The following is an overview of 1930 in film, including significant events, a list of films released and notable births and deaths.

Top-grossing films (U.S.)

The top ten 1930 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows:

Events

* February 21: '' Anna Christie'', Greta Garbo's first

sound film A sound film is a Film, motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, bu ...

is released, it grosses $1.5 million. * February 23: Silent screen legend Mabel Normand dies at the age of 37 in Monrovia, California after a lengthy battle with tuberculosis. * March 10: Release of '' Goodbye Argentina'' (''Adiós Argentina''), the first Argentine film with a (musical) soundtrack. Ada Cornaro has her first starring role and Libertad Lamarque makes her film debut. * April 6: William Fox sells his interest in Fox Film for $18 million and Harley L. Clarke becomes president. * May 27:

Howard Hughes Howard Robard Hughes Jr. (December 24, 1905 – April 5, 1976) was an American Aerospace engineering, aerospace engineer, business magnate, film producer, and investor. He was The World's Billionaires, one of the richest and most influential peo ...

' epic film ''Hell's Angels'' premieres at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood and features

Jean Harlow Jean Harlow (born Harlean Harlow Carpenter; March 3, 1911 – June 7, 1937) was an American actress. Known for her portrayal of "bad girl" characters, she was the leading sex symbol of the early 1930s and one of the defining figures of the ...

in her first major role as well as some impressive aerial sequences. Although not a financial success upon its release due to its bloated budget, the film is acclaimed by critics and launches Harlow as one of the 1930s' biggest stars. * August 9: Cartoon character Betty Boop appears for the first time on screen, in the

animated film Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animati ...

'' Dizzy Dishes''. * September 3:

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

is first published. * September 19: '' The Love Parade'' receives a record six

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

nominations. * November 1: '' The Big Trail'' featuring a young

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

in his first starring role is released in both 35mm and a very early form of 70mm film. It is the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era, costing over $2 million. The film is praised for its aesthetic quality and realism that will not become commonplace until many decades later. However, due to the new film format and the film's release during the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

, the film will go on to become a financial failure at the box office.

Academy Awards

* Best Picture: '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' –

Universal Pictures Universal City Studios LLC, doing business as Universal Pictures (also known as Universal Studios or simply Universal), is an American filmmaking, film production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered at the 10 Universal Ci ...

* Best Director: Lewis Milestone – '' All Quiet on the Western Front'' * Best Actor: George Arliss – '' Disraeli'' * Best Actress: Norma Shearer – '' The Divorcee''

Notable films released in 1930

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

unless stated

A

*'' Abi and Rabi'', starring and directed by Ovanes Ohanian – (

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

) *''

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

'', directed by D. W. Griffith, starring Walter Huston and Una Merkel *'' L'Âge d'Or (The Golden Age)'', directed by

Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish and Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians and directors to be one of the greatest and ...

– (

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

) *'' All Quiet on the Western Front'', directed by Lewis Milestone, starring

Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film ''All Quiet on the Western Fro ...

and Louis Wolheim *'' Alraune'', directed by

Richard Oswald Richard Oswald (5 November 1880 – 11 September 1963) was an Austrian film director, producer, screenwriter, and father of German-American film director Gerd Oswald. Early life and career Richard Oswald, born in Vienna as Richard W. Ornstein, ...

– (

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

) *'' Animal Crackers'', directed by Victor Heerman, starring the

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act known for their anarchic humor, rapid-fire wordplay, and visual gags. They achieved success in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in 14 motion pictures. The core group consisted of brothers Chi ...

*'' Anna Christie'', directed by Clarence Brown, starring Greta Garbo *'' The Arizona Kid'', directed by Alfred Santell, starring Warner Baxter and Carole Lombard

B

*'' The Bad Man'', directed by Clarence G. Badger, starring Walter Huston *'' The Bat Whispers'', directed by

Roland West Roland West (February 20, 1885 – March 31, 1952) was an American film director, known for his innovative proto-film noir movies of the 1920s and early 1930s. He is however best known for his possible involvement in the death of Hollywood ...

, starring Chester Morris and Una Merkel *'' The Benson Murder Case'', directed by

Frank Tuttle Frank Wright Tuttle (August 6, 1892 – January 6, 1963) was a Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film director and writer who directed films from 1922 (''The Cradle Buster'') to 1959 (''Island of Lost Women''). Biography Frank Tuttle was ...

