Lillian Hellman
Writer · Died June 30, 1984, aged 79 · New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Lillian Florence Hellman (June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984) was an American playwright, prose writer, memoirist and screenwriter known for her success on Broadway, as well as her communist views and political activism. She was blacklisted after her appearance before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) at the height of the anti-communist campaigns of 1947–1952. Although she continued to work on Broadway in the 1950s, her blacklisting by the American film industry caused a drop in her income. Many praised Hellman for refusing to answer questions by HUAC, but others believed, despite her denial, that she had belonged to the Communist Party. As a playwright, Hellman had many successes on Broadway, including The Children's Hour, The Little Foxes and its sequel Another Part of the Forest, Watch on the Rhine, The Autumn Garden, and Toys in the Attic. She adapted her semi-autobiographical play The Little Foxes into a screenplay, which starred Bette Davis. Hellman was romantically involved with fellow writer and political activist Dashiell Hammett, who also was blacklisted for 10 years; the couple never married.
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Biography from TMDB.
- June 20, 1905
- June 30, 1984 (aged 79)
- New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Writer
- 14 on MovieCove · 32 credits in all
What are Lillian Hellman's films like?
Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 13
Light 1 · Serious 1 · Dark 12
Grounded 8 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 0
A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 7
Steady 4 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 1
Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 1
Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0
Casual 3 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0
A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 9
Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy1
- Bittersweet7
- Tragic3
- Ambiguous3
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Lillian Hellman's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 14 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).
Subscription and free streaming for Lillian Hellman's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
32 credits, 14 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
Candide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)
Watch on the Rhine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Days To Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)
Candide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)
Candide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)
Leonard Bernstein: Candide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
Candide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)
Leonard Bernstein - Bernstein - Candide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
The Case of Dashiell Hammett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)
Julia(1977)
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
The Rehearsal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Montserrat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)
Alta comedia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)
The Chase(1966)
Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all filmsLištičky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
Toys in the Attic(1963)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films
The Children's Hour(1961)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
The Lark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Armored Attack! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
The Little Foxes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
The Searching Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
The North Star(1943)
Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films
Watch on the Rhine(1943)
Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films
The Little Foxes(1941)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
The Westerner(1940)
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
The Cowboy and the Lady(1938)
Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films
Dead End(1937)
Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films
The Spanish Earth(1937)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
These Three(1936)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
The Dark Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
Career shape
A full career of 31 titles from 1935 to 2023.
Biggest box office
Julia (1977)
Highest rated
The Children's Hour (1961)
Most popular right now
The Chase (1966)
Film career
- 1977Screen debut· Julia
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
How do Lillian Hellman's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 83rd percentile, the median of all 14; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 83rd percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up10
- 50th to 74th3
- 25th to 49th1
Shape of the crowd
10 of their 14 titles are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved2
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser10
- Mixed1
Reviewers score the dialogue 58/100 and the plot and story 52/100 in their films, across 13 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Lillian Hellman work with?
People who share at least 2 of Lillian Hellman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William Wyler shares the most, 6.
Directors
- William WylerShared titles: The Children's Hour (1961), The Little Foxes (1941), The Westerner (1940), The Cowboy and the Lady (1938), Dead End (1937), These Three (1936)See all 6 shared titles with William Wyler
Writers
- Alan CampbellShared titles: The Little Foxes (1941), The Cowboy and the Lady (1938)See all 2 shared titles with Alan Campbell
- Dorothy ParkerShared titles: The Little Foxes (1941), The Cowboy and the Lady (1938)See all 2 shared titles with Dorothy Parker
Actors
- Miriam HopkinsShared titles: The Chase (1966), The Children's Hour (1961), These Three (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Miriam Hopkins
- Walter BrennanShared titles: The North Star (1943), The Westerner (1940), The Cowboy and the Lady (1938)See all 3 shared titles with Walter Brennan
- Jane FondaShared titles: Julia (1977), The Chase (1966)See all 2 shared titles with Jane Fonda
- Dan DuryeaShared titles: Another Part of the Forest (1948), The Little Foxes (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Dan Duryea
Composers, cinematographers and editors
- Daniel MandellShared titles: The North Star (1943), The Little Foxes (1941), The Westerner (1940), Dead End (1937), These Three (1936)See all 5 shared titles with Daniel Mandell
- Gregg TolandShared titles: The Little Foxes (1941), The Westerner (1940), The Cowboy and the Lady (1938), Dead End (1937), These Three (1936)See all 5 shared titles with Gregg Toland
- Alfred NewmanShared titles: The Westerner (1940), The Cowboy and the Lady (1938), Dead End (1937), These Three (1936)See all 4 shared titles with Alfred Newman
- Hal MohrShared titles: Another Part of the Forest (1948), Watch on the Rhine (1943)See all 2 shared titles with Hal Mohr
Producers
- Samuel GoldwynShared titles: The North Star (1943), The Little Foxes (1941), The Westerner (1940), The Cowboy and the Lady (1938), Dead End (1937), These Three (1936)See all 6 shared titles with Samuel Goldwyn
- Walter MirischShared titles: Toys in the Attic (1963), The Children's Hour (1961)See all 2 shared titles with Walter Mirisch
Mixed roles
- Herman ShumlinShared titles: Watch on the Rhine (1943), The Spanish Earth (1937)See all 2 shared titles with Herman Shumlin