---
name: "Barton MacLane"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/barton-maclane"
fi1m_id: "barton-maclane"
imdb_id: "nm0533692"
tmdb_id: 14451
wikidata_id: "Q577621"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 December 1902"
died: "1 January 1969"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 85
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-25T03:01:20.071813+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Barton MacLane

## Identity

Barton MacLane

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/barton-maclane
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** barton-maclane
- **IMDb ID:** nm0533692
- **TMDB ID:** 14451
- **Wikidata ID:** Q577621
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barton_MacLane, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q577621, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0533692/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14451

Actor. Born 25 December 1902 in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. Died 1 January 1969.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 December 1902, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
- **Died:** 1 January 1969
- **Active:** 1941–1948
- **Also known as:** Ernest Barton MacLane, Barton Mac Lane, Barton Maclane, Barton McLane, Бартон Маклейн
- **Frequently works with:** [Humphrey Bogart](https://film.one/person/humphrey-bogart.md), [John Huston](https://film.one/person/john-huston.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 85, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Crime 2, Drama 2, Thriller 2, Action 1, Adventure 1, Mystery 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $8m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barton_MacLane, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q577621, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0533692/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14451

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Maltese Falcon*](https://film.one/film/the-maltese-falcon.md) (87)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Barton MacLane

> Barton MacLane made hard men feel solid, with a brawny presence and a rasp that suited both criminals and policemen. We value his blunt, useful supporting work, even when the parts gave him little else to do.

Barton MacLane's rasp makes a policeman sound as though his patience has already run out. As Dundy in *The Maltese Falcon* (1941), he brings that bluntness to his exchanges with Humphrey Bogart's Sam Spade, useful in a film where the talk can occasionally grow stiff. We enjoyed the friction between them: MacLane's physical weight and hard-nosed manner give Spade someone difficult to talk past. John Huston gets good use from that solidity without requiring MacLane to make a supporting role the centre of the film.

The Warner Bros. supporting work of the 1930s and 1940s repeatedly put him among gangsters, henchmen and hard-nosed police officers. That casting made sense, though it also kept him returning to surliness when a different response might have been welcome. His detective Steve McBride appeared opposite Glenda Farrell in seven *Torchy Blane* films, a more sustained assignment than another passing heavy. Fritz Lang's *You Only Live Once* (1937) belongs to the same busy period. These parts made use of his imposing presence, but the repeated casting as heavies left less opportunity to surprise us.

Huston used him again as Pat McCormick, the crooked construction boss in *The Treasure of the Sierra Madre* (1948). The casting puts the familiar tough-guy presence to work in a film unusually frank about greed and its excuses. His size and voice suit a man whose authority comes with no promise of fair dealing. Bogart and Walter Huston are the performances we chiefly recommend the film for, and its occasional lecturing remains a flaw. Here, at least, MacLane's familiar surliness is exactly what the part calls for.

The later television work gave that authority a comic use. In *I Dream of Jeannie* (1965–69), his recurring General Peterson was a befuddled authority figure, a change from the heavies without discarding the imposing presence. It is a sensible adjustment for an actor whose strength could also become a restriction. Start with *The Maltese Falcon*, where that rasp has Bogart to contend with.

## Biography

Barton MacLane was an American actor, playwright and screenwriter. Born in Columbia, South Carolina, on 25 December 1902, he attended Wesleyan University and trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He made his Broadway debut in 1927 in The Trial of Mary Dugan and appeared in early films including The Cocoanuts (1929).

MacLane appeared in numerous films from the 1930s to the 1960s, often in supporting roles as tough or abrasive characters. Notable credits include The Maltese Falcon (1941), High Sierra (1941) and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948). His later television work included the recurring role of General Peterson in I Dream of Jeannie (1965).

