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.
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.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0533692
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q577621
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Filmography (Movies)
Bogart: The Untold Story
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:05/01/1997
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Character:Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:25/02/1983
It's Showtime
Character:Self (archive footage)
Release Date:31/03/1976
Buckskin
Character:Dr. H. 'Doc' Raymond
Release Date:01/05/1968
Arizona Bushwhackers
Character:Sheriff Grover
Release Date:01/03/1968
Town Tamer
Character:James Fell
Release Date:07/07/1965
The Rounders
Character:Tanner
Release Date:08/01/1965
Law of the Lawless
Character:Big Tom Stone
Release Date:13/05/1964
Pocketful of Miracles
Character:Police Commissioner
Release Date:18/12/1961
Noose for a Gunman
Character:Carl Avery
Release Date:01/05/1960
Gunfighters of Abilene
Character:Seth
Release Date:01/01/1960
The Geisha Boy
Character:Major Ridgley
Release Date:02/11/1958
Frontier Gun
Character:Simon Crayle
Release Date:31/10/1958
Girl on the Run
Character:Francis J. Brannigan
Release Date:10/10/1958
Girl in the Woods
Character:Big Jim
Release Date:01/06/1958
Naked In The Sun
Character:Wilson
Release Date:20/09/1957
Sierra Stranger
Character:Lem Gotch
Release Date:01/05/1957
Hell's Crossroads
Character:Clyde O'Connell
Release Date:08/03/1957
Three Violent People
Character:Yates
Release Date:01/12/1956
Naked Gun
Character:Joe Barnum
Release Date:01/11/1956
The Man Is Armed
Character:Det. Lt. Dan Coster
Release Date:19/10/1956
Wetbacks
Character:Karl Shanks
Release Date:04/05/1956
Backlash
Character:Sergeant George Lake
Release Date:14/03/1956
Jaguar
Character:Steve Bailey
Release Date:19/01/1956
Last of the Desperados
Character:Mosby, Gang Leader
Release Date:31/10/1955
Jail Busters
Character:Captain Jenkins
Release Date:18/09/1955
Foxfire
Character:Jim Mablett
Release Date:13/07/1955
The Silver Star
Character:Henry 'Tiny' Longtree
Release Date:07/04/1955
Treasure of Ruby Hills
Character:Chalk Reynolds
Release Date:23/01/1955
Hell's Outpost
Character:Sheriff Olson
Release Date:15/12/1954
Jubilee Trail
Character:Deacon Bartlett
Release Date:15/05/1954
Rails Into Laramie
Character:Lee Graham
Release Date:14/04/1954
The Glenn Miller Story
Character:General Arnold
Release Date:04/01/1954
Jack Slade
Character:Jules Reni
Release Date:08/11/1953
Sea of Lost Ships
Character:Capt. Jack Matthews
Release Date:24/10/1953
Captain Scarface
Character:Captain Scarface
Release Date:15/10/1953
Cow Country
Character:Marvin Parker
Release Date:25/04/1953
Kansas Pacific
Character:Cal Bruce
Release Date:22/02/1953
Thunderbirds
Character:Sgt. Durkee
Release Date:20/11/1952
The Half-Breed
Character:Marshal Cassidy
Release Date:03/05/1952
Bugles in the Afternoon
Character:Capt. Myles Moylan
Release Date:04/03/1952
Drums in the Deep South
Character:Sgt. Mac McCardle
Release Date:01/09/1951
Best of the Badmen
Character:Joad
Release Date:09/08/1951
The Bandit Queen
Character:Sheriff Jim Harden
Release Date:22/12/1950
Let's Dance
Character:Larry Channock
Release Date:29/11/1950
Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Character:Lieutenant John Reece
Release Date:19/08/1950
Red Light
Character:Detective Strecker
Release Date:30/09/1949
The Walls of Jericho
Character:Rufus J. "Gotch" McCurdy
Release Date:22/11/1948
Angel in Exile
Character:Max Giorgio
Release Date:20/10/1948
Unknown Island
Character:Capt. Tarnowski
Release Date:15/10/1948
Relentless
Character:Tex Brandow
Release Date:15/06/1948
The Dude Goes West
Character:Texas Jack Barton
Release Date:30/05/1948
Silver River
Character:'Banjo' Sweeney
Release Date:20/05/1948
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Character:Pat McCormick
Release Date:15/01/1948
Jungle Flight
Character:Case Hagin
Release Date:22/08/1947
Cheyenne
Character:Webb Yancey
Release Date:06/06/1947
Tarzan and the Huntress
Character:Paul Weir
Release Date:05/04/1947
San Quentin
Character:Nick Taylor
Release Date:16/12/1946
Santa Fe Uprising
Character:Crawford
Release Date:15/11/1946
Mysterious Intruder
Character:Detective Taggart
Release Date:11/04/1946
The Spanish Main
Character:Capt. Benjamin Black
Release Date:01/10/1945
Scared Stiff
Character:George 'Deacon' Markham
Release Date:22/06/1945
Tarzan and the Amazons
Character:Ballister
Release Date:29/04/1945
Gentle Annie
Character:Sheriff Tatum
Release Date:05/12/1944
Cry of the Werewolf
Character:Lt. Barry Lane
Release Date:17/08/1944
Secret Command
Character:Red Kelly
Release Date:30/07/1944
Marine Raiders
Character:Sgt. Maguire
Release Date:11/07/1944
The Mummy's Ghost
Character:Inspector Walgreen
Release Date:30/06/1944
Nabonga
Character:Carl Hurst
Release Date:25/01/1944
The Crime Doctor’s Strangest Case
Character:Detective Rief
Release Date:09/12/1943
The Underdog
Character:John Tate
Release Date:17/10/1943
Song of Texas
Character:Jim Calvert
Release Date:14/06/1943
Bombardier
Character:Archie Dixon
Release Date:14/05/1943
Man of Courage
Character:John Wallace
Release Date:04/01/1943
Highways by Night
Character:Leo Bronson
Release Date:02/10/1942
The Big Street
Character:Case Ables
Release Date:13/08/1942
All Through the Night
Character:Marty Callahan
Release Date:10/01/1942
The Maltese Falcon
Character:Lt. of Detectives Dundy
Release Date:18/10/1941
Wild Geese Calling
Character:Pirate Kelly
Release Date:15/08/1941
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Character:Sam Higgins
Release Date:12/08/1941
Manpower
Character:Smiley Quinn
Release Date:09/08/1941
Hit the Road
Character:James J. Ryan
Release Date:27/06/1941
Barnacle Bill
Character:John Kelly
Release Date:07/04/1941
Western Union
Character:Jack Slade
Release Date:21/02/1941
Come Live with Me
Character:Barney Grogan
Release Date:31/01/1941
High Sierra
Character:Jake Kranmer
Release Date:23/01/1941
Melody Ranch
Character:Mark Wildhack
Release Date:15/09/1940
The Secret Seven
Character:Sam O'Donnell
Release Date:15/08/1940
Men Without Souls
Character:Blackie Drew
Release Date:20/05/1940
Gangs of Chicago
Character:Jim Ramsey
Release Date:18/05/1940
Breakdowns of 1939
Character:Self
Release Date:31/12/1939
Mutiny in the Big House
Character:Red Manson
Release Date:24/10/1939
Torchy Runs for Mayor
Character:Steve McBride
Release Date:13/05/1939
Big Town Czar
Character:Phil Daley
Release Date:03/05/1939
I Was a Convict
Character:Ace King
Release Date:06/03/1939
Torchy Blane in Chinatown
Character:Det. Lt. Steve 'Mac' McBride
Release Date:02/02/1939
Stand Up and Fight
Character:Crowder
Release Date:06/01/1939
Torchy Gets Her Man
Character:Detective Steve McBride
Release Date:12/11/1938
The Storm
Character:Captain Cogswell
Release Date:28/10/1938
Prison Break
Character:Joaquin Shannon
Release Date:12/07/1938
You and Me
Character:Mickey
Release Date:01/06/1938
Gold Is Where You Find It
Character:Slag Martin
Release Date:12/02/1938
The Kid Comes Back
Character:Gunner Malone
Release Date:12/02/1938
Blondes at Work
Character:Lt. Steve McBride
Release Date:05/02/1938
Breakdowns of 1937
Character:Self
Release Date:31/12/1937
The Adventurous Blonde
Character:Det. Lt. Steve McBride
Release Date:13/11/1937
Wine, Women and Horses
Character:Jim Turner
Release Date:11/09/1937
Ever Since Eve
Character:Al McCoy
Release Date:15/07/1937
Born Reckless
