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Buster Crabbe

Buster Crabbe

Actor · Died April 23, 1983, aged 75 · Oakland, California, USA

Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe was an American athlete and actor, who starred in a number of popular screen serials in the 1930s and 1940s.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 7, 1908
Died
April 23, 1983 (aged 75)
From
Oakland, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
55 on MovieCove · 122 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 39% in 30 days

What are Buster Crabbe's films like?

Across their 55 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama40 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 16th percentile
: browse their Adventure 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
47%
Bonds
17%
Power
11%
Self
9%
Survival
8%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Justice35 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity13 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed7 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 55 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 48 · Serious 5 · Dark 2

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

Grounded 39 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 26 · Charged 27 · Intense 2

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

Steady 37 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 15 · Some laughs 34 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 36 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 48 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 55 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

53 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 37 of 53 analyzed roles.

Hero
37 of 53
Shadow
6 of 53
Threshold guardian
3 of 53
Ally
2 of 53
Shapeshifter
2 of 53
Mentor
2 of 53
Trickster
1 of 53
Show the 53 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
29
Tense
29
Hopeful
18
Absurd
15
Warm
9
Other
32

How their films linger

Fun42 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good31 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy47
  • Bittersweet7
  • Cyclical1

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 Buster Crabbe's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 48 of their 55 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (32).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Buster Crabbe's 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

122 credits, 55 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Tarzan: Lord of the Movies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Tarzan (Archive Footage)

  • The Boy from Mercury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Flash Gordon (Archive Footage)

  • Tarzan at the Movies, Part 2: The Many Faces of Tarzan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Tarzan (archive footage)

  • Batman and Robin and Other Super Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • The Comeback Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Duke Montana

  • The Alien Dead(1980)

    as Sheriff Kowalski

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Planet of the Slave Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Brigadier Gordon

  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Brigadier Gordon

  • Swim Team (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Rock Sands

  • B. J. and the Bear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Buck Rogers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Col. Buck Rogers

  • Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as (archive footage)

  • Peril from the Planet Mongo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Flash Gordon

  • Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray From Mars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Flash Gordon

  • Deadly Ray From Mars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Flash Gordon

  • Destination Saturn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Buck Rogers

  • Purple Death from Outer Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Flash Gordon

  • Spaceship to the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Flash Gordon (archive footage)

  • Arizona Raiders(1965)

    as Capt. Tom Andrews

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Bounty Killer(1965)

    as Mike Clayman

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan the Fearless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Tarzan

  • Gunfighters of Abilene(1959)

    as Kip

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Badman's Country(1958)

    as Wyatt Earp

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Lawless Eighties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Linc Prescott

  • Gun Brothers(1956)

    as Chad Santee

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 25 episodes · as Capt. Michael Gallant

  • Planet Outlaws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Col. Buck Rogers

  • King of the Congo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Thunda / Roger Drum

  • Pirates of the High Seas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Jeff Drake

  • Captive Girl(1950)

    as Barton

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Caged Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Smiley

  • The Sea Hound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Capt. Silver

  • Last of the Redmen(1947)

    as Magua

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Outlaws of the Plains(1946)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Swamp Fire(1946)

    as Mike Kalavich

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Overland Riders(1946)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Prairie Badmen(1946)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Ghost of Hidden Valley(1946)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Terrors on Horseback (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Billy Carson

  • Gentlemen with Guns(1946)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Lightning Raiders(1946)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Prairie Rustlers(1945)

    as Billy Carson / Jim Slade / Billy The Kid

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Fighting Bill Carson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Billy Carson

  • Border Badmen(1945)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Rustlers' Hideout(1944)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Stagecoach Outlaws(1945)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Gangster's Den(1945)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Shadows of Death(1945)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • His Brother's Ghost(1945)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Oath of Vengeance(1944)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Wild Horse Phantom(1944)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Fuzzy Settles Down(1944)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Drifter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Billy Carson / Drifter Davis

  • The Contender(1944)

    as Gary Farrel

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Valley of Vengeance(1944)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Thundering Gun Slingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Billy Carson

  • Frontier Outlaws(1944)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Nabonga(1944)

    as Ray Gorman

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Devil Riders(1943)

    as Billy Carson

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Blazing Frontier(1943)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Renegade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Billy the Kid

  • Cattle Stampede(1943)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Western Cyclone(1943)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Fugitive of the Plains(1943)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Kid Rides Again(1943)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Queen of Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Ricky Sloane

