Melbourne MacDowell
ActingAbout Melbourne MacDowell
From Wikipedia He was born Willet Melbourne MacDowell in Little Washington, New Jersey (now South River, New Jersey). MacDowell began appearing in silent films in 1917 by which time he was long a stage veteran. His co-stars were such actors as William S. Hart, Lon Chaney, Charles Ray, Enid Bennett and numerous others. Though he lived until the early 1940s, his film career ended in 1928 with the end of silent films. He returned for one sound film short in 1932, A Fool About Women with Andy Clyde and Vernon Dent. Several films that Melbourne MacDowell appeared in survive today and can be found on DVD, particularly two of his outing with Lon Chaney, Nomads of the North and Outside the Law.
Melbourne MacDowell Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Melbourne MacDowell reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Melbourne MacDowell's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 70% of Melbourne MacDowell's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Code of the Cow Country, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Melbourne MacDowell Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Melbourne MacDowell's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Melbourne MacDowell has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Feel My Pulse | Her Uncle Wilberforce | Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | There It Is | Frisbie Family Patriarch | Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Code of the Cow Country | John Calhoun | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | Driven from Home | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | The City | Vorhees | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | The Winning Wallop | Cyrus Barton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | The Rainmaker | Bennson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Behind the Front | Mr. Bartlett-Cooper | Average | Similar → |
| 1926 | What Happened to Jones? | Mr. Bigbee | Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Fighting Courage | Kingsley Sr | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Patent Leather Pug | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Speed Mad | John Sanford | Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Savages of the Sea | Daniel Rawley | Average | Similar → |
| 1925 | The Cloud Rider | David Torrence | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | Geared to Go | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1923 | The Love Pirate | Steve Carnan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1923 | A Million to Burn | Mark Mills | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1923 | Richard the Lion-Hearted | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1923 | The Wandering Two | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1922 | He Raised Kane | Kane's father | Flop | Similar → |
| 1922 | The Flaming Hour | John Danby | Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | Forsaking All Others | Cyrus K. Wharton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | Scandalous Tongues | Jim Bradley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | Confidence | J. D. Sprowl | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | The Infidel | 'Bully' Haynes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | The Greater Duty | The Warden | Flop | Similar → |
| 1922 | Beyond the Crossroads | David Walton / Truman Breese | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1921 | The Golden Snare | Doug Johnson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1921 | The March Hare | Senator Rollins | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1921 | Outside the Law | Morgan Spencer | Average | Similar → |
| 1920 | Nomads of the North | Duncan McDougall | Average | Similar → |
| 1920 | The Iron Heart | Cyrus K. Moulton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1920 | Miss Nobody | Red Gull | Average | Similar → |
| 1920 | King Spruce | John Barrett | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1920 | The Gift Supreme | Eliot Vinton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | Eve in Exile | George Armitage | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | Soldiers of Fortune | Mr. Langham | Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | Modern Husbands | Jonathan Cosgrove | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | The Lamb and the Lion | Uncle Ben | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | All of a Sudden Norma | Emerson Trent | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | Coals of Fire | James Bradley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | The Vamp | Mr. Fleming | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | The Claws of the Hun | Godfrey Stanton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | Playing the Game | Jeremiah Prentiss | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | Love Me | Grant Appleby | Flop | Similar → |
| 1918 | The Keys of the Righteous | Judge Michael Burke | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | Wolves of the Rail | Murray Lemantier | Average | Similar → |
| 1917 | Bond of Fear | Judge McClure | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Flame of the Yukon | 'Black Jack' Hovey | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1917 | Hell Hath No Fury | - | Hit | Similar → |
Melbourne MacDowell - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Melbourne MacDowell?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Melbourne MacDowell is "Code of the Cow Country" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Melbourne MacDowell acted in?
Melbourne MacDowell has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Melbourne MacDowell?
Other notable films include "The City", "Coals of Fire", and "The Flame of the Yukon".