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Martha Sleeper

Martha Sleeper

Actor · Died March 25, 1983, aged 72 · Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Martha Sleeper (June 24, 1910 – March 25, 1983) was a film actress of the 1920s–1930s and, later, a Broadway stage actress. She studied dancing for five years with Russian ballet master, Louis H. Chalif, at his New York dancing studio. Her first public exhibitions were at Carnegie Hall at his class exhibitions. Sleeper's film career began in 1923 and continued until 1945. Her first screen appearance, at the age of 13, was in The Mailman (1923), an independent production. After appearing in several kiddie comedies at the Christie studio she was signed by the Hal Roach studio for the Our Gang" series but she quickly outgrew that role. From 1925-27 she appeared in comedies playing opposite the studio's most popular male stars. She left the Roach studio in late 1927 and moved to the FBO studio where she starred in six silent features during 1928–29. With the coming of sound she was signed by MGM and placed in their training program. From 1930 to 1936 she played supporting roles in many melodramas her role typically that of a well-bred somewhat snobbish society woman who ends up losing her man to the film's leading lady. Frustrated by the types of roles she was being offered, Martha began playing onstage in and about Los Angeles, at one point drawing raves as Eliza Doolittle in a performance of Pygmalion in 1932. After appearing in some low budget melodramas for the poverty row Monogram studio Martha and her husband, actor Hardie Albright, left Hollywood for New York in 1936 where Martha began a long run in both on- and off-Broadway plays. In 1945, as a favor to director Leo McCarey, Martha played the role of Patsy's mother in The Bells of St. Mary's. It was her last screen role.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 24, 1910
Died
March 25, 1983 (aged 72)
From
Lake Bluff, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 70 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 39 days to Oct 28Up 8% in 30 days

What are Martha Sleeper's films like?

Across their 6 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th 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
Morality
37%
Bonds
31%
Society
14%
Power
13%
Survival
6%
Romantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 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 2 · Serious 0 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 1

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

Steady 3 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 3 · 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 4 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
3
Melancholic
3
Warm
2
Joyful
2
Hopeful
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic1

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 Sleeper's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (2).

Subscription and free streaming for Martha Sleeper'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

70 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Sex and the College Girl(1964)

    Costume Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Bells of St. Mary's(1945)

    as Mary Gallagher

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Four Days Wonder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Nancy Fairbrother

  • Rhythm on the Range(1936)

    as Constance Hyde

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Two Sinners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Elsie Summerstone

  • The Scoundrel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Julia Vivian

  • Great God Gold(1935)

    as Marcia Harper

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • West of the Pecos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Ril Lambeth

  • Tomorrow's Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Ellen Hall

  • Hollywood Party(1934)

    as Show Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

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

    as Eleanor Stafford

  • Broken Dreams(1933)

    as Martha Morley

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Bombshell(1933)

    as Lola's Hair Stylist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Penthouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Sue Leonard

  • Midnight Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Barbara

  • The Secret of Madame Blanche(1933)

    as Chorus Girl Who Hears 'My Country Tis of Thee' (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Rasputin and the Empress(1932)

    as Party Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Huddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Barbara

  • Confessions of a Co-Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Lucille

  • A Tailor-Made Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Corrine

  • Girls Demand Excitement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Harriet Mundy

  • Ten Cents a Dance(1931)

    as Nancy Clark

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • War Nurse(1930)

    as Helen

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Madam Satan(1930)

    as Fish Girl

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Our Blushing Brides (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Evelyn Woodforth

  • The Voice of the Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Ruth

  • The Air Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Sally

  • Taxi 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Flora Mactavish

  • Danger Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Kitty

  • Skinner's Big Idea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Dorothy

  • The Little Yellow House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Emmy Milburn

  • Should Tall Men Marry? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Martha Skittle

  • Pass the Gravy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Daughter

  • Flaming Fathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Daughter

  • Fighting Fathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Max's Daughter

  • Love 'em and Feed 'em (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Martha, a stenographer

  • Fluttering Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Daughter

  • Jewish Prudence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as Rachel Gimplewart

  • The Honorable Mr. Buggs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    as The Fiancée

  • Bromo and Juliet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Bit Role (uncredited)

  • Crazy Like a Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as The bride

  • Along Came Auntie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Marie, the Maid

  • Thundering Fleas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Bride

  • Long Fliv the King (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Princess Helga of Thermosa

  • Don Key (Son of Burro) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Say It with Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Hector's Wife

  • Mum's the Word (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as The Nervous Little Girl

  • Madame Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • What's the World Coming To? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as The Butler

  • A Punch in the Nose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Actor

  • Should Sailors Marry? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Smyrna, Verbena's Daughter

  • Better Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Teenaged 'Vamp'

  • Innocent Husbands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Girl at Party (uncredited)

  • Sherlock Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Hotel Telephone Operator

  • Sure-Mike! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Vermuda

  • Big Red Riding Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Book store clerk

  • Bad Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Jimmie's Girl Friend

  • Plain and Fancy Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Fiance

  • The Rat's Knuckles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Flirty McFickle

  • Laughing Ladies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Actor

  • There Goes the Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    as Imogene-the Bride

  • The Royal Razz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Actor

  • Too Many Mammas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as The Apache Dancer

  • Outdoor Pajamas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Girl with Runaway Pony

  • Sweet Daddy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Daughter

  • Seeing Nellie Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Actor

  • A Ten-Minute Egg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Mrs. Dugan

  • The Racing Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Martha

  • All Wet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Boarding house maid (uncredited)

  • The Mailman(1923)

    as Betty

Career shape

Star power in the 68th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 70 titles from 1923 to 1964.

Biggest box office

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

$21M worldwide

Highest rated

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

Midcredits 87th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting69 of 70: 69 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thOther crew1 of 70: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s45 · acting1930s23 · acting1940s1 · acting1960s1 · crew

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 Martha Sleeper's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of the 12 of 13 with a score; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 12 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Broken Dreams (1933)

51st percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

Midcredits 87th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 48. 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 Martha Sleeper work with?

People who share at least 2 of Martha Sleeper's MovieCove titles; Bing Crosby shares the most, 2.