From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William A. Seiter (June 10, 1890 - July 26, 1964) was an American film director. He was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, doubling a cowboy. He graduated to director in 1918. At Universal Studios in the mid-1920s, Seiter was principal director of the popular Reginald Denny vehicles, most of which co-starred Seiter's then wife Laura La Plante (his second wife was actress Marian Nixon). This period also included The Beautiful and Damned and The Family Secret. In the early talkie era, Seiter helped nurture the talents of RKO's comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey in such rollicking features as Caught Plastered (1931) and Diplomaniacs (1933). He also directed the Laurel and Hardy feature Sons of the Desert (1933), their only film together. Other films include Sunny, Going Wild, Kiss Me Again, Hot Saturday, Way Back Home, Girl Crazy, Rafter Romance, Roberta, Room Service, Susannah of the Mounties, Allegheny Uprising, You Were Never Lovelier, Up in Central Park, and One Touch of Venus. Among the many stars directed by Seiter during his long career were Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda, Margaret Sullavan, Jack Haley, Deanna Durbin, Jean Arthur, John Wayne, Fred MacMurray, Lucille Ball, Rita Hayworth and the Marx Brothers. While many of his films were minor gems, Seiter was capable of turning out bad movies once in a while. For example, if he ran into friction from his star—as was the case with Lou Costello in 1946's Little Giant -- Seiter would get even by adhering religiously to the script, refusing to add any nuance or creativity to the project (this pettiness may have been the reason that one prominent actress of the 1930s referred to Seiter as the most unimaginative director she'd ever worked with). On his final four films, before he retired in 1954, Seiter functioned as both producer and director. These films included The Lady Wants Mink (1953), a gentle satire of the then topical "raise your own coat" craze. He died in Beverly Hills, California, of a heart attack, aged 74.
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Biography from TMDB.
- June 10, 1890
- July 26, 1964 (aged 74)
- New York City, New York, USA
- Director, also producer
- 34 on MovieCove · 121 credits in all
What are William A. Seiter's films like?
Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.
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 4 · Earnest 27
Light 29 · Serious 4 · Dark 0
A split, not a type: Grounded 17 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 3
Gentle 20 · Charged 11 · Intense 2
Steady 21 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1
Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 15 · Funny 14
A split, not a type: Slow burn 19 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 3
Casual 27 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 28 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 1
Resolved 30 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy29
- Bittersweet4
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 William A. Seiter's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).
Subscription and free streaming for William A. Seiter'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
121 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page.
The Gale Storm Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Want Ad Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Screen Director's Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
The Wild Bunch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Make Haste to Live(1954)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Champ for a Day(1953)
Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Lady Wants Mink(1953)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films
Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
Four Star Playhouse(1952)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows
Dear Brat(1951)
Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films
Borderline(1950)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
One Touch of Venus(1948)
Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films
Up in Central Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)
I'll Be Yours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Lover Come Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Little Giant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
That Night with You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)
The Affairs of Susan(1945)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
It's a Pleasure(1945)
Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films
Belle of the Yukon(1944)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films
Four Jills in a Jeep(1944)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
A Lady Takes a Chance(1943)
Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films
Destroyer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)
You Were Never Lovelier(1942)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)
Appointment for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
Nice Girl? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
Hired Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
It's a Date (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
Allegheny Uprising(1939)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Susannah of the Mounties(1939)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
The Little Princess(1939)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Thanks for Everything (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Room Service(1938)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
Three Blind Mice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Sally, Irene and Mary(1938)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
Life Begins in College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
The Life of the Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
This Is My Affair(1937)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
Stowaway(1936)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Dimples(1936)
Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
The Moon's Our Home(1936)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
If You Could Only Cook(1935)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
In Person (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Orchids to You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
The Daring Young Man(1935)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Roberta(1935)
Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films
The Richest Girl in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
We're Rich Again(1934)
Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films
Love Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Sing and Like It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Sons of the Desert(1933)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Chance at Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Rafter Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Professional Sweetheart(1933)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Diplomaniacs(1933)
Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films
Hello, Everybody! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
If I Had a Million(1932)
Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films
Hot Saturday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Is My Face Red?(1932)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
Young Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Girl Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Peach-o-Reno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Way Back Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Caught Plastered (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Too Many Cooks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Big Business Girl(1931)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films
L'aviateur(1931)
Kiss Me Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Going Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Sunny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Truth About Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Back Pay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Flirting Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Strictly Modern (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Love Racket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Footlights and Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Smiling Irish Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Prisoners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Why Be Good? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Synthetic Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Outcast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Waterfront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Happiness Ahead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Good Morning, Judge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
Thanks for the Buggy Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)
The Small Bachelor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
Out All Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)
The Cheerful Fraud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Take It from Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Rolling Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Skinner's Dress Suit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
What Happened to Jones? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
The Teaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
Where Was I? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
Dangerous Innocence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
The Mad Whirl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
The Fast Worker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
Helen's Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
The Family Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
Listen Lester (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
His Forgotten Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
The White Sin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
Daddies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
Little Church Around the Corner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)
Bell Boy 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)
When Love Comes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)
Up and at 'Em (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)
The Understudy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)
Gay and Devilish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)
Boy Crazy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)
Eden and Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)
The Foolish Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)
Passing Through (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)
The Kentucky Colonel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)
Camouflage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)
Oh! What a Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)
Pierre of the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)
Career shape
A full career of 120 titles from 1913 to 1956.
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 William A. Seiter's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of the 32 of 33 with a score; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up7
- 50th to 74th14
- 25th to 49th10
- Below 25th2
Shape of the crowd
19 of their 33 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved1
- Crowd Pleaser19
- Broadly Agreed8
- Mixed5
Reviewers score the atmosphere 57/100 and the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 30 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 William A. Seiter work with?
People who share at least 2 of William A. Seiter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Arthur Lange shares the most, 5.
Directors
- Walter LangShared titles: Susannah of the Mounties (1939), The Little Princess (1939)See all 2 shared titles with Walter Lang
Writers
- Glenn TryonShared titles: Room Service (1938), Roberta (1935), The Daring Young Man (1935)See all 3 shared titles with Glenn Tryon
- Devery FreemanShared titles: Dear Brat (1951), Borderline (1950)See all 2 shared titles with Devery Freeman
- Helen LoganShared titles: Four Jills in a Jeep (1944), Susannah of the Mounties (1939)See all 2 shared titles with Helen Logan
- Robert EllisShared titles: Four Jills in a Jeep (1944), Susannah of the Mounties (1939)See all 2 shared titles with Robert Ellis
Actors
- Shirley TempleShared titles: Susannah of the Mounties (1939), The Little Princess (1939), Dimples (1936), Stowaway (1936)See all 4 shared titles with Shirley Temple
- Charles WinningerShared titles: Champ for a Day (1953), Belle of the Yukon (1944), A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)See all 3 shared titles with Charles Winninger
- Mary FieldShared titles: The Lady Wants Mink (1953), The Affairs of Susan (1945), A Lady Takes a Chance (1943)See all 3 shared titles with Mary Field
- Alice FayeShared titles: Four Jills in a Jeep (1944), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), Stowaway (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Alice Faye
Composers and editors
- Arthur LangeShared titles: Belle of the Yukon (1944), Four Jills in a Jeep (1944), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), This Is My Affair (1937), The Daring Young Man (1935)See all 5 shared titles with Arthur Lange
- Charles MaxwellShared titles: Susannah of the Mounties (1939), The Little Princess (1939), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), This Is My Affair (1937)See all 4 shared titles with Charles Maxwell
- Fred AllenShared titles: Make Haste to Live (1954), Champ for a Day (1953), The Lady Wants Mink (1953)See all 3 shared titles with Fred Allen
- Cyril J. MockridgeShared titles: Four Jills in a Jeep (1944), The Little Princess (1939), Dimples (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Cyril J. Mockridge
Producers
- Darryl F. ZanuckShared titles: Susannah of the Mounties (1939), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), This Is My Affair (1937)See all 3 shared titles with Darryl F. Zanuck
- Gene MarkeyShared titles: The Little Princess (1939), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938)See all 2 shared titles with Gene Markey
- Kenneth MacgowanShared titles: Susannah of the Mounties (1939), This Is My Affair (1937)See all 2 shared titles with Kenneth Macgowan
- Walter WangerShared titles: The Case Against Mrs. Ames (1936), The Moon's Our Home (1936)See all 2 shared titles with Walter Wanger
Mixed roles
- H.N. SwansonShared titles: Professional Sweetheart (1933), Big Business Girl (1931)See all 2 shared titles with H.N. Swanson