From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Edgar Selwyn (October 20, 1875 – February 13, 1944) was a prominent figure in American theater and film in the first half of the 20th Century. He co-founded Goldwyn Pictures in 1916. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Selwyn flourished in the Broadway theater as an actor, playwright, director, and producer from 1899 to 1942. With his brother Archibald Selwyn (November 3, 1877 - June 21, 1959) he founded the theatrical production company The Selwyns which produced plays on Broadway from 1919 to 1932 (see, e.g., Wedding Bells). The Selwyns owned several theatres in the United States including the Park Square Theatre in Boston; the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio; the Selwyn in Chicago; and the Selwyn, Apollo, and Times Square theatres in New York City. Selwyn also worked in Hollywood, producing and directing eight films between 1929 and 1942. Among these was The Sin of Madelon Claudet which Selwyn directed for MGM in 1931. The film starred Helen Hayes, who won an Academy Award for her performance. In addition, Selwyn wrote two screenplays and many more films were adapted from his original plays. He died in Los Angeles, California.
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Biography from TMDB.
- October 20, 1875
- February 13, 1944 (aged 68)
- Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Writer, producer and director
- 7 on MovieCove · 33 credits in all
What are Edgar Selwyn's films like?
Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.
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 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 6
A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 1 · Dark 2
Grounded 7 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 0
Gentle 2 · Charged 4 · Intense 1
Steady 2 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1
Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1
Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0
Casual 5 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 4 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 1
Resolved 6 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy5
- Bittersweet2
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 Edgar Selwyn's films?
As of October 24, 2026, none of Edgar Selwyn's 7 MovieCove titles is streaming on a subscription or free service.
Subscription and free streaming for Edgar Selwyn's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted.
Filmography
33 credits, 7 with a MovieCove page.
Pierre of the Plains(1942)
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films
Washington Melodrama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)
Dulcy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)
The Golden Fleecing(1940)
Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films
Joe and Ethel Turp Call on the President (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
Dancing Co-Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
Bridal Suite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
The Kid from Texas(1939)
Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films
Baby Face Harrington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Chained (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
The Mystery of Mr. X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Turn Back the Clock(1933)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Men Must Fight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Skyscraper Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Possessed(1931)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films
Men Call It Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
War Nurse(1930)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
The Girl in the Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Dancing Mothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)
Night Life of New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
The Crowded Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)
The Mirage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
The Arab (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)
The Primitive Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)
Lonely Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)
For Better, for Worse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)
Heart of the Wilds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)
Dodging a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)
Nearly Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)
Rolling Stones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)
The Country Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)
Pierre of the Plains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)
Career shape
A full career of 33 titles from 1914 to 1942.
How do Edgar Selwyn's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 7; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up1
- 50th to 74th2
- 25th to 49th2
- Below 25th2
Shape of the crowd
None of their 7 titles divides audiences: 3 are Crowd Pleasers.
- Crowd Pleaser3
- Broadly Agreed3
- Mixed1
Reviewers score the dialogue 51/100 and the plot and story 49/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.
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 Edgar Selwyn work with?
People who share at least 2 of Edgar Selwyn's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ben Hecht shares the most, 2.
Writers
- Ben HechtShared titles: Turn Back the Clock (1933), The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)See all 2 shared titles with Ben Hecht
Actors
- Clara BlandickShared titles: Turn Back the Clock (1933), Possessed (1931)See all 2 shared titles with Clara Blandick
- Marie PrevostShared titles: The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931), War Nurse (1930)See all 2 shared titles with Marie Prevost
Cinematographers and editors
- Charles RosherShared titles: Pierre of the Plains (1942), War Nurse (1930)See all 2 shared titles with Charles Rosher
- Oliver T. MarshShared titles: Possessed (1931), The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)See all 2 shared titles with Oliver T. Marsh
- William LeVanwayShared titles: Possessed (1931), War Nurse (1930)See all 2 shared titles with William LeVanway
Producers
- Harry RapfShared titles: Turn Back the Clock (1933), Possessed (1931)See all 2 shared titles with Harry Rapf
- Irving ThalbergShared titles: Possessed (1931), The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931)See all 2 shared titles with Irving Thalberg
