Barton MacLane
Acting • Born 1902-12-25 – Died 1969-01-01
Biography
Barton MacLane graduated from Wesleyan University, where he displayed a notable aptitude for sports, in particular football and basketball. Not surprisingly, his physical prowess led to an early role in The Quarterback (1926) with Richard Dix. MacLane once commented that, as an actor, he needed to have the physical strength to tear the bad guys "from limb to limb", if necessary. Ironically, it was usually Barton himself who was destined to be at the end of a hiding (when not getting shot, instead), typically as snarling henchmen, outlaws and other assorted dubious or abrasive types throughout most of his 40-year acting career. In fact, Barton became so typecast that his name was for a time used proverbially, to generally describe a shouting, hard-nosed ruffian. After training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, MacLane joined a stock company in Brooklyn. In 1927 he had his first part on Broadway, a brief moment as an assistant district attorney, in the melodrama "The Trial of Mary Dugan". He then played a small featured role as a police officer in "Subway Express" (1929-30), a drama enacted in the interior of a subway car. In mid-1932 MacLane tried his hand at writing his own starring vehicle for the stage, entitled "Rendezvous". While the play closed after just 21 performances, it led to a contract with Warner Brothers. Barton had already appeared in bit roles for Paramount at their Astoria Studios, including The Marx Brothers' debut film The Cocoanuts (1929). He portrayed mobster Brad Collins in 'G' Men (1935) (with James Cagney), which set the tone for most of his future assignments. Brawny, with squinty eyes and a rasping voice, MacLane was the ideal surly tough guy, particularly suitable for westerns and the type of films noir Warner Brothers excelled at. He was often cast as cops, be they bent or honest. Some of his most representative performances include gangster Al Kruger in Bullets or Ballots (1936), which won him some of the best critical notices of his career; outlaw Jack Slade in Western Union (1941); crooked construction boss Pat McCormick, who gets beaten up by Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt over past-due wages in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948); hard-nosed cops Detective Dundy in The Maltese Falcon (1941) and Lt. Reece in Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye (1950). MacLane, on loan to Universal, also had a starring role in Prison Break (1938) as an innocent tuna fisherman who is framed for murder. He was prominent as a tough but sympathetic cop, foil to sleuthing girl reporter Glenda Farrell in the "Torchy Blaine" series of the mid- to late 1930s. In the 1960s Barton began to cultivate a good-guy image as Marshal Frank Caine in the NBC western series Outlaws (1960) as well as showing up in a small recurring role as Air Force Gen. Martin Peterson in I Dream of Jeannie (1965). Barton was married to the actress Charlotte Wynters, who appeared with him in six of his films. When not on the set, the couple spent time on their 2000-acre cattle ranch in Madera County, California. For his work in television, Barton has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Filmography
179 credits
Pocketful of Miracles
Movie • 1961
Police Commissioner
The Maltese Falcon
Movie • 1941
Lt. of Detectives Dundy
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Movie • 1941
Sam Higgins
Foxfire
Movie • 1955
Jim Mablett
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Movie • 1948
Pat McCormick
The Secret Seven
Movie • 1940
Sam O'Donnell
Politics
Movie • 1930
Manpower
Movie • 1941
Smiley Quinn
Nabonga
Movie • 1944
Carl Hurst
The Rounders
Movie • 1965
Tanner
Come Live with Me
Movie • 1941
Barney Grogan
Red Light
Movie • 1949
Detective Strecker
The Walking Dead
Movie • 1936
Loder
High Sierra
Movie • 1941
Jake Kranmer
Bullets or Ballots
Movie • 1936
Al Kruger
Cry of the Werewolf
Movie • 1944
Lt. Barry Lane
The Mummy's Ghost
Movie • 1944
Inspector Walgreen
Scared Stiff
Movie • 1945
George 'Deacon' Markham
Mysterious Intruder
Movie • 1946
Detective Taggart
The Prince and the Pauper
Movie • 1937
John Canty
All Through the Night
Movie • 1942
Marty Callahan
Western Union
Movie • 1941
Jack Slade
Backlash
Movie • 1956
Sergeant George Lake
The Geisha Boy
Movie • 1958
Major Ridgley
You and Me
Movie • 1938
Mickey
The Glenn Miller Story
Movie • 1954
General Arnold
The Cocoanuts
Movie • 1929
Bather
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Movie • 1950
Lieutenant John Reece
Kansas Pacific
Movie • 1953
Cal Bruce
San Quentin
Movie • 1937
Lt. Druggin
Tarzan and the Huntress
Movie • 1947
Paul Weir
You Only Live Once
Movie • 1937
Stephen Whitney
Secret Command
Movie • 1944
Red Kelly
The Man Is Armed
Movie • 1956
Det. Lt. Dan Coster
Man of Courage
Movie • 1943
John Wallace
Tarzan and the Amazons
Movie • 1945
Ballister
Times Square Playboy
Movie • 1936
Casey (Vic's Butler/Trainer)
San Quentin
Movie • 1946
Nick Taylor
Lone Cowboy
Movie • 1933
Policeman Baxter
The Crime Doctor’s Strangest Case
Movie • 1943
Detective Rief
Ceiling Zero
Movie • 1936
Al Stone
Black Fury
Movie • 1935
McGee
Bugles in the Afternoon
Movie • 1952
Capt. Myles Moylan
The Spanish Main
Movie • 1945
Capt. Benjamin Black
Smart Blonde
Movie • 1937
Steve McBride
The Big Street
Movie • 1942
Case Ables
Highways by Night
Movie • 1942
Leo Bronson
Wetbacks
Movie • 1956
Karl Shanks
Drums in the Deep South
Movie • 1951
Sgt. Mac McCardle
God's Country and the Woman
Movie • 1937
Bullhead
Best of the Badmen
Movie • 1951
Joad
The Walls of Jericho
Movie • 1948
Rufus J. "Gotch" McCurdy
Tillie and Gus
Movie • 1933
Commissioner McLennan
Gunfighters of Abilene
Movie • 1960
Seth
Song of Texas
Movie • 1943
Jim Calvert
The Case of the Lucky Legs
Movie • 1935
Bisonette
Stand Up and Fight
Movie • 1939
Crowder
Buffalo Stampede
Movie • 1933
Henchman Pruitt
Frisco Kid
Movie • 1935
Spider Burke
Unknown Island
Movie • 1948
Capt. Tarnowski
Blondes at Work
Movie • 1938
Lt. Steve McBride
Men Without Souls
Movie • 1940
Blackie Drew
To the Last Man
Movie • 1933
Neil Stanley
Man of the Forest
Movie • 1933
Mulvey
Hell's Crossroads
Movie • 1957
Clyde O'Connell
Angel in Exile
Movie • 1948
Max Giorgio
Girl on the Run
Movie • 1958
Francis J. Brannigan
Naked Gun
Movie • 1956
Joe Barnum
Fly Away Baby
Movie • 1937
Steve McBride
The Adventurous Blonde
Movie • 1937
Det. Lt. Steve McBride
Torchy Runs for Mayor
Movie • 1939
Steve McBride
Torchy Gets Her Man
Movie • 1938
Detective Steve McBride
Torchy Blane in Chinatown
Movie • 1939
Det. Lt. Steve 'Mac' McBride
Arizona Bushwhackers
Movie • 1968
Sheriff Grover
Buckskin
Movie • 1968
Dr. H. 'Doc' Raymond
Barnacle Bill
Movie • 1941
John Kelly
Wine, Women and Horses
Movie • 1937
Jim Turner
Stranded
Movie • 1935
Sharkey
The Half-Breed
Movie • 1952
Marshal Cassidy
Page Miss Glory
Movie • 1935
Blackie
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie • 1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Treasure of Ruby Hills
Movie • 1955
Chalk Reynolds
Cheyenne
Movie • 1947
Webb Yancey
Noose for a Gunman
Movie • 1960
Carl Avery
Relentless
Movie • 1948
Tex Brandow
Law of the Lawless
Movie • 1964
Big Tom Stone
Jail Busters
Movie • 1955
Captain Jenkins
The Acid Test
Movie • 1932
Melody Ranch
Movie • 1940
Mark Wildhack
Rails Into Laramie
Movie • 1954
Lee Graham
Naked In The Sun
Movie • 1957
Wilson
Go Into Your Dance
Movie • 1935
Duke Hutchinson
Jack Slade
Movie • 1953
Jules Reni
