
Joan Bennett
ActingAbout Joan Bennett
Joan Geraldine Bennett (February 27, 1910 – December 7, 1990) was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era. She is possibly best-remembered for her film noir femme fatale roles in director Fritz Lang's movies such as The Woman in the Window (1944) and Scarlet Street (1945). Bennett had three distinct phases to her long and successful career, first as a winsome blonde ingenue, then as a sensuous brunette femme fatale (with looks that movie magazines often compared to those of Hedy Lamarr), and finally as a warmhearted wife/mother figure. In 1951, Bennett's screen career was marred by scandal after her third husband, film producer Walter Wanger, shot and injured her agent Jennings Lang. Wanger suspected that Lang and Bennett were having an affair, a charge which she adamantly denied. In the 1960s, she achieved success for her portrayal of Elizabeth Collins Stoddard on TV's Dark Shadows, for which she received an Emmy nomination. For her final movie role, as Madame Blanc in Suspiria (1977), she received a Saturn Award nomination. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joan Bennett, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Joan Bennett Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Joan Bennett 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 Joan Bennett's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 58% of Joan Bennett'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 Dark Shadows: The Vampire Curse, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Joan Bennett Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Joan Bennett's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Joan Bennett has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Dark Shadows: The Vampire Curse | Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2009 | Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood | Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Suspiria 25th Anniversary | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind | Self (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Divorce Wars: A Love Story | Adele Burgess | Hit | Similar → |
| 1978 | Suddenly, Love | Mrs. Graham | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Suspiria | Madame Blanc | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | House of Dark Shadows | Elizabeth Stoddard Collins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | There's Always Tomorrow | Marion Groves | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | We're No Angels | Amelie Ducotel | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Father's Little Dividend | Ellie Banks | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | For Heaven's Sake | Lydia Bolton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Father of the Bride | Ellie Banks | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Screen Actors | Self (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Reckless Moment | Lucia Harper | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Hollow Triumph | Evelyn Hahn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Secret Beyond the Door | Celia Lamphere | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Woman on the Beach | Peggy Butler | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Macomber Affair | Margaret Macomber | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Scarlet Street | Katherine 'Kitty' March | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | The Woman in the Window | Alice Reed | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Girl Trouble | June Delaney | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6 | Herself | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Man Hunt | Jerry Stokes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | She Knew All the Answers | Gloria Winters | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Son of Monte Cristo | Grand Duchess Zona of Lichtenburg | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Man I Married | Carol Hoffman | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Man in the Iron Mask | Princess Maria Theresa | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Trade Winds | Kay Kerrigan | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | The Texans | Ivy Preston | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Hollywood Party | Herself | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Wedding Present | Monica 'Rusty' Fleming | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1) | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Big Brown Eyes | Eve Fallon | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo | Helen Berkeley | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Fashion Side of Hollywood | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Two for Tonight | Bobbie Lockwood | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Private Worlds | Sally MacGregor | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Mississippi | Lucy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Man Who Reclaimed His Head | Adele Verin | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Little Women | Amy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Arizona to Broadway | Lynn Martin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | Me and My Gal | Helen Riley | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Wild Girl | Salomy Jane | Average | Similar → |
| 1929 | Bulldog Drummond | Phyllis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1928 | Show Folks | Night Club Patron (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1928 | Power | A Dame | Average | Similar → |
| 1923 | The Eternal City | Page (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Joan Bennett - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Joan Bennett?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Joan Bennett is "Dark Shadows: The Vampire Curse" with a rating of 9.5/10.
How many movies has Joan Bennett acted in?
Joan Bennett has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Joan Bennett?
Other notable films include "Dark Shadows: The Haunting of Collinwood", "Suddenly, Love", and "The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind".