Character:Jim Barnes
Release Date:25/06/1937
Fly Away Baby
Character:Steve McBride
Release Date:19/06/1937
San Quentin
Character:Lt. Druggin
Release Date:24/05/1937
Draegerman Courage
Character:Andrew Beaupre
Release Date:15/05/1937
The Prince and the Pauper
Character:John Canty
Release Date:30/04/1937
You Only Live Once
Character:Stephen Whitney
Release Date:23/01/1937
God's Country and the Woman
Character:Bullhead
Release Date:16/01/1937
Smart Blonde
Character:Steve McBride
Release Date:02/01/1937
Breakdowns of 1936
Character:Self
Release Date:30/12/1936
Jailbreak
Character:Detective Captain Rourke
Release Date:05/08/1936
Bengal Tiger
Character:Cliff Ballenger
Release Date:29/07/1936
Bullets or Ballots
Character:Al Kruger
Release Date:06/06/1936
Times Square Playboy
Character:Casey (Vic's Butler/Trainer)
Release Date:09/05/1936
The Walking Dead
Character:Loder
Release Date:29/02/1936
Ceiling Zero
Character:Al Stone
Release Date:16/01/1936
A Dream Comes True
Character:Himself (uncredited)
Release Date:31/12/1935
Man of Iron
Character:Chris Bennett
Release Date:21/12/1935
Frisco Kid
Character:Spider Burke
Release Date:30/11/1935
I Found Stella Parish
Character:Clifton Jeffords
Release Date:16/11/1935
Dr. Socrates
Character:Red Bastian
Release Date:19/10/1935
The Case of the Lucky Legs
Character:Bisonette
Release Date:05/10/1935
Page Miss Glory
Character:Blackie
Release Date:07/09/1935
Stranded
Character:Sharkey
Release Date:29/06/1935
Black Fury
Character:McGee
Release Date:18/05/1935
'G' Men
Character:Collins
Release Date:04/05/1935
Go Into Your Dance
Character:Duke Hutchinson
Release Date:20/04/1935
The Case of the Curious Bride
Character:Detective Lucas
Release Date:13/04/1935
The Last Round-up
Character:Charley Benson
Release Date:01/05/1934
All of Me
Character:First Cop (uncredited)
Release Date:01/02/1934
Lone Cowboy
Character:Policeman Baxter
Release Date:02/12/1933
Big Executive
Character:Harry the Guide
Release Date:19/10/1933
Tillie and Gus
Character:Commissioner McLennan
Release Date:13/10/1933
To the Last Man
Character:Neil Stanley
Release Date:15/09/1933
Man of the Forest
Character:Mulvey
Release Date:24/08/1933
Let's Dance
Character:
Release Date:17/03/1933
Buffalo Stampede
Character:Henchman Pruitt
Release Date:01/03/1933
The Acid Test
Character:
Release Date:27/11/1932
Naughty-Cal
Character:Sailor
Release Date:19/02/1932
His Woman
Character:Crewman
Release Date:20/11/1931
The Gigolo Racket
Character:Cafe Customer
Release Date:15/06/1931
Crimes Square
Character:Detective with Handcuffs
Release Date:26/03/1931
Politics
Character:
Release Date:14/11/1930
The Cocoanuts
Character:Bather
Release Date:23/05/1929
The Quarterback
Character:Football Player (uncredited)
Release Date:11/10/1926
Television Appearances
Hondo
Character:
The Monkees
Character:
I Dream of Jeannie
Character:General Peterson
The Munsters
Character:
Outlaws
Character:Marshal Frank Caine
Tightrope
Character:
Black Saddle
Character:General Fowler
77 Sunset Strip
Character:
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Character:
Perry Mason
Character:Senator Harriman Baylor
Perry Mason
Character:Sheriff Eugene Norris
Perry Mason
Character:Harold Minter
Perry Mason
Character:Archer Osmond
Wire Service
Character:Gen. Bailey
Telephone Time
Character:
Cheyenne
Character:
Gunsmoke
Character:Herkimer Crawford
Gunsmoke
Character:Willard Kerner
The Wonderful World of Disney
Character:Rawls Kettrick
Studio 57
Character:
The Whistler
Character:
Four Star Playhouse
Character:Milo
Four Star Playhouse
Character:Capt. Webber
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Character:Chief Brooks
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Steve
Lux Video Theatre
Character:Marvin Platt
Images
