Want to know the best Donald O’Connor movies? How about the worst Donald O’Connor movies? Curious about Donald O’Connor box office grosses or which Donald O’Connor movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Donald O’Connor movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Donald O’Connor (1925-2003) was an American actor, dancer, and singer. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred alternately with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. He won a Golden Globe® for 1952’s Singin’ In The Rain. His IMDb page shows 87 acting credits from 1937 to 1997. This page will rank Donald O’Connor movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos, uncredited roles and movies that were not released in North American were not included in the rankings.
Donald O’Connor Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Year
Movie (Year)
Rating
S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
1952
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
1939
Beau Geste (1939)
1954
There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)
1950
Francis (1950)
1944
Follow The Boys (1944)
1953
Call Me Madam (1953)
1981
Ragtime (1981)
1938
Sing, You Sinners (1938)
1951
Francis Goes To The Races (1951)
1954
Francis Joins The WACS (1954)
1942
What's Cookin' (1942)
1943
Mister Big (1943)
1943
Top Man (1943)
1949
Yes Sir, That's My Baby (1949)
1952
Francis Goes to West Point (1952)
1944
The Merry Monahans (1944)
1944
This Is The Life (1944)
1947
Something in The Wind (1947)
1942
Get Hep To Love (1942)
1956
Anything Goes (1956)
1945
Patrick The Great (1945)
1953
Francis Covers the Big Town (1953)
1953
I Love Melvin (1953)
1938
Men with Wings (1938)
1961
Cry For Happy (1961)
1978
The Big Fix (1978)
1944
Bowery to Broadway (1944)
1944
Chip Off The Old Block (1944)
1943
It Comes Up Love (1943)
1942
When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1942)
1955
Frances in The Navy (1955)
1965
That Funny Feeling (1965)
1997
Out to Sea (1997)
1950
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950)
1939
Night Work (1939)
1948
Are You with It? (1948)
1948
Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1948)
1953
Walking My Baby Back Home (1953)
1950
The Milkman (1950)
1942
Private Buckaroo (1942)
1939
Million Dollar Legs (1939)
1957
The Buster Keaton Story (1957)
1951
Double Crossbones (1951)
1961
The Wonders of Aladdin (1961)
1992
Toys (1992)
1982
Pandemonium (1982)
Donald O’Connor Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort Donald O’Connor movies by his co-stars
- Sort Donald O’Connor movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort Donald O’Connor movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort Donald O’Connor movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Donald O’Connor movie received.
- Sort Donald O’Connor movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | Singin' in the Rain (1952) | Gene Kelly & Debbie Reynolds |
12.40 | 242.4 | 371.30 | 6 | 93 | 02 / 00 | 99.1 | |
| 2 | Beau Geste (1939) | Gary Cooper & Susan Hayward |
5.80 | 223.3 | 223.30 | 22 | 86 | 02 / 00 | 98.6 | |
| 3 | There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) | Marilyn Monroe & Mitzi Gaynor |
12.90 | 301.3 | 301.30 | 16 | 66 | 03 / 00 | 94.9 | |
| 5 | Francis (1950) | Tony Curtis | 8.30 | 186.1 | 186.10 | 11 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 92.6 | |
| 4 | Follow The Boys (1944) | Jeanette MacDonald | 6.50 | 217.3 | 217.30 | 44 | 58 | 01 / 00 | 92.1 | |
| 6 | Call Me Madam (1953) | Ethel Merman & Vera-Ellen |
8.60 | 155.2 | 155.20 | 25 | 70 | 02 / 01 | 91.9 | |
| 7 | Ragtime (1981) | James Cagney | 25.60 | 99.4 | 99.40 | 32 | 75 | 08 / 00 | 89.0 | |
| 8 | Sing, You Sinners (1938) | Bing Crosby & Fred MacMurray |
3.00 | 119.2 | 119.20 | 70 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 88.9 | |
| 9 | Francis Goes To The Races (1951) | Piper Laurie | 6.60 | 141.7 | 141.70 | 34 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 86.6 | |
| 10 | Francis Joins The WACS (1954) | Julie Adams & Mamie Van Doren |
5.40 | 127.2 | 127.20 | 58 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 85.7 | |
| 11 | What's Cookin' (1942) | Andrews Sisters | 2.50 | 91.7 | 91.70 | 106 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 85.0 | |
| 12 | Mister Big (1943) | Gloria Jean & Peggy Ryan |
2.40 | 87.9 | 87.90 | 108 | 72 | 00 / 00 | 83.7 | |
| 13 | Top Man (1943) | Lillian Gish & Richard Dix |
2.90 | 102.7 | 102.70 | 98 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 83.6 | |
| 14 | Yes Sir, That's My Baby (1949) | Charles Coburn | 4.20 | 104.5 | 104.50 | 78 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 82.8 | |
| 15 | Francis Goes to West Point (1952) | Lori Nelson | 5.60 | 108.9 | 108.90 | 50 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 82.8 | |
| 16 | The Merry Monahans (1944) | Peggy Ryan | 2.60 | 86.8 | 86.80 | 107 | 68 | 01 / 00 | 81.5 | |
| 18 | This Is The Life (1944) | Peggy Ryan | 2.90 | 97.9 | 97.90 | 102 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 80.8 | |
| 17 | Something in The Wind (1947) | Deanna Durbin | 3.10 | 89.9 | 89.90 | 111 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 80.8 | |
| 20 | Get Hep To Love (1942) | Gloria Jean & Peg Ryan |
2.50 | 91.9 | 91.90 | 105 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 79.6 | |
| 21 | Anything Goes (1956) | Bing Crosby | 6.00 | 117.6 | 117.60 | 45 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 79.6 | |
| 19 | Patrick The Great (1945) | Frances Dee | 2.30 | 71.8 | 71.80 | 115 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 79.3 | |
| 22 | Francis Covers the Big Town (1953) | Max Picks | 5.50 | 98.0 | 98.00 | 58 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 78.0 | |
| 23 | I Love Melvin (1953) | Debbie Reynolds & Una Merkel |
4.00 | 71.6 | 71.60 | 90 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 74.5 | |
| 24 | Men with Wings (1938) | Fred MacMurray & Ray Milland |
1.60 | 63.9 | 63.90 | 144 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 73.9 | |
| 25 | Cry For Happy (1961) | Glenn Ford | 5.10 | 74.9 | 74.90 | 44 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 73.0 | |
| 26 | The Big Fix (1978) | Richard Dreyfuss | 15.50 | 71.4 | 71.40 | 46 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 71.7 | |
| 28 | Bowery to Broadway (1944) | Maria Montez | 1.70 | 56.0 | 56.00 | 123 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 69.2 | |
| 27 | Chip Off The Old Block (1944) | Peggy Ryan | 1.40 | 47.0 | 47.00 | 131 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 69.2 | |
| 29 | It Comes Up Love (1943) | Gloria Jean | 1.10 | 40.9 | 40.90 | 141 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 68.0 | |
| 31 | When Johnny Comes Marching Home (1942) | Allan Jones & Peg Ryan |
1.50 | 54.7 | 54.70 | 150 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 67.2 | |
| 31 | Frances in The Navy (1955) | Clint Eastwood | 2.70 | 56.3 | 56.30 | 118 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 67.1 | |
| 32 | That Funny Feeling (1965) | Sandra Dee | 2.70 | 28.6 | 28.60 | 82 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 62.0 | |
| 35 | Out to Sea (1997) | Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau |
29.00 | 68.2 | 68.20 | 71 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 60.9 | |
| 33 | Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950) | Walter Brennan | 2.00 | 44.0 | 44.00 | 145 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 59.4 | |
| 33 | Night Work (1939) | Mary Boland | 0.90 | 33.2 | 33.20 | 188 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 58.9 | |
| 36 | Are You with It? (1948) | Olga San Juan | 1.10 | 29.4 | 29.40 | 170 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 57.5 | |
| 37 | Feudin', Fussin' and A-Fightin' (1948) | Marjorie Main | 1.60 | 44.3 | 44.30 | 152 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 56.0 | |
| 38 | Walking My Baby Back Home (1953) | Janet Leigh | 1.60 | 28.7 | 28.70 | 179 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 52.7 | |
| 39 | The Milkman (1950) | Piper Laurie | 1.00 | 22.5 | 22.50 | 184 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 50.7 | |
| 39 | Private Buckaroo (1942) | Andrews Sisters | 1.20 | 45.3 | 45.30 | 163 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 49.3 | |
| 41 | Million Dollar Legs (1939) | Betty Grable | 1.70 | 65.5 | 65.50 | 134 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 44.8 | |
| 42 | The Buster Keaton Story (1957) | Peter Lorre | 1.40 | 26.1 | 26.10 | 138 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 40.7 | |
| 42 | Double Crossbones (1951) | Will Geer | 1.20 | 26.2 | 26.20 | 189 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 38.2 | |
| 43 | The Wonders of Aladdin (1961) | Vittorio De Sica | 1.80 | 25.9 | 25.90 | 100 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 33.5 | |
| 45 | Toys (1992) | Robin Williams | 23.30 | 60.5 | 60.50 | 54 | 39 | 02 / 00 | 28.6 | |
| 45 | Pandemonium (1982) | Judge Reinhold | 5.10 | 18.8 | 18.80 | 93 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 25.1 |
Check out Donald O’Connor’s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.
HI GUYS One or other of you two have now responded to all but one of the primary posts that I have written since my return from holiday. That’s a good batting innings and I thank you for your attentions.
The ‘odd man out’ is my post about Donald at 9.17am 2 Dec on this page; but I can understand it if Steve is sulking in his tent over the matter because O’Connor out-danced Eugene in ‘Singin in the Rain’ [at least that’s what my film buffs group have been told Joel thought].
Donald (1) through illness just missed out acting with Bing in White Christmas and was replaced last-minute by Kaye but (2) did eventually get to act with Crosby in 1956’s Anything Goes and Donald being left out of the additional Cogerson ‘love’ that I have mentioned reminds me therefore of Bing and Frank’s High Society duet the same year.
“I have heard that in this clan
You are called the forgotten man.”
I have just watched a TV movie in which the murderer dresses up as Santa to commit his foul deed-Mr Gimme More is not into television ‘Christmas’ movies now is he?
I first encountered the screen Donald in the Francis the Talking Mule series though until I had seen Bruce’s chart above I hadn’t realized how relatively big the grosses for most of the Francis flicks were, as all but the very first one were on the bottom half of double bills over here. For example Francis goes to West Point supported the fading Flynn’s swashbuckler Against All Flags and Francis cover the Big Town was twinned with Van Heflin’s adventure yarn Wings of the Hawk.
The Francis movies were relatively cheaply made so they must have been highly profitable: the first one 1950s’s Francis was made for a mere $7 million in today’s money and Bruce credits it with an adjusted domestic gross of approx $155 million – ie in the US alone it grossed 22 times its cost. I loved the Francis movies but my favourite Donald O’Connor movies are Singin in the Rain and the admittedly rather routine Walking My Myrna Back Home
Donald was not in the mega star category of fellow singing/dancing/acting Legends of his heyday Astaire, Kelly, Bing and Kaye but he was nevertheless an important star of those times so it has always puzzled me the no-show of an O’Connor Cogerson new page or a Lensman video.
Better late than never though and now that this new page has appeared I very warmly welcome it because I found Donald very likeable. I have mentioned to Steve, O’Connor’s sense of humour: when in his final years, ageing and overweight, he was asked by a TV interviewer what he remembered most about his great screen acrobatic- dancing and singing days he laughed and replied “A thin guy!”
I last saw him in an April 1996 episode of the TV sitcom Frasier [Crane versus Crane] in which he played an eccentric wealthy timber tycoon whose family were making him undergo a legal capacity hearing and in that episode, enormously funny as always, he ran around calling everyone else “Sparky”!
Donald O’Connor, one of the stars of my favorite musical Singin’ in the Rain, which I will watch again this Xmas.
Hmmm I’ve seen just 4 of the 45 films on the chart, my favorites are – Singin’ in the Rain, There’s no Business Like Show Business and Beau Geste. I’ve also seen Toys, but it’s been many years ago. I can’t remember Donald in that.
Good to see Singin’ in the Rain top the UMR and critics chart, and no.2 on the box office chart. I don’t think I’ve seen any of the Francis the Talking Mule series, maybe when I was a kid but can’t remember for sure.
Nice work Bruce. Vote Up!
Hey Steve. Thanks for the thoughts on Donald O’Connor. Tally count…Flora 10, me 5 and you 4. I bet if you added up all the times you have seen Singin’ in the Rain…your tally would be close to triple digits. As for Toys…..pretty sure Donald played Williams’ father in that one…and all his appearances were flashbacks….but like you I seem to only remember that I did not like that movie at all. I like you, have not seen a single Francis movie….I have vague memories of seeing the television show a few times. Glad you are happy with Singin’ In The Rain’s rankings. Good stuff as always.
Imagine a film with Jack Nicholson, James Cagney, Samuel L. Jackson and Donald O’Connor and they don’t beat anyone up.
One hasn’t lived if they haven’t endured/ suffered through Yes Sir, That’s My Baby, maybe the worst film of 1949 (with apologies to Bette Davis’ Beyond the Forest, but it’s close).
Donald O’Connor was never on the Oracle of Bacon Top 1000 Center of the Hollywood Universe list. These are the actors on the current list he has appeared with.
11 SAMUEL L. JACKSON Ragtime (1981)
54 JACK NICHOLSON Ragtime (1981)
57 ORSON WELLES Follow the Boys (1944)
85 JACK WARDEN Toys (1992)
103 CLINT EASTWOOD Francis in the Navy (1955)
106 BRAD DOURIF Ragtime (1981)
121 MICHAEL GAMBON Toys (1992)
178 RICHARD GRIFFITHS Ragtime (1981)
193 WILLIAM HOLDEN Million Dollar Legs (1939)
267 ROBIN WILLIAMS Toys (1992)
268 CAROL KANE Pandemonium (1982)
304 MARY STEENBURGEN Ragtime (1981)
308 GLENN FORD Cry for Happy (1961)
321 GEORGE SANDERS Call Me Madam (1953)
342 EDDIE ALBERT On Your Toes (1939)
377 JEFF DANIELS Ragtime (1981)
383 JOHN RATZENBERGER Ragtime (1981)
444 DEBI MAZAR Toys (1992)
465 STUART WHITMAN Walking My Baby Back Home (1953)
469 VINCENT PRICE Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950)
474 TONY CURTIS Francis (1950)
487 MARCEL DALIO Anything Goes (1956)
501 RAY MILLAND Beau Geste (1939)
501 RAY MILLAND Men with Wings (1938)
502 JACK LEMMON Out to Sea (1997)
537 KATHLEEN FREEMAN Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
537 KATHLEEN FREEMAN That Funny Feeling (1965)
555 WALTER MATTHAU Out to Sea (1997)
576 JOAN CUSACK TOYS (1992)
613 BRODERICK CRAWFORD Beau Geste (1939)
634 DEBBIE REYNOLDS I Love Melvin (1953)
634 DEBBIE REYNOLDS Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
687 FRANK SINATRA That’s Entertainment (1974)
722 BESSIE LOVE Ragtime (1981)
764 FRANKIE FAISON Ragtime (1981)
785 JAMES BROWN Yes Sir That’s My Baby (1949)
805 CHARLES LANE What’s Cookin’? (1942)
854 PAT O’BRIEN Ragtime (1981)
869 RICHARD ANDERSON I Love Melvin (1953)
869 RICHARD ANDERSON The Buster Keaton Story (1957)
881 ELIZABETH MCGOVERN RAGTIME (1981)
887 JEFFREY DEMUNN RAGTIME (1981)
909 JAMES STEWART That’s Entertainment (1974)
966 JIM BACKUS Francis in the Navy (1955)
966 JIM BACKUS I Love Melvin (1953)
971 PIPER LAURIE Francis Goes to the Races (1951)
971 PIPER LAURIE The Milkman (1950)
1000 MANDY PATINKIN Ragtime (1981)
Donald appeared in 13 films with Peggy Ryan and appeared with 20 Oscar winners.,
BING CROSBY Anything Goes (1956)
BING CROSBY Sing You Sinners (1938)
BING CROSBY That’s Entertainment (1974)
BRODERICK CRAWFORD Beau Geste (1939)
CHARLES COBURN Yes Sir That’s My Baby (1949)
FRANK SINATRA That’s Entertainment (1974)
GALE SONDERGAARD FOLLOW THE BOYS (1944)
GARY COOPER Beau Geste (1939)
GEORGE SANDERS Call Me Madam (1953)
JACK LEMMON Out to Sea (1997)
JACK NICHOLSON Ragtime (1981)
JAMES CAGNEY Ragtime (1981)
JAMES STEWART That’s Entertainment (1974)
JAMIE FOXX Toys (1992)
MARY STEENBURGEN Ragtime (1981)
RAY MILLAND Beau Geste (1939)
RAY MILLAND Men with Wings (1938)
RITA MORENO Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
ROBIN WILLIAMS Toys (1992)
SUSAN HAYWARD Beau Geste (1939)
WALTER BRENNAN Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950)
WALTER MATTHAU Out to Sea (1997)
WILLIAM HOLDEN Million Dollar Legs (1939)
Hey Dan/Don. I switched Don to Dan….as I assume this is the UMR Hall of Famer Dan. I guess Jack has a cameo role in Ragtime…..but I do not remember it all. You could add Pat O’Brien to your list of Jack, Sam, Jimmy, and Donald. Funny thought on es Sir, That’s My Baby…I will be sure to avoid that one.
Looking at the first list…lots of 2 time Oracle co-stars…but none with 3…..that is surprising…too bad Bing Crosby is not in the Top 1000. Samuel L. Jackson will keep Donald attached to the Oracle list for a very long time. Only 13 Oscar winning co-stars….a very low total. I guess not many Oscar winners were hanging out on the Universal sets when Donald was just getting his career going. Good stuff as always….and thank you as always for putting this information together.
I have seen 10 Donald O’Conner movies. I have not had a lot of access to his films. Five of the movies I have seen are in the top 10.
I have Private Buckaroo recorded and waiting for me. It’s an army enrollment propaganda film masquerading as a musical. I recorded it for the talent involved, though i’m not sure what I will think of it.
And there are some films where he played the lead character as a boy/teen which is like a cameo which I have seen which are not included.
The HIGHEST rated movie I have seen is Singin’ in the Rain.
The highest rated movie I have NOT seen is Follow the Boys.
The LOWEST rated movie I have seen is Million Dollar Legs.
Favourite Donald O’Conner Movies:
Singin’ in the Rain
Beau Geste
There’s No Business Like Show Business
Francis – the only Francis film I have seen
Anything Goes
Other Donald O’Conner Movies I Have Seen:
Call Me Madam
I Love Melvin
That Funny Feeling
Out to Sea
Million Dollar Legs.
Hey Flora….thanks for the thoughts on Donald O’Connor. I have only seen 5 of his movies….so you double my tally count. Two of the ones I have seen are in your favorites…Singin’ In The Rain and Anything Goes. I have also seen That Funny Feeling and Toys. That Funny Feeling was one of his last big roles…while Toys was a massive misfire….even with Robin Williams being at the peak of his movie career. Ragtime is the 5th movie….but I admit…I do not remember his part at all. Out To Sea is one I want to see…but I notice that Matthau/Lemon movie did not make your favorites….so maybe I am not missing much. Good stuff as always.