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Martha Scott

Martha Scott

Actor, also producer · Died May 28, 2003, aged 90 · Jamesport, Missouri, USA

Martha Ellen Scott (1912–2003) was an American actress best known for her roles as mother of the lead character in numerous films and television shows.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 22, 1912
Died
May 28, 2003 (aged 90)
From
Jamesport, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
33 on MovieCove · 71 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 38 days to Oct 27Up 46% in 30 days

What are Martha Scott's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 97th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
26%
Morality
25%
Self
15%
Society
13%
Survival
7%
Power
7%
Ideas
7%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 10 · Intense 4

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 2

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 15 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 7 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 7
Hero
2 of 7
Shapeshifter
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Warm
7
Contemplative
7
Melancholic
7
Hopeful
6
Other
23

How their films linger

Bittersweet10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet12
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical1

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 Martha Scott's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 33 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Martha Scott'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

71 credits, 33 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Daughter of the Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sarah

  • Love and Betrayal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Ginger

  • Doin' Time on Planet Earth(1988)

    as Virginia Camalier

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Adam: His Song Continues(1986)

    as Gram Walsh

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Georgia Wilson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Adam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Gram Walsh

  • Summer Girl(1983)

    as Martina Shelburne

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Estelle

  • First Monday in October(1981)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeanie LaSalle

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Secrets of Midland Heights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 11 episodes · as Martha Millington

  • Father Figure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Hilda Wollman

  • Beulah Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 3 episodes · as Penelope Pennington

  • Married: The First Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Charleston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Mrs. Farrell (Aunt Louisa)

  • The Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Sarah Randall

  • Dallas(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mrs. Shepard · as Patricia Shepard

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Turning Point(1977)

    as Adelaide

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Janet Latham

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Bionic Woman(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all shows

  • Medical Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss McDonald

  • The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond(1975)

    as Mumsie

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Bionic Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Helen Elgin

  • The Abduction of Saint Anne(1975)

    as Mother Michael

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Airport 1975(1974)

    as Sister Beatrice

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Police Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Murder in the First Person Singular (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mrs. Emerson

  • Thursday's Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mrs. Reynolds

  • The Man from Independence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Mamma Truman

  • Sorority Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as House Mother

  • The Six Million Dollar Man(1974)

    Show 3 episodes · as Helen Elgin

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Charlotte's Web(1973)

    as Mrs. Arable (voice)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Daughter(1973)

    as Mrs. Stone

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Delphi Bureau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha

  • The Sandy Duncan Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Bob Newhart Show(1972)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mrs. Eleanor Hartley · as Mrs. Martha Hartley

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Lemonade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Mabel

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret Meadis

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Loring

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The Courtship of Eddie's Father(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandmother

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Belle Fuller

  • Cimarron Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Katharine Lamberth

  • The Greatest Show on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Kyle

  • Route 66(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Ben-Hur(1959)

    as Miriam

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Sayonara(1957)

    as Mrs. Webster

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Eighteen and Anxious (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Lottie Graham

  • The Ten Commandments(1956)

    as Yochabel

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Desperate Hours(1955)

    as Eleanor 'Ellie' Hilliard

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Modern Romances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 61 episodes · Actor

  • Revlon Mirror Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • When I Grow Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Mother Reed

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Esmerelda

  • Your Show of Shows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Scott · as Julia Brougham · as Madeleine · as Marietta Jackson

  • Strange Bargain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Georgia Wilson

  • Lights Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • So Well Remembered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Olivia

  • Kraft Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Show 1 episode · as Joanna

  • In Old Oklahoma(1943)

    as Catherine Elizabeth Allen

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Hi Diddle Diddle(1943)

    as Janie Prescott

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Stage Door Canteen(1943)

    as Martha Scott

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • One Foot in Heaven(1941)

    as Hope Morris Spence

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • They Dare Not Love(1941)

    as Marta Keller

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Cheers for Miss Bishop(1941)

    as Ella Bishop

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Howards of Virginia(1940)

    as Jane Peyton-Howard

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Our Town(1940)

    as Emily Webb

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 70 titles from 1940 to 1990; peak year 1973.

Biggest box office

Ben-Hur (1959)

$74M worldwide

Highest rated

Ben-Hur (1959)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The Bionic Woman (1976)

Film career

19401990

Peak 1973 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting70 of 70: 70 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

By decade

1940s13 · acting1950s11 · acting1960s7 · acting1970s26 · acting1980s12 · acting1990s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 9 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 Martha Scott's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 33 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond (1975)

86th percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Ben-Hur (1959)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 18 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 Martha Scott's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 10 · minimalMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 7 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 13 · minimalMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 39 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

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

Who does Martha Scott work with?

People who share at least 2 of Martha Scott's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Wyler shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers

Mixed roles