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Bonita Granville

Bonita Granville

Actor, also producer · Died October 11, 1988, aged 65 · New York City, New York, USA

Daughter of Bernard 'Bunny' Granville and Rosina Timponi, Bonita Granville was born into an acting family on 2 Febuary 1923, in New York, New York. It's not surprising that she herself became a child actor, first on the stage and, at the age of 9, debuting in movies in Westward Passage (1932). She was regularly cast as a naughty little girl, as in These Three (1936) where she played Mary, an obnoxious girl spreading lies about her teachers. Her performance left an impression on the audience, and she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress award. In 1938-39 came the movies she is now best remembered for -- playing the bright and feisty detective/reporter Nancy Drew in the Nancy Drew series. She also appeared with Mickey Rooney in a few Andy Hardy movies. She never really had a movie breakthrough, and after marrying oil millionaire and later producer Jack Wrather, she retired from acting in the middle of the 1950s, although she went on to produce the Lassie (1954) TV series. After her marriage to oil millionaire Jack Wrather in 1947, she appeared in only three more movies. She became an executive in the Wrather Corp., and first associate producer, then executive producer of the Lassie (1954) TV series. After Wrather's death in 1984, she took over as chairman of the board. She was also involved in many civic and cultural groups, and she was chair of American Film Institute, trustee of John F. Kennedy Center, as well as other well known organizations and charities. Walt Disney personally convinced the Wrathers to build the Disneyland Hotel when Disney could not raise the money to do so -- his credit was all tied up in building the theme park itself. After the phenomenal success of Disneyland, Disney attempted to buy the hotel; but the Wrathers steadfastly refused to sell. Long after Jack and Bonita Wrather's and Walt Disney's deaths, the Disney Company bought the Wrather Corporation. The Disney Company thus acquired the Disneyland Hotel, the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose attractions in Long Beach, California, the rights to The Lone Ranger (1949) TV series, as well as other properties. Bonita Granville Rather died of cancer on 11 October 1988, in Santa Monica, California. She and Wrather had four children (two from Wrather's first marriage).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 2, 1923
Died
October 11, 1988 (aged 65)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
32 on MovieCove · 64 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 27% in 30 days

What are Bonita Granville's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
36%
Morality
32%
Self
18%
Society
8%
Ideas
3%
Power
2%
Romantic love13 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 27 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 3 · Dark 5

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 0

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 14 · Charged 8 · Intense 5

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 5

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 13 · 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 19 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

12 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 12 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 12
Hero
5 of 12
Shadow
1 of 12
Shapeshifter
1 of 12
Show the 12 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
16
Tense
11
Joyful
9
Melancholic
9
Romantic
4
Other
21

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 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

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Bonita Granville's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 32 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (8).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bonita Granville'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

64 credits, 32 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Legend of the Lone Ranger(1981)

    as Woman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Magic of Lassie(1978)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Lassie: Peace Is Our Profession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Producer

  • Lassie: The Adventures of Neeka(1968)

    Associate Producer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Velvet Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Mrs. Kirkley

  • The Lone Ranger(1956)

    as Welcome Kilgore

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Jordan · as Molly

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · Director · Actor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Morison

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Joan · as Kitty

  • Guilty of Treason(1950)

    as Stephanie Varna

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Strike It Rich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Julie Ann Brady

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann

  • The Guilty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Estelle Mitchell / Linda Mitchell

  • Love Laughs at Andy Hardy(1946)

    as Kay Wilson

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Ronnie

  • The Truth About Murder(1946)

    as Christine Allen

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Breakfast in Hollywood(1946)

    as Dorothy Larson

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Senorita from the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Jeannie Blake

  • The Beautiful Cheat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Alice

  • Youth Runs Wild (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Toddy Jones

  • Song of the Open Road(1944)

    as Bonnie

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble(1944)

    as Kay Wilson

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Hitler's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Anna Miller

  • Seven Miles from Alcatraz(1942)

    as Anne Porter

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Now, Voyager(1942)

    as June Vale

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Glass Key(1942)

    as Opal 'Snip' Madvig

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Syncopation(1942)

    as Kit Latimer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Soaring Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Passenger

  • H.M. Pulham, Esq.(1941)

    as Mary Pulham

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Down in San Diego (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Betty Haines

  • The People Vs. Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Frances Marlowe

  • The Wild Man of Borneo(1941)

    as Francine 'Frankie' Diamond

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Gallant Sons(1940)

    as Kate Pendleton

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Ursula

  • Third Finger, Left Hand(1940)

    as Vicky Sherwood

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Those Were the Days! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Martha Scroggs

  • The Mortal Storm(1940)

    as Elsa

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Forty Little Mothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Doris

  • Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Nancy Drew

  • Angels Wash Their Faces(1939)

    as Peggy Finnegan

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter(1939)

    as Nancy Drew

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Nancy Drew... Reporter(1939)

    as Nancy Drew

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Breakdowns of 1938 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nancy Drew (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • Nancy Drew… Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nancy Drew

  • Hard to Get (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Connie Richards

  • My Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Gwen Colbrook

  • White Banners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Sally Ward

  • The Beloved Brat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Roberta Morgan

  • Merrily We Live(1938)

    as Marian Kilbourne

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • It's Love I'm After (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Gracie Kane

  • Call It a Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Ann Hilton

  • Quality Street(1937)

    as Isabella

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Maid of Salem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Ann

  • The Plough and the Stars(1936)

    as Mollser Gogan

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Garden of Allah(1936)

    as Convent Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • These Three(1936)

    as Mary Tilford

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Song of the Saddle(1936)

    as Jen as a Child

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Ah Wilderness!(1935)

    as Mildred Miller

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Life of Vergie Winters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Joan Shadwell as a Child (uncredited)

  • Cradle Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Carmen (uncredited)

  • Cavalcade(1933)

    as Young Fanny

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Silver Dollar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Liddy (uncredited)

  • Westward Passage(1932)

    as Little Olivia Allen (age 9)

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 64 titles from 1932 to 1981.

Biggest box office

Now, Voyager (1942)

$10K worldwide

Highest rated

Now, Voyager (1942)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

The Lone Ranger (1956)

Film career

Top draw in 1 MovieCove title.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting61 of 64: 60 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score49thDirecting1 of 64: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing3 of 64: 3 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1930s25 · acting1940s28 · acting1950s7 · 7 acting · 1 crew1960s1 · crew1970s2 · crew1980s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 9% of 11 roles

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.

How do Bonita Granville's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 31; across their 27 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Reach · how many have seen their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 27

Midcredits score across 32 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 32 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · producer

Lassie: The Adventures of Neeka (1968)

66th percentile spread · 29% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Now, Voyager (1942)

Midcredits 96th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 49. 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 Bonita Granville work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bonita Granville's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; David Snell shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles