Want to know the best DeForest Kelley movies? How about the worst DeForest Kelley movies? Curious about DeForest Kelley box office grosses or which DeForest Kelley movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which DeForest Kelley movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences and which got the worst reviews? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information and much more.
DeForest Kelley (1920-1999) was an American actor. Kelley was best known for his roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the television and film series Star Trek (1966–1991). His IMDb page shows 132 acting credits from 1946 to 1998. This page will rank DeForest Kelley movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. To do well in the rankings, a movie needed to do well at the box office, be liked by both critics and audiences and earn some award recognition.
DeForest Kelley Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
DeForest Kelley Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.
- Sort DeForest Kelley movies by co-stars of his movies.
- Sort DeForest Kelley movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort DeForest Kelley movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort DeForest Kelley movies how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations each DeForest Kelley movie received and how many Oscar® wins each DeForest Kelley movie won.
- Sort DeForest Kelley movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR Score puts box office, reviews, and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
Check out DeForest Kelley’s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time
Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences. Golden Globe® and Emmy® are registered trademarks.
“Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor not a mechanic!” DeForest Kelley aka Dr. Leonard McCoy, from my favorite sci-fi series gets his very own UMR page. Nice.
I’ve seen 12 of the 26 films on the chart, favorites are- all the Star Trek films, Gunfight at the OK Corral, Warlock and The Law and Jake Wade.
Star Trek I tops the box office chart and Star Trek II tops the UMR and critics charts.
Good work Bruce. Vote Up!
Gotcha
Thx
I’ve seen all of DeForest Kelley’s pictures listed above. Outside of Star Trek the only other part I remember him in is Fear in the Night, one of those Pine/Thomas pics. He had the lead in that and it pops up on public domain collections.
You could do a page on the Pine/Thomas epics. Bill Pine and Bill Thomas (the dollar bills they were known as) made B pictures for Paramount during WWII, a number of military themed ones, usually with Jean Parker as the female lead. They were called the dollar bills because all their films made money. They made I think 3 or 4 Big Town films too. Eventually Paramount started giving them bigger budgets and the films went to all color, usually starring someone like Charlton Heston. They switched to United Artists and made a few more.
Hey Dan. Good job on being a deforest kelley completist. Combined floor myself only said it 30. Like you I don’t really remember his non-Star Trek rolls with the exception of gun fight at the OK corral. Apparently the movie you mentioned,Fear in the night was a surprise hit. I will have to look into the pine Thomas movies. I suspect the box office grossed might be difficult to find. Good stuff.
Pine Thomas films from Wikipedia.
Released by Paramount
Release date Title Stars Writer Director Notes
May 28, 1941 Power Dive Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Don Castle Maxwell Shane, Edward Churchill James P Hogan Story by Paul Franklin. Made for “Picture Corporation of America”
July 11, 1941 Forced Landing Richard Arlen, Eva Gabor, Nils Asther, J. Carroll Naish Maxwell Shane, Edward Churchill Gordon Wiles Music by Dimitri Tiomkin. Made for Picture Corporation of America
August 29, 1941 Flying Blind Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Dick Purcell, Nils Asther, Marie Wilson Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy Frank McDonald Made for Picture Corporation of America
December 1, 1941 No Hands on the Clock Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Dick Purcell, Rod Cameron Maxwell Shane Frank McDonald Based on novel by Daniel Mainwaring (as “Geoffrey Homes”).
January 24, 1942 Torpedo Boat Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Phillip Terry, Dick Purcell Maxwell Shane John Rawlins Story by Paul Franklin & Aaron Gottlieb
June 16, 1942 I Live on Danger Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Dick Purcell Lewis R. Foster, Richard Murphy, Maxwell Shane Sam White based on story by Foster & Alex Gottlieb
September 3, 1942 Wildcat Richard Arlen, Arline Judge, Buster Crabbe, William Frawley, Arthur Hunnicutt, Elisha Cook Jr, Ralph Sanford Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy Frank McDonald Based on story by North Bigbee
November 7, 1942 Wrecking Crew Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Richard Arlen Maxwell Shane, Richard Murphy Frank McDonald Based on story by Robert T. Shannon & Mauri Grashin
March 27, 1943 High Explosive Chester Morris, Jean Parker, Barry Sullivan, Dick Purcell, Ralph Sanford Maxwell Shane, Howard Green Frank McDonald Based on story by Joseph Hoffman
May 9, 1943 Aerial Gunner Chester Morris, Richard Arlen, Jimmy Lydon, Dick Purcell Maxwell Shane William Pine Based on an idea by Jack Davies. Pine’s first feature as director. Robert Mitchum has small role.
June 24, 1943 Alaska Highway Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, William Henry, Ralph Sanford Maxwell Shane, Lewis Foster Frank McDonald
June 28, 1943 Submarine Alert Richard Arlen, Wendy Barrie, Nils Asther, Ralph Sanford Maxwell Shane Frank McDonald Release delayed for a year
August 1943 Tornado Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, William Henry Maxwell Shane William A. Berke Based on novel by John Guedel
November 10, 1943 Minesweeper Richard Arlen, Jean Parker, Russell Hayden, Guinn “Big Boy” Williams Maxwell Shane, Edward T. Lowe William Berke
January 13, 1944 Timber Queen Richard Arlen, Mary Beth Hughes, June Havoc, Dick Purcell Maxwell Shane, Edward Lowe Frank McDonald
February 25, 1944 The Navy Way Robert Lowery, Jean Parker, William Henry Maxwell Shane William Berke
April 27, 1944 Gambler’s Choice Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, Russell Hayden Maxwell Shane, Irving Reis Frank McDonald Based on a story by James Edward Grant, Howard Emmett Rogers
June 9, 1944 Take It Big Jack Haley, Harriet Hilliard, Mary Beth Hughes, Arline Judge Howard Green & Joe Bigalow Frank McDonald First musical. Appearance by Ozzie Nelson.
September 1944 Dark Mountain Robert Lowery, Ellen Drew, Regis Toomey, Elisha Cook Jr Maxwell Shane William Berke Story by Paul Franklin & Charles F. Royal
November 24, 1944 One Body Too Many Jack Haley, Jean Parker, Bela Lugosi Maxwell Shane, Winston Miller Frank McDonald
December 18, 1944 Double Exposure Chester Morris, Nancy Kelly, Phillip Terrt Maxwell Shane, Winston Miller William Berke Based on story by Miller, Ralph Graves
December 18, 1944 Dangerous Passage Robert Lowery, Phyllis Brooks, Jack La Rue Daniel Manwaring William Berke
February 1945 High Powered Robert Lowery, Phyllis Brooks, Mary Tree, Ralph Sanford Maxwell Shane William Berke Story by Milton Raison
Jun 22, 1945 Scared Stiff Jack Haley, Ann Savage, Barton MacLane, Veda Ann Borg Daniel Mainwaring, Maxwell Shane Frank McDonald Aka You’ll Be the Death of Me Yet
Jul 24, 1945 Midnight Manhunt William Gargan, Ann Savage, Leo Gorcey, George Zucco David Lang William Thomas
Dec 14, 1945 Follow That Woman William Gargan, Nancy Kelly, Regis Toomey, Byron Barr Maxwell Shane, Winston Miller, Ben Perry Lew Landers
Jan 11, 1946 People Are Funny Jack Haley, Helen Walker, Rudy Vallee, Ozzie Nelson, Philip Reed Maxwell Shane Sam White Story by David Lang. Based on radio show by Jack Guedel (played in film by Philip Reed). Cameos by Art Linkletter, Frances Langford
Feb 8, 1946 Tokyo Rose Byron Barr, Keye Luke, Osa Massen Daniel Mainwaring, Maxwell Shane Lew Landers
May 3, 1946 They Made Me a Killer Robert Lowery, Barbara Britton, Lola Lane, Byron Barr, Ralph Sanford Daniel Mainwaring, Winston Miller, Kae Salkow William Thomas Story by Owen Franes
Jun 28, 1946 Hot Cargo William Gargan, Jean Rogers, Phillip Reed Daniel Mainwaring Lew Landers
Sep 6, 1946 Swamp Fire Johnny Weissmuller, Buster Crabbe, Virginia Grey Daniel Mainwaring William Pine David Janssen has small role
Mar 28, 1947 Seven Were Saved Richard Denning, Catherine Craig, Russell Hayden Maxwell Shane, Juliam Harmon William Pine
May 23, 1947 Big Town Phil Reed, Hillary Brooke, Robert Lowery, Veda Ann Borg, Byron Barr Daniel Mainwaring, Maxwell Shane William Thomas Based on the radio show
Feb 27, 1947 I Cover Big Town Phil Reed, Hillary Brooke, Robert Lowery Maxwell Shane William Thomas sequel to Big Town
Apr 18, 1947 Fear in the Night Paul Kelly, DeForest Kelley, Ann Doran, Kay Scott Maxwell Shane Maxwell Shane Based on story by Cornel Woollrich
Jun 20, 1947 Danger Street Jane Withers, Robert Lowery, Bill Edwards Maxwell Shane, Kae Salkow, Winston Miller Lew Landers Story by Salkow & Miller
Aug 13, 1947 Adventure Island Rory Calhoun, Rhonda Fleming, Paul Kelly, John Abbott, Alan Napire Maxwell Shane Sam Newfield based on The Ebb Tide by Robert Louis Stevenson
Aug 22, 1947 Jungle Flight Robert Lowery, Ann Savage, Barton MacLane Whitman Chambers Sam Newfield Story by David Lang
Dec 12, 1947 Big Town After Dark Phil Reed, Hillary Brooke, Richard Travis Whitman Chambers William Thomas Third in Big Town series
Feb 20, 1948 Albuquerque Randolph Scott, Barbara Britton, Russell Hayden, Gabby Hayes, Lon Chaney Jr Gene Lewis, Clarence Upson Young Ray Enright Based on Dead Freight for Piute by Luke Short. Pine Thomas’ most expensive film til that date. Clarion Production.
Mar 5, 1948 Caged Fury Richard Denning, Sheila Ryan, Buster Crabbe, Mary Beth Hughes David Lang William Berke
Mar 26, 1948 Mr. Reckless William Eythe, Barbara Britton, Walter Catlett Maxwell Shane, Milton Raison Frank McDonald Story by Thomas Ahearn
May 14, 1948 Speed to Spare Richard Arlen, Jean Rogers, Richard Travis Milton Raison William Berke
May 27, 1948 Big Town Scandal Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Stanley Clements Milton Raison William Thomas 4th and last in the Big Town series
Jun 11, 1948 Shaggy Brenda Joyce, Georgie Nokes, Robert Shayne, Ralph Sanford Maxwell Shane Robert Tansey
Jun 25, 1948 Waterfront at Midnight William Gargan, Mary Beth Hughes, Richard Travis Bernard Girard William Berke
Dec 3, 1948 Disaster Richard Denning, Trudy Marshal, Damian O’Flynn Thomas Ahearn William Pine
Jan 18, 1948 Dynamite William Gargan, Virginia Wells, Richard Crane Milton Raison William Pine
Jul 21, 1949 Manhandled Dorothy Lamour, Sterling Hayden, Dan Duryea Whitman Chambers, Lewis Foster Lewis Foster Based on the novel The Man Who Stole A Dream by L. S. Goldsmith
Jul 22, 1949 Special Agent William Eythe, Kasey Rogers, George Reeves Whitman Chambers, Lewis Foster William Thomas Story by Milton Raison
Aug 5, 1949 El Paso John Payne, Sterling Hayden, Gail Russell, Gabby Hayes, Dick Foran, Eduardo Noriega Lewis Foster Lewis Foster story by J. Robert Bren & Gladys Atwater. PT’s first million dollar film
Feb 2, 1950 Captain China John Payne, Gail Russell, Jeffrey Lynn, Lon Chaney Jr Lewis Foster, Gwen Bagni Lewis Foster Story by John Bagni & Gwen Bagni
May 30, 1950 The Eagle and the Hawk John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Dennis O’Keefe Lewis Foster, Daniel Manwaring Lewis Foster Story by Jess Arnold
Jun 1, 1950 The Lawless MacDonald Carey, Gail Russell, Johnny Sands Daniel Mainwaring Joseph Losey Based on novel by Mainwaring
Nov 9, 1950 Tripoli (1950) John Payne, Maureen O’Hara, Howard da Silva, Phillip Reed Winston Miller Will Price Based on story by Price and Miller
Apr 4, 1951 The Last Outpost Ronald Reagan, Bruce Bennett Rhonda Fleming Winston Miller, Daniel Maninwaring, George Worthing Yates Lewis Foster Story by David Lang
Aug 30, 1951 Passage West John Payne, Dennis O’Keefe, Arleen Whelan Lewis Foster, Alvah Bessie Lewis Foster Alvah Bessie worked uncredited
Dec 6, 1951 Crosswinds John Payne, Rhonda Fleming, Forrest Tucker, Robert Lowery Lewis Foster Lewis Foster
Jan 12, 1952 Hong Kong Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Nigel Bruce Winston Miller Lewis Foster Story by Foster
Sep 1952 Caribbean John Payne, Arlene Dahl, Cedric Harwicke Frank Moss, Edward Ludwig Edward Ludwig Story by Ellery Clark
Dec 1952 The Blazing Forest John Payne, William Demarest, Agnes Mooreheard, Richard Arlen Lewis Foster, Winston Miller Edward Ludwig
Jan 14, 1953 Tropic Zone Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Esletia Lewis Foster Lewis Foster
Apr 22, 1953 Jamaica Run Ray Milland, Wendell Corey, Arlene Dahl Lewis Foster Lewis Foster The Neat Little Corpse by Max Murray
May 27, 1953 Sangaree Fernando Lamas, Arlene Dahl, Patricia Medina David Duncan, Frank Moss Edward Ludwig In 3D
Jun 3, 1953 The Vanquished John Payne, Jan Sterling, Colleen Gray, Lyle Bettger Lewis Foster, Winston Miller, Frank Moss Edward Ludwig Story by Karl Borwn
Sep 23, 1953 Those Redheads From Seattle Rhonda Fleming, Gene Barry, Agnes Moorehead Lewis Foster,Daniel Mainwaring, George Yates Lewis Foster Musical
Feb 12, 1954 Jivaro Fernando Lamas, Rhonda Fleming, Brian Keith Winston Miller Edward Ludwig Story by David Duncan, shot in 3D, aka Lost Treasure of the Amazon
Apr 20, 1955 Run for Cover James Cagney, John Derek, Viveca Lindfors, Ernest Borgnine Winston Miller Nicholas Ray Story by Harriet Frank, Jr., Irving Ravetch
May 6, 1955 Hell’s Island John Payne, Mary Murphy, Eduardo Noriega Maxwell Shane Phil Karlson story by Martin Goldsmith, Jack Leonard
Aug 1955 The Far Horizons Fred MacMurray, Charlton Heston, Donna Reed, Barbara Hale Winston Miller Rudolph Mate novel by Della Gould Emmons
Oct 20, 1955 Lucy Gallant Jane Wyman, Charlton Heston, Claire Trevor, William Demarest John Lee Mahin, Winston Miller Robert Parrish Based on novella, “The Life of Lucy Gallant,” by Margaret Cousins. Last film for Paramount
United Artists Features
Release date Title Stars Writer Director Notes
May 11, 1956 Nightmare Edward G Robinson, Kevin McCarthy, Connie Russell Maxwell Shane Maxwell Shane Based on story by Cornell Woolrich. Remake of Fear in the Night. Pine-Thomas-Shane Production
Mar 28, 1957 The Big Caper Rory Calhoun Martin Berkeley, Mary Costa, James Gregory Robert Stevens Based on novel by Lionel White
May 1, 1957 Bailout at 43,000 John Payne, Karen Steele, Paul Kelly Paul Monash Francis D Lyon Last film from the company. Based on a TV play.
Produced by William Thomas alone
Release date Title Stars Writer Director Notes
1976 Cat Murkil and the Silks
1977 High Seas Hijack
Maxwell Shane is the writer.
Deforest Kelley is my favourite Star Trek actor. Thanks for doing a page on him.
I have seen 19 Deforest Kelley movies.
The HIGHEST Rated movie I have seen is Star Trek The Wrath of Khan.
The highest rated movie I have NOT seen is Variety Girl.
The LOWEST Rated movie I have seen is Iilegal.
Favourite Deforest Kelley Movies;
The Wrath of Khan
The Voyage Home
Gunfight at the OK Corral
The Search For Spock
The Undiscovered Country
The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit (he’s a medic too)
Star Trek The Motion Picture
Raintree County
House of Bamboo
Malaya
Warlock
The Final Frontier
Fear in the Night
Marriage on the Rocks
Tension at Table Rock
The Law aand Jake Wade
Illegal
Other Deforest Kelley Movies I Have Seen:
Where Love Has Gone (but see it as he has seen with Bette Davis)
Gunfight at Comanche Creek
After Where Loves is Gone I used the wrong word. It should say “Where Love is Gone (but see it as he IS seen with Bette Davis)
Hey Flora. Thanks for checking out my doc McCoy page. Talley count, Dan sits in a perfect 26 seen. You and I have a combined total of 30 seen, but 19 for you and 11 for me. I’ve seen 10 of your favorites. Growing up in my household he almost felt like a member of the family, and Star Trek was huge for me and my mom. As I said before at one point my mom actually went out with Billy Shatner, so watching Star Trek was pretty special. Good stuff as always.
Hi Mr. Cogerson,
Great UMR Page,
Hey I know your very busy,
Did you get the box office results from 1930 and 1931? or was there a bug?
If you did great. Load when you find time.
I will be sending 1928 down the road.
Hey Mike HoF…..I will check and see if those years went through, I do acknowledge I have been pretty absent from UMR the last couple of months. I am sure they are there…and I will create a page using your numbers and all of the awesome research you have done. Happy Halloween.