232 John Carradine Movies, Ranked Best to Worst

During the Great Depression of 1930s, the Joad family of Oklahoma loses their draught-ridden farm to bank-seizure. As they migrate to West with truckload of belongings, they endure hardships along the way, and realize that they are not the only ones in such situation. After reaching California, they discover that the advertised ‘land of opportunity’ is after-all not the dreamland they imagined. 

While visiting frontier town Shinbone for old friend Tom Doniphon’s funeral, Senator Ransom Stoddard tells local journalist that years ago he had arrived there as a lawyer, and was assaulted by outlaw Liberty valance, but Doniphon had saved him. Later, Stoddard gets elected as representative while Valance continues to harass, so Stoddard confronts him with gun and becomes a legend. But what’s truth?

During the 1920s, a spoilt young man onboard an ocean liner falls into the sea by accident due to a prank. Luckily, he is picked up by a fishing boat. Now, he has no option but to adapt to the ways of the fishermen, if he wants to survive.  

Infant Moses, set adrift in Nile to escape slaughter of first-born Hebrew males, is raised by Pharaoh Sethi’s sister and is disliked by Prince Ramses II. After discovering his Hebrew origins, he is banished from Egypt. As his divine mission is revealed, Moses returns to Egypt to liberate enslaved Hebrews and leads them to Mount Sinai where he receives God’s Ten Commandments.

The first sequel to the 1931 film Frankenstein, the story follows Henry Frankenstein, who is thought to have died, but is actually alive and reunited with his fiancée. Although he decides to abandon his attempt to create life, his old mentor soon coerce him into creating a mate for the Monster and he succumbs to it, initially unwilling. 

During late 1880s, a stagecoach carrying a mixed group of interesting passengers traverses through the hazardous Arizona wilderness. The disparate group that includes a banker, a drunken doctor, a dance-hall girl, a whisky salesman, an army officer’s wife, a Marshall and a notorious outlaw, soon gets to know each other. But the threat of Geronimo’s raiding Apaches looms large over their travel.  

The Court Jester

A movie company is showing the Arabian Nights when a hobo enters their camp and gets injured on the head. After taking too many painkillers, he falls asleep and starts dreaming about being in Baghdad and also being the Sultan’s advisor.

JB Brooks is a gunslinger who is on his deathbed. He wishes to die peacefully and with dignity. He is advised to stay in a boarding house, but problem ensues as his enemies are still lurking and seeking to put an end to his life.  

Based on the science fiction novel of the same name by HG Wells, The Invisible Man is a science fiction horror thriller film which tells the story of Dr Jack Griffin, a scientist who learns how to become invisible. However, he soon becomes arrogant and tries to prove his superiority over humanity by performing pranks, which eventually turns to murder.    

Johnny Guitar is a Western drama film which tells the story of a strong-willed female saloon owner, who helps a wounded gang member, but she soon finds herself wrongly suspected of murder.  

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.

Gilbert and Lana are a newly married couple, who decides to take up a rural lifestyle. They try to establish a farm in the Mohawk Valley, but things don’t go as expected, and their quiet life is interrupted due to the American Revolutionary War.

During a bank robbery by a gang, one of the robbers Ed Miller kills a man impulsively. Their leader is displeased, and insists that the gang scatter until the heat cools down. The groups of brothers go in separate ways, but they soon regroup for another heist.  

Joan and Peter are a newlywed couple on a honeymoon who share their train coach with Dr Vitus, a psychiatrist. Later, they share a bus together, but on the road, they have an accident. For medical help, they are taken to a friend of Dr Vitus, who has a fortress-like home. However, they soon find themselves trapped in the house, and they realize that his friend is a devil worshiper, who plants to sacrifice Joan.

Thunder Pass is a western film which tells the story of an Army captain who is assigned to escort a group of civilians through territory that is occupied by warring Native Indians, who are determined to attack them. Therefore, the Captain decides to use the Thunder Pass route, which seems to be safe, since majority of Indians avoid it due to a superstition which says that the road is cursed.

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. 

The Story of Temple Drake is a drama film which tells the story of a wealthy but neurotic woman, who finds herself trapped with a group of vicious bootleggers. The leader of the gang lusts after her, and he is not letting anything get in the way between him and her.

On its way to Panama City from New York, due to a fierce nighttime storm, a plane crashes in a jungle that is inhabited by cannibals. Weeks go by, and they eventually manage to get the airplane repaired, but things get complicated because it can now carry only five passengers.