, starring William Powell *'' Big Boy'', directed by Alan Crosland, starring Al Jolson *'' The Big House'', directed by George Hill, starring Chester Morris, Wallace Beery, Lewis Stone and Robert Montgomery *'' The Big Pond'', directed by Hobart Henley, starring Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert *'' The Big Trail'', directed by Raoul Walsh, starring

*'' Billy the Kid'', directed by

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor ( ; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

, starring Johnny Mack Brown and Wallace Beery *'' Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel)'', directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring Marlene Dietrich and Emil Jannings – (

) *'' The Blood of a Poet (Le Sang d'un Poète)'', directed by

Jean Cocteau Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau ( , ; ; 5 July 1889 11 October 1963) was a French poet, playwright, novelist, designer, film director, visual artist and critic. He was one of the foremost avant-garde artists of the 20th-c ...

– (

) *'' Borderline'', directed by Kenneth Macpherson, starring Paul Robeson – ( GB) *'' Bride of the Regiment'' (lost), directed by John Francis Dillon, starring Walter Pidgeon *'' Bright Lights'', directed by

Michael Curtiz Michael Curtiz (; born Manó Kaminer; from 1905 Mihály Kertész; ; December 24, 1886 April 10, 1962) was a Hungarian-American film director, recognized as one of the most prolific directors in history. He directed classic films from the silen ...

C

*'' Call of the Flesh'', directed by Charles Brabin, starring Ramón Novarro *'' The Cat Creeps'' (lost), directed by Rupert Julian, starring Helen Twelvetrees *'' Chasing Rainbows'', directed by

Charles Reisner Charles Francis Reisner (March 14, 1887 – September 24, 1962) was an American film director and actor of the 1920s and 1930s. The German-American directed over 60 films between 1920 and 1950 and acted in over 20 films between 1916 and 1 ...

, starring Charles King, Bessie Love, Jack Benny and Marie Dressler *'' Check and Double Check'', directed by Melville W. Brown, starring Amos 'n' Andy *'' Children of Pleasure'', directed by Harry Beaumont *'' City Girl'', directed by F. W. Murnau, starring Mary Duncan and Charles Farrell *'' Common Clay'' (lost), directed by

Victor Fleming Victor Lonzo Fleming (February 23, 1889 – January 6, 1949) was an American film director, cinematographer, and producer. His most popular films were the historical drama ''Gone with the Wind (film), Gone with the Wind'', for which he won an A ...

, starring Constance Bennett and

*'' The Cuckoos'', directed by Paul Sloane, starring Wheeler & Woolsey

D

*'' Danger Lights'', directed by George B. Seitz, starring Louis Wolheim, Robert Armstrong and Jean Arthur *'' The Dawn Patrol'', directed by

Howard Hawks Howard Winchester Hawks (May 30, 1896December 26, 1977) was an American film director, Film producer, producer, and screenwriter of the Classical Hollywood cinema, classic Hollywood era. Critic Leonard Maltin called him "the greatest American ...

, starring Richard Barthelmess, Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Neil Hamilton *'' The Devil to Pay!'', directed by

George Fitzmaurice George Fitzmaurice (13 February 1885 – 13 June 1940) was a French-born film director and Film producer, producer. Career Fitzmaurice's career first started as a set designer on stage. Beginning in 1914, and continuing until his death in 1940 ...

, starring Ronald Colman,

Loretta Young Loretta Young (born Gretchen Michaela Young; January 6, 1913 – August 12, 2000) was an American actress. Starting as a child, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1989. She received numerous honors including an Academy Awards ...

and Myrna Loy *'' The Divorcee'', directed by Robert Z. Leonard, starring Norma Shearer, Chester Morris, Conrad Nagel and Robert Montgomery *'' Dixiana'', directed by Luther Reed, starring Bebe Daniels and Wheeler & Woolsey *'' Doughboys'', directed by

Edward Sedgwick Edward Sedgwick, Jr. (November 7, 1889 – May 7, 1953) was an American film director, screenwriter, writer, actor and film producer, producer. Early life He was born in Galveston, Texas, the son of Edward Sedgwick, Sr. and Josephine Walker, ...

, starring Buster Keaton and Cliff Edwards

E

*''

Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...

(Zemlya)'', directed by Alexander Dovzhenko – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' Elstree Calling'', directed by Adrian Brunel and

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...

– ( GB) *'' Escape!'', directed by

Basil Dean Basil Herbert Dean CBE (27 September 1888 – 22 April 1978) was an English actor, writer, producer and director in the theatre and in cinema. He founded the Liverpool Playhouse, Liverpool Repertory Company in 1911 and in the First World War, a ...

, starring Gerald du Maurier and Edna Best – ( GB)

F

*'' Fast and Loose'', directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, starring Miriam Hopkins, Carole Lombard and

Frank Morgan Francis Phillip Wuppermann (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, was an American character actor. He was best known for his appearances in films starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous sound ...

*'' Feet First'', directed by

Clyde Bruckman Clyde Adolf Bruckman (June 30, 1894January 4, 1955) was an American writer and director of comedy films during the late Silent film, silent era, who continued working into the 1950s. Bruckman collaborated with such comedians as Buster Keaton, Mo ...

, starring Harold Lloyd *'' The Florodora Girl'', directed by Harry Beaumont, starring Marion Davies *'' The Flute Concert of Sanssouci (Das Flötenkonzert von Sans-souci)'', directed by

Gustav Ucicky Gustav Ucicky (6 July 1899 – 27 April 1961) was an Austrians, Austrian film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. He was one of the more successful directors in Austria and Germany from the 1930s through to the early 1960s. His work cov ...

, starring Otto Gebühr – (

) *'' Follow Thru'', directed by Laurence Schwab and Lloyd Corrigan, starring Charles 'Buddy' Rogers *'' Free and Easy'', directed by

, starring Buster Keaton, Anita Page and Robert Montgomery

G

*'' The Girl Said No'', directed by

Sam Wood Samuel Grosvenor Wood (July 10, 1883 – September 22, 1949) was an American film director and producer who is best known for having directed such Hollywood hits as ''A Night at the Opera (film), A Night at the Opera'', ''A Day at the Races (fi ...

, starring William Haines, Leila Hyams and Marie Dressler *'' Good News'', directed by Nick Grinde, starring Bessie Love and Cliff Edwards

H

*'' Hell's Angels'', directed by

, starring

and Ben Lyon *'' Her Man'', directed by

Tay Garnett William Taylor "Tay" Garnett (June 13, 1894 – October 3, 1977) was an American film director, writer, and producer. He made nearly 50 films in various genres during his 55-year career, ''The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946 film), The Postman ...

, starring Helen Twelvetrees *'' High Society Blues'', directed by David Butler, starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell *'' Hold Everything'' (lost), directed by Roy Del Ruth, starring Joe E. Brown *''

Holiday A holiday is a day or other period of time set aside for festivals or recreation. ''Public holidays'' are set by public authorities and vary by state or region. Religious holidays are set by religious organisations for their members and are often ...

'', directed by Edward H. Griffith, starring Ann Harding and Mary Astor

I

*'' Imperial and Royal Field Marshal (C. a k. polní maršálek)'', directed by Karel Lamač – (

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

) *'' Ingagi'', directed by William S. Campbell

J

*'' Journey's End'', directed by James Whale, starring Colin Clive – ( GB/ US) *'' Just Imagine'', directed by David Butler

K

*'' King of Jazz'', directed by John Murray Anderson, starring

Paul Whiteman Paul Samuel Whiteman (March 28, 1890 – December 29, 1967) was an American Jazz bandleader, composer, orchestral director, and violinist. As the leader of one of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s and early 193 ...

, John Boles and Laura La Plante

L

*'' Ladies Love Brutes'', directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring George Bancroft, Mary Astor and Fredric March *'' Ladies of Leisure'', directed by

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...

, starring Barbara Stanwyck *'' A Lady to Love'', directed by Victor Sjöström, starring Vilma Bánky and Edward G. Robinson *'' Leathernecking'', directed by Edward F. Cline, starring Irene Dunne *'' Let's Go Native'', directed by Leo McCarey, starring Jack Oakie and

Jeanette MacDonald Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American soprano and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with Maurice Chevalier (''The Love Parade'', ''Love Me Tonight'', ''The Merry Widow (1934 film) ...

*'' Liliom'', directed by

Frank Borzage Frank Borzage ( né Borzaga; April 23, 1894 – June 19, 1962) was an American film director and actor. He was the first person to win the Academy Awards, Academy Award for Academy Award for Best Director, Best Director for his film ''7th Heaven ...

, starring Charles Farrell and Rose Hobart *'' Lightnin''', directed by Henry King, starring Will Rogers, Louise Dresser and Joel McCrea *'' Loose Ankles'', directed by Ted Wilde, starring

and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. *'' Lord Byron of Broadway'', directed by Harry Beaumont and William Nigh *'' The Lottery Bride'', directed by Paul L. Stein, starring

, Joe E. Brown and ZaSu Pitts

M

*'' Madam Satan'', directed by Cecil B. DeMille, starring Kay Johnson *'' Mamba'', directed by Albert S. Rogell, starring Jean Hersholt and Eleanor Boardman *'' Mammy'', directed by

, starring Al Jolson *'' The Man from Blankley's'' (lost), directed by Alfred E. Green, starring John Barrymore and

*''

A Man from Wyoming ''A Man from Wyoming'' is a 1930 American Pre-Code war romance film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Gary Cooper, June Collyer, and Regis Toomey. Written by Albert S. Le Vino and John V.A. Weaver, the film is about a man from Wyoming ...

'', directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Gary Cooper *''

Manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...

'', directed by George Abbott, starring Claudette Colbert and Fredric March *'' Min and Bill'', directed by George Hill, starring Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery *'' Montana Moon'', directed by Malcolm St. Clair, starring Joan Crawford and Johnny Mack Brown *''

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo ( ; ; or colloquially ; , ; ) is an official administrative area of Monaco, specifically the Ward (country subdivision), ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is located. Informally, the name also refers to ...

'', directed by Ernst Lubitsch, starring Jack Buchanan and

*''

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

'', directed by Josef von Sternberg, starring Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich and Adolphe Menjou *'' Murder!'', directed by

, starring Herbert Marshall – ( GB) *'' (Le Mystère de la chambre jaune)'', directed by Marcel L'Herbier – (

)

N

*'' Nerone'' (lost), directed by

Alessandro Blasetti Alessandro Blasetti (3 July 1900 – 1 February 1987) was an Italian film director and screenwriter who influenced Italian neorealism with the film ''Four Steps in the Clouds''. Blasetti was one of the leading figures in Italian cinema during the ...

, starring Ettore Petrolini – (

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

) *'' Night Birds'', directed by Richard Eichberg – (

/ GB) *'' Not So Dumb'', directed by

, starring Marion Davies

O

*'' The Other (Der Andere)'', directed by Robert Wiene – (

) *'' Outside the Law'', directed by Tod Browning, starring Edward G. Robinson and Mary Nolan

P

*'' Paid'', directed by

, starring Joan Crawford, Robert Armstrong and Marie Prevost *'' Paramount on Parade'', an all-star revue *'' Peacock Alley'', directed by Marcel de Sano, starring Mae Murray *'' People on Sunday (Menschen am Sonntag)'', directed by

Robert Siodmak Robert Siodmak (; 8 August 1900 – 10 March 1973) was a German Jewish film director. His career spanned some 40 years, working extensively in the United States and France, as well as in his native country. Though he worked in many genres, he was ...

and Edgar G. Ulmer – (

) *'' Prix de Beauté (Beauty Prize)'', directed by

Augusto Genina Augusto Genina (28 January 1892 – 18 September 1957) was an Italian film pioneer. He was a movie producer and director. Biography Born in Rome, Genina was a drama critic and wrote comedies for the ''Il Mondo'' Magazine, under advise of Aldo ...

, starring Louise Brooks – (

) *'' Puttin' On the Ritz'', directed by Edward Sloman, starring

Harry Richman Harry Richman (born Henry Reichman Jr.; August 10, 1895 – November 3, 1972) was an American singer, actor, dancer, comedian, pianist, songwriter, bandleader, and nightclub performer, at his most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. In his peak yea ...

and Joan Bennett

Q

*'' Queen High'', directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, starring Charles Ruggles,

, and

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Classical Hollywood cinema, Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starri ...

R

*'' Raffles'', directed by

, starring Ronald Colman and Kay Francis *'' Reaching for the Moon'', directed by Edmund Goulding, starring Douglas Fairbanks and Bebe Daniels *'' Renegades'', directed by

, starring Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy and Noah Beery Sr. *'' The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu'', directed by Rowland V. Lee, starring Warner Oland, Jean Arthur and Neil Hamilton *'' The Rogue Song'' (lost), directed by Lionel Barrymore, starring

Lawrence Tibbett Lawrence Mervil Tibbett (November 16, 1896 – July 15, 1960) was an American opera singer and recording artist who also performed as a film actor and radio personality. A baritone with large, deep, and dark-timbred voice. His dynamic range (in ...

*'' The Royal Family of Broadway'', directed by

George Cukor George Dewey Cukor ( ; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer, producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO Pictures, RKO when David O. Selzn ...

and Cyril Gardner, starring Fredric March and Mary Brian

S

*'' Show Girl in Hollywood'', directed by

Mervyn LeRoy Mervyn LeRoy (; October 15, 1900 – September 13, 1987) was an American film director and producer. During the 1930s, he was one of the two great practitioners of economical and effective film directing at Warner Bros., Warner Brothers studios, ...

, starring Alice White *'' Son of the Gods'', directed by Frank Lloyd. starring Richard Barthelmess and Constance Bennett *'' Song o' My Heart'', directed by

, starring John McCormack *'' The Song of Love (La canzone dell'amore)'', directed by

Gennaro Righelli Gennaro Righelli (12 December 1886 – 6 January 1949) was an Italian film director, screenwriter and acting, actor. He directed more than 110 films in Italy and Germany between 1910 and 1947. In 1930, he directed the first Italian sound fil ...

– (

) *'' Soup to Nuts'', directed by

Benjamin Stoloff Benjamin Stoloff (October 6, 1895 – September 8, 1960) was an American film director and producer. He began his career as a director of short films, and he moved into directing and producing feature films. Director filmography 1940s–1950s *' ...

, starring Ted Healy and His Stooges *'' Spring Is Here'', directed by John Francis Dillon *'' St. Jorgen's Day (Prazdnik svyatogo Yorgena)'', directed by Yakov Protazanov – ( U.S.S.R.) *'' Street of Chance'', directed by John Cromwell, starring William Powell, Jean Arthur and Kay Francis *'' Sweet Kitty Bellairs'', directed by Alfred E. Green, starring Claudia Dell and Walter Pidgeon

T

*'' Tarakanova'', directed by Raymond Bernard – (

) *'' The Temporary Widow'', directed by

, starring Lilian Harvey and Laurence Olivier – ( GB/

) *'' Three Faces East'', directed by Roy Del Ruth, starring Constance Bennett and Erich von Stroheim *'' The Three from the Filling Station (Die Drei von der Tankstelle)'', directed by Wilhelm Thiele, starring Lilian Harvey and Willy Fritsch – (

) *'' Tom Sawyer'', directed by John Cromwell, starring Jackie Coogan *'' True to the Navy'', directed by

, starring Clara Bow and Fredric March *'' Two Hearts in Waltz Time (Zwei Herzen im ¾ Takt)'', directed by Géza von Bolváry – (

)

U

*'' Under a Texas Moon'', directed by

*'' Under the Roofs of Paris (Sous les toits de Paris)'', directed by

René Clair René Clair (; 11 November 1898 – 15 March 1981), born René-Lucien Chomette (), was a French filmmaker and writer. He first established his reputation in the 1920s as a director of silent films in which comedy was often mingled with fantasy. H ...

– (

) *'' The Unholy Three'', directed by Jack Conway, starring Lon Chaney and Lila Lee

V

*'' The Vagabond King'', directed by Ludwig Berger, starring Dennis King and

*'' Viejo smoking (Old Smoking Jacket)'', directed by Eduardo Morera – (

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

)

W

*'' The W Plan'', directed by Victor Saville, starring Brian Aherne and Madeleine Carroll – ( GB) *'' Wara Wara'', directed by José Maria Velasco Maidana – (

Bolivia Bolivia, officially the Plurinational State of Bolivia, is a landlocked country located in central South America. The country features diverse geography, including vast Amazonian plains, tropical lowlands, mountains, the Gran Chaco Province, w ...

) *'' Way for a Sailor'', directed by

, starring John Gilbert, Wallace Beery and Leila Hyams *'' Westfront 1918 (Vier von der Infanterie)'', directed by G. W. Pabst – (

) *'' Whoopee!'', directed by Thornton Freeland, starring Eddie Cantor

Y

*'' Young Man of Manhattan'', directed by

Monta Bell Louis Monta Bell (February 5, 1891 – February 4, 1958) was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Biography Monta Bell first appeared in theatrical venues with Washington D.C. Summer stock theatre, stock companies and then ...

