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Ralph Ince

Ralph Ince

Director and actor · Died April 10, 1937, aged 50 · Boston, Massachusetts, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ralph Ince (January 16, 1887 – April 10, 1937) was an American pioneer film actor, director and screenwriter whose career began near the dawn of the silent film era. Ralph Ince was the brother of John Ince and Thomas H. Ince. Ralph Waldo Ince was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the younger of three sons and a daughter raised by English immigrants, John and Emma Ince. Sometime after his birth Ince moved to Manhattan where his entire family was engaged in theater work; his father as a musical agent and mother, sister Bertha and brothers, John and Thomas as actors. Ralph Ince studied art with cartoonist Dan McCarthy and for a while worked as a newspaper cartoonist for the New York World and later magazine illustrator for the New York Mirror and The Evening Telegram. At times over his acting and directing career Ince would continue to contribute cartoons to popular magazines of the day. Early on in his career Ince, who had done some stage acting as a child, was a member of Richard Mansfield's stock company playing parts in The College Widow and Ben Hur. Around 1906 Ince became an animator in the fledgling film industry working for Winsor McCay, but soon turned to acting and joined Vitagraph Studios where he became known for his portrayals of Abraham Lincoln in a series of one reel films. Ince began directing at Vitagraph around 1910 and was officially advanced to the director’s chair in 1912, though he still continued to act in many of his films and throughout his career. Ince would go on to direct some 171 films between 1910 and 1937 and appear in approximately 110 films over nearly the same time period.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 14, 1887
Died
April 10, 1937 (aged 50)
From
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Works as
Director and actor
Titles
5 on MovieCove · 148 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 11% in 30 days

What are Ralph Ince's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Morality
26%
Survival
19%
Self
18%
Power
11%
Marriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 1 · Dark 4

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 3

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

Steady 1 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 0 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 2 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 5 · 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
5
Thrilling
3
Melancholic
4
Cold
1
Cathartic
1
Other
1

How their films linger

Bittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic2

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 Ralph Ince's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 2 of their 5 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Subscription and free streaming for Ralph Ince'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

148 credits, 5 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Man Who Made Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Side Street Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • The Vulture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • It’s Not Cricket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Hail and Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Fair Exchange (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Gaol Break (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director · as Jim Oakley

  • Twelve Good Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Jury's Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Rolling Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director · as Wally

  • Blue Smoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director · as Al Dempson

  • The Black Mask (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Mr. What's-His-Name? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Crime Unlimited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • What’s in a Name? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • A Glimpse of Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • So You Won't Talk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Ralph Younger

  • Murder at Monte Carlo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • No Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · as Lucky

  • Love at Second Sight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Actor

  • Havana Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as G.W. 'Butch' O'Neill

  • Lucky Devils(1933)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Men Of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director · as Cicero

  • Malay Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jack Sheldon

  • The Pride of the Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Klafki

  • Flaming Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Guilty as Hell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jack Reed

  • Gorilla Ship(1932)

    as Capt. 'Gorilla' Larsen

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Tenderfoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Dolan

  • State's Attorney(1932)

    as Second Trial Defense Attorney

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Extra! Extra! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Callahan

  • The County Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Diamond Barnett

  • The Mouthpiece (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as J.B. Roscoe

  • The Lost Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Jettick

  • Law and Order(1932)

    as Poe Northrup

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Running Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Scratchface Henchman

  • Girl of the Rio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as O'Grady

  • The Big Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Butch

  • Men of Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Farley

  • Law of the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Marty Drake

  • The Big Gamble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Webb

  • The Star Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as "Maxey" Campo

  • Hell Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Dorgan

  • Gentleman's Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Dante

  • Little Caesar(1931)

    as Pete Montana

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Face of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • Numbered Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as 'King' Callahan, #12254

  • The Big Fight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Chuck

  • Wall Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    as Roller McCray

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

    Director

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

    Director

  • The Singapore Mutiny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Writer · as Kelsey

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

    Director

  • Hit of the Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • Chicago After Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · as Jim Boyd

  • Coney Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • South Sea Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • Not for Publication (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director · Producer · as 'Big Dick' Wellman

