Filmography

From silent comedy to Hollywood stardom.

A Career Across Two Eras

Marie Dressler entered film in 1914 with Tillie’s Punctured Romance, after establishing herself on stage through physical comedy and improvisation. After several additional silent films and a decade-long absence from the screen, she returned in 1927 and later found major success in talking pictures.

Silent Films

Marie made the move to films in 1914 when Canadian-born director Mack Sennett offered her the role of Tillie in the silent film parody “Tillie’s Punctured Romance”.  The film was based on the successful theatrical production “Tillie’s Nightmare”, starring Marie Dressler.  Dressler’s stage experience in physical comedies and improvisation, along with the contrast of her physique with the smaller Charlie Chaplin and petite Mabel Normand led to the film’s success.  Many “Tillie” sequels followed, mostly produced by the fledgling Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company.  These films had limited success at the box office and led to Marie closing down the production company in 1917.  After an absence of 10 years, Marie was back into films with her role in “The Callahans and the Murphys” in 1927. 

  • Tillie’s Punctured Romance (Keystone, November 14, 1914) 

  • Tillie’s Tomato Surprise (Lubin, September 27, 1915) 

  • Tillie’s Day Off (Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company/Mutual, 1916) 

  • Tillie’s Divorce Case (Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company/Mutual, 1916) 

  • Elopement (Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company/Mutual, 1916) 

  • Tillie Wakes Up (Peerless/World, January 29, 1917) 

  • The Scrublady (Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company/Goldwyn/World, 1917) 

  • Fired (Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company/Goldwyn/World, 1917) 

  • The Agonies of Agnes (Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company/World, 1917) 

  • The Cross Red Nurse (Marie Dressler Motion Picture Company/World, 1917) 

  • The Callahans and the Murphys (MGM, June 16, 1927) 

  • The Joy Girl (Fox, September 3, 1927) 

  • Breakfast at Sunrise (First National, October 23, 1927) 

  • Bringing Up Father (MGM/Cosmopolitan, March 17, 1928) 

  • The Patsy (MGM, April 21, 1928) 

Sound Films

Marie’s career in the “talkies” was relatively short – less than 5 years. In that time, Marie starred in 20 sound films, winning an Academy Award for Best Actress in “Min and Bill” and being nominated for Best Actress in “Emma”.  In the period 1930-1933, there was always at least one film starring Marie Dressler in the top ten grossing films for that year.   

  • The Divine Lady (First National, March 22, 1929) 

  • Hollywood Revue of 1929 (MGM, June 20, 1929) 

  • The Vagabond Lover (RKO, December 1, 1929) 

  • Dangerous Females (Paramount, 1929) 

  • Chasing Rainbows (MGM, January 10, 1930) 

  • Anna Christie (MGM, March 14, 1930) 

  • The Girl Said No (MGM, April 4, 1930) 

  • The March of Time (MGM, 1930) 

  • One Romantic Night / The Swan (United Artists, May 3, 1930) 

  • Caught Short (MGM/Cosmopolitan, June 20, 1930) 

  • Let Us Be Gay (MGM, July 11, 1930) 

  • Min and Bill (MGM, November 21, 1930) - Oscar for Best Actress 

  • Reducing (MGM, January 16, 1931) 

  • Politics (MGM, July 31, 1931) 

  • Emma (MGM, January 2, 1932) - Nominee for Best Actress 

  • Prosperity (MGM, November 1, 1932) 

  • The Christmas Party (MGM, 1932) 

  • Tugboat Annie (MGM, July 28, 1933) 

  • Dinner At Eight (MGM, August 23, 1933) 

  • Christopher Bean (MGM, November 17, 1933)