Fortune seeker and adventurer, Kentaro Moto, is assigned the task to protect the treasure and lost grave of Genghis Khan, by the Chinese Prince Chung and his family. But a deadly game begins with enemies like Schneider, Madame Tchernov, and Herr Koerger also on the hunt for the treasure. 

Upon his return from the war, John Chandler finds his life turned upside down. His wife died in a cannon fire and his son David, who witnessed the event, turned mute due to shock. The father son duo, along with their dog, travel to a town in Illinois in search of good treatment. However, they soon run into trouble when they meet sheep-herder Burleigh brothers.

A millionaire leaves his fortune for Fred, a flea circus manager, and his grand nephew, just before he is murdered. Now, all Fred needs to do is locate the chair in which the money is hidden. 

Ethan Wilkins is a poor, honest preacher, whose son Jason dreams of becoming a doctor. Jason continuously asks his mother for money to pay for his fancy things and education, which she willingly does. He earns fame during the Civil War; however, he forgets all about his mother who struggles with poverty after Ethan’s death. Will Jason ever realize his mistake? 

Inspired by a book of the same name by Dr David Reuben, this film tells seven different stories which try to answer seven different questions about sex. 

Around the World in 80 Days is an Oscar winning adventure comedy film which is based on a novel of the same name by Jules Verne. The story revolves around Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman, living in the 19th century, who makes a bet that he can travel around the world in eighty days.  Along with his French valet Passepartout, he sets out on an adventurous journey.

A notorious gangster named Louis Garrett murders a local tailor, but still he walks away scot-free. Soon, a group of high school students appeal to the town’s adults, but it seems to them that the people are too cowardly to stand up against Louis. Therefore, they decide to take matters into their own hands. They try to come up with a plan to lure him out.

Millionaire Tony Newlander is fed up with his life. While on his yacht, he spots a drowning tramp and saves his life. The next morning, Tony takes away the tramp's clothes and leaves behind his clothes and money for the tramp. The tramp announces that a millionaire disguised as a vagrant will give millions to the next kind man he meets. 

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. 

Infamous crime-lord Joe Krozac’s son is born after he is jailed for 10 years for tax evasion. A kind reporter, Paul North, writes compassionately about Krozac’s harassed wife Talya, and loses his job in the bargain. Shocked by Krozac’s vicious behavior, Talya divorces him and marries North. Released from the jail, Krozac is impatient to avenge his ex-wife, and take back his son.  

Set in mid nineteenth century New York, the story focuses on Dimples Appleby, a child street performer, who lives with her actor grandfather, unaware that he also has to pickpocket to provide for her. She discovers the truth while performing at the Drew family home and takes up the blame to protect him. Impressed, the Mrs. Drew opens her home to her, intending to give her a comfortable life. 

Georges Duroy, an opportunistic journalist, uses women to climb the social ladder in the Paris elite. He meets Clotilde de Marelle through friend Charles and his wife Madeleine. Though they fall in love, he leaves Clotilde to marry Madeleine after Charles’ death. Later, he divorces Madeleine with fake infidelity charges and marries Suzanne Walters. Ultimately, devious Georges ends up paying for his manipulations. 

Based on the 1886 novel of the same name by RL Stevenson, this adventure drama film revolves around David Balfour, whose evil uncle arranges for him to be kidnapped and sent to sea. However, David’s life takes a turn after he gets unwillingly attached to Alan Breck, a rebel, who murders a tax collector.

It is fictionalized version of historical WWII events. Brutal Nazi commander Reinhardt Heydrich, who inflicted atrocities in Czechoslovakia, is fatally attacked by the partisans in the village of Lidice. Under the leadership of Heinrich Himmler, the village is demolished, the men are gunned down and women are taken to concentration camp. As a reprisal, the Czech village of Lidice is set ablaze. 

A television journalist Karen White, in Los Angeles, gets traumatized due to an encounter with a serial killer, while she was aiding the police. She is eventually sent to a psychiatric retreat in a remote mountain resort. However, she soon learns that the residents are not what they seem.  

King Richard of England does not wish to marry Princess Alice of France, so he agrees to be a part of the Third Crusade and embarks on a journey to the Holy Land of Jerusalem. On their way, he weds Princess Berengaria of Navarre who is later captured by Saladin, Sultan of Islam. Meanwhile, there is an internal plot to assassinate Richard too.

A distinguished naval officer is recruited by President McKinley to infiltrate a ring of well-connected bank robbers. While on the mission, he falls for the stepsister of a gang leader and introducing himself as Joe, he soon penetrates the gang. But when he is arrested, there is nobody to reveal his true identity because the President has been assassinated by then.  

In order to escape his past, Sergeant Victor joins the French Foreign Legion. He is sent to Africa and placed under the charge of a cruel officer named Major Doyle. When the woman Doyle loves, falls for Victor, Doyle decides to send the Victor on a dangerous mission in order to get him killed. 

Smitten by beautiful blonde Hope Harcourt, singer-stockbroker Billy Crockett follows her when he sees her being forced on an ocean liner. Believing that she is being kidnapped, he decides to rescue her; however, soon realizes that she is a runaway English heiress being returned home. But when Billy finds that his boss is also on board, he poses as a gangster’s accomplice.

Bright Lights is a musical romantic drama film which tells the story of a successful Broadway actress named Louanne, who is planning her retirement. However, she is soon marrying a rich man, instead of the man whom she is in love with.    

After the events of the World War I, a Russian royal Paul runs off to France, in order to avoid the political turmoil going on in his country. He soon tries his luck at a Monte Carlo Casino, hoping that he will win something big, so that he can use the money to benefit his fellow Russians. He ends up being so successful that it surprises the casino’s proprietors, and they decide to come up with a plan.

Silver Spurs is a western comedy musical film which tells the story of Roy, whose boss Jerry has inherited a very large ranch. However, according to the will, he cannot sell the ranch, but his widow can. Since Lucky Miller wants control of the ranch, he gets a girl to marry him, after which he gets Jerry killed. He frames Roy for the murder, and Roy soon ends up in prison.  

After serving seventeen years in jail, a crook meets the girl whom he had kidnapped as baby. She now believes that he is her father. However, he decides to return her back to her real father, but things get complicated when his former cellmate tries to get in the way.

Eva Lovelace is a girl from a small town who has always dreamt of becoming a successful Broadway star. Although she has tried in several auditions, she could never get a break. Her life however takes a turn when she is taken under the wing of several theatre veterans, who decide to help her, and mentor her to success.

Members of the Mormon Church decide to flee to the West after their leader Joseph Smith is murdered. They are led by Brigham Young, but a fragile romance between Young and outsider Zina Webb, as well as harsh conditions and internal conflict threaten to destroy them. 

After the American Civil War, a feud starts between the Colby and the Hayden families. This is because Jed Colby blames the Hayden family for his imprisonment. However, he is not aware that there is an affair going on between Ellen Colby and Lynn Hayden.

Deputy Marshal Luke Welsh turns bounty hunter to get a wanted criminal. But as the criminal draws a gun, Welsh has to kill him. However, he cannot collect the bounty as townspeople refuse to identify the criminal, a well-liked resident. As Welsh stays on, finding ways to collect the reward, he grows close to waitress Jill, but faces challenges on all the fronts. 

The Sentinel is a supernatural horror film which tells the story of Alison Parker, a model in New York City, who has a troubled past. She decides to change her life, which makes her leave her boyfriend, and relocate to a different apartment in a building where the only other resident is a blind priest. Unknown to Alison, the building houses a sinister evil, which is why the priest is present, to keep a check on it.

Based on real events, Captain Kidd is an adventure drama film which revolves around the adventures of Captain William Kid, a ruthless pirate, whose life around his greed for treasures and treachery.  

This dramatized adaptation recounts the last 18 years in the life of American outlaw and gang leader Jesse James and his relationship with his brother Frank. Through flashbacks, it tells how he wanted a peaceful domestic life with his sweetheart Zee but was forced into a life of crime after being harassed by greedy railroad men.

Clive of India is an American historical biographical film, which revolves around the life of Robert Clive, who is known for laying the foundation of the British Empire in India. The film is based on a play of the same name by RJ Minney. 

Henry MacMorrow is a junior partner working at a law firm who is assigned a task of obtaining the signatures of several members of the Pemberton family so that a property owned by them can be sold. He makes his way to their home by train, and on route, he meets Junior Pemberton, and his sister Toni. Toni eventually starts  developing feelings for Henry.

Eddie is an ace at the pool hall, but he is unemployed. He eventually gets married to Sally, his girlfriend, but her mother and stepfather doesn’t approve of his lifestyle and lack of employment. Therefore, he sends her back to his family.  

This film tells the story of a young man named Mio Romagna, who is quite sure that his father, Bartolomeo. was innocent, and was executed due to a wrongful conviction. More than a decade later, he tries to uncover the truth.

In the 1840s, New York farm-hand Chad Hanna joins a traveling circus, where he falls for Albany Yates, a gorgeous bareback equestrian rider, but she rejects the artless country boy. Later he meets teenaged Caroline, another runaway like him, who wins his heart. When the circus faces a crisis, Chad manages to pull the circus out of financial trouble, proving his worth. 

Along with his sidekick, an actor who plays a detective for a radio show try to solve the murder of a sea captain that was committed years ago.

Based on an unfinished novel of the same name by F Scott Fitzgerald, this drama film tells the story of a movie producer, who works tirelessly in a time of turmoil. However, problems arise because he neglects and disrespects the other studio executives, and they feel like they would be better off without him.

A western film directed by Burt Kennedy, the movie revolves around the lives of Jim Flagg, the marshal in the town of Progress, and his arch-rival Big John McKay, an outlaw. A fierce yet humorous battle takes place between the lawmen and the outlaws when the latter group tries to rob a train. 

During the Spanish-American war, US Army Lieutenant Rowan, who is under cover, carries a secret message from President McKinley of the US, to General Garcia, the leader of a rebellion against the Spanish rule in Cuba.  

Ramona, a lovely part-Indian girl brought up on a wealthy ranch, is wooed by the Spanish ranch-owner’s son Felipe, but she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings, while his family disapproves of his interest in her. When the Indians arrive for the yearly visit, their leader, Alessandro, and Ramona fall in love. When the ranch-owner tells her to join a convent, Ramona sneaks away with Alessandro. 

An African-American soldier who had served in the Civil War, becomes co-owner of a ranch. However, soon few local outlaws come after him and his Indian wife.

Lulu White is an actress who gets stranded in a small American town, after the owner of her acting troupe absconds with all the money. Therefore, in order to make some money, she tries to get a job as a manicurist at a barbershop, but the barber refuses, due to him having very less business. Therefore she decides to set up a shop of her own, which soon becomes a huge success within a short time.

After being discharged dishonorably, for issuing a costly and fatal order, Colonel Loring Leigh, is murdered before he could prove his innocence as a victim of a conspiracy. Therefore his sons seek the ones who are guilty, and also attempt to restore the integrity of their father. 

Though Lou Ford, the deputy sheriff of a small town in Montana, appears to be a friendly, likable person, the memories of his abusive childhood and the images of that trauma slowly turn him into a sadistic psychopath.  His homicidal tendencies begin to surface as he gets involved in the blackmail plans of a prostitute, and it drives him into killing spree.

Due to his political involvement, Captain Michael Fury, an Irish patriot is transported to New South Wales, where he is sold as a servant to a cruel and corrupt landlord named Arnold Trist. He eventually manages to escape, and organizes a group of settlers to take action against Trist. He also recruits a group of convicts to help him in his mission.

Boxcar Bertha is a romantic crime drama film which takes us to the time of the Great Depression. The film revolves around a union leader and a young woman, who are both forced to a life of crime. They eventually join forces on a revenge mission.

D’Artagnan, a French peasant, who dreams of joining the Musketeers, sets out for Paris. On the way, he comes across three warriors who challenge him to a duel. Eventually, they all become best friends, and also become an ally to the Queen of France. 

The Garden of Allah is a romantic drama adventure film which tells the story of a monk named Boris, who decides to flee from his monastery and begin a new life. He soon meets a heiress named Domini, who has led a sheltered life. They fall for one another, but Boris decides not to tell Domini about his past.   

Submarine Patrol is a war drama action adventure film which tells the story of a Navy official who is demoted due to his negligence. He is put in charge of a run-down submarine chaser, but along with his crew, he tries to prove himself as a worthy soldier.  

Peggy Sue attends a high school reunion after separating from her cheating husband. However, she faints during the reunion. When she wakes up, she finds herself in her own past, just before she finished school, and gets a chance to relive her life, making different choices.

This science-fiction action adventure comedy film takes us to a dystopian future where water has become very scarce. The film tells the story of a group of space pirates who get caught after stealing ice from a spaceship. They are sold to a princess who is looking for her father, who might have found a planet with plenty of water.

A cargo ship also serving as a floating casino is hijacked by terrorists. They install an atomic bomb and hold the passengers hostage, hoping to exchange them for the gold bullion on a US Treasury ship. Along with a woman, first officer John Carter attempts to resist them.  

Female Jungle is a crime drama mystery film, which revolves around the murder of a beautiful actress. Several people, including a neurotic detective, are suspected to be the murderer.  

Northwest Rangers is a Western drama film which tells the story of two childhood friends who goes different ways, and while one becomes a sheriff, the other becomes a notorious bandit. Years later, their paths cross when the sheriff is tasked with hunting down his childhood friend.

This American drama film tells the story of a teenager who is charged with rape for purchasing an erotic novel, by a prosecutor who is vehemently against pornography. The subsequent trial that follows this creates a huge debate about the issue of pornography vs free speech.

Dr. Richard Marlowe, with the help of gas station owner Nicholas and goon Toby, captures solo traveling gullible young girls and takes to his basement ‘lab.’ As Nicholas turns voodoo priest, and Toby plays bongos, wild Dr. Marlowe uses voodoo rituals and hypnotism to transfer the life essence of the luckless girls to his long-dead wife to bring her back to life.

When his parents are distracted, a young boy gets closed inside a moving van. He finds himself in danger when it turns out that the van is being driven by two criminals, Bull, a psychopath, and Eddie, his meek partner.

Based on the bestselling novel of same name, this comedy film revolves around the life of Alexander Portnoy, including his childhood, his relationship with his overbearing mother, his sexual fantasies, his problems with the opposite sex, as well as his obsession with his own religion.    

Two deserters and a pastor steal a Gatling Gun from the cavalry in order to steal the valuables from an Apache tribe. However, they are eventually chased by both the tribe as well as the Cavalry.

Along with his crew and his chimp, Captain Jim Knight is sailing across the South Seas looking for adventure. They soon come across a gang of criminals, who have taken over a small island. The criminals are forcing the natives to dive for pearls for them, even beyond safe limits. Knight manages to defeat and capture the gang, and takes them to Tahiti for a trial, but unfortunately the men manage to escape.

While following a rumor of war out in the West, a reporter from New York finds himself taken prisoner by Indians.

Loosely based on Hendrik Willem van Loon nonfiction book of the same name, this movie has a devil and an angel acting as prosecutor and defender respectively in the Great Court of Outer Space. The argument revolves around whether to allow humanity to continue existing despite its faults or let it get destroyed by the Super H-bomb invented by earth scientists. 

Return of the Ape Man is a science fiction horror film which tells the story of a mad scientist who attempts to transplant a brain into the body of a caveman, which has been preserved perfectly for a very long time.

Known for the large number of cameo appearances by Hollywood's golden age actors and actresses, the movie is loosely based on the film debut of Rin Tin Tin, a male German shepherd, who follows an aspiring actress to Hollywood; but himself becomes an international star. 

This horror mystery film takes us to the late 19th century. Someone has been killing the guests in the London wax museum of Claude Dupree, which is known for its collection of famous figures.  When the owner of the museum is killed, his niece decides to continue their family business, and the museum also attracts a police investigator soon. 

This 1979 comedy film depicts the America of 1998 where the government is going bankrupt, and faces the threat of foreclosure by wealthy Native Americans. In a desperate attempt to raise money, President Chet Roosevelt, with the help of a TV consultant, organizes Americathon, a 30 day telethon to raise $400 billion. However, there are some who don’t want this to succeed. 

Before the Islamic revolution in Iran, an American intelligence agent travels to the country. He investigates the murder of his fellow agent, and comes to know that a psychotic international businessman known as The Baron is planning to use a stolen missile to target a peace summit being held in the Persian Gulf region.

When a herd of reindeer are found dead mysteriously after a meteor crash in a remote part of a Sweden, a geologist and few soldiers are sent to investigate. They soon discover that the meteor is actually a spaceship, and they realize that a beast has been let loose by aliens. The beast kidnaps the geologist’s girlfriend, when they try to escape.   

This Mexican sci-fi horror films tells how a swarm of highly intelligent killer bees, which were imported into the US, start attacking helpless people across the country, in an attempt to halt man’s destruction of the environment. 

Hell’s Bloody Devils is an action crime drama film which tells the story of Mark Adams, an FBI agent, whose mission is to infiltrate a crime syndicate by posing as one of them. In order to finance their party, the group prints counterfeit US dollars. Mark soon learns more about the group, which is led by a World War II war criminal named Count von Delberg.