Frank McDonald

Directing

Frank McDonald

Born November 9, 1899 · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Died March 8, 1980 · aged 80

A former railroad worker, Frank McDonald came to Hollywood after a career on the stage as an actor/producer/director. At first hired as a dialogue director, McDonald turned out some scripts and in the mid-'30s began directing. Working for almost every studio in Hollywood at one time or another, he did a lot of work for Republic, grinding out Gene Autry and Roy Rogers westerns, and at the Pine/Thom…

Known For

Gunfight at Comanche CreekGunfight at Comanche Creek · 1963
Gunfight at Comanche Creek
★ 5.91963
MovieWestern
Comanche Creek, Colorado, 1875: Prisoner Jack Mason is broken out of jail by a gang of strangers. They use him in a robbery, then when the dead-or-alive reward is high enough, they shoot him and collect. The National Detective Agency, now knowing the gang's methods, arranges to have agent Bob Gifford jailed in Comanche Creek for train robbery. The gang takes the bait (not before Gifford catches the eye of lovely saloon-keeper Abbie). But how will the bait get off the hook?
Son of Belle StarrSon of Belle Starr · 1953
Son of Belle Starr
★ 7.01953
MovieWestern
The son of the notorious female bandit Belle Starr wants to live an honest life, but finds himself getting drawn into his mother's old profession.
Sierra PassageSierra Passage · 1950
Sierra Passage
★ 7.51950
MovieWestern
When young Johnny York witnesses the murder of his father, he joins a travelling variety troupe and trains up as a sharpshooter so he might one day get his revenge.
Treachery Rides the RangeTreachery Rides the Range · 1936
Treachery Rides the Range
★ 4.01936
MovieMusicWestern
The Indians need the Buffalo to survive and the Government has promised to keep the herds free from hunters. But Carter, of Carter and Barton, just signed a big contract for furs and Buffalo meat so they want the herds. The only way they can get them is to rile the Indians up enough to go on the warpath and break the treaty. After the trouble starts, the Indians get the Colonel's daughter and hold her prisoner. Written by Tony Fontana
RingsideRingside · 1949
Ringside
★ 5.01949
MovieDrama
Joe O'Hara finds out he has a damaged optic nerve just before a boxing match for the title. He needs the money badly, so he doesn't delay the fight. The opponent discovers Joe's weakness and pounds on his eyes, causing him to go blind.
Shepherd of the OzarksShepherd of the Ozarks · 1942
Shepherd of the Ozarks
★ 6.01942
MovieComedy
Aluminum magnate James J. Maloney, Sr. meets with government officials to discuss the war effort and the need to end price-fixing. After the meeting, Maloney receives word that his son Jimmy, a playboy turned Army flight instructor, is lost with his navigator, Scully, somewhere in the Ozarks. While Maloney rushes to find his son, Jimmy and Scully crash land in the small town of Weaverville, where the mayor and his wife, Abner and Elviry Weaver, are trying to impress upon the citizens that they are better off in the mountains than in the big city
Twilight on the Rio GrandeTwilight on the Rio Grande · 1947
Twilight on the Rio Grande
★ 3.11947
MovieAdventureMusic
Gene and Pokie are on vacation in Mexico when they learn that their buddy Dusty has been bumped off.
Man from OklahomaMan from Oklahoma · 1945
Man from Oklahoma
★ 6.31945
MovieActionWestern
The feuding Lanes and Whittakers are brought together with the help of Roy Rogers, when a business tycoon tries to play one family against the other.

Filmography

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Four Star PlayhouseFour Star Playhouse · 1952
Four Star Playhouse
★ 6.81952
SeriesDramaComedy
Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.

Director