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Frank Shannon

Frank Shannon

Actor · Died February 1, 1959, aged 84 · Ireland

Frank Shannon was an Irish-born stage and screen performer. He had his film debut in The Prisoner of Zenda (1913). He is most fondly remembered as the brilliant Dr. Zarkov in the three Flash Gordon serials.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 27, 1874
Died
February 1, 1959 (aged 84)
From
Ireland
Works as
Actor
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 58 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 12% in 30 days

What are Frank Shannon's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 19th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
26%
Bonds
24%
Survival
21%
Self
16%
Power
9%
Society
5%
Survival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 0 · Dark 1

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

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

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 6 · 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 7 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 4 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 4
Ally
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
5
Tense
5
Joyful
5
Warm
3
Absurd
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet2

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 Shannon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Shannon'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

58 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page.

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

    as Dr. Zarkov

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

    as Dr. Alexis Zarkov

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

    as Dr. Zarkov

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

    as Dr. Hans Zarkov (archive footage)

  • A Dangerous Profession(1949)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Crack-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Train Station Gateman (Uncredited)

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

    as Professor Davidson · as Prof. Davidson (uncredited)

  • Batman(1943)

    as Dr. Hayden

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Secret Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Police Commissioner

  • Ten Gentlemen from West Point(1942)

    as Senator (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Rawhide Rangers(1941)

    as McDowell

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Federal Fugitives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Hammond

  • A Dispatch from Reuters(1940)

    as Mr. O'Malley - Captain of the Nova Scotian (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Brigham Young(1940)

    as Second Man with California Gold News

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Wildcat Bus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sweeney

  • The Return of Frank James(1940)

    as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe(1940)

    as Dr. Zarkov

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Emergency Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Construction Supervisor at Elevator

  • The Night of Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Frank, the Bartender (uncredited)

  • Rulers of the Sea(1939)

    as Kelsey (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Torchy Blane.. Playing with Dynamite(1939)

    as Inspector McTavish

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Torchy Runs for Mayor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Captain McTavish

  • Union Pacific(1939)

    as Old Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Torchy Blane in Chinatown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Police Capt. McTavish

  • Next Time I Marry(1938)

    as Police Lieutenant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Torchy Gets Her Man(1938)

    as Police Captain McTavish (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

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

    as Dr. Alexis Zarkov

  • You Can't Take It with You(1938)

    as Mac (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Torchy Blane in Panama(1938)

    as Captain McTavish

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Over the Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Duke Slattery - Policeman with Warrant

  • Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars(1938)

    as Dr. Zarkov

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Rocket Ship(1938)

    as Dr. Hans Zarkov

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Ship That Died (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Minor Role (uncredited)

  • Blondes at Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Capt. McTavish

  • Mannequin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Police Sergeant at Jail (Uncredited)

  • The Adventurous Blonde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Captain McTavish

  • Ever Since Eve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Desk Sergeant (uncredited)

  • Affairs of Cappy Ricks(1937)

    as Captain Braddock

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • End of the Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Sheriff Anderson

  • The Texas Rangers(1936)

    as Captain Stafford

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

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

    as Dr. Hans Zarkov

  • Road Gang(1936)

    as Chaplain (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Prisoner of Shark Island(1936)

    as Mr. Holt

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Set-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Detective Hewitt (uncredited)

  • Black Gold(1936)

    as Dan O'Reilly

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Murder of Dr. Harrigan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Police Sergeant

  • The Pace That Kills(1935)

    as Mr. Farley

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Eagle's Brood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mike

  • Men Without Names (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Agent Joe

  • 'G' Men(1935)

    as Police Chief at Lodge (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Woman in the Dark(1934)

    as Prison Warden

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • A Burglar to the Rescue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Burglar, Holtz aka Jack Dunning

  • Monsieur Beaucaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Badger

  • Icebound (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    as Judge Bradford

  • The Bride's Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Sir John Mansfield

  • Boomerang Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Terrence O'Malley

  • Perjury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    as Phil Rourke

  • The Prisoner of Zenda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    as Detchard

Career shape

Star power in the 72nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles from 1913 to 1966.

Highest rated

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938)

Midcredits 75th

Most popular right now

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 57: 57 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1910s1 · acting1920s5 · acting1930s33 · acting1940s14 · acting1960s4 · 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 Frank Shannon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 25; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 47th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

32ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up6
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 25 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · actor

Batman (1943)

55th percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

You Can't Take It with You (1938)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 68, detractors 45. 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 Frank Shannon work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Shannon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ray Taylor shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers