all 3 shared titles with Jack A. Marta
- Joseph DubinShared titles: Jamboree (1944), Rosie the Riveter (1944)See all 2 shared titles with Joseph Dubin
Producers
- Armand SchaeferShared titles: Jamboree (1944), Rosie the Riveter (1944)See all 2 shared titles with Armand Schaefer
- Harry GreyShared titles: Call of the Canyon (1942), Down Mexico Way (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Harry Grey
- Robert NorthShared titles: Yokel Boy (1942), Sis Hopkins (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Robert North