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Frank Borzage

Frank Borzage

Director and producer, also writer · Died June 19, 1962, aged 68 · Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Frank Borzage (April 23, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an Academy Award-winning American film director and actor, known for directing 7th Heaven (1927), Street Angel (1928), Bad Girl (1931), A Farewell to Arms (1932), Man's Castle (1933), History Is Made at Night (1937), The Mortal Storm (1940) and Moonrise (1948). In 1912 Borzage found employment as an actor in Hollywood; he continued to work as an actor until 1917. His directorial debut came in 1915 with the film The Pitch o' Chance. He was a successful director throughout the 1920s, but reached his peak in the late silent and early sound era. Absorbing visual influences from the German director F.W. Murnau, who was also resident at Fox at this time, Borzage developed his own style of lushly visual romanticism in a hugely successful series of films starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, including 7th Heaven (1927), for which he won the first Academy Award for Best Director, Street Angel (1928) and Lucky Star (1929). He won a second Oscar for 1931's Bad Girl. He directed 14 films between 1917 and 1919 alone. His greatest success in the silent era was with Humoresque, a box office winner starring Vera Gordon. Borzage's trademark was intense identification with the feelings of young lovers in the face of adversity, with love in his films triumphing over such trials as World War I (7th Heaven and A Farewell to Arms), disability (Lucky Star), the Depression (Man's Castle), a thinly disguised version of the Titanic disaster in History Is Made at Night, and the rise of Nazism, a theme which Borzage had virtually to himself among Hollywood filmmakers from Little Man, What Now? (1933) to Three Comrades (1938) and The Mortal Storm (1940). His work took a spiritual turn in such films as Green Light (1937), Strange Cargo (1940) and The Big Fisherman (1959). Of his later work only the film noir Moonrise (1948) has enjoyed much critical acclaim. After 1948, Borzage's output was sporadic. In 1955 and 1957, he was awarded The George Eastman Award, given by George Eastman House for distinguished contribution to the art of film. Frank Borzage died of cancer in 1962, aged 68.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 23, 1894
Died
June 19, 1962 (aged 68)
From
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
Works as
Director and producer, also writer
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 153 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 21% in 30 days

What are Frank Borzage's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
42%
Morality
23%
Self
12%
Society
9%
Survival
7%
Power
5%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFaith3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 25 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 18 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 11 · Shifting 12 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 16 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 14 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 7 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
15
Romantic
12
Joyful
5
Hopeful
5
Other
13

How their films linger

Bittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Frank Borzage's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Borzage's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

153 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Journey Beneath the Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Co-Director

  • The Big Fisherman(1959)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • China Doll(1958)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Day I Met Caruso (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director

  • A Ticket for Thaddeus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Director

  • The Oscars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show Actor

  • Moonrise(1948)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • That's My Man(1947)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Magnificent Doll(1946)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • I've Always Loved You(1946)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Spanish Main(1945)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Till We Meet Again(1944)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • His Butler's Sister(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Stage Door Canteen(1943)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Seven Sweethearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director · Producer

  • The Vanishing Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Smilin' Through (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director · Producer

  • Billy the Kid(1941)

    Co-Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Flight Command(1940)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Mortal Storm(1940)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Strange Cargo(1940)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • I Take This Woman(1940)

    Co-Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Disputed Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Director

  • The Shining Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director · Producer

  • Three Comrades(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Mannequin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • History Is Made at Night(1937)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Green Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director · Producer

  • Hearts Divided (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director · Producer

  • Desire(1936)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Shipmates Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Stranded (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director · Producer

  • Living on Velvet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director · Producer

  • Flirtation Walk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Producer

  • Little Man, What Now? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • No Greater Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director · Producer

  • Man's Castle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director · Producer

  • Secrets(1933)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • A Farewell to Arms(1932)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Young America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • After Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • Bad Girl(1931)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Young as You Feel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • Doctors' Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • Liliom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • Song o' My Heart(1930)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • They Had to See Paris(1929)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Lucky Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • Street Angel(1928)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • 7th Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • Marriage License? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • Early to Wed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • The Dixie Merchant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • The First Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • Wages for Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • Lazybones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director · Producer

  • The Circle(1925)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • The Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Director

  • Secrets(1924)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Age of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Director · Producer

  • Children of Dust (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Director

  • The Nth Commandment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Director · Producer

  • The Pride of Palomar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • The Valley of Silent Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • The Good Provider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • Billy Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • Back Pay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Director

  • Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director

  • The Duke of Chimney Butte (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Director

  • Humoresque (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Director

  • Prudence on Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Whom the Gods Would Destroy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • Toton (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Director

  • The Atom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director · Actor

  • The Ghost Flower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • Who Is to Blame? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • An Honest Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • Society for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • Innocent's Progress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • The Shoes That Danced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • The Curse of Iku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director · as Allan Carroll / Allan Carroll III

  • The Gun Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Director

  • Until They Get Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director

  • Fear Not (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Franklin Shirley

  • Flying Colors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Director

  • Wee Lady Betty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Roger O'Reilly

  • A Mormon Maid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Tom Rigdon

  • A School for Husbands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    as Hugh Aslam

  • Immediate Lee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Immediate Lee

  • Land O' Lizards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as The Stranger

  • Matchin' Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Writer · as Matchin' Jim

  • Intolerance(1916)

    as Extra (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Forgotten Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Dan Page

  • Nell Dale's Men Folks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Writer · as Zeb Dale

  • Enchantment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Writer

  • The Courtin' of Calliope Clew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Calliope Clew

  • That Gal of Burke's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Charles Percival

  • Nugget Jim's Pardner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Writer · as Hal

  • The Quicksands of Deceit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • The Demon of Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Writer · as Thomas Marsh

  • The Pilgrim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as The Pilgrim

  • Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Jack

  • Unlucky Luke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · Writer · as Luke Drummond

  • Realization (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Actor

  • A Flickering Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Jim

  • Two Bits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as James Hardeman

  • The Code of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director · as Lt. Bob Chase

  • The Silken Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • Life's Harmony (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Director

  • The Cactus Blossom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Dave Foster

  • The Pitch o' Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    Director · as Rocky Scott

  • The Clean-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as George Prescott

  • Aloha Oe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Dr. John Hawley

  • Knight of the Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Bill Carey

  • The Hammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Donald Barstow

  • The Secret of Lost River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Tom Hornby - Prospector

  • The Tavern Keeper's Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Juan Capella

  • The Cup of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Dick Ralston

  • Molly of the Mountains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as John Harlow

  • In the Switch Tower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Joel Wharton

  • The Mill by the Zuyder Zee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Dirk Brandt

  • The Girl Who Might Have Been (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as George Fowler

  • In the Land of the Otter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1915)

    as Joe Eagle

  • The Panther (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as David Brandt

  • A Crook's Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as The 'Dip'

  • The Desperado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • The Typhoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Renard Bernisky

  • Parson Larkin's Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Parson James Larkin

  • The Wrath of the Gods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Tom Wilson

  • Love's Western Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • Samson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    as Bearded Philistine Extra (uncredited)

  • A Flash in the Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • The Wheel of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • In the Sage Brush Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Actor

  • A Hopi Legend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • A Cracksman Santa Claus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • Retribution (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • The Days of '49 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Ben

  • Loaded Dice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • Silent Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • In the Toils (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • The Gratitude of Wanda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • The Mystery of Yellow Aster Mine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • Granddad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Mildred's Father

  • The Crimson Stain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Actor

  • The Drummer of the 8th (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Jack Durand

  • When Lee Surrenders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Actor

  • On Secret Service (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Actor

  • Dollars of Dross (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

  • The Pride and the Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Director · Writer

Career shape

A full career of 153 titles, 151 of them dated from 1912 to 1961.

Biggest box office

Desire (1936)

$81 worldwide

Highest rated

The Mortal Storm (1940)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

History Is Made at Night (1937)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting63 of 153: 45 only acting, 18 with another roleDirecting107 of 153: 63 only directing, 44 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thWriting9 of 153: 1 only writing, 8 with another roleProducing24 of 153: 0 only producing, 24 with another role · typical Midcredits score57th

153 titles, 44 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 18 of them.

By decade

1910s78 · 62 acting · 34 crew1920s26 · crew1930s25 · crew1940s16 · crew1950s5 · 1 acting · 4 crew1960s1 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Frank Borzage's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 25 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 25

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser17
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · director, producer

The Circle (1925)

87th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director, producer

The Mortal Storm (1940)

Midcredits 96th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 66/100 and the pacing 44/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Frank Borzage work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Borzage's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Margaret Clancey shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers