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Dudley Nichols

Writer, also director and producer · Died January 4, 1960, aged 64 · Wapakoneta, Ohio, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Dudley Nichols (April 6, 1895 – January 4, 1960) was an American screenwriter and director. Dudley Nichols was born April 6, 1895, in Wapakoneta, Ohio. He studied at the University of Michigan where he was active member of the Sigma Chapter of Theta Xi fraternity. After working as a reporter for the New York World, Nichols moved to Hollywood in 1929 and became one of the most highly regarded screenwriters of the 1930s and 1940s. He collaborated on many films over many years with director John Ford, and was also noted for his work with George Cukor, Howard Hawks, Fritz Lang and Jean Renoir. Nichols wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for films including Bringing Up Baby (1938), Stagecoach (1939), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), Scarlet Street (1945), And Then There Were None (1945), The Bells of St. Mary's (1945), Pinky (1949) and The Tin Star (1957). Nichols initially declined the Academy Award he received for The Informer, due to a dispute between the Screen Writers Guild, of which he was a founder, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He collected the award at the 1938 Oscar ceremony. He served as president of the Screen Writers Guild in 1937 and 1938. He also co-wrote the documentary The Battle of Midway, which won the 1942 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Nichols produced and directed three films—Government Girl (1943), Sister Kenny (1946) and Mourning Becomes Electra (1947)—for which he also wrote the screenplay. In 1954 he received the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement from the Writers Guild of America. He died in Hollywood of cancer in 1960 and was interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 6, 1895
Died
January 4, 1960 (aged 64)
From
Wapakoneta, Ohio, USA
Works as
Writer, also director and producer
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 70 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 25% in 30 days

What are Dudley Nichols' films like?

Across their 46 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 77th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 86th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Biography movies

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

share of theme weight
Morality
34%
Bonds
19%
Survival
18%
Society
12%
Self
8%
Power
8%
Ideas
2%
Survival12 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 46 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 17 · Dark 16

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 19 · Stylized 24 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 24 · Intense 16

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 29 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 24 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 21 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 19 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 10

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 43 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
37
Thrilling
14
Romantic
12
Melancholic
11
Joyful
9
Other
40

How their films linger

Feel-good17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet19 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy20
  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous7

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 Dudley Nichols' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 24 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dudley Nichols' 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

70 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page.

  • Stagecoach(1986)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Stagecoach(1966)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Ten Little Indians(1965)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Escape from Zahrain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Writer

  • Heller in Pink Tights(1960)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Hangman(1959)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Tin Star(1957)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Run for the Sun(1956)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Prince Valiant(1954)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Big Sky(1952)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Return of the Texan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Screenplay

  • Rawhide(1951)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Pinky(1949)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Mourning Becomes Electra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • The Fugitive(1947)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Sister Kenny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director · Screenplay

  • The Bells of St. Mary's(1945)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Scarlet Street(1945)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • And Then There Were None(1945)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • It Happened Tomorrow(1944)

    Adaptation · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Government Girl(1943)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • For Whom the Bell Tolls(1943)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Bataan(1943)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • This Land Is Mine(1943)

    Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Air Force(1943)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Lucky(1943)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Battle of Midway(1942)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Swamp Water(1941)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Man Hunt(1941)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Long Voyage Home(1940)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Westerner(1940)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Marshal Of Mesa City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Story

  • The 400 Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Writer

  • Stagecoach(1939)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Gunga Din(1939)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Carefree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Adaptation · Story

  • Bringing Up Baby(1938)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Next Time I Marry(1938)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Hurricane(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Toast of New York(1937)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Plough and the Stars(1936)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Mary of Scotland(1936)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Three Musketeers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Screenplay

  • Steamboat Round the Bend(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Crusades(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • She(1935)

    Additional Dialogue · Writer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Arizonian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Screenplay

  • The Informer(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Life Begins at 40(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Mystery Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Story

  • Judge Priest(1934)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Call It Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay

  • Hold That Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Writer

  • The Lost Patrol(1934)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • You Can't Buy Everything (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay

  • Marie Galante(1934)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Pilgrimage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Dialogue

  • The Man Who Dared (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Writer

  • Hot Pepper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Story

  • Robbers' Roost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Adaptation

  • This Sporting Age (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Screenplay

  • The Sign of the Cross(1932)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Skyline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Writer

  • Three Rogues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Writer

  • The Seas Beneath(1931)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • A Devil with Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • One Mad Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • On the Level (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Screenplay

  • Born Reckless(1930)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Men Without Women(1930)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 63 titles from 1930 to 1966.

Biggest box office

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)

$21M worldwide

Highest rated

Scarlet Street (1945)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Stagecoach (1939)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing3 of 63: 0 only directing, 3 with another roleWriting62 of 63: 58 only writing, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thProducing3 of 63: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleOther crew1 of 63: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

63 titles, 4 with more than one role — writing and directing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1930s35 · crew1940s17 · crew1950s7 · crew1960s4 · crew

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 Dudley Nichols' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 73rd percentile, the median of all 47; across their 46 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 72nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

72ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Approval · how many liked their films

74thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Reach · how many have seen their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th15
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · writer

Stagecoach (1986)

51st percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Scarlet Street (1945)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 54/100 and the plot and story 51/100 in their films, across 46 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.

Is Dudley Nichols' work okay for kids?

Across up to 6 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles11–52 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity6 titles1–28 · median 4 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles0–3 · median 1 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles22–43 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles6–41 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Dudley Nichols work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dudley Nichols' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Ford shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles