From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Eugene Willford "Gene" Markey (December 11, 1895 – May 1, 1980) was an American author, producer, screenwriter, and highly decorated naval officer. Early life Markey was born in Michigan in the year 1895. His father, Eugene Lawrence Markey, was a colonel in the United States Army. His uncle, Daniel P. Markey, had been Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1918. Chicago He was a skilled sketch artist, which gained him entry, after World War I, into the Art Institute of Chicago starting in 1919 and finishing in 1920. There, he claimed to have "studied painting and learned nothing". After that, he worked as a journalist in Chicago for several newspapers and magazines, including Photoplay magazine. It was during the 1920s that Gene Markey first became a writer, specializing in novels about the Jazz Age. Among his titles were Anabel; Stepping High; Women, Women, Everywhere; and His Majesty's Pyjamas. His book "Literary Lights" (March 1923, Alfred A. Knopf, New York) was a collection of fifty of America's most important literary authors of the day. He personally sketched each caricature. Hollywood He went to Hollywood in 1929 and became a screenwriter for Twentieth Century Fox. His screen credits included King of Burlesque (1936) starring Alice Faye, Girls' Dormitory (1936) featuring Herbert Marshall, and On the Avenue (1937), starring Dick Powell, Madeleine Carroll, and Alice Faye. He was also the producer of the 1937 Shirley Temple film, Wee Willie Winkie, among others. Although he was not overly handsome, he was a very skilled conversationalist and he quickly became a popular fixture in Hollywood society. Among his good friends in Hollywood were producer John Hay Whitney, composer Irving Berlin, and actors Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Ward Bond and John Wayne. He would often go fishing with Bond and Wayne off Catalina Island. A 1946 article in the Washington Times Herald said, "Other Men Say: What's Gene Markey Got That We Haven't Got?" The article ran a photo of Rudolph Valentino with the caption, "NOT SO HOT – By Comparison. Though all American womanhood swooned over him in his day, Rudolph Valentino was no Markey." Soon after he arrived in Hollywood in 1929, it was also reported that, "Markey became the most sought after unattached man in the cinema firmament, so sprinkled with far handsomer, richer male stars." Markey was married three times to prominent film actresses. His first wife was Joan Bennett, from 1932 to 1937 (which produced a daughter, Melinda, in 1934). He was married to Hedy Lamarr from 1939 to 1940 and to Myrna Loy from 1946 to 1950. At first, Loy claimed mental cruelty, but later retracted it, saying, "He could make a scrubwoman think she was a queen and he could make a queen think she was the queen of queens." More information can be found at Wikipedia.
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Biography from TMDB.
- December 11, 1895
- May 1, 1980 (aged 84)
- Jackson, Michigan, USA
- Writer and producer
- 17 on MovieCove · 46 credits in all
What are Gene Markey's films like?
Across their 17 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.
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 1 · Earnest 16
A split, not a type: Light 10 · Serious 4 · Dark 3
Grounded 7 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 2
Gentle 6 · Charged 9 · Intense 2
Steady 8 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3
Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1
Casual 11 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0
Easy watch 9 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 1
Resolved 14 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1
Moods and endings
- Happy8
- Bittersweet6
- 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 Gene Markey's films?
As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (3).
Subscription and free streaming for Gene Markey'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
46 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.
Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)
Meet Me at the Fair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
The Wonder Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
That Dangerous Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)
Moss Rose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Lillian Russell(1940)
Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films
The Blue Bird(1940)
Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films
Second Fiddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
The Little Princess(1939)
Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films
Kentucky(1938)
Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films
Suez(1938)
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Josette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)
Sally, Irene and Mary(1938)
Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films
On the Avenue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)
Wee Willie Winkie(1937)
Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Love in Exile (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
White Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Girls' Dormitory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Private Number (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Champagne Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
King of Burlesque(1936)
Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all filmsThe Big Noise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)
Let's Live Tonight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)
A Lost Lady(1934)
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films
The Merry Frinks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
A Modern Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)
Fashions of 1934(1934)
Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films
Female(1933)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films
Baby Face(1933)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Midnight Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Lilly Turner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
Luxury Liner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)
As You Desire Me(1932)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
West of Broadway(1931)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
The Great Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Inspiration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films
The Florodora Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
Prince of Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)
The Battle of Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Lucky In Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Mother's Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Syncopation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)
Blinky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)
Career shape
A full career of 43 titles from 1923 to 1956.
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 Gene Markey's films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 17; across their 17 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up4
- 50th to 74th9
- 25th to 49th4
Shape of the crowd
None of their 17 titles divides audiences: 11 are Crowd Pleasers.
- Universally Loved3
- Crowd Pleaser11
- Mixed3
Reviewers score the dialogue 56/100 and the plot and story 41/100 in their films, across 17 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 Gene Markey work with?
People who share at least 2 of Gene Markey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Darryl F. Zanuck shares the most, 8.
Directors
- Walter LangShared titles: The Blue Bird (1940), The Little Princess (1939)See all 2 shared titles with Walter Lang
- Sidney LanfieldShared titles: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), King of Burlesque (1936)See all 2 shared titles with Sidney Lanfield
- William A. SeiterShared titles: The Little Princess (1939), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938)See all 2 shared titles with William A. Seiter
- Alfred E. GreenShared titles: A Lost Lady (1934), Baby Face (1933)See all 2 shared titles with Alfred E. Green
Writers
- Kathryn ScolaShared titles: A Lost Lady (1934), Fashions of 1934 (1934), Baby Face (1933), Female (1933)See all 4 shared titles with Kathryn Scola
- Ernest PascalShared titles: The Blue Bird (1940), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), Wee Willie Winkie (1937)See all 3 shared titles with Ernest Pascal
- Arthur Conan DoyleShared titles: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)See all 2 shared titles with Arthur Conan Doyle
- Harry TugendShared titles: Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), King of Burlesque (1936)See all 2 shared titles with Harry Tugend
Actors
- Nigel BruceShared titles: Lillian Russell (1940), The Blue Bird (1940), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), Suez (1938)See all 5 shared titles with Nigel Bruce
- Alice FayeShared titles: Lillian Russell (1940), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), King of Burlesque (1936)See all 3 shared titles with Alice Faye
- Shirley TempleShared titles: The Blue Bird (1940), The Little Princess (1939), Wee Willie Winkie (1937)See all 3 shared titles with Shirley Temple
- Richard GreeneShared titles: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), The Little Princess (1939), Kentucky (1938)See all 3 shared titles with Richard Greene
Composers and cinematographers
- Cyril J. MockridgeShared titles: Lillian Russell (1940), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), The Little Princess (1939), Suez (1938)See all 5 shared titles with Cyril J. Mockridge
- Charles MaxwellShared titles: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), The Little Princess (1939), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), Suez (1938)See all 4 shared titles with Charles Maxwell
- J. Peverell MarleyShared titles: The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), Suez (1938), King of Burlesque (1936)See all 4 shared titles with J. Peverell Marley
- Alfred NewmanShared titles: Lillian Russell (1940), The Blue Bird (1940), Wee Willie Winkie (1937)See all 3 shared titles with Alfred Newman
Producers
- Darryl F. ZanuckShared titles: Lillian Russell (1940), The Blue Bird (1940), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939), Kentucky (1938), Sally, Irene and Mary (1938), Wee Willie Winkie (1937), Baby Face (1933)See all 8 shared titles with Darryl F. Zanuck
Mixed roles
- Ralph DietrichShared titles: Suez (1938), King of Burlesque (1936)See all 2 shared titles with Ralph Dietrich