6 Best Frank Craven Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 16, 2026

Frank Craven brought a warm, folksy character presence to Hollywood in the 1930s and 40s and was beloved for his narrator role in Our Town. Keeper of the Flame investigates a national hero’s death, In This Our Life threatens a family with a manipulative woman, City for Conquest sacrifices a boxer’s dreams for his brother’s music, and Our Town follows a New Hampshire town’s joys and tragedies. Barbary Coast and State Fair round out the list.

Keeper of the Flame (1943)

TMDB ★ 6.4

Frank Craven is in this Tracy and Hepburn drama about a journalist investigating a beloved national hero's death who uncovers a dangerous hidden truth.

Directed by George Cukor · 1h 40m

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

In This Our Life (1942)

TMDB ★ 6.3

Eddie Acuff is in this Bette Davis melodrama about a selfish, manipulative woman who steals her sister's husband before spiralling into further reckless destruction.

Directed by John Huston · 1h 37m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

City for Conquest (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.0

Blanche Yurka is in this drama about a talented boxer who sacrifices his own dreams to fund his younger brother's musical career.

Directed by Anatole Litvak & Jean Negulesco · 1h 44m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Our Town (1940)

TMDB ★ 7.3

Frank Craven is in this adaptation of Thornton Wilder's play, in which a small New Hampshire town's everyday joys and quiet tragedies unfold through its stage manager narrator.

Directed by Sam Wood · 1h 30m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Barbary Coast (1935)

TMDB ★ 6.3

A gambling boss's grip on gold-rush San Francisco is challenged by a determined newcomer.

Directed by Howard Hawks · 1h 30m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

State Fair (1933)

TMDB ★ 6.3

Frank Craven is in this Will Rogers film about a farm family's trip to the Iowa State Fair that brings romance, competition and self-discovery.

Directed by Henry King · 1h 37m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ 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 Frank Craven Movies

Keeper of the Flame (1943)

In This Our Life (1942)

City for Conquest (1940)

Our Town (1940)

Barbary Coast (1935)

State Fair (1933)

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