Margaret Dumont
ActingAbout Margaret Dumont
Margaret Dumont would probably consider it a tragedy that she is best-known for her performances as the ultimate straight woman in seven of the Marx Brothers' films (including most of their best). By all accounts she never understood their jokes (offscreen and on), which is of course a major reason why she's so funny. Apart from a small role in a 1917 Dickens adaptation, she spent her early career on the stage, ending up with the Marxes in the late 1920s in the stage versions of The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930), and was given a Paramount contract at the same time they were. She played similar roles alongside other great comedians, including W.C. Fields, Laurel & Hardy and Jack Benny and also played straight dramatic parts (her chief love), but few of them made much impact - it is as Groucho Marx's foil that she ranks among the immortals, and she died shortly after being reunited with him on "The Hollywood Palace" (1964).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Margaret Dumont 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 Margaret Dumont'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 22% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Margaret Dumont remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in A Night at the Opera, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Margaret Dumont Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Margaret Dumont's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Margaret Dumont.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell | (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Hollywood Clowns | (archive footage) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1976 | That's Entertainment, Part II | (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Hollywood: The Dream Factory | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | What a Way to Go! | Mrs. Foster | Hit | Similar → |
| 1962 | Zotz! | Persephone Updike | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Auntie Mame | Noblewoman in Play (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Shake, Rattle and Rock! | Georgianna Fitzdingle | Flop | Similar → |
| 1952 | Stop, You're Killing Me | Mrs. Whitelaw | Flop | Similar → |
| 1952 | Three for Bedroom C | Mrs. Agnes Hawthorne | Flop | Similar → |
| 1946 | Little Giant | Mrs. Hendrickson | Flop | Similar → |
| 1945 | Sunset in El Dorado | Aunt Dolly / Aunt Arabella | Flop | Similar → |
| 1945 | Diamond Horseshoe | Mrs. Standish | Flop | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Horn Blows at Midnight | Mme. Traviata / Miss Rodholder | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Bathing Beauty | Mrs. Allenwood | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Seven Days Ashore | Mrs. Croxton-Lynch | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Up in Arms | Mrs. Willoughby | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Dancing Masters | Louise Harlan | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Tales of Manhattan | Mme. Langehanke (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | About Face | Mrs. Culpepper | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Sing Your Worries Away | Flo Faulkner - Landlady | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Born to Sing | Mrs. E. V. Lawson | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | Never Give a Sucker an Even Break | Mrs. Hemogloben | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | The Big Store | Martha Phelps | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | At the Circus | Mrs. Suzanna Dukesbury | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Dramatic School | Pantomime Teacher | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Wise Girl | Mrs. Bell-Rivington | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | High Flyers | Martha Arlington | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Youth on Parole | Mrs. Abernathy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Life of the Party | Mrs. Penner | Flop | Similar → |
| 1937 | A Day at the Races | Emily Upjohn | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Arbor Day | Woman Outside (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Song and Dance Man | Mrs. Whitney | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | Anything Goes | Mrs. Wentworth | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | A Night at the Opera | Mrs. Claypool | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Rendezvous | Mrs. Hendricks (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | Reckless | Woman in Audience Yelling 'Get Off the Stage' (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | Gypsy Sweetheart | Mrs. Van Updyke | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | After Office Hours | Mrs. Murchison (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Kentucky Kernels | Mrs. Baxter | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Gridiron Flash | Mrs. Fields | Flop | Similar → |
| 1934 | Fifteen Wives | Sybilla Crum | Flop | Similar → |
| 1933 | Duck Soup | Gloria Teasdale | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Storm at Daybreak | Duchess Sophie (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Wonderland of California | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1930 | Animal Crackers | Mrs. Rittenhouse | Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | The Cocoanuts | Mrs. Potter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1923 | Enemies of Women | French Beauty | Flop | Similar → |
| 1917 | A Tale of Two Cities | Aristocrat (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
Margaret Dumont - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Margaret Dumont?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Margaret Dumont is "A Night at the Opera" with a rating of 7.4/10.
How many movies has Margaret Dumont acted in?
Margaret Dumont has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Margaret Dumont?
Other notable films include "Duck Soup", "A Day at the Races", and "What a Way to Go!".