Marine Raiders
Movie • 1944
Sgt. Maguire
Dr. Socrates
Movie • 1935
Red Bastian
Jungle Flight
Movie • 1947
Case Hagin
The Underdog
Movie • 1943
John Tate
Born Reckless
Movie • 1937
Jim Barnes
The Bandit Queen
Movie • 1950
Sheriff Jim Harden
Captain Scarface
Movie • 1953
Captain Scarface
Prison Break
Movie • 1938
Joaquin Shannon
The Last Round-up
Movie • 1934
Charley Benson
I Found Stella Parish
Movie • 1935
Clifton Jeffords
Let's Dance
Movie • 1950
Larry Channock
Sierra Stranger
Movie • 1957
Lem Gotch
His Woman
Movie • 1931
Crewman
Gold Is Where You Find It
Movie • 1938
Slag Martin
The Dude Goes West
Movie • 1948
Texas Jack Barton
Bombardier
Movie • 1943
Archie Dixon
Town Tamer
Movie • 1965
James Fell
Cow Country
Movie • 1953
Marvin Parker
Ever Since Eve
Movie • 1937
Al McCoy
Santa Fe Uprising
Movie • 1946
Crawford
Wild Geese Calling
Movie • 1941
Pirate Kelly
The Case of the Curious Bride
Movie • 1935
Detective Lucas
'G' Men
Movie • 1935
Collins
Gentle Annie
Movie • 1944
Sheriff Tatum
Draegerman Courage
Movie • 1937
Andrew Beaupre
Mutiny in the Big House
Movie • 1939
Red Manson
Man of Iron
Movie • 1935
Chris Bennett
Jaguar
Movie • 1956
Steve Bailey
Gangs of Chicago
Movie • 1940
Jim Ramsey
Bengal Tiger
Movie • 1936
Cliff Ballenger
Jailbreak
Movie • 1936
Detective Captain Rourke
The Kid Comes Back
Movie • 1938
Gunner Malone
I Was a Convict
Movie • 1939
Ace King
Naughty-Cal
Movie • 1932
Sailor
Let's Dance
Movie • 1933
Hit the Road
Movie • 1941
James J. Ryan
Breakdowns of 1936
Movie • 1936
Self
Hell's Outpost
Movie • 1954
Sheriff Olson
Jubilee Trail
Movie • 1954
Deacon Bartlett
All of Me
Movie • 1934
First Cop (uncredited)
Crimes Square
Movie • 1931
Detective with Handcuffs
The Gigolo Racket
Movie • 1931
Cafe Customer
Silver River
Movie • 1948
'Banjo' Sweeney
The Silver Star
Movie • 1955
Henry 'Tiny' Longtree
Last of the Desperados
Movie • 1955
Mosby, Gang Leader
Three Violent People
Movie • 1956
Yates
Frontier Gun
Movie • 1958
Simon Crayle
Big Town Czar
Movie • 1939
Phil Daley
Thunderbirds
Movie • 1952
Sgt. Durkee
A Dream Comes True
Movie • 1935
Himself (uncredited)
Breakdowns of 1937
Movie • 1937
Self
Breakdowns of 1939
Movie • 1939
Self
The Storm
Movie • 1938
Captain Cogswell
Bogart: The Untold Story
Movie • 1997
Self (archive footage)
Sea of Lost Ships
Movie • 1953
Capt. Jack Matthews
It's Showtime
Movie • 1976
Self (archive footage)
Big Executive
Movie • 1933
Harry the Guide
The Quarterback
Movie • 1926
Football Player (uncredited)
Girl in the Woods
Movie • 1958
Big Jim
Rookie Fireman
Movie • 1950
Captain Jess Henshaw
77 Sunset Strip
TV • 1958
Cheyenne
TV • 1955
I Dream of Jeannie
TV • 1965
General Peterson
The Munsters
TV • 1964
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Herkimer Crawford
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Senator Harriman Baylor
The Monkees
TV • 1966
Bart
Outlaws
TV • 1960
Marshal Frank Caine
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
TV • 1958
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Steve
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Chief Brooks
Hondo
TV • 1967
Wire Service
TV • 1956
Gen. Bailey
The Whistler
TV • 1954
Tightrope
TV • 1959
Black Saddle
TV • 1959
General Fowler
Telephone Time
TV • 1956
Studio 57
TV • 1954
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Willard Kerner
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Marvin Platt
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Milo
Four Star Playhouse
TV • 1952
Capt. Webber
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Sheriff Eugene Norris
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Harold Minter
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Archer Osmond
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Rawls Kettrick