Skip to content
MovieCove
Robert Stevenson

Robert Stevenson

Director and writer · Died April 30, 1986, aged 81 · Buxton, Derbyshire, England, UK

Robert Stevenson (31 March 1905, Buxton, Derbyshire – 30 April 1986) was an English film writer and director. He was educated at Cambridge University where he became the president of both the Liberal Club and the Cambridge Union Society. He moved to California in the 1940s and ended up directing 19 films for The Walt Disney Company in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, Stevenson is best remembered for directing the Julie Andrews musical Mary Poppins, for which Andrews won the Academy Award for Best Actress and Stevenson received a nomination for Best Director Oscar. Stevenson divorced his first wife Cecilie and married actress Anna Lee in 1934. They lived on London's Bankside for five years, moving to Hollywood in 1939, where he remained for many years. They had two daughters, Venetia and Caroline, before divorcing in March 1944. He married Frances Holyoke Howard on October 8, 1944; they later divorced. They had one son, Hugh Howard Stevenson. Robert Stevenson's widow, Ursula Henderson, appeared as herself in the documentary Locked in the Tower: The Men behind Jane Eyre in 2007. Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert Stevenson (director), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 31, 1905
Died
April 30, 1986 (aged 81)
From
Buxton, Derbyshire, England, UK
Works as
Director and writer
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 78 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 34% in 30 days

What are Robert Stevenson's films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile
: browse their Action 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
38%
Self
18%
Morality
16%
Society
12%
Power
11%
Survival
5%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 32 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 19 · Serious 7 · Dark 6

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 19 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 14 · Charged 16 · Intense 2

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

Steady 18 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 1

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 6 · Funny 11

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 20 · 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 20 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
14
Tense
12
Hopeful
11
Warm
10
Thrilling
8
Other
31

How their films linger

Feel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy25
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

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 Robert Stevenson's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Stevenson'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

78 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Shaggy D.A.(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing(1975)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Island at the Top of the World(1974)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Herbie Rides Again(1974)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks(1971)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • My Dog, the Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director

  • The Love Bug(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Blackbeard's Ghost(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Gnome-Mobile(1967)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • That Darn Cat!(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Monkey's Uncle(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Mary Poppins(1964)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Misadventures of Merlin Jones(1964)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Son of Flubber(1962)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • In Search of the Castaways(1962)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Absent Minded Professor(1961)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Kidnapped(1960)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Darby O'Gill and the Little People(1959)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • I Captured the King of the Leprechauns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • Old Yeller(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Best Doggoned Dog in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Zorro(1957)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Johnny Tremain(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Liberty Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • On Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Miracle on 34th Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 6 episodes · Director

  • The Star and the Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Atomic Energy as a Force for Good (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • Heart of Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 19 episodes · Director

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Co-Pilot

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Macao(1952)

    Co-Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Las Vegas Story(1952)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • My Forbidden Past(1951)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Walk Softly, Stranger(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Woman on Pier 13(1949)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • To the Ends of the Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Dishonored Lady(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Know Your Ally: Britain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Jane Eyre(1943)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Forever and a Day(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Joan of Paris(1942)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Back Street(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Case of the Frightened Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • Tom Brown's School Days(1940)

    Director · Additional Dialogue · Writer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Return to Yesterday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Young Man's Fancy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Director

  • The Ware Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director · Scenario Writer

  • Owd Bob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Paradise for Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Writer

  • Non-Stop New York (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • King Solomon's Mines(1937)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Jack of All Trades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Windbag the Sailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Writer

  • The Man Who Lived Again(1936)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Tudor Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director · Writer

  • Little Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Associate Producer

  • The Camels Are Coming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • The Battle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Writer

  • Early to Bed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Dialogue · Supervising Producer

  • The Only Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Assistant Director

  • Falling for You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Happy Ever After (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Love on Wheels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Screenplay

  • The Faithful Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Scenario Writer

  • Lord Babs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Writer

  • Sunshine Susie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Scenario Writer

  • Michael and Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Writer

  • A Night in Montmartre(1931)

    Scenario Writer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Ringer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Writer

  • Greek Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • Balaclava (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Scenario Writer

  • Christopher Closeup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

Career shape

A full career of 78 titles, 77 of them dated from 1928 to 1976.

Biggest box office

Mary Poppins (1964)

$103M worldwide

Highest rated

Mary Poppins (1964)

Midcredits 97th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 78: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting61 of 78: 54 only directing, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rdWriting20 of 78: 13 only writing, 7 with another roleProducing2 of 78: 1 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 78: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

78 titles, 8 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1920s1 · crew1930s25 · crew1940s10 · crew1950s23 · 1 acting · 22 crew1960s13 · crew1970s5 · 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 Robert Stevenson's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 33; across their 32 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 32

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th10

Shape of the crowd

None of their 36 titles divides audiences: 24 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed4

Most loved · director

Mary Poppins (1964)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 65/100 and the pacing 49/100 in their films, across 32 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.

Is Robert Stevenson's work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles12–37 · median 21 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles5–14 · median 8 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles0–10 · median 5 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles10–40 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles15–68 · median 25 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Robert Stevenson work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Stevenson's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Walt Disney shares the most, 13.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers