Wallace Ford
ActingAbout Wallace Ford
Wallace Ford (12 February 1898 – 11 June 1966) was an English-born naturalized American stage and screen actor. Usually playing wise-cracking characters, he combined a tough but friendly-faced demeanor with a small but powerful, stocky physique. Born Samuel Jones Grundy in Bolton, Lancashire, England, he spent his childhood in a Dr. Barnardo's home. At an early age he was adopted by a farmer from Manitoba, Canada, where he was ill treated. About age eleven, Ford ran away and did odd jobs, later becoming an usher in a theatre. Following his discharge from the Army after WWI, he became a vaudeville actor in a stock company before performing on Broadway. He started on a film career when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave him a part in the film Possessed (1931) and went on to appear in over 200 films, including 13 directed by John Ford. Wallace Ford is buried in an unmarked grave in Culver City, California's Holy Cross Cemetery. From Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Wallace Ford reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Wallace Ford's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 52% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Wallace Ford remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in The Nut Farm, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Wallace Ford Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Wallace Ford's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Wallace Ford.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood | Detective Ed Fitzpatrick (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | James Stewart: A Wonderful Life | Self (archive footage) | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | A Patch of Blue | Ole Pa | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Warlock | Judge Holloway | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah | Charlie Hennessey | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Matchmaker | Malachi Stack | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | The Rainmaker | Sheriff Howard Thomas | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Thunder Over Arizona | Stiles | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | The First Texan | Henry Delaney | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Lucy Gallant | Gus Basserman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | The Man from Laramie | Charley O'Leary | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Wichita | Arthur Whiteside | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Destry | Doc Curtis | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Flesh and Fury | Jack 'Pop' Richardson | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | He Ran All the Way | Fred Dobbs | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Harvey | The Taxi Driver | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Breaking Point | F.R. Duncan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Furies | Scotty Hyslip | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | The Set-Up | Gus | Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | Coroner Creek | Andy West | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Man from Texas | Jed | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | T-Men | The Schemer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Magic Town | Lou Dicketts | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Dead Reckoning | McGee | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Black Angel | Joe | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Rendezvous with Annie | Al Morgan | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Green Years | Jamie Nigg | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Lover Come Back | Tubbs | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Spellbound | Hotel masher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Secret Command | Miller | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | The Cross of Lorraine | Pierre | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Shadow of a Doubt | Fred Saunders | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | All Through the Night | Spats Hunter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Blues in the Night | Brad Ames (as Wally Ford) | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Give Us Wings | Mr. York | Average | Similar → |
| 1940 | Two Girls on Broadway | Jed Marlowe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Two in the Dark | Harry Hilyer | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Informer | Frankie McPhillip | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Nut Farm | Willie Barton | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Whole Town's Talking | Healy | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Man Who Reclaimed His Head | 'Curly' | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | Men in White | Shorty | Average | Similar → |
| 1934 | The Lost Patrol | Morelli | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Headline Shooter | Mike | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | The Big Cage | Russ Penny | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Employees' Entrance | Martin West | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Beast of the City | Detective Ed Fitzpatrick | Average | Similar → |
| 1932 | Freaks | Phroso | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | X Marks the Spot | Ted Lloyd | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | Possessed | Al Manning | Hit | Similar → |
Wallace Ford - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Wallace Ford?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Wallace Ford is "The Nut Farm" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Wallace Ford acted in?
Wallace Ford has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Wallace Ford?
Other notable films include "Freaks", "Harvey", and "A Patch of Blue".