MacLane was married to actress Charlotte Wynters from 1939. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his television work. He died in Santa Monica, California, on 1 January 1969.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, walkoffame.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *The Treasure of the Sierra Madre* (1948), Fi1m 88, as Pat McCormick — [page](https://film.one/film/the-treasure-of-the-sierra-madre.md)
- *High Sierra* (1941), Fi1m 79, as Jake Kranmer — [page](https://film.one/film/high-sierra.md)
- *The Maltese Falcon* (1941), Fi1m 87, as Lt. of Detectives Dundy — [page](https://film.one/film/the-maltese-falcon.md)

## Complete filmography (167)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Buckskin* (1968), as Dr. H. 'Doc' Raymond
- *Arizona Bushwhackers* (1968), as Sheriff Grover
- *Hondo* (1967), series, Actor
- *The Monkees* (1966), series, as Bart
- *I Dream of Jeannie* (1965), series, as General Peterson
- *Town Tamer* (1965), as James Fell
- *The Rounders* (1965), as Tanner
- *The Munsters* (1964), series, Actor
- *Law of the Lawless* (1964), as Big Tom Stone
- *Pocketful of Miracles* (1961), as Police Commissioner
- *Outlaws* (1960), series, as Marshal Frank Caine
- *Noose for a Gunman* (1960), as Carl Avery
- *Gunfighters of Abilene* (1960), as Seth
- *Tightrope* (1959), series, Actor
- *Black Saddle* (1959), series, as General Fowler
- *The Geisha Boy* (1958), as Major Ridgley
- *Frontier Gun* (1958), as Simon Crayle
- *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, Actor
- *Girl on the Run* (1958), as Francis J. Brannigan
- *Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse* (1958), series, Actor
- *Girl in the Woods* (1958), as Big Jim
- *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Senator Harriman Baylor, Sheriff Eugene Norris, Harold Minter, Archer Osmond
- *Naked In The Sun* (1957), as Wilson
- *Sierra Stranger* (1957), as Lem Gotch
- *Hell's Crossroads* (1957), as Clyde O'Connell
- *Three Violent People* (1956), as Yates
- *Naked Gun* (1956), as Joe Barnum
- *The Man Is Armed* (1956), as Det. Lt. Dan Coster
- *Wire Service* (1956), series, as Gen. Bailey
- *Conflict* (1956), series, as Charlie Ringle
- *Wetbacks* (1956), as Karl Shanks
- *Telephone Time* (1956), series, Actor
- *Backlash* (1956), as Sergeant George Lake
- *Jaguar* (1956), as Steve Bailey
- *Last of the Desperados* (1955), as Mosby, Gang Leader
- *Cheyenne* (1955), series, Actor
- *Jail Busters* (1955), as Captain Jenkins
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Herkimer Crawford, Willard Kerner
- *Foxfire* (1955), as Jim Mablett
- *The Silver Star* (1955), as Henry 'Tiny' Longtree
- *Treasure of Ruby Hills* (1955), as Chalk Reynolds
- *Hell's Outpost* (1954), as Sheriff Olson
- *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Rawls Kettrick
- *Studio 57* (1954), series, Actor
- *The Whistler* (1954), series, Actor
- *Jubilee Trail* (1954), as Deacon Bartlett
- *Rails Into Laramie* (1954), as Lee Graham
- *The Glenn Miller Story* (1954), as General Arnold
- *Jack Slade* (1953), as Jules Reni
- *Sea of Lost Ships* (1953), as Capt. Jack Matthews
- *Captain Scarface* (1953), as Captain Scarface
- *Cow Country* (1953), as Marvin Parker
- *Kansas Pacific* (1953), as Cal Bruce
- *Thunderbirds* (1952), as Sgt. Durkee
- *Four Star Playhouse* (1952), series, as Capt. Webber, Milo
- *The Half-Breed* (1952), as Marshal Cassidy
- *Bugles in the Afternoon* (1952), as Capt. Myles Moylan
- *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Chief Brooks
- *Drums in the Deep South* (1951), as Sgt. Mac McCardle
- *Best of the Badmen* (1951), as Joad
- *The Bandit Queen* (1950), as Sheriff Jim Harden
- *Let's Dance* (1950), as Larry Channock
- *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, as Steve, Marvin Platt
- *Rookie Fireman* (1950), as Captain Jess Henshaw
- *Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye* (1950), as Lieutenant John Reece
- *Red Light* (1949), as Detective Strecker
- *The Walls of Jericho* (1948), as Rufus J. "Gotch" McCurdy
- *Angel in Exile* (1948), as Max Giorgio
- *Unknown Island* (1948), as Capt. Tarnowski
- *Relentless* (1948), as Tex Brandow
- *The Dude Goes West* (1948), as Texas Jack Barton
- *Silver River* (1948), as 'Banjo' Sweeney
- *The Treasure of the Sierra Madre* (1948), as Pat McCormick — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-treasure-of-the-sierra-madre.md)
- *Jungle Flight* (1947), as Case Hagin
- *Cheyenne* (1947), as Webb Yancey
- *Tarzan and the Huntress* (1947), as Paul Weir
- *San Quentin* (1946), as Nick Taylor
- *Santa Fe Uprising* (1946), as Crawford
- *Mysterious Intruder* (1946), as Detective Taggart
- *The Spanish Main* (1945), as Capt. Benjamin Black
- *Scared Stiff* (1945), as George 'Deacon' Markham
- *Tarzan and the Amazons* (1945), as Ballister
- *Gentle Annie* (1944), as Sheriff Tatum
- *Cry of the Werewolf* (1944), as Lt. Barry Lane
- *Secret Command* (1944), as Red Kelly
- *Marine Raiders* (1944), as Sgt. Maguire
- *The Mummy's Ghost* (1944), as Inspector Walgreen
- *Nabonga* (1944), as Carl Hurst
- *The Crime Doctor’s Strangest Case* (1943), as Detective Rief
- *The Underdog* (1943), as John Tate
- *Song of Texas* (1943), as Jim Calvert
- *Bombardier* (1943), as Archie Dixon
- *Man of Courage* (1943), as John Wallace · Screenplay, Story
- *Highways by Night* (1942), as Leo Bronson
- *The Big Street* (1942), as Case Ables
- *All Through the Night* (1942), as Marty Callahan
- *The Maltese Falcon* (1941), as Lt. of Detectives Dundy — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/the-maltese-falcon.md)
- *Wild Geese Calling* (1941), as Pirate Kelly
- *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* (1941), as Sam Higgins
- *Manpower* (1941), as Smiley Quinn
- *Hit the Road* (1941), as James J. Ryan
- *Barnacle Bill* (1941), as John Kelly
- *Western Union* (1941), as Jack Slade
- *Come Live with Me* (1941), as Barney Grogan
- *High Sierra* (1941), as Jake Kranmer — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/high-sierra.md)
- *Melody Ranch* (1940), as Mark Wildhack
- *The Secret Seven* (1940), as Sam O'Donnell
- *Men Without Souls* (1940), as Blackie Drew
- *Gangs of Chicago* (1940), as Jim Ramsey
- *Mutiny in the Big House* (1939), as Red Manson
- *Torchy Runs for Mayor* (1939), as Steve McBride
- *Big Town Czar* (1939), as Phil Daley
- *I Was a Convict* (1939), as Ace King
- *Torchy Blane in Chinatown* (1939), as Det. Lt. Steve 'Mac' McBride
- *Stand Up and Fight* (1939), as Crowder
- *Torchy Gets Her Man* (1938), as Detective Steve McBride
- *The Storm* (1938), as Captain Cogswell
- *Prison Break* (1938), as Joaquin Shannon
- *You and Me* (1938), as Mickey
- *Gold Is Where You Find It* (1938), as Slag Martin
- *The Kid Comes Back* (1938), as Gunner Malone
- *Blondes at Work* (1938), as Lt. Steve McBride
- *The Adventurous Blonde* (1937), as Det. Lt. Steve McBride
- *Wine, Women and Horses* (1937), as Jim Turner
- *Ever Since Eve* (1937), as Al McCoy
- *Born Reckless* (1937), as Jim Barnes
- *Fly Away Baby* (1937), as Steve McBride
- *San Quentin* (1937), as Lt. Druggin
- *Draegerman Courage* (1937), as Andrew Beaupre
- *The Prince and the Pauper* (1937), as John Canty
- *You Only Live Once* (1937), as Stephen Whitney
- *God's Country and the Woman* (1937), as Bullhead
- *Smart Blonde* (1937), as Steve McBride
- *Jailbreak* (1936), as Detective Captain Rourke
- *Bengal Tiger* (1936), as Cliff Ballenger
- *Bullets or Ballots* (1936), as Al Kruger
- *Times Square Playboy* (1936), as Casey (Vic's Butler/Trainer)
- *The Walking Dead* (1936), as Loder
- *Ceiling Zero* (1936), as Al Stone
- *Man of Iron* (1935), as Chris Bennett
- *Frisco Kid* (1935), as Spider Burke
- *I Found Stella Parish* (1935), as Clifton Jeffords
- *Dr. Socrates* (1935), as Red Bastian
- *The Case of the Lucky Legs* (1935), as Bisonette
- *Page Miss Glory* (1935), as Blackie
- *Stranded* (1935), as Sharkey
- *Black Fury* (1935), as McGee
- *'G' Men* (1935), as Collins
- *Go Into Your Dance* (1935), as Duke Hutchinson
- *The Case of the Curious Bride* (1935), as Detective Lucas
- *The Last Round-up* (1934), as Charley Benson
- *All of Me* (1934), as First Cop (uncredited)
- *Lone Cowboy* (1933), as Policeman Baxter
- *Big Executive* (1933), as Harry the Guide
- *Tillie and Gus* (1933), as Commissioner McLennan
- *To the Last Man* (1933), as Neil Stanley
- *Man of the Forest* (1933), as Mulvey
- *Let's Dance* (1933), Actor
- *Buffalo Stampede* (1933), as Henchman Pruitt
- *The Acid Test* (1932), Actor
- *Naughty-Cal* (1932), as Sailor
- *His Woman* (1931), as Crewman
- *The Gigolo Racket* (1931), as Cafe Customer
- *Crimes Square* (1931), as Detective with Handcuffs
- *Politics* (1930), Actor
- *The Cocoanuts* (1929), as Bather
- *The Quarterback* (1926), as Football Player (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Barton MacLane](https://film.one/media/person/105294/gallery-5d72b901c66c.jpg) Barton MacLane — Trailer screenshot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Barton_MacLane_in_Smart_Blonde_trailer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Barton MacLane as Frank Caine from the television program Outlaws. (1961)](https://film.one/media/person/105294/gallery-46cc56858a60.jpg) Photo of Barton MacLane as Frank Caine from the television program Outlaws. (1961) — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Barton_MacLane_Outlaws.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Poster for Captain Scarface (1953) The copyright on Captain Scarface was not renewed and the film is in the public domain. See [1] Source: personal collection](https://film.one/media/person/105294/gallery-8f95699e4080.jpg) Poster for Captain Scarface (1953) The copyright on Captain Scarface was not renewed and the film is in the public domain. See [1] Source: personal collection — Schmausschmaus at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Captainscarface.jpg/1280px-Captainscarface.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Promotional still from the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon, published on page 12 of National Board of Review Magazine. L-R: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Barton Mac](https://film.one/media/person/105294/gallery-0506b0fd76fb.jpg) Promotional still from the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon, published on page 12 of National Board of Review Magazine. L-R: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Barton Mac — Warner Bros., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Maltese-Falcon-Tell-the-Truth-1941.jpg/1280px-Maltese-Falcon-Tell-the-Truth-1941.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Barton MacLane](https://film.one/media/person/105294/gallery-9236681b72c1.jpg) Barton MacLane — Image via TMDB
- ![Barton MacLane](https://film.one/media/person/105294/gallery-8154869c3fe8.jpg) Barton MacLane — Image via TMDB
- ![Movie poster for the American crime film Man of Courage (1943), released by Producers Releasing Corporation.](https://film.one/media/person/105294/gallery-ff9ed9705523.jpg) Movie poster for the American crime film Man of Courage (1943), released by Producers Releasing Corporation. — Producers Releasing Corporation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Man_of_Courage_poster.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/barton-maclane