Skip to content
MovieCove
Joan Bennett

Joan Bennett

Actor · Died December 7, 1990, aged 80 · Palisades, New Jersey, USA

Joan Geraldine Bennett (February 27, 1910 – December 7, 1990) was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era. She is possibly best-remembered for her film noir femme fatale roles in director Fritz Lang's movies such as The Woman in the Window (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945). Bennett had three distinct phases to her long and successful career, first as a winsome blonde ingenue, then as a sensuous brunette femme fatale (with looks that movie magazines often compared to those of Hedy Lamarr), and finally as a warmhearted wife/mother figure. In 1951, Bennett's screen career was marred by scandal after her third husband, film producer Walter Wanger, shot and injured her agent Jennings Lang. Wanger suspected that Lang and Bennett were having an affair, a charge which she adamantly denied. In the 1960s, she achieved success for her portrayal of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard on TV's Dark Shadows, for which she received an Emmy nomination. For her final movie role, as Madame Blanc in Suspiria (1977), she received a Saturn Award nomination. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joan Bennett, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 27, 1910
Died
December 7, 1990 (aged 80)
From
Palisades, New Jersey, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 90 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 13% in 30 days

What are Joan Bennett's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Adventure 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
39%
Morality
22%
Self
21%
Power
10%
Society
4%
Survival
3%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 35 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 17 · Serious 10 · Dark 8

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

Grounded 12 · Stylized 20 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 11 · Charged 17 · Intense 7

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 23 · 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 17 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 8

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

Slow burn 12 · Even-paced 21 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 24 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 28 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

28 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 28 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 28
Hero
7 of 28
Shapeshifter
6 of 28
Herald
2 of 28
Threshold guardian
2 of 28
Mentor
2 of 28
Shadow
1 of 28
Show the 28 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Joyful
10
Melancholic
14
Warm
11
Romantic
9
Other
21

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy19
  • Bittersweet9
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7

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 Joan Bennett's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joan Bennett'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

90 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (archive footage)

  • Dark Shadows: The Vampire Curse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (archive footage)

  • Armadillo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Father

  • Divorce Wars: A Love Story(1982)

    as Adele Burgess

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • This House Possessed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Rag Lady

  • Suddenly, Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Mrs. Graham

  • Suspiria(1977)

    as Madame Blanc

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Eyes of Charles Sand(1972)

    as Alexandria Sand

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Gidget Gets Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Claire Ramsey

  • House of Dark Shadows(1970)

    as Elizabeth Stoddard Collins

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Dark Shadows(1966)

    Show 1,225 episodes · as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard / Naomi Collins

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Denise Mitchell

  • Desire in the Dust(1960)

    as Mrs. Marquand

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Too Young to Go Steady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 7 episodes · as Mary Blake

  • DuPont Show of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace Graves

  • Navy Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Peg Blain

  • There's Always Tomorrow(1956)

    as Marion Groves

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • We're No Angels(1955)

    as Amelie Ducotel

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Honora

  • Highway Dragnet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Mrs. Cummings

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

    Show 1 episode · as Bettina Blane

  • The Guy Who Came Back(1951)

    as Kathy Joplin

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Father's Little Dividend(1951)

    as Ellie Banks

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • For Heaven's Sake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Lydia Bolton

  • Father of the Bride(1950)

    as Ellie Banks

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Reckless Moment(1949)

    as Lucia Harper

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Hollow Triumph(1948)

    as Evelyn Hahn

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Secret Beyond the Door...(1947)

    as Celia Lamphere

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Woman on the Beach(1947)

    as Peggy Butler

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Macomber Affair(1947)

    as Margaret Macomber

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Colonel Effingham's Raid(1946)

    as Ella Sue Dozier

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Scarlet Street(1945)

    as Katherine 'Kitty' March

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Nob Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Harriet Carruthers

  • The Woman in the Window(1944)

    as Alice Reed

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Margin for Error (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Sophia Baumer

  • Girl Trouble(1942)

    as June Delaney

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Twin Beds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Julie Abbott

  • The Wife Takes a Flyer(1942)

    as Anita Woverman

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Confirm or Deny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Jennifer Carson

  • Wild Geese Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Sally Murdock

  • Man Hunt(1941)

    as Jerry Stokes

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • She Knew All the Answers(1941)

    as Gloria Winters

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Son of Monte Cristo(1940)

    as Grand Duchess Zona of Lichtenburg

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Man I Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Carol Hoffman

  • The House Across the Bay(1940)

    as Brenda Bentley

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Green Hell(1940)

    as Stephanie Richardson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Housekeeper's Daughter(1939)

    as Hilda

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Man in the Iron Mask(1939)

    as Princess Maria Theresa

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Trade Winds(1938)

    as Kay Kerrigan

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Artists and Models Abroad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Patricia Harper

  • The Texans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Ivy Preston

  • I Met My Love Again(1938)

    as Julie Weir

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Vogues of 1938(1937)

    as Wendy Van Klettering

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Wedding Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Monica 'Rusty' Fleming

  • Two in a Crowd(1936)

    as Julia Wayne

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • 13 Hours by Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Felice Rollins

  • Big Brown Eyes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Eve Fallon

  • The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo(1935)

    as Helen Berkeley

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • She Couldn't Take It(1935)

    as Carol Van Dyke

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Two for Tonight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Bobbie Lockwood

  • Private Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Sally MacGregor

  • Mississippi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Lucy

  • The Man Who Reclaimed His Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Adele Verin

  • The Pursuit of Happiness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Prudence Kirkland

  • Little Women(1933)

    as Amy

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Arizona to Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Lynn Martin

  • Me and My Gal(1932)

    as Helen Riley

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Wild Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Salomy Jane

  • Week Ends Only (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Venetia Carr

  • The Trial of Vivienne Ware (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Vivienne Ware

  • Careless Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Sally Brown

  • She Wanted a Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jane Miller

  • Hush Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Joan Gordon

  • Doctors' Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Nina Wyndram Penning

  • Many a Slip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Pat Coster

  • Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Xandra, Lady Lasher

  • Maybe It's Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Nan

  • Moby Dick(1930)

    as Faith

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Crazy That Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Ann Jordan

  • Puttin' on the Ritz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Dolores Fenton

  • The Mississippi Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Lucy Blackburn

  • Disraeli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Lady Clarissa Pevensey

  • Three Live Ghosts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Rose Gordon

  • Bulldog Drummond(1929)

    as Phyllis

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Divine Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Extra (uncredited)

  • Show Folks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    as Night Club Patron (uncredited)

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

    as A Dame

  • The Eternal City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    as Page (uncredited)

  • The Valley of Decision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    as Unborn soul

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 90 titles from 1916 to 2009; peak year 1977.

Biggest box office

We're No Angels (1955)

$94 worldwide

Highest rated

Scarlet Street (1945)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Dark Shadows (1966)

Film career

19162009

Peak 1977 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 12 MovieCove titles. 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
Acting90 of 90: 90 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1910s1 · acting1920s8 · acting1930s34 · acting1940s21 · acting1950s13 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s2 · acting2000s3 · acting

Billing

usually 2nd · top billed in 10% of 21 roles
283848

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Joan Bennett's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 37; across their 35 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 35

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th11

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 38 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

Divorce Wars: A Love Story (1982)

68th percentile spread · 13% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Scarlet Street (1945)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 34 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 46. 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 Joan Bennett's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 15 · minimalMedian of all films: 32
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 41 · moderateMedian of all films: 33

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

Who does Joan Bennett work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joan Bennett's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Walter Wanger shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles