71 Fredric March Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

The Best Years of Our Lives is an Oscar-winning American drama film which tells the story of three World War II veterans, who return home to a small town in America, only to find that they and their families have been changed irreparably. 

The film is based on the true facts of ‘Scopes Monkey Trial’ of 1925. Bertram Cates, a Tennessee science teacher is arrested for violating Butler Act by teaching Darwin’s theory of Evolution. The case attracts the attention of entire nation when the two formidable lawyers fight the case: the atheist lawyer Henry Drummond defends Cates, while evangelist and former presidential candidate Matthew Brady is the prosecutor. 

After the President offers his support to a nuclear disarmament treaty, several military leaders in the US plan to overthrow him, as they fear an attack from the Soviets.

The Desperate Hours is a crime drama thriller film which revolves around three escaped convicts, who target a house in a suburban neighborhood, where they plan to hide until midnight, after being delivered money by an accomplice. They take a family hostage, but things get ugly, when the delivery does not take place, and their stay extends.

Loosely based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables is a drama film which takes us to 19th century France, and tells the story of a French ex-convict Jean, who is pursued by Inspector Javert, after he is convicted of stealing a loaf of bread.

A Star Is Born is a romantic drama film which tells the story of Esther, a young farm girl from North Dakota, who aspires to become a Hollywood actress. She eventually goes to Hollywood, but she is not able to find any work. She soon gets acquainted with Norman Maine, an actor who used to be a star, but ruined his career due to his alcoholism. He helps her get the role of the female lead in his next film. The film is a huge success, but over time, Esther becomes more popular than Norman.

A wealthy garment manufacturer, Jerry Kingsley, in his 60s strikes up a romance with twenty-four year old Betty, after the death of his wife. However, the relationship is denounced by Lillian, his daughter. It is also discouraged by his sister and dismissed by Betty's mother. Betty, too, starts having mixed feelings the moment Jerry mentions marriage. Will they walk down the aisle?

Wally is a reporter for a newspaper in New York, who learns about a young girl named Hazel, who is dying of radium poisoning. He soon sets out to the small town named Warsaw, and interviews Hazel. He learns that the actual reason she is upset is because she was told by her doctor that she will be stuck in her town for her entire life. He invites her doctor for an interview, and her story becomes quite popular within a short time. However, things get complicated when after being diagnosed by three independent doctors, it is discovered that Hazel is not dying after all.  

Jennifer is a 300 year old witch living in the 20th century, who decides to torture a politician named Wallace Wooley, as he is a descendant of the very family that used to persecute witches centuries ago. Wallace is unhappily engaged, and Jennifer decides to make things even more miserable for him, by making him fall for her with the help of a love potion. However, things take a hilarious turn when she ends up taking the potion herself.

Hombre is a Western film which tells the story of John Russell, a white man who grew up among Native Indians. This makes him the subject of racism, but when the people are attacked by outlaws, he becomes their only hope for survival.

Tom and George are two friends who share an apartment. Meanwhile, they are also in love with the same woman Gilda. Gilda is unable to make a choice between the two, and therefore, they eventually decide to live together in a platonic friendly relationship.

Anna Karenina is married to a Czarist officer, but she meets and falls for a charming Count named Vronsky. This affair leads to a lot of complications, and eventually, she is not even allowed to meet her own son.

A circus-owner in Communist Czechoslovakia has been ordered to insert Marxist messages into his acts. Many of his men have also been conscripted and his equipments declared government property.  Unable to operate his circus the way he wants he finally decides to flee with his entire troop. But escaping from Communist regime is not easy.  His daughter’s affair further complicates the matter. 

The biographical movie is a depiction of Samuel Langhorne Clemens’ journey from humblest of beginnings to one of the most beloved authors of all time, Mark Twain. As Sam becomes a famous humorist and later a renowned author, he marries the love of his life Olivia, thus fulfilling all his dreams. 

A spoiled young rich girl is sent to prison after she runs down a pedestrian by accident. Her life takes a turn and she learns more about life and people, whom she never thought to exist. After her release, she starts falling for the District Attorney who had prosecuted her case.

Death takes the form of a human named Prince Sirki, hoping that this will help him connect to humans better. Many women are instantly attracted to him, but they get scared once they get to know him. Things take a turn after he meets the beautiful Grazia, and Prince Sirki finally begins to learn what it is to love. However, Grazia’s father gets to know about his real identity, and therefore he tries to break up the relationship.    

This romantic drama film takes us to 19th century London, and tells the story of patriarch Edward Moulton Barrett and his children. Edward is quite strict towards all nine of them. In addition, he has forbidden his children from getting married as well. This causes problems with the youngest daughter Henrietta, as she is in love with Captain Surtees Cook, with whom she wants to get married. The only child who abides by Edward’s rules is his daughter Elizabeth. Since she is bedridden due to her chronic illness, she doesn’t seem to mind. However, her outlook on life changes after she meets Robert Browning, a young poet.

William Spence is a medical student who is soon going to be a doctor. While passing a Methodist church one Sunday, he receives a ‘Divine Calling’, after which he decides to join the ministry. His fiancée accepts his decision, although his would-be in-laws are disappointed. Over the years, he struggles to build a balance between the church and the state, as he moves from one parish to another, along with his family.  

Tonight is Ours is a romantic drama film which tells the story of a princess whose life is turns upside down after she falls for a handsome and young French man.

Hendrik Heyst is a former British intellectual who has now chosen the life of a hermit after vowing to close himself off from the rest of the world. He is living alone on an island on the Dutch East Indies. His life takes a turn when a traveling showgirl named Alma, also fleeing from the world, is threatened by three cutthroats.

During World War 1, the killings take a toll on the mental health of ace pilot Lt. Jerry Young. He goes to London to recuperate. In his absence, his friend Lt. Mike Richards is killed in action and Jerry blames his other friend Henry. When Jerry finally returns to duty, the brutality of war pushes him over the edge. 

After being discovered as half-Jew, Ludwig Kern is jailed and his passport is seized. Later, he travels to Czechoslovakia with anti-Nazi Josef Steiner, and meets Jew refugee Ruth Holland. Ludwig and Ruth fall in love, while Josef tries to see his ailing wife in Germany. With commencement of WWII, as Nazis invade European countries, the three refugees try to evade the advancing army. 

The plot of the movie, adapted from the 1919 play by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin, concerns John Carteret who looses his fiancé, Moonyeen Clare on the wedding day. Years later, he is given the custody of a five year old Kathleen, Moonyeen‘s niece. A grown up Kathleen is the mirror image of her aunt and John adores her. However, he is aghast when she falls for the son of the man who killed Moonyeen.

Kitty, Alan and his cousin, Gerald have been close friends since their childhood. Both Alan and Gerald are in love with Kitty while Kitty loves only Alan. Later, on leave from the front during the WWI, Allan proposes to Kitty, which she accepts joyfully. When they find no one to marry them, they decide to spend the night together. 

The Road to Glory is a war drama film, which takes us to France, during the time of the First World War. It tells the story of a love triangle, which develops between a French commander who cares more for strategy than his soldiers, a free-thinking officer who is appalled by the decisions of his superior, and a nurse with whom both men fall in love.   

The wife wants to retire from stage. But her playwright husband continues to work on his upcoming play, which is being written especially for her. Frustrated with that, she decides to leave home and get a divorce. But the husband is not ready to give up either, hatching up numerous plans to stop her not only from retiring, but also from leaving him. 

After being denounced by the Gestapo, a German war criminal hides in a secluded house owned by his rich father, for over 15 years, thinking that the war is still going on. 

Miss Ruby Nolan is a counter girl working at a San Diego soda shop. She is pursued by a lot of sailors. However, her heart actually belongs to a man named Bull’s Eye McCoy. However, McCoy is someone who doesn’t want to be tied down to one woman.     

Set during the Korean War, The Bridges at Toko-Ri is a war drama film which revolves around a Navy fighter pilot who has been assigned for a dangerous bombing mission over North Korea. However, he has mixed feelings towards this mission, as he is suffering from battle fatigue, and longs to return to civilian life and live with Nancy, his wife.

Romance develops between an heiress and an alcoholic journalist, which despite her father’s objection culminates into marriage. Although he becomes drunk off and on, she does not fail to stand by him and encourages him to write. But when she finds him cheating on her she announces she will also start dating. 

Based on a popular 1943 Broadway play of the same name, this 1944 black-and-white film tells the story of a young German boy, whose parents send him to the US to live with his uncle.  A firm believer in Nazism, due to his early years in the Hitler youth, Emil creates trouble for his uncle’s fiancée Leona, who is a Jew. 

This is a semi fictional account of Jean Lafitte, the well-known French pirate and privateer operating in the Gulf of Mexico and his involvement in the War of 1812.  When the woman he loves, agrees to marry him if he gives up piracy, he sets up a trading post to sell luxury goods. But, before long his past deeds catches up with him and he has to take up arms once again. 

African-American, Jim Price, is elected as the sheriff over former white sheriff, John Little, and faces opposition from everyone including Mayor Parks. When a white man, John Braddock, is arrested for manslaughter, his influential father hires vigilantes to save his son. John Little returns to help Jim Price and they are helped by the town people. 

Honor among Lovers is a romantic drama film which tells the story of Julia, a personal secretary working for Jerry Stafford, a Wall Street trader. She manages nearly everything for her boss.  Jerry starts falling for her, but she falls for another man named Philip, and therefore Jerry fires her from her job.

Despite a successful stage career and belonging to a well-known family of actors, Julie Cavendish wants to retire. Meanwhile, her own daughter, Gwen, quarrels with her boyfriend about the acting life.

Anthony Adverse is an adventure romantic drama film which revolves around a young man named Anthony, who was abandoned at a convent by his rich and heartless father, as his mother had passed away during childbirth. However, he is later mentored by his kind-hearted grandfather. He soon meets a beautiful woman named Angela Giuseppe, and the two fall in love. However, circumstances separate Anthony and Angela, and eventually, he is forced to embark on a long journey, in order to reunite with her.    

When Dr. David Coleman joins as an assistant pathologist at a country hospital, department head Dr. Pearson perceives him as a rival. Both doctors clash over many issues as Pearson insists on running his laboratory exactly the same way he always had, and tries to override Coleman’s suggestions. But following complications in two critical cases, both pathologists try to assess their judgments. 

A comedy mystery film about a detective who chases a socialite accused of committing a murder. She must outwit him to avoid going to prison.

Make me a Star is a romantic comedy film, which revolves around Merton Gill, who longs to become a cowboy actor, and therefore, he leaves his hometown to try his luck in Hollywood. However, when his acting abilities are not appreciated, an actress starts to think that he might be a good comedian instead. 

Wild girls at a college pay more attention to attending parties than their classes. One of these party girls, Stella, goes too far at a local bar and lands herself in trouble, and her professor comes to rescue her. She eventually wins the professor’s respect and accompanies him on a jungle expedition. 

This biographical drama film, which had won an Oscar in the category of ‘Best Documentary’ revolves around the life of renowned philosopher, humanitarian, physician, writer and musician Albert Schweitzer, who had received the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1952.  

A young servant girl is seduced and impregnated by a Russian prince. After she loses the baby and moves to the city, she descends into a life of poverty and prostitution. When the prince learns of her crimes, he feels guilty and attempts to redeem her and himself.

Renaissance artist-goldsmith Benevenuto Cellini of Florence, who is commissioned to do artwork for the Palace of Medici, sets his sight on the duchess of Florence, who reciprocates his feelings. Although the wavering, unintelligent duke Alessandro is smitten with Cellini’s model Angela, he orders Cellini to be hanged. But a series of ensuing twists and turns work out in favor of Cellini. 

This musical film involves several stars such as Maurice Chevalier, Clara Bow, Skeets Gallagher, William Powell, and multiple stars, who appear in musical numbers.

Told in eight episodes, the film covers different facets of American culture and spirit. It all begins with a professor being asked by a fellow passenger during a train journey if he loves America, to which he responds by counter-asking, “Which America”. The simple question leads to the unfolding of diverse layers of American ethos.   

The Studio Murder Mystery is a mystery crime film which tells the story of a womanizing actor named Richard Hardell, who is murdered at a film studio. Suspicion falls on his wife Blanche, his director Rupert, and a girl whom he had mistreated, as all of them seem to have a motive.

Based on a 1937 play by Rachel Crothers, the 1940 comedy-drama film Susan and God follows the story of a society matron who discovers a new religious movement and becomes a changed woman. The drastic change in her personality affects the relationships around her.