The Quigley Top 25 Stars of 1939 list is a fun list to look at…as are many of their annual lists. All though we have been looking at the Quigley lists for years…we have to admit there are many years that have been very confusing. Supposedly the list is based on a poll in which the owners of movie theaters across the country are asked to name the previous year’s top 10 money making stars. Maybe our anti-George Clooney stance has clouded our judgement but we never understood how Clooney made Top 10 list after Top 10 list all the while generating one box office disappointment after another.
Quigley Publications began publishing these annual lists in 1932. They were still publishing them as late as 2013…when Jennifer Lawrence topped their polls. Recently there have been many comments on our website about the Quigley lists. This got us thinking we should do a statistical analysis on one of the years that Quigley published and compare their results with actual box office grosses.
Since 1939 is considered the best year in movie history…we picked that one as our guinea pig. So here is what you will see on this page. (1) Top 25 Stars from the 1939 Quigley list. (2) A table that shows how they should have been ranked based on actual box office results. (3) Some explanations of some of the numbers….namely our logic when it comes to Mr. Clark Gable.
Quigley Top 25 Stars of 1939
- Mickey Rooney….ranked 1st ….he would be first in 1940 again
- Tyrone Power….ranked 2nd …..his peak position
- Spencer Tracy….ranked 3rd…only one movie in 1939
- Clark Gable……ranked 4th…dropped to 4th after being 2nd for three years
- Shirley Temple…..ranked 5th….ended her 4 year run in the top spot
- Bette Davis……ranked 6th…she was about to go on a serious box office roll
- Alice Fay….ranked 7th….one of two surprises in the Top 10
- Errol Flynn…ranked 8th….this was at his peak
- James Cagney…ranked 9th…back to Warner Brothers and back to the Top 10
- Sonja Henie…ranked 10th…the other surprise
- Bing Crosby 11th, Deanna Durbin 12th, Jane Withers 13th, Robert Taylor 14th, Wallace Beery 15th, Myrna Loy 16th, Bob Burns 17th, Gary Cooper 18th, Jeanette MacDonald 19th, Don Ameche 20th Ginger Rogers 21st, Henry Fonda 22nd ,Paul Muni 23rd, Irene Dunne 24th & Cary Grant 25th
The top 25 earners in World Wide Box Office for 1939
Problems/Things We Noticed/Possible Answers To Your Questions
- Clark Gable did not get get credit for Gone With The Wind…..why? Quigley released their poll numbers in December…..Gone With The Wind opened in Atlanta in late December 1939….it was actually 1940 when Gone With The Wind blew the box office doors off.
- Humphrey Bogart was a supporting actor in 1939 and should not be listed with the leading performers. We originally agreed….but then we saw Bob Burns making the Quigley list….and our thinking was Bogart was a bigger name than Burns in late 1939.
- Do you have the correct Bob Burns? Think so….hope so….but we do acknowledge that there were a couple of Bob Burns working in the 1930s and 1940s.
- Jeanette MacDonald was ranked 19th on the Quigley poll….and yet she only had one movie and it was only a moderate box office success? That seems to be a problem with the Quigley poll….it took the movie theater owners a long time to realize a star was no longer the draw they used to be.
- How did James Stewart not make Quigey’s Top 25? No idea…he was the star of one of the biggest hits of the year….and still had 4 other successful movies….and yet could not crack the Top 25? That makes no sense.
- How did Judy Garland not make Quigley’s Top 25? Once again….she was the only star with two movies in the Top 10 for the year….granted The Wizard of Oz was considered a disappointment….but it still brought in lots of money.
- Did you use any websites for your research? Well yes we did…we found this UMR page….1939 Top Grossing Movies very very useful. Highly recommend people checking that one out.
Cogerson
I came across a reprint of the article on the Quigley top stars of 1939 from the Motion Picture Herald. The article was authored by William R. Weaver and appeared on pages 41,42,43. The key paragraph detailing how the poll worked–
“Exhibitors are asked to ‘Please list in the order of their box-office strength the 10 players whose pictures drew the greatest number of patrons to your theatre from September 1, 1938 to September 1, 1939, without regard to the age of picture, net profit, length of run, nature of competition, or other considerations (weather, etc.) during exhibition.'”
Mr. Weaver later states that this questionnaire was mailed to 12,273 exhibitors, of whom 8069 were independents and 4204 circuit.
I don’t know for certain, but I would guess circuit meant a theater owned by the studio.
The info contained in that paragraph was not known to me and I hope it helps others in their understanding of these polls.
*The independent and circuit results are listed separately, and for the most part are similar with slight alterations. The one drop out in the independent poll is James Cagney, who was replaced by Jane Withers.
Better late than never……regarding Jeanette MacDonald’s 19th placement on the poll. While she technically had only one release in 1939 (“Broadway Serenade”) and it was not hugely successful, she did have another film in release that generated most of it’s income during 1939. “Sweethearts” was released the last week of December in 1938. It was one of the studio’s biggest moneymaking films and played in theaters throughout January of 1939 and continued in second-runs throughout February and March of 1939. For the theater owners polled, most of them more than likely played the film in early 1939 and are supposed to have voted for the stars who generated the most income for them in 1939.
This is the Quigley listing for most popular international money making stars of 1939 and you’ll note Miss MacDonald’s very high placement on this listing.
1939 Poll
Most popular international stars: 1) Deanna Durbin 2) Mickey Rooney 3) Shirley Temple 4) Robert Taylor 5) Jeanette MacDonald 6) Spencer Tracy 7) Errol Flynn 8) George Formby 9) Nelson Eddy 10) Gary Cooper[63]
To end all these related lists I have another book called “The Film Lover’s Companion: An A to Z Guide to 2000 Stars and the Movies They Made”, edited by David Quinlan published in 1997. These are people from that book and I added some supporting actors who won Oscars who appeared in 7 or more feature films in a year between 1929 and 1969.
10 1950 ADELE JERGENS
7 1945 ADELE MARA
9 1946 ADELE MARA
8 1948 ADELE MARA
11 1932 ADOLPHE MENJOU
7 1934 ADOLPHE MENJOU
14 1935 AKIM TAMIROFF
7 1938 ALLAN ‘ROCKY’ LANE
7 1944 ALLAN ‘ROCKY’ LANE
7 1946 ALLAN ‘ROCKY’ LANE
8 1948 ALLAN ‘ROCKY’ LANE
7 1949 ALLAN ‘ROCKY’ LANE
7 1931 ANITA LOUISE
8 1934 ANITA LOUISE
7 1939 ANITA LOUISE
11 1932 ANN DVORAK
9 1934 ANN DVORAK
7 1936 ANN RUTHERFORD
7 1938 ANN RUTHERFORD
7 1939 ANN RUTHERFORD
8 1934 ANN SHERIDAN
11 1935 ANN SHERIDAN
9 1938 ANN SHERIDAN
7 1935 ANN SOTHERN
7 1936 ANN SOTHERN
7 1932 ANNABELLA
7 1940 ANNE GWYNNE
8 1941 ANNE GWYNNE
7 1942 ANNE GWYNNE
7 1941 ANTHONY QUINN
8 1944 AVA GARDNER
7 1951 BARRY SULLIVAN
7 1930 BASIL RATHBONE
7 1935 BASIL RATHBONE
8 1935 BELA LUGOSI
12 1931 BEN LYON
10 1932 BEN LYON
7 1930 BESSIE LOVE
8 1932 BETTE DAVIS
14 1930 BETTY COMPSON
7 1936 BETTY COMPSON
7 1938 BETTY COMPSON
7 1936 BILL ELLIOTT
10 1937 BILL ELLIOTT
11 1941 BILL ELLIOTT
10 1944 BILL ELLIOTT
7 1945 BILL ELLIOTT
8 1931 BINNIE BARNES
7 1934 BINNIE BARNES
9 1938 BINNIE BARNES
7 1937 BONITA GRANVILLE
14 1931 BORIS KARLOFF
10 1932 BORIS KARLOFF
9 1940 BORIS KARLOFF
9 1942 BRIAN DONLEVY
7 1939 BRODERICK CRAWFORD
7 1942 BRODERICK CRAWFORD
10 1940 BRUCE BENNETT
8 1933 BRUCE CABOT
7 1934 BRUCE CABOT
11 1936 BRUCE CABOT
10 1931 BUCK JONES
10 1932 BUCK JONES
9 1933 BUCK JONES
8 1934 BUCK JONES
7 1935 BUCK JONES
9 1936 BUCK JONES
9 1937 BUCK JONES
7 1933 BUSTER CRABBE
7 1937 BUSTER CRABBE
8 1944 BUSTER CRABBE
8 1945 BUSTER CRABBE
7 1952 CAMERON MITCHELL
7 1932 CARY GRANT
10 1935 CESAR ROMERO
8 1932 CHARLES BICKFORD
7 1935 CHARLES BICKFORD
7 1932 CHARLES FARRELL
12 1934 CHARLES STARRETT
9 1938 CHARLES STARRETT
7 1939 CHARLES STARRETT
7 1940 CHARLES STARRETT
9 1943 CHARLES STARRETT
7 1944 CHARLES STARRETT
7 1945 CHARLES STARRETT
8 1947 CHARLES STARRETT
8 1948 CHARLES STARRETT
8 1949 CHARLES STARRETT
7 1950 CHARLES STARRETT
8 1951 CHARLES STARRETT
8 1944 CHESTER MORRIS
7 1959 CHRISTOPHER LEE
7 1960 CHRISTOPHER LEE
12 1963 CHRISTOPHER LEE
9 1969 CHRISTOPHER LEE
7 1935 CLAIRE TREVOR
12 1931 CLARK GABLE
7 1966 CLAUDIA CARDINALE
7 1932 CLIVE BROOK
8 1935 COLIN CLIVE
9 1929 CONRAD NAGEL
10 1930 CONRAD NAGEL
8 1931 CONRAD NAGEL
9 1928 CONRAD VEIDT
8 1932 CONSTANCE CUMMINGS
7 1944 DALE EVANS
8 1945 DALE EVANS
8 1946 DALE EVANS
8 1941 DAN DAILEY
8 1965 DANA ANDREWS
7 1935 DEAN JAGGER
7 1940 DENNIS MORGAN
7 1940 DENNIS O’KEEFE
8 1935 DICK FORAN
9 1936 DICK FORAN
10 1938 DICK FORAN
9 1941 DICK FORAN
9 1935 DICK POWELL
7 1936 DICK POWELL
8 1939 DON ‘RED’ BARRY
7 1942 DON ‘RED’ BARRY
7 1943 DON ‘RED’ BARRY
7 1949 DON ‘RED’ BARRY
7 1931 DONALD COOK
9 1932 DONALD COOK
9 1933 DONALD COOK
9 1934 DONALD COOK
9 1935 DONALD COOK
8 1936 DONALD COOK
8 1938 DONALD CRISP
7 1939 DONALD O’CONNOR
9 1960 DONALD PLEASENCE
8 1935 DONALD WOODS
7 1954 DOROTHY MALONE
8 1929 DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR.
9 1930 DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS JR.
10 1930 EDMUND LOWE
8 1935 EDMUND LOWE
7 1945 EDMUND LOWE
7 1947 EDMUND LOWE
7 1932 EDWARD ARNOLD
7 1933 EDWARD ARNOLD
8 1934 EDWARD ARNOLD
8 1941 EDWARD ARNOLD
7 1930 EDWARD G. ROBINSON
7 1941 ELLEN DREW
10 1939 ERICH VON STROHEIM
8 1943 EVELYN ANKERS
8 1944 EVELYN ANKERS
8 1931 FAY WRAY
12 1933 FAY WRAY
11 1934 FAY WRAY
7 1932 FRANCES DEE
13 1933 FRANCES DEE
8 1942 FRANCES GIFFORD
8 1933 FRANCHOT TONE
7 1934 FRANCHOT TONE
7 1955 FRANK LOVEJOY
8 1935 FRED MACMURRAY
7 1929 FREDRIC MARCH
8 1933 GAIL PATRICK
9 1935 GAIL PATRICK
7 1936 GAIL PATRICK
8 1944 GALE SONDERGAARD
7 1930 GARY COOPER
10 1937 GENE AUTRY
7 1938 GENE AUTRY
7 1939 GENE AUTRY
8 1940 GENE AUTRY
7 1941 GENE AUTRY
7 1934 GENEVIEVE TOBIN
8 1932 GEORGE BRENT
8 1933 GEORGE BRENT
7 1935 GEORGE MURPHY
9 1932 GEORGE RAFT
8 1940 GEORGE SANDERS
8 1942 GEORGE SANDERS
7 1932 GILBERT ROLAND
7 1947 GILBERT ROLAND
8 1931 GINGER ROGERS
9 1933 GINGER ROGERS
7 1934 GINGER ROGERS
7 1932 GLENDA FARRELL
11 1933 GLENDA FARRELL
9 1934 GLENDA FARRELL
7 1935 GLENDA FARRELL
7 1936 GLENDA FARRELL
8 1933 GLORIA STUART
8 1936 GLORIA STUART
7 1938 GLORIA STUART
8 1931 HARRY CAREY
7 1932 HARRY CAREY
7 1935 HARRY CAREY
7 1936 HARRY CAREY
7 1937 HARRY CAREY
11 1936 HATTIE MCDANIEL
8 1937 HATTIE MCDANIEL
12 1931 HEDDA HOPPER
10 1932 HEDDA HOPPER
7 1933 HELEN MACK
7 1942 HENRY FONDA
7 1938 HENRY WILCOXEN
9 1953 HERBERT LOM
7 1936 HERBERT MARSHALL
8 1929 HOOT GIBSON
7 1944 HOOT GIBSON
10 1952 HUGH O’BRIEN
7 1937 HUMPHREY BOGART
7 1939 HUMPHREY BOGART
8 1939 HUNTZ HALL
8 1941 HUNTZ HALL
9 1935 IAN HUNTER
8 1935 IAN HUNTER
8 1940 IAN HUNTER
7 1936 IDA LUPINO
8 1931 IRENE DUNNE
13 1938 JACK CARSON
11 1940 JACK CARSON
7 1935 JACK HALEY
7 1931 JACK HOLT
8 1933 JACK HOLT
7 1932 JACK OAKIE
7 1933 JACK OAKIE
8 1969 JACQUELINE BISSET
9 1938 JACQUELINE WELLS AKA JULIE BISHOP
8 1931 JAMES CAGNEY
7 1940 JAMES CRAIG
8 1933 JAMES DUNN
8 1934 JAMES DUNN
12 1950 JAMES ELLISON
8 1949 JAMES MASON
9 1936 JAMES STEWART
10 1933 JANE DARWELL
16 1934 JANE DARWELL
9 1935 JANE DARWELL
13 1936 JANE DARWELL
8 1937 JANE DARWELL
10 1938 JANE DARWELL
7 1939 JANE DARWELL
10 1942 JANE DARWELL
8 1950 JANE DARWELL
7 1942 JANE FRAZEE
8 1944 JANE FRAZEE
7 1950 JANE NIGH
7 1942 JANIS CARTER
7 1929 JEAN ARTHUR
12 1932 JEAN HERSHOLT
9 1933 JEAN PARKER
9 1934 JEAN PARKER
7 1942 JEAN PARKER
7 1944 JEAN PARKER
7 1936 JEAN ROGERS
8 1938 JEAN ROGERS
7 1940 JEAN ROGERS
7 1969 JIM BROWN
7 1951 JIM DAVIS
7 1957 JIM DAVIS
7 1932 JIMMY DURANTE
10 1931 JOAN BLONDELL
12 1932 JOAN BLONDELL
8 1933 JOAN BLONDELL
11 1937 JOAN DAVIS
7 1949 JOCK MAHONEY
7 1950 JOCK MAHONEY
7 1929 JOE E. BROWN
7 1930 JOE E. BROWN
9 1932 JOEL MCCREA
8 1934 JOHN BOLES
7 1937 JOHN HOWARD
7 1949 JOHN IRELAND
7 1929 JOHN LODER
8 1940 JOHN LODER
7 1942 JOHN LODER
7 1939 JOHN SUTTON
7 1940 JOHN SUTTON
9 1932 JOHN WAYNE
8 1933 JOHN WAYNE
9 1934 JOHN WAYNE
8 1935 JOHN WAYNE
7 1936 JOHN WAYNE
7 1929 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
7 1937 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
9 1942 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
10 1943 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
11 1945 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
9 1946 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
8 1947 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
9 1948 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
8 1951 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
7 1939 JOSEPH SCHILDKRAUT’
8 1929 KARL DANE
10 1930 KAY FRANCIS
7 1931 KAY FRANCIS
9 1930 KEN MAYNARD
7 1932 KEN MAYNARD
10 1933 KEN MAYNARD
8 1934 KEN MAYNARD
8 1932 KENT TAYLOR
10 1933 KENT TAYLOR
8 1946 KIRBY GRANT
8 1940 LARAINE DAY
14 1942 LARRY PARKS
9 1939 LEE BOWMAN
7 1932 LEE TRACY
8 1933 LEE TRACY
8 1953 LEE VAN CLEEF
7 1954 LEE VAN CLEEF
9 1955 LEE VAN CLEEF
7 1956 LEE VAN CLEEF
10 1957 LEE VAN CLEEF
11 1969 LEE VAN CLEEF
10 1930 LEILA HYAMS
7 1931 LEILA HYAMS
7 1941 LEO GORCEY
7 1942 LEO GORCEY
10 1931 LEW AYRES
7 1936 LEW AYRES
7 1932 LIONEL BARRYMORE
9 1933 LIONEL BARRYMORE
10 1941 LIONEL BARRYMORE
12 1941 LLOYD BRIDGES
16 1942 LLOYD BRIDGES
7 1936 LLOYD NOLAN
10 1940 LLOYD NOLAN
7 1941 LLOYD NOLAN
7 1944 LON CHANEY JR.
12 1930 LORETTA YOUNG
12 1931 LORETTA YOUNG
11 1933 LORETTA YOUNG
7 1942 LOUISE ALLBRITTON
13 1934 LUCILLE BALL
7 1938 LUCILLE BALL
12 1938 LYNN BARI
7 1939 LYNN BARI
7 1932 MADGE EVANS
10 1933 MADGE EVANS
9 1931 MAE CLARKE
8 1933 MAE CLARKE
7 1969 MARCELLO MASTROIANNI
10 1933 MARGARET LINDSAY
8 1935 MARGARET LINDSAY
7 1938 MARGARET LINDSAY
7 1936 MARGOT GRAHAME
8 1936 MARGUERITE CHURCHILL
7 1932 MARIAN MARSH
10 1930 MARIE DRESSLER
8 1943 MARILYN MAXWELL
8 1939 MARJORIE REYNOLDS
7 1936 MARSHA HUNT
8 1954 MARTHA HYER
7 1931 MARY ASTOR
8 1941 MARY BETH HUGHES
8 1930 MARY BRIAN
11 1932 MAUREEN O’SULLIVAN
7 1935 MAUREEN O’SULLIVAN
8 1957 MERRY ANDERS
8 1936 MICHAEL WHALEN
8 1938 MICHAEL WHALEN
11 1934 MICKEY ROONEY
8 1938 MICKEY ROONEY
7 1938 MONTY WOOLEY
9 1929 MYRNA LOY
7 1930 MYRNA LOY
14 1931 MYRNA LOY
10 1932 MYRNA LOY
7 1929 NANCY CARROLL
8 1929 NEIL HAMILTON
8 1930 NEIL HAMILTON
8 1931 NEIL HAMILTON
9 1932 NEIL HAMILTON
8 1934 NEIL HAMILTON
8 1928 NILS ASTHER
8 1969 OMAR SHARIF
10 1932 PAT O’BRIEN
8 1934 PAT O’BRIEN
8 1935 PAT O’BRIEN
9 1940 PAT O’BRIEN
7 1928 PAUL LUKAS
8 1930 PAUL LUKAS
7 1931 PAUL LUKAS
7 1932 PAUL LUKAS
7 1934 PAUL LUKAS
11 1938 PENNY SINGLETON
7 1959 PETER CUSHING
8 1955 PETER GRAVES
7 1943 PETER LAWFORD
8 1969 PETER LAWFORD
8 1930 PHILLIPS HOLMES
10 1933 PHILLIPS HOLMES
7 1932 PRESTON FOSTER
9 1938 PRESTON FOSTER
9 1932 RALPH BELLAMY
12 1933 RALPH BELLAMY
7 1934 RALPH BELLAMY
10 1935 RALPH BELLAMY
7 1940 RALPH BELLAMY
10 1933 RANDOLPH SCOTT
7 1948 RAYMOND BURR
8 1951 RAYMOND BURR
8 1930 REGINALD DENNY
9 1934 REGINALD DENNY
8 1935 REGINALD DENNY
9 1937 REGINALD DENNY
9 1931 RICARDO CORTEZ
7 1932 RICARDO CORTEZ
7 1934 RICARDO CORTEZ
8 1930 RICHARD ARLEN
7 1931 RICHARD ARLEN
7 1932 RICHARD ARLEN
7 1933 RICHARD ARLEN
7 1941 RICHARD ARLEN
8 1955 RICHARD CONTE
12 1938 RICHARD DENNING
17 1939 RICHARD DENNING
9 1940 RICHARD DENNING
7 1950 RICHARD EGAN
9 1939 RITA JOHNSON
9 1929 ROBERT ARMSTRONG
7 1930 ROBERT ARMSTRONG
7 1932 ROBERT ARMSTRONG
8 1933 ROBERT ARMSTRONG
7 1934 ROBERT ARMSTRONG
7 1941 ROBERT ARMSTRONG
9 1940 ROBERT LOWERY
15 1943 ROBERT MITCHUM
7 1929 ROBERT MONTGOMERY
11 1930 ROBERT MONTGOMERY
8 1938 ROBERT PAIGE
7 1942 ROBERT PAIGE
11 1943 ROBERT PAIGE
7 1941 ROBERT STERLING
7 1935 ROBERT TAYLOR
9 1933 ROBERT YOUNG
8 1934 ROBERT YOUNG
7 1936 ROBERT YOUNG
8 1933 ROCHELLE HUDSON
7 1941 ROD CAMERON
7 1938 RODDY MCDOWALL
7 1957 RON RANDELL
8 1938 RONALD REAGAN
7 1939 RONALD REAGAN
9 1939 ROY ROGERS
7 1940 ROY ROGERS
7 1941 ROY ROGERS
9 1942 ROY ROGERS
8 1943 ROY ROGERS
8 1944 ROY ROGERS
7 1945 ROY ROGERS
8 1946 ROY ROGERS
7 1938 RUTH HUSSEY
7 1939 RUTH HUSSEY
7 1930 SALLY EILERS
8 1931 SALLY EILERS
9 1933 SALLY EILERS
8 1944 SHELLEY WINTERS
7 1955 SHELLEY WINTERS
9 1932 SHIRLEY TEMPLE
10 1934 SHIRLEY TEMPLE
8 1932 SIDNEY TOLER
8 1934 SIDNEY TOLER
9 1939 SIDNEY TOLER
8 1957 SOPHIA LOREN
9 1932 SPENCER TRACY
8 1933 SPENCER TRACY
7 1955 STERLING HAYDEN
9 1949 STEVE BRODIE
7 1950 STEVE BRODIE
9 1931 SYLVIA SIDNEY
7 1932 SYLVIA SIDNEY
8 1969 TELLY SAVALAS
7 1968 TERRY-THOMAS
8 1937 TEX RITTER
7 1939 TEX RITTER
10 1940 TEX RITTER
7 1944 TEX RITTER
7 1929 THELMA TODD
10 1931 THELMA TODD
8 1932 THELMA TODD
9 1933 THELMA TODD
7 1934 THELMA TODD
7 1937 THOMAS MITCHELL
10 1941 TIM HOLT
7 1948 TIM HOLT
7 1934 TOM BROWN
7 1928 TOM MIX
7 1939 TOM NEAL
7 1951 TOM NEAL
8 1968 TOSHIRO MIFUNE
7 1969 TOSHIRO MIFUNE
7 1942 TURHAN BEY
7 1935 VALERIE HOBSON
7 1939 VICTOR MCLAGLEN
7 1962 VINCENT PRICE
9 1935 VIRGINIA BRUCE
7 1938 VIRGINIA BRUCE
7 1948 VIRGINIA GREY
8 1954 VITTORIO DE SICA
7 1955 VITTORIO DE SICA
8 1957 VITTORIO DE SICA
7 1930 WALLACE BEERY
8 1933 WALTER BRENNAN
8 1935 WALTER BRENNAN
8 1936 WALTER BRENNAN
11 1932 WALTER HUSTON
8 1932 WALTER HUSTON
8 1932 WARREN WILLIAM
9 1934 WARREN WILLIAM
7 1940 WAYNE MORRIS
7 1937 WENDY BARRIE
11 1930 WILLIAM BOYD
7 1933 WILLIAM BOYD
9 1936 WILLIAM BOYD
10 1937 WILLIAM BOYD
8 1938 WILLIAM BOYD
10 1941 WILLIAM BOYD
8 1938 WILLIAM LUNDIGAN
7 1941 WILLIAM LUNDIGAN
8 1932 WYNNE GIBSON
Hey Dan.
1. This is a massive list.
2. I am sure I have asked this before….but you have this movie/actors in a database already…right….because if you are typing all these in….wow…that is a lot of work….if not then you understand the power of Excel or Access.
3. The Film Lover’s Companion: An A to Z Guide to 2000 Stars and the Movies They Made….I used to have a version of this book….not sure which year I had but it is a great resource for sure.
4. Looks like Charlie Starlett has the most years….11.
5. Nice symmetry in the Walter Brennan section….8,8 and 8.
6. Yet another awesome list that you have provided.
I flip lists around and/or just search through the lists through find.
It took 5 minutes or so to make the last list. The ones where I have the actors interacting with others I search through and retype.
Hey Dan….thanks for the answer to my question. It is appreciated as is all the information you include in your comments. 🙂
2nd attempt. These are the actors who 7 or more years of 7 or more films from 1929 – 1969.
17 RAYMOND HATTON
15 GRANT WITHERS
14 DOUGLAS FOWLEY
14 GABBY HAYES
14 IRVING BACON
14 ROY BARCROFT
14 SAMUEL S. HINDS
14 SMILEY BURNETTE
14 TOM LONDON
13 ADDISON RICHARDS
13 THURSTON HALL
12 CHARLES STARRETT
12 FUZZY KNIGHT
12 JOSEPH CREHAN
12 PAUL HARVEY
12 PAUL HURST
12 RUSSELL HICKS
12 WADE BOTELER
11 GEORGE CHESEBRO
11 J. CARROLL NAISH
11 JEROME COWAN
11 JOHN LITEL
11 PIERRE WATKIN
11 WILLIAM B. DAVIDSON
10 ANDY DEVINE
10 EDMUND COBB
10 GRANT MITCHELL
10 LYLE TALBOT
9 BOB STEELE
9 EMORY PARNELL
9 FRANK REICHER
9 HENRY O’NEILL
9 JANE DARWELL
9 JOHNNY MACK BROWN
9 NAT PENDLETON
9 SELMER JACKSON
9 WARD BOND
9 WARREN HYMER
8 ALAN MOWBRAY
8 BERTON CHURCHILL
8 CHARLES C. WILSON
8 CHARLES HALTON
8 CHARLES MIDDLETON
8 CHARLES TROWBRIDGE
8 CHARLEY GRAPEWIN
8 CLARA BLANDICK
8 DON BEDDOE
8 ED BROPHY
8 EUGENE PALLETTE
8 FORREST TAYLOR
8 FRANK FERGUSON
8 FRANKLIN PANGBORN
8 GEORGE CLEVELAND
8 GEORGE MEEKER
8 J. FARRELL MACDONALD
8 JAMES BURKE
8 JASON ROBARDS SR.
8 JOE SAWYER
8 JONATHAN HALE
8 LUCIEN LITTLEFIELD
8 MINOR WATSON
8 REGINALD OWEN
8 ROY ROGERS
8 SIDNEY BLACKMER
8 SPENCER CHARTERS
8 THEODORE VON ELTZ
8 WALTER CATLETT
8 WILLIAM GARGAN
7 BARTON MACLANE
7 BUCK JONES
7 BUD OSBORNE
7 BYRON FOULGER
7 CHARLES KING
7 DONALD MEEK
7 DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE
7 EDWARD GARGAN
7 FRANK MCHUGH
7 FRANK WILCOX
7 GENE LOCKHART
7 GLENN STRANGE
7 GUINN ‘BIG BOY’ WILLIAMS
7 GUY KIBBEE
7 HOBART CAVANAUGH
7 JOHN MILJAN
7 MILBURN STONE
7 OSCAR APFEL
7 PAUL FIX
7 RALPH MORGAN
7 REGIS TOOMEY
7 ROBERT BARRAT
who had 7 or more years
Comment doesn’t make sense, this is what I get for writing late at night. It’s supposed to be the actors who had 7 or more years in which they appeared in 7 or more films.
Hey Dan….no need to explain….I admit some nights when I am catching up on these comments…after a full day of work, father and husband duties…..my comments make no sense either…..though in fairness to you…I understood what you were saying. Thanks for all the movie knowledge you bring to these comments.
understood 🙂
Hey Dan…..thanks for the list….and once again…sorry that your original comment disappeared. I think if you post a comment at the same exact time as somebody else….the second person might be losing their comment….I will have to get my tech team (WoC….lol) to look at that.
As for the list….would not say it was loaded with stars….lots of supporting and unknown to me actors and actress. But a moment on Guy Kibbee….I stumbled across him about a year ago while doing a page on a classic actor….at the time I thought….”now that is an unusual name:….so I looked him up on IMDb….since then I think I see his name two or three times a week….he had a very productive career.
Good stuff as always.
In 1970 Scarecrow press published a 2 volume set called Forty Years of Screen Credits covering 1928 to 1969. I found volume 2 K to Z about 5 years ago in a second hand bookstore in Philadelphia. I knew the book existed having seen it’s title index companion in Cooperstown a few years earlier. Since I now knew the title I found volume 1 A to I on e-bay and purchased. It covers the feature film credits of approximately 4500 actors and actresses. These books were researched from numerous sources including Screen World (1953 to 1968), the Film Daily Motion Picture Yearbook 1928 – 1968 and the International Motion Picture Year Book 1928 – 1968 among others. Arthur Tovey is not in the book. Bess Flowers has 16 credits as opposed to 881 listings on the IMDB. This is what was actually credited as opposed to the uncredited parts. The following is a list of actors credited with 7 or more screen appearances in feature films/serials in 1939.
19 SPENCER CHARTERS
17 RICHARD DENNING
16 CHARLES TROWBRIDGE
16 JOSEPH CREHAN
16 SAMUEL S. HINDS
15 PIERRE WATKIN
14 CHARLES HALTON
14 THURSTON HALL
13 ADDISON RICHARDS
13 JOHN RIDGELY
13 JOSEPH M. KERRIGAN
13 RAYMOND HATTON
13 WARD BOND
12 CHARLES MIDDLETON
12 DON BEDDOE
12 ELIZABETH RISDON
12 FRANK M. THOMAS
12 GABBY HAYES
12 IRVING BACON
12 JAMES STEPHENSON
12 JOHN LITEL
12 JONATHAN HALE
12 MILBURN STONE
12 REGIS TOOMEY
12 RICHARD LANE
11 E.E. CLIVE
11 HARRY DAVENPORT
11 HORACE MCMAHON
11 JOHN GALLAUDET
11 PAUL HURST
11 WILLIAM B. DAVIDSON
10 BEN WELDEN
10 DONALD DOUGLAS
10 DONALD MCBRIDE
10 EDWARD GARGAN
10 ERICH VON STROHEIM
10 GRANVILLE BATES
10 HENRY O’NEILL
10 HOLMES HERBERT
10 LEON AMES
10 RUSSELL HICKS
10 VERA LEWIS
10 VICTOR JORY
9 ARTHUR AYLESWORTH
9 CHARLES LANE
9 CHARLEY GRAPEWIN
9 CLARENCE KOLB
9 DICK CURTIS
9 GUINN ‘BIG BOY’ WILLIAMS
9 H.B. WARNER
9 HENRY HULL
9 HOBART CAVANAUGH
9 JOHN CARRADINE
9 LEE BOWMAN
9 MARC LAWRENCE
9 MINOR WATSON
9 OLIN HOWLAND
9 PAUL FIX
9 PAUL HARVEY
9 RITA JOHNSON
9 ROY ROGERS
9 SIDNEY BLACKMER
9 SIDNEY TOLER
9 WILLIAM FRAWLEY
9 WILLIAM GARGAN
8 C. AUBREY SMITH
8 CLARA BLANDICK
8 DON ‘RED’ BARRY
8 DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE
8 EDMUND COBB
8 FRANK REICHER
8 GENE LOCKHART
8 GEORGE MEEKER
8 GLENN STRANGE
8 HARRY WOODS
8 HENRY ARMETTA
8 HENRY KOLKER
8 HOWARD HICKMAN
8 HUNTZ HALL
8 IRIS MEREDITH
8 JEROME COWAN
8 JOE SAWYER
8 MARJORIE REYNOLDS
8 MORONI OLSEN
8 NAT PENDLETON
8 PAUL GUILFOYLE
8 PAUL STANTON
8 PEDRO DE CORDOBA
8 RALPH MORGAN
8 ROBERT BARRAT
8 SMILEY BURNETTE
8 TOM DUGAN
8 WADE BOTELER
8 WILLIAM HAADE
7 ALLAN DINEHART
7 ANDY DEVINE
7 ANITA LOUISE
7 ANN RUTHERFORD
7 ARTHUR HOHL
7 BILLY HALOP
7 BRODERICK CRAWFORD
7 CELM BEVANS
7 CHARLES C. WILSON
7 CHARLES STARRETT
7 CONSTANCE MOORE
7 DICK JONES
7 DONALD MEEK
7 DONALD O’CONNOR
7 ED BROPHY
7 EDDIE WALLER
7 EDWARD NORRIS
7 ELIENNE GIRARDOT
7 ELIZABETH PATTERSON
7 ERNEST COSSART
7 ESTHER DALE
7 FRANK MCHUGH
7 GENE AUTRY
7 GEORGE ZUCCO
7 GRANT WITHERS
7 HENRY TRAVERS
7 HUMPHREY BOGART
7 JACK INGRAM
7 JACK PENNICK
7 JAMES BURKE
7 JANE BRYAN
7 JANE DARWELL
7 JASON ROBARDS SR.
7 JOHN SUTTON
7 JOHN WRAY
7 JOSEPH SCHILDKRAUT’
7 KANE RICHMOND
7 LIONEL ATWILL
7 LOUIS JEAN HEYDT
7 LUCIEN LITTLEFIELD
7 LYNN BARI
7 MARY FORBES
7 MARY GORDON
7 MAY ROBSON
7 MONTE BLUE
7 REGINALD OWEN
7 RONALD REAGAN
7 RUTH HUSSEY
7 SARAH HADEN
7 SELMER JACKSON
7 STANLEY FIELDS
7 STANLEY RIDGES
7 STEFFI DUNA
7 TEX RITTER
7 TOM NEAL
7 VICTOR KILLIAN
7 VICTOR MCLAGLEN
7 VIRGINIA WEIDLER
7 WALTER CONNOLLY
7 WALTER KINGSFORD
7 WARREN HYMER
7 WILLIAM DEMAREST
Numerous character actors, western stars, a few biggies (Bogie), a future president (Reagan) and a coupler of future Oscar winners.
Charles Starrett if you never heard of him holds the record for starring in the most feature films for one studio, 131 for Columbia, all but 1 being westerns.
Hey Dan
1. Very cool…that is a nice discovery at the second hand store. Off topic…it reminds me of a John Wayne book I found in a similar store. It was a book on all of his movies….I did not even open the book until I got home….and when I did I found newspaper articles that followed Wayne’s career from the 1950s to his passing. They were all neatly cut out…and followed the path of the movie. A serious Wayne fan had spent many hours adding those articles to that book. As much as I loved that book….I actually gave it to a friend’s father who was a huge Wayne fan too. He still tells me about things he has found in that book.
2. I think I have seen Forty Years of Screen Credits in a few libraries over the years…they are usually located in the reference section…..so congrats on that find. That is stuff I search hard for when I put on my Indy Jones research hat.
3. 19 movies in one year for Mr. Charters….I am impressed.
4. Good old Ward Bond with 13…..now that was a busy man indeed.
5. Good trivia on Mr. Starrett.
6. I see the two Williams….Demarest and Frawley were busy….I get them mixed up on a regular basis/
7. Thanks for sharing this information. I am thinking I need to update this page yet again….I have box office numbers on another 50 or so movies…..as I have found them since writing this page.
Thanks for the visit, the comment and the list.
These are all the actors with 13 or more appearances in a feature film/serial in a year from those books.
30 1935 ROGER WILLIAMS
29 1932 BERTON CHURCHILL
27 1934 BERTON CHURCHILL
25 1935 SAMUEL S. HINDS
23 1932 OSCAR APFEL
22 1934 HOBART CAVANAUGH
22 1935 HENRY KOLKER
21 1933 HOBART CAVANAUGH
21 1934 HENRY O’NEILL
20 1932 GUY KIBBEE
20 1934 HENRY KOLKER
20 1934 SAMUEL S. HINDS
20 1935 DONALD MEEK
20 1935 GABBY HAYES
20 1937 JOSEPH CREHAN
19 1933 FRANK MCHUGH
19 1933 SAMUEL S. HINDS
19 1935 ARTHUR TREACHER
19 1935 HENRY O’NEILL
19 1936 JOSEPH CREHAN
19 1936 SPENCER CHARTERS
19 1938 JONATHAN HALE
19 1939 SPENCER CHARTERS
19 1940 ADDISON RICHARDS
19 1944 EDWARD CASSIDY
18 1932 HENRY ARMETTA
18 1937 FRANK M. THOMAS
18 1938 FRANKLIN PANGBORN
18 1943 SAMUEL S. HINDS
17 1929 J.P. MCGOWAN
17 1933 BERTON CHURCHILL
17 1934 ROBERT BARRAT
17 1934 WARD BOND
17 1936 BRADLEY PAGE
17 1936 CHARLES C. WILSON
17 1936 E.E. CLIVE
17 1937 FRANKLIN PANGBORN
17 1937 SPENCER CHARTERS
17 1939 RICHARD DENNING
17 1940 JOHN LITEL
17 1941 RICHARD LANE
17 1947 DOUGLAS FOWLEY
17 1948 ROY BARCROFT
16 1930 LUCIEN LITTLEFIELD
16 1932 DICKIE MOORE
16 1932 ELIZABETH PATTERSON
16 1932 J. FARRELL MACDONALD
16 1932 TULLY MARSHALL
16 1933 DOUGLAS DUMBRILLE
16 1933 GABBY HAYES
16 1933 J. CARROL NAISH
16 1934 JANE DARWELL
16 1935 ADDISON RICHARDS
16 1935 CHARLES C. WILSON
16 1935 HERMAN BING
16 1935 J. FARRELL MACDONALD
16 1935 JOSEPH CREHAN
16 1935 WARD BOND
16 1937 BILLY GILBERT
16 1937 JONATHAN HALE
16 1937 RUSSELL HICKS
16 1938 SPENCER CHARTERS
16 1939 CHARLES TROWBRIDGE
16 1939 JOSEPH CREHAN
16 1939 SAMUEL S. HINDS
16 1940 DON BEDDOE
16 1940 IRVING BACON
16 1941 RUSSELL HICKS
16 1942 ADDISON RICHARDS
16 1942 LLOYD BRIDGES
16 1945 ADDISON RICHARDS
16 1945 TOM LONDON
16 1946 PIERRE WATKIN
16 1950 ROY BARCROFT
15 1930 NOAH BEERY
15 1932 C. HENRY GORDON
15 1932 EVALYN KNAPP
15 1932 JOHN MILJAN
15 1932 ROBERT ELLIS
15 1933 ALLEN JENKINS
15 1934 HENRY ARMETTA
15 1935 BRADLEY PAGE
15 1935 JACK LARUE
15 1935 JACK MULHALL
15 1936 PAUL STANTON
15 1936 RICHARD CARLE
15 1937 PAUL HURST
15 1937 PIERRE WATKIN
15 1937 SIG RUMANN
15 1939 PIERRE WATKIN
15 1940 BILLY GILBERT
15 1940 RUSSELL HICKS
15 1941 IRVING BACON
15 1941 MANTAN MORELAND
15 1943 ROBERT MITCHUM
15 1944 LEROY MASON
15 1945 CHARLES KING
15 1945 PIERRE WATKIN
15 1945 ROY BARCROFT
15 1947 GEORGE CHESEBRO
15 1950 GEORGE CHESEBRO
15 1950 PETER BROCCO
14 1930 BETTY COMPSON
14 1931 BORIS KARLOFF
14 1931 CLARA BLANDICK
14 1931 MYRNA LOY
14 1932 ALAN DINEHART
14 1932 CLARENCE MUSE
14 1932 DOROTHY PETERSON
14 1932 LOUISE BEAVERS
14 1932 LUIS ALBERNI
14 1932 NAT PENDLETON
14 1932 RAYMOND HATTON
14 1933 C. HENRY GORDON
14 1933 EDWIN MAXWELL
14 1933 GRANT MITCHELL
14 1933 LAFE MCKEE
14 1933 RUTH DONNELLY
14 1933 UNA MERKEL
14 1934 GABBY HAYES
14 1934 HERMAN BING
14 1934 VINCE BARNETT
14 1935 AKIM TAMIROFF
14 1935 PURNELL PRATT
14 1935 RUSSELL HOPTON
14 1935 WALLACE FORD
14 1935 WARREN HYMER
14 1935 WILLARD ROBERTSON
14 1936 ADDISON RICHARDS
14 1936 FRANK REICHER
14 1936 GABBY HAYES
14 1936 J. CARROL NAISH
14 1936 LLOYD INGRAHAM
14 1936 ROBERT WARWICK
14 1936 THURSTON HALL
14 1937 CHARLES KING
14 1937 E.E. CLIVE
14 1937 GEORGE IRVING
14 1938 CHARLES TROWBRIDGE
14 1938 FRANK M. THOMAS
14 1939 CHARLES HALTON
14 1939 THURSTON HALL
14 1940 SELMER JACKSON
14 1940 VICTOR KILIAN
14 1941 THURSTON HALL
14 1942 LARRY PARKS
14 1943 IRVING BACON
14 1944 ADDISON RICHARDS
14 1944 FRANK JENKS
14 1946 TOM LONDON
14 1947 TOM LONDON
14 1952 ROY BARCROFT
13 1930 E.H. CALVERT
13 1930 GEORGE IRVING
13 1930 JOHN MILJAN
13 1930 RICHARD TUCKER
13 1931 HALE HAMILTON
13 1931 J. FARRELL MACDONALD
13 1931 TOM LONDON
13 1932 ALAN MOWBRAY
13 1932 ARTHUR HOYT
13 1932 DAVID MANNERS
13 1932 J. CARROL NAISH
13 1932 LEWIS STONE
13 1932 NORMAN FOSTER
13 1932 WALTER BYRON
13 1933 EVALYN KNAPP
13 1933 FRANCES DEE
13 1933 HENRY KOLKER
13 1933 ROBERT BARRAT
13 1933 STERLING HOLLOWAY
13 1933 WILFRID LUCAS
13 1934 EDGAR KENNEDY
13 1934 HENRY B. WALTHALL
13 1934 JAMESON THOMAS
13 1934 LAFE MCKEE
13 1934 LUCILLE BALL
13 1934 SARAH PADDEN
13 1934 SPENCER CHARTERS
13 1934 WILLARD ROBERTSON
13 1935 EDWARD EVERETT HORTON
13 1935 IRVING BACON
13 1935 JESSIE RALPH
13 1935 JOHN QUALEN
13 1935 LUIS ALBERNI
13 1935 ROBERT BARRAT
13 1935 RUSSELL HICKS
13 1935 THURSTON HALL
13 1935 WADE BOTELER
13 1935 WILLIAM B. DAVIDSON
13 1936 HERMAN BING
13 1936 JANE DARWELL
13 1936 JOHN CARRADINE
13 1936 WARD BOND
13 1937 CHARLES TROWBRIDGE
13 1937 ED BROPHY
13 1937 FRANK REICHER
13 1937 HARRY DAVENPORT
13 1937 J. FARRELL MACDONALD
13 1937 SELMER JACKSON
13 1937 STANLEY FIELDS
13 1937 WADE BOTELER
13 1937 WILLIAM B. DAVIDSON
13 1938 BEN WELDEN
13 1938 GEORGE IRVING
13 1938 IRVING BACON
13 1938 JACK CARSON
13 1938 JOHN LITEL
13 1938 PIERRE WATKIN
13 1938 SAMUEL S. HINDS
13 1938 THURSTON HALL
13 1938 WALTER KINGSFORD
13 1939 ADDISON RICHARDS
13 1939 JOHN RIDGELY
13 1939 JOSEPH M. KERRIGAN
13 1939 RAYMOND HATTON
13 1939 WARD BOND
13 1940 CHARLES HALTON
13 1940 DAVE O’BRIEN
13 1940 GEORGE CLEVELAND
13 1940 HOBART CAVANAUGH
13 1940 WILLIAM B. DAVIDSON
13 1941 ADDISON RICHARDS
13 1941 ANDREW TOMBES
13 1941 CHARLES HALTON
13 1941 CHARLES TROWBRIDGE
13 1941 DON BEDDOE
13 1941 DONALD DOUGLAS
13 1941 JEROME COWAN
13 1941 SAMUEL S. HINDS
13 1941 WILLIAM HAADE
13 1943 BYRON FOULGER
13 1943 JOE SAWYER
13 1944 CYRUS W. KENDALL
13 1944 PIERRE WATKIN
13 1944 TOM LONDON
13 1946 EMMETT VOGAN
13 1947 ROY BARCROFT
13 1948 EDDIE WALLER
13 1948 GRANT WITHERS
13 1948 PIERRE WATKIN
13 1950 BUD OSBORNE
13 1952 STUART RANDALL
Hey Dan…..now that is a massive list. Things I found interesting…..77 credits for B. Churchill from 1932 to 1934….looks like he took a rest in 1933…..only 17 credits. Boris Karloff and Lucille Ball look like the biggest name on the list. Edward Everett Horton was one of my favorite character actors in the 1930s….so his name always brings a smile to my face when I see it. Lucille Ball had a busy 1934. As always…a fun list to look through…thanks for sharing.