6 Best Fred Toones Movies

By Vlad Zakh · July 27, 2026

Drama feel goodintense

Fred Toones built one of Hollywood’s most prolific careers, appearing in hundreds of films over four decades as a familiar face in golden-age studio productions. The Palm Beach Story leaves a struggling husband for a wealthy suitor, A Star Is Born (1937) launches a young actress as a star’s career collapses, Imitation of Life builds a business with a housekeeper, and Gold Diggers of 1933 schemes to fund a Depression-era show. The Mayor of Hell and I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang round out the list.

The Palm Beach Story (1942) 01

The Palm Beach Story (1942)

TMDB ★ 7.0

Claudette Colbert plays a woman who leaves her struggling husband to pursue a wealthy new suitor, hoping to help him financially.

Directed by Preston Sturges · 1h 28m · 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
A Star Is Born (1937) 02

A Star Is Born (1937)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A rising actress's career overtakes that of her fading movie-star husband, with tragic results.

Directed by William A. Wellman · 1h 51m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: Brew, Pure Flix, FlixFling, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
Imitation of Life (1934) 03

Imitation of Life (1934)

TMDB ★ 7.0

A widow's pancake business makes her rich while her live-in friend's daughter struggles with racial identity.

Directed by John M. Stahl · 1h 51m

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) 04

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
The Mayor of Hell (1933) 05

The Mayor of Hell (1933)

TMDB ★ 7.0

Fred Toones features in this Cagney drama about a corrupt political appointee running a boys' reformatory who is transformed by a compassionate new approach to the delinquents.

Directed by Archie Mayo · 1h 30m · Rated NR

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932) 06

I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A war veteran wrongly imprisoned on a brutal chain gang makes a desperate escape.

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy · 1h 32m · 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.

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Vlad Zakh

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.