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James Franciscus

James Franciscus

Actor, also producer and writer · Died July 8, 1991, aged 57 · Clayton, Missouri, USA

James Grover Franciscus (January 31, 1934 – July 8, 1991) was an American actor, known for his roles in feature films and in four television series: Mr. Novak, The Naked City, The Investigators, and Longstreet. Description above from the Wikipedia article James Franciscus, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 31, 1934
Died
July 8, 1991 (aged 57)
From
Clayton, Missouri, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer and writer
Titles
38 on MovieCove · 73 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Down 18% in 30 days

What are James Franciscus' films like?

Across their 32 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 8th percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
29%
Survival
19%
Bonds
17%
Self
15%
Power
10%
Society
9%
Ideas
2%
Survival9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 31 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 9 · Dark 14

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 22 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 17 · Intense 11

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 26 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 15 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 10 · Affecting 13 · Heavy 8

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 22 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 3

Roles they play

19 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 7 of 19 analyzed roles.

Shadow
7 of 19
Hero
7 of 19
Herald
3 of 19
Ally
1 of 19
Trickster
1 of 19
Show the 19 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
14
Dread
8
Thrilling
8
Warm
5
Other
23

How their films linger

Bittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 7 with a twist

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch James Franciscus' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 38 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Franciscus' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

73 credits, 38 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • His Master's Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Nasa Archive Storyteller (archive footage from 'Seeds of Discovery', 1970)

  • La classe américaine(1993)

    as Professor Hammond (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • 29th Street(1991)

    Associate Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Secret Weapons(1985)

    as Victor Khudenko

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Great Transport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as John Mason

  • The Great Transport (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as John Mason

  • Butterfly(1981)

    as Moke Blue

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy(1981)

    as John Fitzgerald Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Last Shark(1981)

    as Peter Benton

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Nightkill(1980)

    as Steve Fulton

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • When Time Ran Out...(1980)

    as Bob Spangler

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Killer Fish(1979)

    as Paul Diller

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • City on Fire(1979)

    as Jimbo

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Concorde Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Moses Brody

  • Puzzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Harry Scott

  • Secrets of Three Hungry Wives(1978)

    as Mark Powers

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Good Guys Wear Black(1978)

    as Conrad Morgan

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Greek Tycoon(1978)

    as President James Cassidy

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Pirate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dick Carriage

  • The Man Inside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Rush

  • Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • The Amazing Dobermans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Lucky

  • One of My Wives Is Missing(1976)

    as Daniel Corban

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Trial of Chaplain Jensen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Chaplain Andrew Jensen

  • The Dream Makers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Sammy Stone

  • A Girl Named Sooner(1975)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Aloha Means Goodbye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Dr. Lawrence Maddox

  • Jonathan Livingston Seagull(1973)

    as Jonathan Livingston Seagull (voice)

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Doc Elliot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 14 episodes · as Benjamin Elliot

  • The 500 Pound Jerk(1973)

    as Gil Davenport

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Under the Law: The Hitchhike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Actor

  • Ghost Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Dover

  • Kidnapped(1971)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Longstreet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 23 episodes · as Mike Longstreet

  • Longstreet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Mike Longstreet

  • The Cat o' Nine Tails(1971)

    as Carlo Giordani

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Jane Eyre(1970)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Night Slaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Clay Howard

  • Beneath the Planet of the Apes(1970)

    as Brent

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Hell Boats(1970)

    as Lt. Comdr. Jeffords, R.N.V.R.

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Marooned(1969)

    as Clayton Stone

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Valley of Gwangi(1969)

    as Tuck Kirby

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Trial Run (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Louis Coleman

  • Heidi(1968)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Snow Treasure(1968)

    as 2nd Lt. H. Kalasch

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Shadow Over Elveron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Dr. Matthew Tregaskis

  • Judd, for the Defense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Burnett · as Mitchell Flynn

  • Youngblood Hawke(1964)

    as Youngblood Hawke

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry Martin

  • Mr. Novak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 60 episodes · as John Novak

  • Miracle of the White Stallions(1963)

    as Maj. Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Combat!(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Pfc. Charles Harris

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Outsider(1961)

    as Pvt. James B. Sorenson

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Investigators (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 13 episodes · as Russ Andrews

  • Ben Casey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Stan Fisher

  • I Passed for White(1960)

    as Rick Leyton

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Mueller

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Grover

  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Quinn Jackson

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show Actor

  • The Mugger(1958)

    as Eddie Baxter

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 39 episodes · as Jimmy Halloran

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Nelson

  • Four Boys and a Gun(1957)

    as Johnny Doyle

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Kendall · as William Tyre

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Doane

  • Father Knows Best(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Taylor

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Brass · as Johnny · as Norstad

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 72 titles from 1948 to 2018; peak year 1969.

Biggest box office

Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

One of My Wives Is Missing (1976)

Midcredits 84th

Most popular right now

Naked City (1958)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19482018

Peak 1969 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 5 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting68 of 72: 68 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score40thWriting1 of 72: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing4 of 72: 3 only producing, 1 with another role

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s14 · acting1960s18 · 17 acting · 1 crew1970s28 · 26 acting · 2 crew1980s8 · acting1990s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 42% of 12 roles
6974

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do James Franciscus' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 40th percentile, the median of all 32; across their 31 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 42nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 31

Midcredits score across 38 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 38 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · actor

Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)

75th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

La classe américaine (1993)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 58/100 in their films, across 28 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 36. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is James Franciscus' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does James Franciscus work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Franciscus' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Delbert Mann shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers