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Frank Butler

Frank Butler

Writer and actor · Died June 10, 1967, aged 76 · Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Frank Butler was born on 28 December 1890 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Going My Way (1944), Wake Island (1942) and Whispering Smith (1948). He was married to Ethel Virginia Chapman. He died on 10 June 1967 in Oceanside, Long Island, New York, USA.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
December 27, 1890
Died
June 10, 1967 (aged 76)
From
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Works as
Writer and actor
Titles
29 on Motif · 85 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 28Up 33% in 30 days

What are Frank Butler's films like?

Across their 26 Motif titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their Motif 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
Bonds
46%
Morality
22%
Self
14%
Society
9%
Power
7%
Ideas
2%
Survival
1%
Romantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception6 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 20 · Serious 4 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 3

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 15 · Charged 10 · Intense 1

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

Steady 15 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 13

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 22 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 25 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
16
Tense
10
Romantic
13
Warm
6
Absurd
6
Other
17

How their films linger

Feel-good23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy17
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous2

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 Frank Butler's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 29 Motif titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Butler's titles on Motif; 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

85 credits, 29 with a Motif page.

  • The Miracle (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1959)

    Screenplay

  • Strange Lady in Town(1955)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Road to Bali(1952)

    Story · Writer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Fancy Pants(1950)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Whispering Smith(1948)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Variety Girl(1947)

    as Frank Butler

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Golden Earrings (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1947)

    Screenplay

  • The Perils of Pauline(1947)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Welcome Stranger(1947)

    Story

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • California(1947)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Kid from Brooklyn(1946)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Incendiary Blonde (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    Screenplay

  • A Medal for Benny (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1945)

    Screenplay

  • Going My Way(1944)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Hostages (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1943)

    Writer

  • China(1943)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Road to Morocco(1942)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Wake Island (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1942)

    Screenplay

  • Beyond the Blue Horizon(1942)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • My Favorite Blonde(1942)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Aloma of the South Seas(1941)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Road to Zanzibar(1941)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Rangers of Fortune (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay · Story

  • I Want a Divorce (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • Untamed (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1940)

    Screenplay

  • Road to Singapore(1940)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Star Maker (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Screenplay

  • Island of Lost Men(1939)

    Theatre Play

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Never Say Die (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Screenplay

  • Paris Honeymoon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1939)

    Writer

  • Give Me a Sailor (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Screenplay

  • Tropic Holiday (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1938)

    Screenplay · Story

  • Waikiki Wedding(1937)

    Screenplay · Story

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Champagne Waltz (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1937)

    Writer

  • The Princess Comes Across(1936)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Bohemian Girl (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    Screenplay

  • The Milky Way(1936)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Strike Me Pink (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1936)

    Screenplay

  • Coronado (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Screenplay

  • Bonnie Scotland(1935)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Vagabond Lady (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1935)

    Screenplay

  • March of the Wooden Soldiers(1934)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Ladies Should Listen (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Screenplay

  • Search for Beauty (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1934)

    Writer

  • Girl Without a Room (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    Writer

  • White Woman (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    Theatre Play

  • The Way to Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1933)

    Additional Dialogue

  • College Humor(1933)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Prosperity (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    Story

  • When a Feller Needs a Friend (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1932)

    Writer

  • This Modern Age(1931)

    Dialogue

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • New Moon (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    Adaptation

  • Remote Control (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • Those Three French Girls (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    Adaptation

  • Strictly Unconventional (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1930)

    Writer

  • Montana Moon(1930)

    Story · Writer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Untamed(1929)

    Adaptation

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • China Bound (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1929)

    Story

  • Just Married (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    Adaptation · Screenplay

  • The Big Killing (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    Writer

  • Flying Elephants (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • No Man's Law(1927)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Honorable Mr. Buggs (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    Writer

  • Seeing the World (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1927)

    as English pedestrian

  • The Nickel-Hopper (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    Writer

  • 30 Below Zero (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Professor Amos Hopkins

  • Don Key (Son of Burro) (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Finn's Rival

  • The Fighting Buckaroo (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Percy M. Wellington

  • Made for Love (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1926)

    as Freddie Waddams

  • Satan in Sables (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    as Victor

  • Wild Papa (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1925)

    Actor

  • Hot Stuff (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1924)

    as Mr. Tewksberry Spat

  • The Great Outdoors (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Mr. Tewksberry Spat

  • Heavy Seas (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Mr. Tewksberry Spat

  • The Call of the Wild (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Hal

  • Let's Build (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Mr. Tewksberry Spat

  • Bluebeard's 8th Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Lord Henry Seville

  • A Self Made Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Allerdyce

  • The Tiger's Claw (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1923)

    as Inspector George Malvin

  • My American Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Horace Beresford (as F.R. Butler)

  • A Tailor-Made Man (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Theodore Jellicot

  • Beyond the Rocks (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1922)

    as Lord Wensleydon

  • The Sheik(1921)

    as Sir Aubrey Mayo

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Great Moment (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1921)

    as Eustace

  • Behold My Wife (not in the Motif catalog yet)(1920)

    as Captain Vidal

Career shape

A full career of 84 titles from 1920 to 1959.

Biggest box office

Montana Moon (1930)

$2.1M worldwide

Highest rated

Road to Morocco (1942)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

Going My Way (1944)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting22 of 84: 22 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting1 of 84: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleWriting60 of 84: 60 only writing, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndOther crew1 of 84: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s29 · 21 acting · 8 crew1930s30 · crew1940s22 · 1 acting · 21 crew1950s3 · crew

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 Motif, shown from 5 scored.

How do Frank Butler's films land?

Their typical Motif film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 29; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 29 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 29 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · writer

This Modern Age (1931)

81st percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · writer

Road to Morocco (1942)

Midcredits 83rd · 74% liked

Reviewers score the dialogue 52/100 and the plot and story 40/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on Motif; 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 Motif 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.

Who does Frank Butler work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Butler's Motif titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bing Crosby shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles