49 Joan Fontaine Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

A naive young woman falls in love with and marries the aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter, and upon reaching his estate, Manderley, realizes that he still loves his first wife, Rebecca, while the domineering housekeeper Mrs. Danvers is also obsessed with her. Just as she becomes consumed by inferiority complex, a sudden crisis changes the dynamics between the characters.

Mary Haines lives a wealthy and happy life with her wealthy financier husband Stephen and their little daughter Molly. But her life takes a turn after her friend finds out that Stephen is having an affair.

Stefan Brand is a pianist who must face a duel the following morning. However, he has no intention of defending his honor, and after receiving a letter from someone from his past, he decides fo flee.

Suspicion is a 1941 romantic psychological thriller film, which revolves around a shy young heiress who gets married to a charming young gentleman. However, as time passes, she feels suspicious of him, and begins to worry that he may be trying to murder her.

Jane Eyre is a romantic drama film which tells the story of a young woman named Jane, who takes up a job at Thornfield Hall, after being hired by its owner Edward Rochester, to care for his young daughter. Over time, she begins to fall for Edward, although he is much older to her.

Loosely based on the play ‘Othello’ by the famous playwright William Shakespeare, this drama film tells the story of General Othello, who begins to suspect his wife of having an illicit relationship with one of his officers. However, it is actually a scheme by one of Othello's men, who holds a deep grudge against him.

Gunga Din is an adventure comedy war film which revolves around three fun-loving British sergeants who are serving in India, during the time of Colonial Rule. One of them is planning to get married, and leave military service. However, their lives take a turn when they encounter the Thuggee cult.

A prominent concert pianist and an unhappily married businessman meet on their flight from Rome to New York City. On the way, their plane is diverted to Naples for engine repair. There they go sightseeing and fall in love. Eventually they miss the plane, which they later hear has crashed in the sea and all passengers included themselves are declared dead. 

Bill, a former prisoner of war, is prone to violence. One day, he gets involved in a bar fight and kills a man. Fleeing from the scene, he finds shelter in the home of a nurse, gradually developing a relationship with her.  Shortly, he is arrested for getting involved in another fight. Jane continues to love him and on his release finds him a job before his past catches up with him.  

Wilfred of Ivanhoe is a loyal British knight who sets out on a mission to free the King of England, Richard the Lionheart, after he gets kidnapped. He wants to put King Richard back on the throne, to prevent the evil Prince John from ruling the country. However, he encounters various obstacles on the way, and also finds himself attracted to two beautiful maidens.

When it is time for the lovely Lady Alyce Marshmorton to get married, everyone on staff at Tottney Castle begins to place bets on who the lucky man is going to be.

Adapted from the Margaret Kennedy novel of the same name, the film The Constant Nymph tells the story of a poor Belgian composer who is struggling in his professional life and the unrequited love his friend’s young daughter has for him. 

An 18th century Italian tailor, Pippo Popolino, pretends to be the legendary Casanova to impress the beautiful Widow Francesca Bruni. The real Casanova’s mother asks him to test the commitment of her would-be daughter-in-law. As Pippo reaches Venice to meet the lady, he gets embroiled into uninvited complications, a threat of war and also finds that his life is at risk. 

A New York heiress known for breaking several engagements develops cold feet on her wedding day; but is finally persuaded to tie the knot. However, she panics at night and runs away from her honeymoon suit, taking refuge in the adjoining room, occupied by a World War II veteran running a startup air-freight business on shoe string budget.

Discharged after the First World War, a soldier Bill Cummings narrates the sympathetic story of his married life before he joined the army.  

A Broadway actress develops a drinking problem, and soon joins Alcoholics Anonymous after she becomes an alcoholic. She soon starts having an affair with one of the members, but things get complicated as it turns out that he is married.

Set during the WWII in New Zealand, the movie is inspired by a story authored by James A. Michener for Return to Paradise. The movie follows four sisters – Anne, Barbara, Delia and Evelyn – and their romance with US soldiers. Meanwhile Jack Harding, a marine, is assigned to find out the genuineness of the potential matrimonial alliances between the American soldiers and New Zealand women.

In this adaptation of J.M. Barrie play Quality Street, Phoebe’s dull life takes a turn when her former beau Valentine returns after a decade of service in the British army. However, Valentine is disappointed by her worn out look. Angered, Phoebe puts on a beautiful dress and works on her looks to appear beautiful. Her new looks deceive even Valentine who thinks that she is Phoebe's niece Livvy.

In this adaptation of Alec Waugh's 1955 novel, Island in the Sun, a political battle for the legislative office of Santa Marta rages on between an affluent white candidate, Maxwell Fleury and strong black union leader, David Boyeur. As the candidates compete against one another, interracial affairs happen, long kept family secrets are revealed, jealousy rocks a marriage and then a murder takes place.

Upon learning that the Van Allen radiation belt has been burning, US Navy Admiral Harriman tries to come up with a plan to save mankind before the world goes up in smoke. However, a psychiatrist begins to question Harriman’s sanity.

Based on an eponymous novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film focuses on the relation between a distinguished psychiatrist and his wife, who is suffering from many emotional issues.  She was his patient and he married her against the advice of his mentor and spends the next couple of years indulging in her whims.  But that does not make them happy. 

A gifted vineyard worker, Damon VIncenti, who aspires to be an opera singer, starts singing in San Francisco’s Italian restaurant. Wealthy socialite Kendall Hale helps him become a star opera tenor. Falling in love with his benefactor, Damon suffers a breakdown when Kendall ditches him. Miserable, he runs away to Mexico where Juana, a farm girl, brings joy back in his life.

Giovanni Boccaccio is a well-known writer who returns to Florence, Italy, to woo a beautiful noblewoman, Fiametta, who has been widowed recently. However, Fiametta doesn’t show interest in him. Giovanni therefore offers to tell her a few stories.  

Marcia Townsend completely believes in loyalty towards one’s partner, which Jim agrees with; but Marcia is interested in womanizing playboy Sheridan Warren. Even after their marriage, Sherry continues with his philandering and is unrepentant about it. Marcia turns tables on him by throwing a society party where she invites Sherry’s girlfriends and declares her intentions of being unfaithful, which finally cures Sherry.

A private plane passes over an airport, and then crashes and bursts into flames. Various interested parties soon begin a search for the $ 3 million which the plane was carrying.