  • The Mysterious Rider(1942)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Wildcat(1942)

    as Mike Rawlins

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Sheriff of Sage Valley(1942)

    as Billy the Kid / Kansas Ed

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Law and Order (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Billy the Kid / Ted Morrison

  • Jungle Siren (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Captain Gary Hart

  • Billy the Kid's Smoking Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Billy the Kid

  • Billy the Kid Trapped(1942)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Billy The Kid's Round-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Billy the Kid

  • Billy the Kid Wanted(1941)

    as Billy the Kid

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Jungle Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Dr. Robert Hammond, aka Junga

  • Sailor's Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Rodney (as Larry Crabbe)

  • Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe(1940)

    as Flash Gordon

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Call a Messenger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Chuck Walsh

  • Colorado Sunset(1939)

    as Dave Haines (as Larry "Buster" Crabbe)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Million Dollar Legs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Coach Jordan (as Larry Crabbe)

  • Unmarried (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Buzz Kinney (as Larry Crabbe)

  • Buck Rogers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Buck Rogers

  • Mars Attacks the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Flash Gordon

  • Illegal Traffic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Steve

  • Red Barry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Red Barry

  • Hunted Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as James Flowers

  • Tip-Off Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as John A. 'Red' Deegan

  • Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars(1938)

    as Flash Gordon

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Rocket Ship(1938)

    as Flash Gordon

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Daughter of Shanghai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Andrew Sleete (as Larry Crabbe)

  • Thrill of a Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Don

  • Sophie Lang Goes West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Steve Clayson

  • Forlorn River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Nevada

  • King of Gamblers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Eddie

  • Murder Goes to College (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Strike Belno

  • Arizona Mahoney(1936)

    as Kirby Talbot

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Rose Bowl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Ossie Merrill

  • Lady Be Careful (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Jake

  • The Arizona Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Laramie Nelson

  • Flash Gordon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Flash Gordon

  • Desert Gold(1936)

    as Chief Moya

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Drift Fence(1936)

    as 'Slinger' Dunn

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Nevada (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Jim Lacey aka 'Nevada'

  • Wanderer of the Wasteland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Big Ben

  • Hold 'Em Yale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Hector Wilmot

  • The Oil Raider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Dave Warren

  • She Had to Choose(1934)

    as Bill Cutler

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • We're Rich Again(1934)

    as "Erp" Pennington (as Larry "Buster" Crabbe)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • You're Telling Me!(1934)

    as Bob Murchison (as Larry 'Buster' Crabbe)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Badge of Honor(1934)

    as Bob Gordon

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

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

    as Don Jackson (as Larry 'Buster' Crabbe)

  • The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Bob North

  • To the Last Man(1933)

    as Bill Hayden

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Man of the Forest(1933)

    as Yegg

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Tarzan the Fearless(1933)

    as Tarzan

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • King of the Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Kaspa

  • The Thundering Herd(1933)

    as Bill Hatch

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Maker of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Football Player (uncredited)

  • Movie-Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Larry Crabbe - Champion Swimmer (uncredited)

  • Good News (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    as Student

Career shape

Star power in the 84th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 122 titles from 1930 to 2017; peak year 1980.

Highest rated

You're Telling Me! (1934)

Midcredits 86th

Film career

19302017

Peak 1980 · steadily prominent in film for years. 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.

  • 1936Screen debut· Flash Gordon
  • 1936First top-billed film· Flash Gordon

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting122 of 122: 122 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score27th

By decade

1930s43 · acting1940s49 · acting1950s8 · acting1960s10 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s3 · acting1990s2 · acting2010s1 · acting

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.

How do Buster Crabbe's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 27th percentile, the median of all 55; across their 55 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 32nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Approval · how many liked their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Reach · how many have seen their films

9thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Midcredits score across 55 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th28
  • Below 25th20

Shape of the crowd

41 of their 55 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Panned2
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed41

Most divisive · actor

Captive Girl (1950)

75th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

You're Telling Me! (1934)

Midcredits 86th · 78% liked

Reviewers score the acting 55/100 in their films, across 49 reviewed titles; fans 66, detractors 41. 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.

Who does Buster Crabbe work with?

People who share at least 2 of Buster Crabbe's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Sam Newfield shares the most, 30.

Directors

Writers

Actors

  • Al St. John28 titles    See newest 12 of 28 shared titles with Al St. John
  • Charles King18 titles    See newest 12 of 18 shared titles with Charles King
  • Kermit Maynard14 titles    See newest 12 of 14 shared titles with Kermit Maynard
  • Frank Ellis10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Frank Ellis

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles