WhileRonald Reaganwill always be known as the 40th President of the United States, before entering politics, he had a successful career as a Hollywood star. With acclaimed roles in dramas, war movies, and Westerns, Reagan’s impressive entertainment career showcased him as a heroic leading man and likely influenced the American public’s desire for him to then act as the country’s commander-in-chief. While Reagan has continued to remain a prominent figure on the big screen, such as through Dennis Quiad’s performance in the 2024 biopic exploring his presidency, looking back on his movies, several great roles stand out.
Although manyactors have played Reagan in movies and TV shows, the former president himself has also portrayed some truly iconic characters. Reagan’s Hollywood career was categorized by variety as he portrayed everything from real-life football legend George Gipp inKnute Rockne, All Americanto the chimpanzee teaching psychologist Peter Boyd inBedtime for Bonzo. WhileReagan has been remembered as one of the world’s most significant political figures, looking back on his pre-presidential career, he also had some truly great movies.
Hellcats of the Navy (1957)
Hellcats of the Navywas a highly notable release in Ronald Reagan’s acting career, as it’s the only time he shared the screen with his wife, who was billed under her maiden name as Nancy Davis. The Reagans were both actors and met as a result of Ronald’s role as president of the Screen Actors Guild, as he helped remove her name from the notorious Hollywood blacklist of potential communist sympathizers (viaHistory.) They married in 1952, and their lone movie together was this WWII submarine drama.
Whileseeing the future President and First Lady sharing the screen togetherwas the main reason to check outHellcats of the Navy, it also told a solid story as Commander Casey Abbott (Reagan) charted the minefields in the waters of Japan. With an engaging love triangle and some impressive action sequences, the film was formulaic but satisfying. As an engaging document of an actual combat operation in WWII, plus the inclusion of Ronald and Nancy,Hellcats of the Nacyhas earned its spot in history film.
The Bad Man (1941)
Cast
The Bad Man (1941) is a Western drama that explores the tension between a cattle rustler, a struggling rancher, and a Mexican bandit. With a blend of action and nuanced characters, the film delves into themes of loyalty, redemption, and the complexities of human nature set against the rugged backdrop of the American Southwest.
The Bad Manwas a Western story that’s been told several times before. The first version was a 1923 silent film; the second was a pre-Code Western with Walter Huston from 1930; there was also a 1937 Boris Karloff movie calledWest of Shanghaithat moved the action to China; and finally, a version featuring Ronald Reagan in a likable performance as the ranchman Gil Jones. As a story of forbidden love, sinister bandits, and financial woes,The Bad Manwas a rough-and-tumble character Westernthat highlighted Reagan’s impressive onscreen charisma.
The Bad Manwas also released under the titleTwo-Gun Cupid, and things really kicked into gear once Wallace Beery showed up as the famous bandit Pancho Lopez and stole Gil’s cattle. There’s a lot of over-the-top energy inThe Bad Man, and Beery, in particular, played his role for laughs to great effect. While it does not have the same appeal and lasting power as thebest Westerns ever made, there’s still plenty to offer here, and Reagan showcased the heroism and leading man charm that helped win him the presidency so many years later.
Desperate Journey (1942)
Desperate Journey (1942) follows a group of downed Allied airmen as they navigate adversities and evade capture in Nazi-occupied Europe, showcasing their perseverance and ingenuity in the face of dire circumstances.
Desperate Journeywas a movie that’s remembered primarily due to its incredible star power, as Ronald Reagan shared the screen with Hollywood icon Error Flynn. This WWII action and aviation movie featured a group of airmen whose ship was shot down and captured by German soldiers near the Polish border. With no choice but to escape the Third Reich using their own cunning and wits, the five captured survivors plot their escape using their brains, brawn, and fists.
WhileDesperate Journey’splot was similar to that of other propaganda pictures from the same period, such asTarget for TonightandMan Hunt, it was an enjoyableWWII movie made while the conflict was still ongoing. In many ways,Desperate Journeywas a forerunner to the later popular sitcomHogan’s Heroes, which featured a cast of POVs during WWII. While Reagan was occasionally criticized for his lack of acting range,Desperate Journeywas perfectly in his wheelhouse, and he gave a compelling performance as the flying officer Johnny Hammond.
Storm Warning
Storm Warning (1951) is a gripping American film noir that delves into the dark undercurrents of small-town life. It follows a woman’s harrowing discovery of violence and corruption as she visits her sister, entangling her in a perilous confrontation with moral and civic challenges. Featuring Ronald Reagan, Ginger Rogers, and Doris Day, the film presents a compelling exploration of justice and complicity in a tense, atmospheric narrative.
Bigotry, violence against women, and familial dysfunction were explored inStorm Warning, a thrilling noir about an investigative journalist brutally killed by the Ku Klux Klan. As a film produced amid McCarthyism and the Red Scare, the fear and anxieties portrayed inStorm Warningdirectly relate to the hostile culture out of which it was produced, and the movie has been criticized for not going far enough to address the racist history of the KKK. WhileStorm Warningwas a film packed with melodrama and messages, looking back on it through a modern lens, it could have gone much deeper.
However, the highly political nature ofStorm Warningmade it a fascinating historical document, especially considering Ronald Reagan’s future as the President of the United States. With some elements of its plot ripped off fromA Streetcar Named Desire,Storm Warningrepresented the social woes of its time, as well as the shortcomings in Hollywood in getting the true heart of bigotry and prejudices. With Ginny Rogers and Ronald Reagan giving great performances, a solid story and some strong direction help make up for its flaws.
The Hasty Heart
The Hasty Heart (1949) is a poignant war drama that follows a group of recovering soldiers in a Burmese hospital and their interactions with a stoic, impeded Scottish soldier. The film explores themes of camaraderie, cultural differences, and emotional healing, beautifully capturing the human spirit’s resilience against the backdrop of World War II.
Based on a play by John Patrick,The Hasty Hearttold the story of wounded soldiers in a Pacific mobile surgery unit immediately after World War II. With Ronald Reagan as the lone American who was simply known as Yank alongside an Englishman, a New Zealander, an Australian, and an African,The Hasty Heartboasted a powerful message about the value of love for countrymen from around the world. With Patricia Neal as Sister Margaret Parker, the nurse looking after them, this was a compassionate, melodramatic movie.
WhileThe Hasty Heartwas packed with themes of comradery and solidarity, things took a serious turn as the men rallied around the newly arrived Scottish soldier they knew would die. WhileThe Hasty Heartwas known as a Reagan picture, it wasRichard Todd as the Scott named Lachie who was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. With real sincerity and some heartfelt vulnerability,The Hasty Heartwas one of Reagan’s most emotional movies.
Bedtime for Bonzo (1951)
Throughout his presidency, the perceived ridiculousness of Ronald Reagan starring in a movie opposite a chimpanzee was a consistent joke by commentators and in the media. However, looking back onBedtime for Bonzo, this story about a psychologist trying to teach human morals to a primate holds up really well. As a film addressing themes of education, genetics, and emotional stability,Bedtime for Bonzowas deeper than its initial concept suggested, as its clever script powerfully explored the nature versus nurture theory.
Although the production was not without its issues, asReagan was nearly strangled on set when the chimpanzee grabbed his tie-neck(viaMental Floss),Bedtime for Bonzowas popular enough to gain a sequel without Reagan’s involvement calledBonzo Goes to College. With a legacy that even found its way into punk rock history with The Ramones song “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg),”Bedtime for Bonzowas a uniquely lighthearted entry in Reagan’s filmography.
Dark Victory
Dark Victory (1939) portrays the emotional journey of a high-society woman who learns she has a terminal illness. Led by a strong performance from Bette Davis, the film explores themes of courage, love, and personal growth as she faces her mortality. This drama underscores the depth of human resilience and the impact of confronting life’s inevitable challenges.
Screen legends Bette Davis, Humphrey Bogart, and Ronald Reagan all come together for the melodramatic triumph ofDark Victory. Witha tour-de-force performance from Davis, this emotionally intense story featured a young socialite deciding how she’ll meet her final days after she’s diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. With underlying themes of bravery and courage, this poignant tearjerker knowingly pulled at audiences' heartstrings with a protagonist it’s impossible not to feel for.
Reagan had a small but effective supporting role as the playboy Alec Hamm, although it was Davis who truly stole the show.Dark Victoryhad elements of soap opera theatrically in the intensity of its narrative, but it’s all conveyed through such incredible performances that the viewer can’t help but be lured in by its tragedy. WhileDark Victoryhas to get a mention when discussing the best Reagan films, he was vastly overshadowed by Davis.
The Killers
The Killers (1964) is a crime thriller directed by Don Siegel, featuring Lee Marvin, Angie Dickinson, and John Cassavetes. The film follows two hitmen investigating why their latest target did not flee from his impending death. As they delve deeper, they uncover a web of betrayal and deceit. Adapted from Ernest Hemingway’s short story, this is a remake of the 1946 film and marks Ronald Reagan’s final acting role.
The Killerswas aworthy remake of a classic film noirthat acted as the second screen adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s 1927 short story of the same name. As Ronald Reagan’s final movie role before entering politics, he ended this era of his career on a high note asThe Killersstood as one of the best film noirs ever made. Starring opposite Lee Marvin,The Killerswas about two hitmen who, after their victim didn’t attempt to escape being murdered, tried to uncover the mystery of who ordered the hit and what their intentions were.
While the previous 1947 version ofThe Killerswas a favorite of Hemingway, who called it “the only good picture ever made of a story of mine” (viaFar Out), this updated version outdid its predecessor in many ways. As a more streamlined and vivid adaptation,The Killerswas an engrossing film noir packed with mystery and intrigue. As one of Reagan’s finest films, it’s interesting to think where his career would have gone had he remained in the movies after this release and how he would have fared in the more gritty New Hollywood movement of the 1970s.
Knute Rockne All American
Knute Rockne All American (1940) chronicles the life of the legendary Notre Dame football coach from his humble beginnings to his influential career, emphasizing his dedication to the sport and his impact on American football. The film highlights key moments in Rockne’s career, including the development of the forward pass and his motivational prowess, portraying a legacy that has left a lasting impression on collegiate athletics.
This sports biopic told the true story of Notre Dame’s legendary football coach, Knute Rockne, and the impressive success of the Fighting Irish football team. With Ronald Reagan as George Gipp, Notre Dame’s first Walter Camp All-American, who died tragically at age 25 due to complications from strep throat,Knute Rockne, All American,acted as a powerful showcase of the tenacity of American sportsmanship. An iconic release in Reagan’s back catalog, the future President was even often referred to as the Gipper in the media.
The legacy of Reagan’s roleKnute Rockne, All Americanwas so great that he actually revived the famous movie quote “Win one for the Gipper” as a slogan during his presidential campaign. With incredible relevance, the phrase was later uttered by the likes of George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bob Dole to highlight Reagan’s political relevance even after his death. As an emotional film with plenty of poignant scenes, Ronald Reagan was an essential part of the success ofKnute Rockne, All American.
Kings Row
Kings Row (1942) is a dramatic exploration of the lives and relationships in a small American town at the turn of the 20th century, dealing with themes of friendship, morality, and societal secrets.
Anyone who has propagatedthe long-standing rumor that Ronald Reagan can’t actwill be quickly silenced by his career-best performances inKings Row. Based on the novel by Henry Bellamann, Reagan played the wealthy Drake McHugh, who’s forced into work after his trust fund dried up. After injuring his legs in an accident, McHugh became an amputee, which led to the most emotive and powerful scene in his career as he heartbreakingly screams, “Where’s the rest of me?” when discovering his newfound circumstances.
Reagan clearly connected with this scene as he titled his 1965 autobiography,Where’s the Rest of Me?,which he wrote during his run for governor of California. WhileKings Rowwas nominated for several Academy Awards, Reagan’s performance was not one of them, and he unfortunately never gained a nomination throughout his entire acting career. While it may not have earned the accolades it deserved,Kings Rowwas trulyRonald Reagan’sgreatest achievement as an actor.
