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Videos (see all 9 NEW)

The Sex Life of the Polyp (1928) -- Dr. Benchley lectures the women's club on the unusual but important title-topic.

Week-End at the Waldorf (1945) -- Trailer for this classic black and white film

The Reluctant Dragon (1941) -- Benchley takes the audience on a tour through Disney studios. Alan Ladd plays one of the animators we meet along the way. The live-action footage was cut in later TV releases.

Overview

Date of Birth:

15 September 1889, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA more

Date of Death:

21 November 1945, New York City, New York, USA more

Mini Biography:

Although by his own account Benchley was not quite a writer and not quite... more

Trivia:

The town of Benchley, Texas, is named after his grandfather, who founded it. more

STARmeter:

Down 23% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Awards:

1 win more

NewsDesk:
(3 articles)

Weirder and Wilder Things
(From GreenCine Daily. 21 October 2009, 3:12 PM, PDT)
The Hottest New Screenwriters Are Female Lady Women-Type People
(From Cinematical. 25 March 2009, 8:03 AM, PDT)

Alternate Names:

Bob Benchley

Filmography

Jump to filmography as: Actor, Writer, Soundtrack, Self, Archive Footage

			Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	Janie Gets Married (1946)	John Van Brunt	1946	-	5.8 (48)

2.	The Bride Wore Boots (1946)	Uncle Todd Warren	1946	-	6.0 (49)

3.	Road to Utopia (1946)	Narrator	1946	-	7.6 (1,601)

4.	The Stork Club (1945)	Tom P. Curtis (Bates' laywer)	1945	-	6.2 (196)

5.	Snafu (1945)	Ben Stevens	1945	-	7.0 (6)
	AKAs: Welcome Home (UK)
6.	Kiss and Tell (1945)	Uncle George Archer	1945	-	7.0 (29)

7.	Week-End at the Waldorf (1945)	Randy Morton/Narrator	1945	-	6.7 (319)

8.	Boogie Woogie (1945)	Frederick Stumplefinger, Father	1945	-	-
	AKAs: Musical Parade: Boogie Woogie (USA: series title)
9.	It's in the Bag! (1945)	Parker	1945	-	7.1 (147)
	AKAs: The Fifth Chair (Australia) (UK)
10.	Pan-Americana (1945)	Charlie Corker	1945	-	5.5 (32)

11.	Practically Yours (1944)	Judge Robert Simpson	1944	-	7.2 (25)

12.	National Barn Dance (1944)	J.B. Mitcham	1944	-	-

13.	Janie (1944)	John Van Brunt	1944	-	6.1 (119)

14.	Why Daddy? (1944)	Joseph A. Doakes	1944	-	5.7 (68)

15.	Important Business (1944)	Joseph A. Doakes	1944	-	5.7 (22)

16.	Her Primitive Man (1944)	Martin Osborne	1944	-	-

17.	See Here, Private Hargrove (1944)	Mr. Holliday	1944	-	6.6 (130)

18.	Song of Russia (1944)	Hank Higgins	1944	-	5.0 (79)

19.	No News Is Good News (1943)	Answer Man	1943	-	6.0 (24)

20.	My Tomato (1943)	Joseph A. Doakes	1943	-	6.5 (32)

21.	Flesh and Fantasy (1943)	Doakes (framing story)	1943	-	7.1 (227)
	AKAs: Six Destinies
22.	The Sky's the Limit (1943)	Phil Harriman	1943	-	6.5 (254)

23.	Young and Willing (1943)	Arthur Kenny	1943	-	5.8 (53)
	AKAs: Out of the Frying Pan
24.	I Married a Witch (1942)	Dr. Dudley White	1942	-	7.1 (1,566)

25.	The Major and the Minor (1942)	Albert Osborne	1942	-	7.7 (1,706)

26.	The Man's Angle (1942)	Joe Doakes	1942	-	7.5 (20)

27.	Keeping in Shape (1942)	Lecturer / Joe Doakes	1942	-	6.3 (21)

28.	Syncopation (1942)	(scenes deleted) Doakes	1942	-	6.2 (70)

29.	Take a Letter, Darling (1942)	G.B. Atwater	1942	-	7.0 (186)
	AKAs: Green-Eyed Woman (UK)
30.	The Witness (1942)	Joe Doakes	1942	-	7.3 (16)

31.	Nothing But Nerves (1942)	Mr. Benchley	1942	-	6.7 (16)

32.	Bedtime Story (1941)	Eddie Turner	1941	-	7.0 (146)

33.	Three Girls About Town (1941)	Wilburforce Puddle, hotel manager	1941	-	6.7 (79)

34.	How to Take a Vacation (1941)	The Husband	1941	-	8.0 (23)

35.	You'll Never Get Rich (1941)	Martin Cortland	1941	-	6.8 (641)

36.	The Forgotten Man (1941)		1941	-	7.4 (16)

37.	Crime Control (1941)	Sgt. Benchley / Joe Doakes	1941	-	6.7 (23)

38.	Nice Girl? (1941)	Prof. Oliver Wendel Holmes Dana	1941	-	6.6 (70)

39.	Waiting for Baby (1941)	Joseph Doakes	1941	-	6.6 (11)

40.	The Trouble with Husbands (1940)	Joe Doakes	1940	-	7.1 (27)

41.	Hired Wife (1940)	Roger Van Horn	1940	-	7.0 (69)

42.	Foreign Correspondent (1940)	Stebbins	1940	-	7.7 (5,823)

43.	Home Movies (1940)		1940	-	7.4 (38)

44.	That Inferior Feeling (1940)	Joseph H. 'Joe' Doakes	1940	-	6.8 (84)

45.	See Your Doctor (1939)	Lecturer / Joseph H. Doakes	1939	-	7.3 (16)

46.	The Day of Rest (1939)	Joe Doakes	1939	-	6.5 (11)

47.	How to Eat (1939)	Lecturer / Joe Doakes	1939	-	7.4 (30)

48.	Home Early (1939)	Joe	1939	-	7.3 (11)

49.	Dark Magic (1939)	Joseph A. Doakes	1939	-	7.5 (21)

50.	An Hour for Lunch (1939)	Lecturer/Joe	1939	-	7.0 (19)

51.	How to Sub-Let (1939)	Joseph A. Doakes	1939	-	7.1 (13)

52.	Mental Poise (1938)	Psychoanalyst/Mr. Ostegraf	1938	-	5.3 (17)

53.	Opening Day (1938)	City Treasurer Benchley	1938	-	7.1 (27)

54.	How to Watch Football (1938)	Football fan/voice of announcer	1938	-	7.2 (30)

55.	How to Read (1938)	Lecturer	1938	-	7.7 (16)

56.	The Courtship of the Newt (1938)	Zoology professor	1938	-	6.1 (26)

57.	How to Raise a Baby (1938)	Lecturer/Father	1938	-	6.8 (24)

58.	An Evening Alone (1938)		1938	-	6.8 (10)

59.	Music Made Simple (1938)	Lecturing Music Expert	1938	-	6.5 (21)

60.	How to Figure Income Tax (1938)		1938	-	7.9 (17)

61.	A Night at the Movies (1937)	Husband	1937	-	6.6 (139)

62.	Live, Love and Learn (1937)	Oscar	1937	-	6.0 (97)

63.	How to Start the Day (1937)	Lecturer	1937	-	6.8 (31)

64.	Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)	Duffy, Raleigh's P.R. Man	1937	-	6.7 (331)

65.	The Romance of Digestion (1937)		1937	-	5.8 (21)

66.	How to Be a Detective (1936)	Mr. Benchley	1936	-	6.2 (104)

67.	How to Vote (1936)	Mr. Robert Benchley (the speaker)	1936	-	7.4 (31)

68.	Piccadilly Jim (1936)	Bill Macon	1936	-	6.8 (92)

69.	How to Train a Dog (1936)	Lecturer/Dog Owner	1936	-	7.2 (34)

70.	How to Behave (1936)	Mr. Benchley	1936	-	7.1 (19)

71.	How to Sleep (1935)		1935	-	6.7 (231)

72.	China Seas (1935)	McCaleb	1935	-	7.0 (646)

73.	How to Break 90 at Croquet (1935)		1935	-	-

74.	David O. Selznick: 'Your New Producer' (1935)	Master of Ceremonies	1935	-	6.7 (55)

75.	Social Register (1934)	Robert Benchley	1934	-	7.2 (12)

76.	Dancing Lady (1933)	Ward King	1933	-	6.7 (573)

77.	Headline Shooter (1933)	Radio announcer	1933	-	6.6 (17)
	AKAs: Evidence in Camera (UK)
78.	Rafter Romance (1933)	H. Harrington Hubbell	1933	-	6.7 (241)

79.	Your Technocracy and Mine (1933)		1933	-	-

80.	The Sport Parade (1932)	Radio Announcer	1932	-	6.2 (61)

81.	Stewed, Fried and Boiled (1929)		1929	-	-

82.	Lesson No. 1 (1929)		1929	-	-

83.	Furnace Trouble (1929)		1929	-	-

84.	The Spellbinder (1928/I)		1928	-	-

85.	The Sex Life of the Polyp (1928)	Lecturer	1928	-	6.7 (60)

86.	The Treasurer's Report (1928)	Treasurer	1928	-	7.0 (35)

			Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	Robert Benchley and the Knights of the Algonquin (1998) (V)	(writer)	1998	-	5.8 (9)

2.	Boogie Woogie (1945)	(story)	1945	-	-
	AKAs: Musical Parade: Boogie Woogie (USA: series title)
3.	I'm a Civilian Here Myself (1945)	(writer)	1945	-	-

4.	Why Daddy? (1944)	(story) (writer)	1944	-	5.7 (68)

5.	Important Business (1944)	(writer)	1944	-	5.7 (22)

6.	No News Is Good News (1943)	(original story) (screenplay)	1943	-	6.0 (24)

7.	The Man's Angle (1942)	(writer)	1942	-	7.5 (20)

8.	Keeping in Shape (1942)	(writer)	1942	-	6.3 (21)

9.	The Witness (1942)	(writer)	1942	-	7.3 (16)

10.	Nothing But Nerves (1942)	(writer)	1942	-	6.7 (16)

11.	How to Take a Vacation (1941)	(writer)	1941	-	8.0 (23)

12.	The Reluctant Dragon (1941)	(uncredited)	1941	-	7.0 (388)
	AKAs: A Day at Disneys (USA: TV title) Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Studio
13.	The Forgotten Man (1941)	(writer)	1941	-	7.4 (16)

14.	Crime Control (1941)	(writer)	1941	-	6.7 (23)

15.	Waiting for Baby (1941)	(writer)	1941	-	6.6 (11)

16.	The Trouble with Husbands (1940)	(writer)	1940	-	7.1 (27)

17.	Foreign Correspondent (1940)	(dialogue)	1940	-	7.7 (5,823)

18.	Home Movies (1940)	(uncredited)	1940	-	7.4 (38)

19.	That Inferior Feeling (1940)	(uncredited)	1940	-	6.8 (84)

20.	See Your Doctor (1939)	(writer)	1939	-	7.3 (16)

21.	How to Eat (1939)	(uncredited)	1939	-	7.4 (30)

22.	Home Early (1939)	(screenplay)	1939	-	7.3 (11)

23.	Dark Magic (1939)	(uncredited)	1939	-	7.5 (21)

24.	How to Sub-Let (1939)	(uncredited)	1939	-	7.1 (13)

25.	Mental Poise (1938)	(uncredited)	1938	-	5.3 (17)

26.	How to Watch Football (1938)	(writer)	1938	-	7.2 (30)

27.	How to Read (1938)	(writer)	1938	-	7.7 (16)

28.	The Courtship of the Newt (1938)	(writer)	1938	-	6.1 (26)

29.	An Evening Alone (1938)	(writer)	1938	-	6.8 (10)

30.	Music Made Simple (1938)	(uncredited)	1938	-	6.5 (21)

31.	How to Figure Income Tax (1938)	(writer)	1938	-	7.9 (17)

32.	A Night at the Movies (1937)	(uncredited)	1937	-	6.6 (139)

33.	Top of the Town (1937)	(uncredited) (story)	1937	-	5.7 (14)

34.	The Romance of Digestion (1937)	(uncredited)	1937	-	5.8 (21)

35.	How to Be a Detective (1936)	(writer)	1936	-	6.2 (104)

36.	How to Vote (1936)	(uncredited)	1936	-	7.4 (31)

37.	How to Behave (1936)	(uncredited)	1936	-	7.1 (19)

38.	How to Sleep (1935)	(uncredited)	1935	-	6.7 (231)

39.	Pursuit (1935)	(uncredited)	1935	-	5.7 (37)

40.	Murder on a Honeymoon (1935)	(writer)	1935	-	6.9 (135)

41.	How to Break 90 at Croquet (1935)	(writer)	1935	-	-

42.	The Gay Divorcee (1934)	(uncredited)	1934	-	7.6 (2,156)
	AKAs: The Gay Divorce (UK)
43.	Dancing Lady (1933)	(uncredited)	1933	-	6.7 (573)

44.	After Tonight (1933)	(uncredited)	1933	-	6.1 (34)
	AKAs: Sealed Lips (UK)
45.	Blind Adventure (1933)	(additional dialogue)	1933	-	5.8 (30)

46.	Your Technocracy and Mine (1933)	(writer)	1933	-	-

47.	The Sport Parade (1932)	(additional dialogue) (uncredited)	1932	-	6.2 (61)

48.	Sky Devils (1932)	(writer)	1932	-	7.0 (16)

49.	Stewed, Fried and Boiled (1929)	(writer)	1929	-	-

50.	Lesson No. 1 (1929)	(writer)	1929	-	-

51.	Furnace Trouble (1929)	(writer)	1929	-	-

52.	The Spellbinder (1928/I)	(writer)	1928	-	-

53.	The Sex Life of the Polyp (1928)	(writer)	1928	-	6.7 (60)

54.	The Treasurer's Report (1928)	(writer)	1928	-	7.0 (35)

55.	You'd Be Surprised (1926)	(titles)	1926	-	7.2 (9)

56.	A Social Celebrity (1926)	(titles) (uncredited)	1926	-	-

57.	The American Venus (1926)	(titles) (uncredited)	1926	-	7.3 (11)

			Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	Janie (1944)	(performer: "Mademoiselle from Armentières" (uncredited), "They're Either Too Young or Too Old" (uncredited))	1944	-	6.1 (119)

2.	You'll Never Get Rich (1941)	("Frühlingslied (Spring Song) Op.62 #6" (1842))	1941	-	6.8 (641)

3.	Live, Love and Learn (1937)	("Song of the Volga Boatman" (uncredited), "The Farmer in the Dell" (uncredited))	1937	-	6.0 (97)

4.	China Seas (1935)	("Chopsticks" (uncredited))	1935	-	7.0 (646)

			Year	Gross (USD)	Rating
1.	Hollywood Victory Caravan (1945)	Himself	1945	-	6.3 (79)

2.	Duffy's Tavern (1945)	Himself	1945	-	6.0 (46)

3.	I'm a Civilian Here Myself (1945)	Himself	1945	-	-

4.	Show Business at War (1943)	Himself	1943	-	8.2 (130)
	AKAs: The March of Time Volume IX, Issue 10
5.	The Reluctant Dragon (1941)	Himself	1941	-	7.0 (388)
	AKAs: A Day at Disneys (USA: TV title) Behind the Scenes at Walt Disney Studio
6.	Screen Snapshots Series 19, No. 9: Sports in Hollywood (1940)	Himself, Golf Fan	1940	-	-

7.	Sunday Night at the Trocadero (1937)	Himself	1937	-	5.0 (120)

8.	Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs (1936)	(as Bob Benchley) Himself	1936	-	6.2 (20)


1.	Robert Benchley and the Knights of the Algonquin (1998) (V)

2.	The Ten-Year Lunch: The Wit and Legend of the Algonquin Round Table (1987)	Himself

3.	That's Entertainment, Part II (1976)	Film Clip

4.	Hollywood: The Selznick Years (1969) (TV)	(uncredited) Himself, film clip

5.	The Big Parade of Comedy (1964)	Actor in 'That Inferior Feeling'

6.	Light's Diamond Jubilee (1954) (TV)	Himself

Additional Details

Other Works:

Twelve volumes of short stories collected. more

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie | 1 Portrayal | 10 Print Biographies | 1 Article more

Genres:

Comedy | Short | Romance | Musical more

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | New York City | Cigarette Smoking | Deception more

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