Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Roy Del Ruth

Highest Rated: 100% Thanks a Million (1935)

Lowest Rated: 69% Ziegfeld Follies (1946)

Birthday: Oct 18, 1893

Birthplace: Delaware, USA

A capable director who made a number of competent musicals and crime dramas, Roy Del Ruth worked consistently throughout the 1930s and 1940s without ever distinguishing himself from his more famed contemporaries. Del Ruth began his career as a gag writer for Mack Sennett during the silent era and moved over to the director's chair in the early-1920s. After churning out numerous pictures, he began to find his footing with the James Cagney vehicle "Blonde Crazy" (1931), before directing what was considered his most popular and accomplished film, "The Maltese Falcon" (1931), the first adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's famed novel. From there, he directed Cagney in "Taxi!" (1932), Edward G. Robinson in "The Little Giant" (1933), and Ronald Colman in "Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back" (1934). Following several years of above average motion pictures, including the popular musical review "Ziegfeld Follies" (1946), Del Ruth directed one of his most charming and entertaining films, "It Happed on Fifth Avenue" (1947), a Christmas-themed film that some ranked alongside the more popular "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946). But just as it seemed he was ready to advance, Del Ruth fell flat with the rather ridiculous biopic "The Babe Ruth Story" (1948), which ended any hope of a career rejuvenation. Though he ended his career on the low notes of "The Phantom of the Rue Morgue" (1954) and "The Alligator People" (1959), Del Ruth undoubtedly made significant contributions during the studio era that certainly bore re-examination.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

100% Thanks a Million
Watchlist
100% 62% Broadway Melody of 1938
Watchlist
100% 77% Employees' Entrance
Watchlist
93% Gold Diggers of Broadway
Watchlist
90% 76% Broadway Melody of 1936
Watchlist
89% 81% Topper Returns
Watchlist
71% 49% Dangerous Female
Watchlist
69% 58% Ziegfeld Follies
Watchlist
0% Three Sailors and a Girl
Watchlist
17% Happy Landing
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Why Must I Die? Director - 1960
No Score Yet 23% The Alligator People Director - 1959
No Score Yet 27% Phantom of the Rue Morgue Director - 1954
No Score Yet 0% Three Sailors and a Girl Director - 1953
No Score Yet 33% About Face Director - 1952
No Score Yet No Score Yet Stop, You're Killing Me Director - 1952
No Score Yet 25% Starlift Director - 1951
No Score Yet 80% On Moonlight Bay Director - 1951
No Score Yet 56% The West Point Story Director - 1950
No Score Yet 35% Red Light Director,
Producer
- 1949
No Score Yet No Score Yet Always Leave Them Laughing Director - 1949
No Score Yet 64% The Babe Ruth Story Director,
Producer
- 1948
No Score Yet 80% It Happened on 5th Avenue Director,
Producer
- 1947
69% 58% Ziegfeld Follies Director - 1946
No Score Yet 12% Broadway Rhythm Director - 1944
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barbary Coast Gent Director - 1944
No Score Yet 47% Du Barry Was a Lady Director - 1943
No Score Yet No Score Yet Maisie Gets Her Man Director - 1942
No Score Yet 29% The Chocolate Soldier Director - 1941
89% 81% Topper Returns Director - 1941
No Score Yet No Score Yet He Married His Wife Director - 1940
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tail Spin Director - 1939
No Score Yet No Score Yet Here I Am a Stranger Director - 1939
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Star Maker Director - 1939
No Score Yet 17% Happy Landing Director - 1938
No Score Yet 29% My Lucky Star Director - 1938
100% 62% Broadway Melody of 1938 Director - 1937
No Score Yet 50% On the Avenue Director - 1937
No Score Yet 60% Private Number Director - 1936
No Score Yet 49% Born to Dance Director - 1936
No Score Yet No Score Yet It Had to Happen Director - 1936
100% No Score Yet Thanks a Million Director - 1935
90% 76% Broadway Melody of 1936 Director - 1935
No Score Yet No Score Yet Folies Bergère de Paris Director - 1935
No Score Yet 56% Kid Millions Director - 1934
No Score Yet 27% Upperworld Director - 1934
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back Director - 1934
100% 77% Employees' Entrance Director - 1933
No Score Yet 27% Bureau of Missing Persons Director - 1933
No Score Yet 72% The Little Giant Director - 1933
No Score Yet 71% Lady Killer Director - 1933
No Score Yet 43% The Mind Reader Director - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Captured Director - 1933
No Score Yet No Score Yet Winner Take All Director - 1932
No Score Yet 78% Blessed Event Director - 1932
No Score Yet 88% Taxi! Director - 1932
No Score Yet 43% Beauty and the Boss Director - 1932
No Score Yet No Score Yet Side Show Director - 1931
No Score Yet 73% Blonde Crazy Director - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Divorce Among Friends Director - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet My Past Director - 1931
71% 49% Dangerous Female Director - 1931
No Score Yet No Score Yet Three Faces East Director - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Life of the Party Director - 1930
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Desert Song Director - 1929
93% No Score Yet Gold Diggers of Broadway Director - 1929
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Terror Director - 1928
No Score Yet 57% The First Auto Director - 1927
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Little Irish Girl Director - 1926
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hogan's Alley Director - 1925
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shanghaied Lovers Director - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Hollywood Kid Director - 1924
No Score Yet No Score Yet Skylarking Director - 1923
No Score Yet No Score Yet Be Reasonable Director - 1921

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Zane Grey Theatre Director 1957