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Cotton Warburton

Editor · Died June 21, 1982, aged 70 · San Diego County, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Irvine "Cotton" Eugene Warburton (October 8, 1911 – June 21, 1982) was an American college football quarterback (1933) who became a film and television editor with sixty feature film credits. He worked for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and for the Walt Disney Studios, and is probably best known for his editing of Mary Poppins (1964). Warburton attended San Diego High School, and won the California high school 440-yard dash in 1930. He brought his speed to the USC Trojans football team, and was chosen as an All-American quarterback in 1933. Warburton was the quarterback during a winning streak that lasted for 27 games, which remained unsurpassed at USC until 1980. Cotton was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975. Warburton's teammate Aaron Rosenberg was also elected to the Hall of Fame, and also had a successful career in the film industry as a director and producer. Following his graduation from the University of Southern California in 1934, Warburton declined an offer to become a professional football player with the Chicago Bears. He became an assistant film editor at Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Studios, where he remained for 19 years. As was common in the studio era, his first editing credit came after about eight years with the studio, and was for the Laurel and Hardy film Air Raid Wardens (1943). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Film Editing for Crazylegs (1953), a film about Elroy Hirsch's football career; Robert Niemi has suggested that the nomination acknowledged Warburton's success in "weaving documentary footage of Hirsch on the playing field into the film proper." Shortly after this film, Warburton left MGM. By 1956 Warburton was an editor for the Walt Disney Studios, where he remained for the rest of his career. His first Disney film credit was Westward Ho, the Wagons! (1956). About 1960, he began a fruitful collaboration on feature films with Disney director Robert Stevenson. Their first film was The Absent-Minded Professor (1961). Warburton won an Academy Award and the American Cinema Editors Eddie Award for the "spectacularly successful" Mary Poppins (1964), which also earned Stevenson an Oscar nomination as best director. Critic Drew Casper particularly notes Warburton's editing of the film's "chimney pot" musical sequence (see clip to the right). In total, Stevenson and Warburton collaborated on nine films in the 1960s and 1970s; their last film together was Herbie Rides Again (1974). Warburton retired from editing after The Cat from Outer Space (1978), a Disney film directed by Norman Tokar. Warburton was a member of the American Cinema Editors.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 8, 1911
Died
June 21, 1982 (aged 70)
From
San Diego County, California, USA
Works as
Editor
Titles
47 on MovieCove · 64 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 24% in 30 days

What are Cotton Warburton's films like?

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

Genres

Comedy31 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Drama 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
Bonds
47%
Self
21%
Society
12%
Morality
10%
Survival
5%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds18 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love15 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

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

Light 41 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 25 · Stylized 19 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 29 · Charged 16 · Intense 1

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

Steady 35 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 0

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 6 · Some laughs 17 · Funny 23

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 29 · Even-paced 15 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 41 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 45 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
31
Warm
16
Hopeful
12
Tense
9
Thrilling
11
Other
37

How their films linger

Feel-good38 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun28 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy38
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous1

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 Cotton Warburton's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 47 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Cotton Warburton'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

64 credits, 47 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Cat from Outer Space(1978)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo(1977)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Freaky Friday(1976)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Treasure of Matecumbe(1976)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • No Deposit, No Return(1976)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Strongest Man in the World(1975)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Castaway Cowboy(1974)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Herbie Rides Again(1974)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The World's Greatest Athlete(1973)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Now You See Him, Now You Don't(1972)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Bedknobs and Broomsticks(1971)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Scandalous John(1971)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Boatniks(1970)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes(1969)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Secrets of the Pirate's Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Editor

  • My Dog, the Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Editor

  • Ride a Northbound Horse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Editor

  • The Love Bug(1968)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band(1968)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Mosby's Marauders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Editor

  • The Happiest Millionaire(1967)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N.(1966)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • That Darn Cat!(1965)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Further Adventures of Gallegher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Editor

  • The Monkey's Uncle(1965)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Kilroy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Editor

  • Emil and the Detectives(1964)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Mary Poppins(1964)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Misadventures of Merlin Jones(1964)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Miracle of the White Stallions(1963)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Son of Flubber(1962)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Bon Voyage!(1962)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Moon Pilot(1962)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Absent Minded Professor(1961)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Ten Who Dared(1960)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Zorro, the Avenger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Editor

  • The Big Fisherman(1959)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Sign of Zorro(1958)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Westward Ho, the Wagons!(1956)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Corky and White Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 17 episodes · Editor

  • Unchained (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Editor

  • Crazylegs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Editor

  • Remains to Be Seen(1953)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Sombrero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Editor

  • Arena(1953)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Skirts Ahoy!(1952)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Above and Beyond(1952)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Callaway Went Thataway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Editor

  • Three Guys Named Mike(1951)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Two Weeks with Love(1950)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Shadow on the Wall(1950)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Black Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Editor

  • The Skipper Surprised His Wife(1950)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Neptune's Daughter(1949)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • The Sun Comes Up(1949)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Cynthia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Editor

  • Love Laughs at Andy Hardy(1946)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Faithful in My Fashion(1946)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Up Goes Maisie(1946)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Sailor Takes a Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Editor

  • This Man's Navy(1945)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Three Hearts for Julia(1943)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as 'Cotton' Warburton

  • Donkey Baseball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Center Fielder (uncredited)

Career shape

A full career of 54 titles from 1935 to 1978.

Biggest box office

Mary Poppins (1964)

$103M worldwide

Highest rated

Mary Poppins (1964)

Midcredits 97th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 54: 2 only acting, 0 with another roleEditing52 of 54: 52 only editing, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score44th

By decade

1930s2 · acting1940s7 · crew1950s13 · crew1960s19 · crew1970s13 · 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 Cotton Warburton's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 44th percentile, the median of all 47; across their 46 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Reach · how many have seen their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 46

Midcredits score across 47 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th24
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 47 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed12
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · editor

The Big Fisherman (1959)

59th percentile spread · 26% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · editor

Mary Poppins (1964)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the pacing 42/100 in their films, across 45 reviewed titles; fans 51, detractors 28. The element that speaks to their work as an editor.

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 Cotton Warburton's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 13 · minimalMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 6 · minimalMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 10 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 20 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Cotton Warburton work with?

People who share at least 2 of Cotton Warburton's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ron Miller shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

  • Ron Miller15 titles    See newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Ron Miller
  • Walt Disney15 titles    See newest 12 of 15 shared titles with Walt Disney
  • Bill Anderson7 titles    See all 7 shared titles with Bill Anderson
  • Tom Leetch3 titles    See all 3 shared titles with Tom Leetch

Mixed roles