Gloria Swanson
ActingAbout Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson (March 27, 1899 – April 4, 1983) was an American actress. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Acadamy Award in the Best Actress catagory. In 1929, Swanson successfully transitioned to talkies with The Trespasser. However, personal problems and changing tastes saw her popularity wane during the 1930s when she moved into Theater and TV. Today she is best known for her role as Norma Desmond, a faded silent film start, in the critically aclaimed film Sunset Boulevard (1950). Description above from the Wikipedia article Gloria Swanson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Gloria Swanson 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: Comedy
The majority of Gloria Swanson's filmography leans towards the Comedy 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 28% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Gloria Swanson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Hollywood, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Gloria Swanson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Gloria Swanson's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Gloria Swanson.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Boulevard! A Hollywood Story | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 2012 | Cinéastes de notre temps : Erich von Stroheim | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 2007 | Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema | Self (voice) (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Airport 1975 | Gloria Swanson | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | Killer Bees | Madame Maria von Bohlen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1965 | The Love Goddesses | (Archive Footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Legend of Rudolph Valentino | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1960 | When Comedy Was King | edited from 'Teddy at the Throttle' (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1960 | Hedda Hopper's Hollywood | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Nero's Mistress | Agrippina | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Three for Bedroom C | Ann Haven | Flop | Similar → |
| 1950 | Sunset Boulevard | Norma Desmond | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Father Takes a Wife | Leslie Collier Osborne | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Music in the Air | Frieda Hotzfelt | Flop | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Camera Speaks | Self (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1933 | Perfect Understanding | Judy Rogers | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Queen Kelly | Kitty Kelly / Queen Kelly | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | The House That Shadows Built | (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Round About Hollywood | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | Indiscreet | Geraldine 'Gerry' Trent | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | Tonight or Never | Nella Vago | Average | Similar → |
| 1930 | What a Widow! | Tamarind Brook | Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | The Trespasser | Marion Donnell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | Sadie Thompson | Sadie Thompson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1927 | The Love of Sunya | Sunya Ashling | Hit | Similar → |
| 1926 | Fine Manners | Orchid Murphy | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1925 | Stage Struck | Jennie Hagen | Average | Similar → |
| 1924 | Manhandled | Tessie McGuire | Hit | Similar → |
| 1924 | The Humming Bird | Toinette | Average | Similar → |
| 1923 | Zaza | Zaza | Average | Similar → |
| 1923 | Hollywood | Gloria Swanson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1923 | Prodigal Daughters | Swifty Forbes | Flop | Similar → |
| 1922 | A Trip to Paramountown | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1922 | Beyond the Rocks | Theodora Fitzgerald | Average | Similar → |
| 1921 | The Affairs of Anatol | Vivian Spencer (Anatol's wife) | Average | Similar → |
| 1920 | Something to Think About | Ruth Anderson | Average | Similar → |
| 1920 | Why Change Your Wife? | Beth Gordon | Average | Similar → |
| 1919 | Male and Female | Lady Mary Lasenby | Average | Similar → |
| 1919 | For Better, for Worse | Sylvia Norcross | Average | Similar → |
| 1919 | Don't Change Your Husband | Leila Porter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1918 | Shifting Sands | Marcia Grey | Average | Similar → |
| 1918 | Station Content | Kitty Manning | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | The Sultan's Wife | Gloria | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Dangers of a Bride | - | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | Teddy at the Throttle | Gloria Dawn | Average | Similar → |
| 1916 | The Danger Girl | The Danger Girl - Reggie's Madcap Sister | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | His New Job | Stenographer (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1915 | The Fable of the Syndicate Lover | Department Store Customer (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1914 | The Fable of the Club Girls and the Four Times | One of the Club Girls (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
Gloria Swanson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Gloria Swanson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Gloria Swanson is "Hollywood" with a rating of 8.5/10.
How many movies has Gloria Swanson acted in?
Gloria Swanson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Gloria Swanson?
Other notable films include "Sunset Boulevard", "Los Angeles Plays Itself", and "Fine Manners".