Frank Borzage

By: Ally the Manic Listmaker

Note: I love how Frank Borzage frequently worked with Janet Gaynor, one of my very favorite actresses (both pictured above).

Top Tier
Big City (1937)
Bad Girl (1931)
Young America (1932)
History Is Made at Night (1937)
The Circle (1925)
His Butler’s Sister (1943)
After Tomorrow (1932)
Street Angel (1928)
Lucky Star (1929)
Seven Sweethearts (1942)
Man’s Castle (1933)
Secrets (1933)
7th Heaven (1927)
Mannequin (1937)
Humoresque (1920)
Stranded (1935)
Three Comrades (1938)
Desire (1936) Note: Produced by Ernst Lubitsch
That’s My Man (1947)

Second Tier
Hearts Divided (1936)
Lazybones (1925)
The River (1929)
Doctors’ Wives (1931)
A Farewell to Arms (1932)
Little Man, What Now? (1934)
China Doll (1958)
The Vanishing Virginian (1942)
Shipmates Forever (1935)
The Mortal Storm (1940)
The Shining Hour (1938)

Third/Lower Tier
The Spanish Main (1945)
Moonrise (1948)
Stage Door Canteen (1943)
They Had to See Paris (1929)
Song o’ My Heart (1930)

Have seen: 35/107 Films by Borzage

Visit my site: Cinema Becomes Her

01

Big City

Frank Borzage
02

Bad Girl

Frank Borzage
03

Young America

Frank Borzage
04

History Is Made at Night

Frank Borzage
05

The Circle

Frank Borzage
06

His Butler's Sister

Frank Borzage
07

After Tomorrow

Frank Borzage
08

Street Angel

Frank Borzage
09

Lucky Star

Frank Borzage
10

Seven Sweethearts

Frank Borzage
11

Secrets

Frank Borzage
12

Man's Castle

Frank Borzage
13

7th Heaven

Frank Borzage
14

Mannequin

Frank Borzage
15

Humoresque

Frank Borzage
16

Stranded

Frank Borzage
17

Three Comrades

Frank Borzage
18

Desire

Frank Borzage
19

That's My Man

Frank Borzage
20

Hearts Divided

Frank Borzage
21

Lazybones

Frank Borzage
22

The River

Frank Borzage
23

Doctors' Wives

Frank Borzage
24

A Farewell to Arms

Frank Borzage
25

Little Man, What Now?

Frank Borzage
26

China Doll

Frank Borzage
27

The Vanishing Virginian

Frank Borzage
28

Shipmates Forever

Frank Borzage
29

The Mortal Storm

Frank Borzage
30

The Shining Hour

Frank Borzage
31

The Spanish Main

Frank Borzage
32

Moonrise

Frank Borzage
33

Stage Door Canteen

Frank Borzage
34

They Had to See Paris

Frank Borzage
35

Song o' My Heart

Frank Borzage

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Robert Regan

13May10

Hello, Allison. One of the few positive things about aging is discovering how one's perspective on films (among other things) goes through sometimes subtle changes over the years. I have been conscious of Borzage's pictures for many years (saw a few first-run), but only "discovered" him less than ten years ago. What an eye-opener! Even movies that I had seen before and been luke warm about had a more intense effect. A Farewell to Arms I had only seen in the severely cut version, the result of the late thirties reissue. Seeing it uncut on TCM was astounding (I even liked Helen Hayes. As I have often said, it may be bad Hemingway, but it is great Borzage; and, frankly, I consider Borzage a greater artist than Papa. As to The River, it is included in the expensive Borzage/Murnau set which Netflix has, but if you can play region 2, it is worth the trouble and expense to get it from Editions Filmmuseum to see what a charming actor he was, and what a good director he was even at that early date. Lastly, let me add that Megan is close, but no cigar. My user name is RRegan, but you can call me Robert or Bob. And, I enjoyed reading your thoughtful piece on Humoresque (Fannie Hurst is yet another subject for further research}.

Ally the Manic Listmaker likes this

Ally the Manic Listmaker

7May10

Thanks Megan. I used to not really care for Spencer Tracy, but he has definitely grown on me and I like him more as time passes. I am definitely interested in seeing Frank Borzage as an actor and want to see The River as well. I haven't had an luck finding it so far, but I will start my video store search soon. I know that the ones you liked are well-regarded, but for some reason they didn't hit me in the same way. Perhaps I'll wait a few years and rewatch them. They might have a different impact with some time.

Robert Regan

7May10

Allison, I enjoyed reading your Borzage list and am happy that someone is seeking out his hard-to-find films. I must say that I didn't care for Young America and Mannequin as much as you, even with Spencer Tracy who, of course, soared in A Man's Castle. I also feel that A Farewell to Arms (when uncut), Little Man What Now, and The Mortal Storm are way up there. By its absence, I'm guessing that you haven't seen The River. If this is so, drop everything and see this movie as soon as you can. If possible, get the German release that also includes three of his early westerns. They're not really westerns per se, but rather real Frank Borzage movies, already in 1915. And if, as I am also guessing, you like Spencer Tracy, you will also like Borzage as an actor.