6 Best Dick Powell Movies

By Vlad Zakh · July 9, 2026

Dick Powell began as Hollywood’s boyish musical crooner before reinventing himself as a hard-boiled film noir lead. Murder, My Sweet is the noir turning point, hiring a private eye to find an ex-convict’s missing girlfriend, The Bad and the Beautiful hears collaborators recall a ruthless producer, Christmas in July sees an office worker wrongly think he won a contest, and Footlight Parade races a producer to stage live prologues. 42nd Street and Gold Diggers of 1933 round out the list.

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A ruthless Hollywood producer's manipulative rise to power leaves a trail of betrayed collaborators.

Directed by Vincente Minnelli · 1h 58m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Murder, My Sweet (1944)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A private detective's search for a missing woman entangles him in blackmail and murder.

Directed by Edward Dmytryk · 1h 35m

Where to watch

Stream: Artiflix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Christmas in July (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A hopeful office worker believes he has won a lucrative slogan contest and spends wildly before the truth comes out.

Directed by Preston Sturges · 1h 07m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Footlight Parade (1933)

TMDB ★ 6.8

A determined Broadway producer races the clock to stage elaborate live prologues before the movies steal his business.

Directed by Lloyd Bacon · 1h 44m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

TMDB ★ 7.2

Struggling Broadway performers scheme to fund a new show during the Great Depression.

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy · 1h 37m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

42nd Street (1933)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A demanding Broadway director stakes everything on one lavish musical during the Depression.

Directed by Lloyd Bacon · 1h 29m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Dick Powell Movies

The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)

Murder, My Sweet (1944)

Christmas in July (1940)

Footlight Parade (1933)

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

42nd Street (1933)

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