  • Moulders of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • Wandering Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • The Better Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director · as Billy

  • Bigger Than Barnum's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director · as Carl Ravelle

  • The Lone Wolf Returns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • The Sea Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director · as 'Wolf' Larsen

  • Yellow Fingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    as Brute Shane

  • Lady Robinhood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • Smooth as Satin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • Playing with Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • The Chorus Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director

  • The House of Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director

  • Dynamite Smith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director

  • The Uninvited Guest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Director

  • Homeward Bound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Director

  • Success (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Director

  • Channing of the Northwest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director · Actor

  • Reckless Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • A Wide Open Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • A Man's Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director

  • Tropical Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director

  • After Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director

  • The Last Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Story · Actor

  • The Highest Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director · as Abraham Lincoln

  • Red Foam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director

  • Out of the Snows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director · as Robert Holliday

  • His Wife's Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director

  • Out Yonder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Sealed Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • The Perfect Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Shadows of the Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • The Painted World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Too Many Crooks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • A Stitch in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Two Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Virtuous Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • The Panther Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • Our Mrs. McChesney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • Her Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • Tempered Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • The Co-respondent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director

  • To-Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director · Writer

  • The Argyle Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director · Writer

  • The Combat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • The Conflict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • The Destroyers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • My Lady's Slipper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • Count 'Em (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · Writer

  • The Goddess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Juggernaut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · Writer

  • His Phantom Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director

  • The Painted World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • Uncle Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • Shadows of the Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • He Never Knew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director

  • A Million Bid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Director · Writer

  • The Swan Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • Song Bird of the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director · Writer · as President Lincoln

  • A Regiment of Two (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director · as Dudley

  • The Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director · Scenario Writer

  • Brother Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director

  • The Strength of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director

  • The Classmate's Frolic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director · Writer

  • How Fatty Made Good (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Director · Writer

  • Song of the Shell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director · Writer

  • The Mills of the Gods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director

  • Una of the Sierras (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director

  • The Godmother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director

  • Her Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director · Writer

  • The Higher Mercy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Abraham Lincoln

  • The Bond of Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as A German General

  • The Heart of Esmeralda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Ben Holt

  • The Money Kings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as The Aviator

  • Yellow Bird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as The Hunter

  • Love in the Ghetto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Barish - the Father

  • The Serpents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director · Scenario Writer · as Eric

  • The Cave Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Director · as Eric

  • The Seventh Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    as Abraham Lincoln

  • The Freshet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Tom Ennis - the Young Blacksmith

  • One Flag at Last (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Abraham Lincoln

  • The Child Crusoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    Actor

  • How Betty Won the School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as The Burglar

  • Troublesome Secretaries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    Director · as Ralph - The Successful Suitor

  • The Lure of Vanity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    Actor

  • The Geranium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    Actor

  • The Battle Hymn of the Republic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    as Abraham Lincoln

  • A Tale of Two Cities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1911)

    Actor

  • Jean the Match-Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1910)

    as The Boy

  • Breed of the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · as Tod Pembroke, aka Captain Blaze Devine • Tom Pembroke

  • The Land of Opportunity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Abraham Lincoln

Career shape

Star power in the 46th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 148 titles, 146 of them dated from 1910 to 1937.

Biggest box office

Little Caesar (1931)

$41 worldwide

Highest rated

Little Caesar (1931)

Midcredits 84th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 148: 45 only acting, 22 with another roleDirecting102 of 148: 71 only directing, 31 with another roleWriting15 of 148: 0 only writing, 15 with another roleProducing1 of 148: 0 only producing, 1 with another role

148 titles, 32 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 21 of them.

By decade

1910s61 · 22 acting · 45 crew1920s37 · 12 acting · 35 crew1930s48 · 31 acting · 22 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it.

How do Ralph Ince's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 5; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

21stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Midcredits score across 5 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th1
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 5 titles divides audiences: 3 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser3
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed1

Most loved · actor

Little Caesar (1931)

Midcredits 84th · 76% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 67/100 and the pacing 62/100 in their films, across 5 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.

Who does Ralph Ince work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ralph Ince's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; W.R. Burnett shares the most, 2.

Writers

Composers

Producers