The best John Dilson’s drama movies

John Dilson

John Dilson

18/02/1891- 01/06/1944
If you love cinema, you will share this ranking of the best John Dilson’s movies, although you may have ordered them differently. In any case, we hope you love it and with a little luck discovering a movie that you still don’t know about John Dilson.
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Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane
8.3/10
  • Genre: DramaMystery
  • Release: 17/04/1941
  • Character: Ward Heeler (uncredited)
Newspaper magnate, Charles Foster Kane is taken from his mother as a boy and made the ward of a rich industrialist. As a result, every well-meaning, tyrannical or self-destructive move he makes for the rest of his life appears in some way to be a reaction to that deeply wounding event.

Sergeant York

Sergeant York
7.7/10
Alvin York a hillbilly sharpshooter transforms himself from ruffian to religious pacifist. He is then called to serve his country and despite deep religious and moral objections to fighting becomes one of the most celebrated American heroes of WWI.

The Grapes of Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath
8.1/10
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 15/03/1940
  • Character: Bookseller
Tom Joad returns to his home after a jail sentence to find his family kicked out of their farm due to foreclosure. He catches up with them on his Uncle’s farm, and joins them the next day as they head for California and a new life... Hopefully.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
8.1/10
  • Genre: ComedyDrama
  • Release: 19/10/1939
  • Character: Secretary (uncredited)
Naive and idealistic Jefferson Smith, leader of the Boy Rangers, is appointed to the United States Senate by the puppet governor of his state. He soon discovers, upon going to Washington, many shortcomings of the political process as his earnest goal of a national boys' camp leads to a conflict with the state political boss.

Mission to Moscow

Mission to Moscow
5.4/10
  • Genre: DramaHistoryWar
  • Release: 29/04/1943
  • Character: American Senator (uncredited)
Ambassador Joseph Davies is sent by FDR to Russia to learn about the Soviet system and returns to America as an advocate of Stalinism.

Dark Command

Dark Command
6.7/10
When transplanted Texan Bob Seton arrives in Lawrence, Kansas he finds much to like about the place, especially Mary McCloud, daughter of the local banker. Politics is in the air however. It's just prior to the civil war and there is already a sharp division in the Territory as to whether it will remain slave-free. When he gets the opportunity to run for marshal, Seton finds himself running against the respected local schoolteacher, William Cantrell. Not is what it seems however. While acting as the upstanding citizen in public, Cantrell is dangerously ambitious and is prepared to do anything to make his mark, and his fortune, on the Territory. When he loses the race for marshal, he forms a group of raiders who run guns into the territory and rob and terrorize settlers throughout the territory. Eventually donning Confederate uniforms, it is left to Seton and the good citizens of Lawrence to face Cantrell and his raiders in one final clash.

In Name Only

In Name Only
7/10
  • Genre: DramaRomance
  • Release: 18/08/1939
  • Character: Head Train Steward
A wealthy man falls for a widow but is locked into a loveless marriage with a woman who has contrived to convince his parents she is the ideal wife.

This Land Is Mine

This Land Is Mine
7.5/10
  • Genre: DramaWar
  • Release: 07/05/1943
  • Character: Mayor's Secretary
Somewhere in Europe, in a city occupied by the Nazis, a gentle school teacher finds himself torn between collaboration and resistance, cowardice and courage.

Each Dawn I Die

Each Dawn I Die
7.2/10
  • Genre: CrimeDramaThriller
  • Release: 22/07/1939
  • Character: Parole Board Member (uncredited)
A corrupt D.A. with governatorial ambitions is annoyed by an investigative reporter's criticism of his criminal activities and decides to frame the reporter for manslaughter in order to silence him.

Kentucky

Kentucky
6.2/10
  • Genre: DramaRomance
  • Release: 30/12/1938
  • Character: Man at Race Track
Young lovers Jack and Sally are from families that compete to send horses to the 1938 Kentucky Derby, but during the Civil War, her family sided with the South while his sided with the North--and her Uncle Peter will have nothing to do with Jack's family.

Racket Busters

Racket Busters
6/10
  • Genre: CrimeDrama
  • Release: 16/07/1938
  • Character: Mr. Robbins (uncredited)
A trucker with a pregnant wife fights a New York mobster's protection racket.

Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case

Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case
6.1/10
In this 13th entry to the Dr. Kildare series, the medical staff of Blair General hospital are challenged with further dilemmas, not the least of which includes a prison inmate who Dr. Gillespie believes belongs instead in an insane asylum.

Special Agent

Special Agent
6.4/10
  • Genre: CrimeDrama
  • Release: 14/09/1935
  • Character: Gus (uncredited)
Newspaperman Bill Bradford becomes a special agent for the tax service trying to end the career of racketeer Nick Carston. Julie Gardner is Carston's bookkeeper. Bradford enters Carston's organization and Julie cooperates with him to land Carston in jail. An informer squeals on them. Julie is kidnapped by Carston's henchmen as she is about to testify

City for Conquest

City for Conquest
7.2/10
  • Genre: CrimeDramaMusic
  • Release: 21/09/1940
  • Character: Mr. Cahn - Man Buying Newspaper (uncredited)
The heartbreaking but hopeful tale of Danny Kenny and Peggy Nash, two sweethearts who meet and struggle through their impoverished lives in New York City. When Peggy, hoping for something better in life for both of them, breaks off her engagement to Danny, he sets out to be a championship boxer, while she becomes a dancer paired with a sleazy partner. Will tragedy reunite the former lovers?

Great Guy

Great Guy
6.3/10
A meat inspector sets out to rid his town of payoff deals affecting the quality of meat being sold to the public.

Highway West

Highway West
6.2/10
  • Genre: CrimeDrama
  • Release: 07/08/1941
  • Character: The Judge (uncredited)
A young woman marries a man who turns out to be a bank robber.

Happy Land

Happy Land
6.7/10
An Iowa drugstore owner becomes embittered when his son is killed in World War II. The druggist believes that the boy's life was cut short before he had an opportunity to truly appreciate his existence.

Reno

Reno
5.5/10
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 01/12/1939
  • Character: Mr. Jones - Casino Manager
A divorce lawyer prospers as a gambling tycoon.

Wildcat

Wildcat
5.6/10
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release: 03/09/1942
  • Character: Gus Sloane
Wildcatter Johnny Maverick and his pal go to a town in oil country offering $25,000 to the person who brings in the first well. They find oil on the outskirts but have to sell a share to a promoter who hires Johnny's old enemy.

Woman Wanted

Woman Wanted
6.5/10
  • Genre: ComedyCrimeDrama
  • Release: 02/08/1935
  • Character: Juror Talking to Mike (uncredited)
Ann Grey is wrongly convicted of murder. On her way to prison a car accident gives her the opportunity to escape. She is helped by young lawyer Tony Baxter. He hides her from the police, as well as his fiancée, with the help of his butler Peedles. Ann is also wanted by the mobsters who really committed the murder as they think she knows where $250,000 worth of bonds are hidden. When the mobsters find and abduct her, Tony enlists the help of the D.A. and the police to try to get her back.

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