6 Best Fred Kelsey Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 5, 2026

Fred Kelsey was one of Hollywood’s most tirelessly prolific character actors, frequently cast as a bumbling detective or house detective in hundreds of films. To Catch a Thief clears a reformed jewel thief on the Riviera, Strangers on a Train proposes swapping murders, The Enforcer races to secure testimony against a murder-for-hire ring, and Auntie Mame raises an orphaned nephew. The Fountainhead and Gold Diggers of 1933 round out the list.

To Catch a Thief (1955)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A reformed jewel thief must catch a copycat burglar to clear his own name on the French Riviera.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 1h 46m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: MGM Plus · 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

Auntie Mame (1958)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A free-spirited, eccentric woman raises her orphaned nephew with unconventional flair.

Directed by Morton DaCosta · 2h 23m · 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

Strangers on a Train (1951)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A tennis player is horrified when a stranger proposes they 'swap' murders to get away with both.

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock · 1h 41m · Rated PG

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Enforcer (1951)

TMDB ★ 7.1

Fred Kelsey is in this Bogart noir about a district attorney who races to secure testimony against a murder-for-hire ring before his star witness is killed.

Directed by Bretaigne Windust & Raoul Walsh · 1h 27m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Fountainhead (1949)

TMDB ★ 6.8

An uncompromising architect refuses to sacrifice his artistic vision despite immense professional pressure.

Directed by King Vidor · 1h 52m · 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

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 Fred Kelsey Movies

To Catch a Thief (1955)

Auntie Mame (1958)

Strangers on a Train (1951)

The Enforcer (1951)

The Fountainhead (1949)

Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

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