
Arthur Shields
ActingAbout Arthur Shields
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Arthur Shields (15 February 1896 - 27 April 1970) was an Irish stage and film actor. Born into an Irish Protestant family in Portobello, Dublin, he started acting in the Abbey Theatre when still a young man. He was the younger brother of actor Barry Fitzgerald. An Irish nationalist, he fought in the Easter Uprising of 1916. He was captured and was interned in Frongoch, North Wales. He afterwards returned to the Abbey theatre. In 1936 John Ford brought him to the United States to act in a film version of The Plough and the Stars. He later returned to the U.S. and for health reasons, he decided to reside in California. He died at his home in Santa Barbara, California, aged 74. Some of his memorable roles were in John Ford films. Shields portrayed the Reverend Playfair in Ford's The Quiet Man, opposite John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and his brother, Barry Fitzgerald. He played Dr. Laughlin in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon with Wayne and Joanne Dru, and appeared yet again with Wayne and Barry Fitzgerald in Ford's Long Voyage Home. His other films include: Little Nellie Kelly, The Keys of the Kingdom, The Fabulous Dorseys, Gallant Journey, The Shocking Miss Pilgrim, Drums Along the Mohawk, Lady Godiva, National Velvet and The River. Description above from the Wikipedia article Arthur Shields, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Arthur Shields reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Arthur Shields's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 50% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Arthur Shields remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Arthur Shields Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Arthur Shields's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Arthur Shields.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Daughter of Dr. Jekyll | Dr. Lomas | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The King and Four Queens | Padre | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure | Boles - Ex-Gardener | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1954 | River of No Return | Minister at Tent City (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Main Street to Broadway | Actor in Fantasy Sequence | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Scandal at Scourie | Father Reilly | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Quiet Man | Rev. Cyril 'Snuffy' Playfair | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Patrick the Harp (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | The River | Mr. John | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The People Against O'Hara | Mr. O'Hara | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Sealed Cargo | Kevin Dolan | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Apache Drums | Reverend Griffin | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Tarzan and the Slave Girl | Dr. E.E. Campbell | Flop | Similar → |
| 1949 | She Wore a Yellow Ribbon | Dr. O'Laughlin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Red Light | Father Redmond | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Fighting O'Flynn | Dooley | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Tap Roots | Reverend Kirkland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | My Own True Love | Iverson | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | Fighting Father Dunne | Michael O'Donnell | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Seven Keys to Baldpate | Prof. Bolton | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Fabulous Dorseys | Thomas Dorsey Sr. | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Shocking Miss Pilgrim | Michael Michael | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Verdict | Rev. Holbrook | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Never Say Goodbye | McCarthy (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Gallant Journey | Father Kenton | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Three Strangers | Prosecutor | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Phantoms, Inc. | Dr. Rupert Trykel | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Valley of Decision | Callahan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Corn Is Green | Glyn Thomas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Roughly Speaking | Minister (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | National Velvet | Mr. Hallam | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Keys of the Kingdom | Fr. Fitzgerald, Dean at Holywell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The White Cliffs of Dover | Benson (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Madame Curie | Businessman (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Lassie Come Home | Andrew | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Man from Down Under | Father Polycarp | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Above Suspicion | Walmer Hotel Porter (Uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Black Swan | The Bishop (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Gentleman Jim | Father Burke | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe | Griswald (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Pacific Rendezvous | Prof. Harvey Lessmore | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | This Above All | Hospital Chaplain | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Broadway | Pete Dailey | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | How Green Was My Valley | Mr. Parry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Gay Falcon | Inspector Mike Waldeck | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Little Nellie Kelly | Timothy Fogarty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Long Voyage Home | Donkeyman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Drums Along the Mohawk | Reverend Rosenkrantz | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | The Plough and the Stars | Padraic Pearse | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Sign of the Cross | Chaplain Costello (1944 Re-Release Prologue) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Arthur Shields - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Arthur Shields?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Arthur Shields is "The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Applegate Treasure" with a rating of 9.0/10.
How many movies has Arthur Shields acted in?
Arthur Shields has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Arthur Shields?
Other notable films include "The Shocking Miss Pilgrim", "The Quiet Man", and "How Green Was My Valley".