, starring Claudette Colbert, Norman Foster, Charles Ruggles and

*'' Young Woodley'', directed by Thomas Bentley, starring Madeleine Carroll – ( GB)

Z

* '' Zaynab'', directed by Mohammed Karim, starring Bahiga Hafez and Zaki Rostom – (

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

)

Serials

*''Across the World with Mr & Mrs Martin Johnson'' *''Hunting Tigers in India'' *'' The Indians Are Coming'' *'' The Jade Box'' *'' The Lightning Express'' *'' The Lone Defender'', starring Rin Tin Tin *'' Terry of the Times'' *'' The Voice from the Sky''

Short film series

*'' Buster Keaton'' (1917–1941) *''

Our Gang ''Our Gang'' (also known as ''The Little Rascals'' or ''Hal Roach's Rascals'') is an American series of comedy short films chronicling a group of poor neighborhood children and their adventures. Created by film producer Hal Roach, who also pr ...

'' ( 1922–

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free France, Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command First Army (France), French Army B, part of the Sixt ...

) *''

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...

'' (1921–

1943 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 1 – WWII: The Soviet Union announces that 22 German divisions have been encircled at Stalingrad, with 175,000 killed and 137,650 captured. * January 4 � ...

) ** '' Another Fine Mess'' (28 min) ** '' Night Owls'' (21 min) ** '' Hog Wild'' (19 min) ** '' Laughing Gravy'' (21 min) ** '' Brats'' (21 min) ** '' Below Zero'' (20 min) *'' Crying for the Carolines'' (5 min)

Animated short film series

*'' Felix the Cat'' ( 1919-1936) ** ''April Maze'' (7 min) ** ''Skulls and Sculls'' ** ''Hootchy Cootchy Parlais Vous'' *'' Aesop's Film Fables'' ( 1921–

1933 Events January * January 11 – Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand. * January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independen ...

) *'' Krazy Kat'' ( 1925– 1940) *''

Mickey Mouse Mickey Mouse is an American cartoon character co-created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. The longtime icon and mascot of the Walt Disney Company, Mickey is an anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red shorts, large shoes, and white ...

'' ( 1928–

1953 Events January * January 6 – The Asian Socialist Conference opens in Rangoon, Burma. * January 12 – Estonian émigrés found a Estonian government-in-exile, government-in-exile in Oslo. * January 14 ** Marshal Josip Broz Tito ...

) ** '' Just Mickey'' (7 min) ** '' The Barnyard Concert'' (6 min) ** '' The Cactus Kid'' ** '' The Fire Fighters'' ** '' The Shindig'' ** '' The Chain Gang'' ** '' The Gorilla Mystery'' ** '' The Picnic'' ** '' Pioneer Days'' * '' Oswald the Lucky Rabbit'' *'' Silly Symphonies'' ** ''Summer'' ** ''Autumn'' ** ''The Cannibal Capers'' ** ''Night'' ** ''Frolicking Fish'' ** ''Arctic Antics'' ** ''Midnight in a Toyshop'' ** ''Monkey Melodies'' ** ''Winter'' ** ''Playful Pan'' *'' Screen Songs'' ( 1929–

1938 Events January * January 1 – state-owned enterprise, State-owned railway networks are created by merger, in France (SNCF) and the Netherlands (Nederlandse Spoorwegen – NS). * January 20 – King Farouk of Egypt marries Saf ...

) ** ''Prisoner's Song'' (8 min) *'' Talkartoons'' ( 1929–

1932 Events January * January 4 – The British authorities in India arrest and intern Mahatma Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel. * January 9 – Sakuradamon Incident (1932), Sakuradamon Incident: Korean nationalist Lee Bong-chang fails in his effort ...

) ** ''Dizzy Dishes'' (first Betty Boop cartoon) ** ''Barnacle Bill'' (second Betty Boop cartoon) *''

Looney Tunes ''Looney Tunes'' is an American media franchise produced and distributed by Warner Bros. The franchise began as a series of animated short films that originally ran from 1930 to 1969, alongside its spin-off series ''Merrie Melodies'', during t ...

'' (1930– 1969) ** ''Sinkin' in the Bathtub'' ** ''Congo Jazz'' ** ''Hold Anything'' ** ''The Booze Hangs High'' ** ''Box Car Blues'' *'' Flip the Frog'' (1930–

) ** ''The Village Barber'' (7 min) ** ''Puddle Pranks'' (7 min) ** ''Cuckoo Murder Case'' (8 min) ** ''Little Orphan Willie'' ** ''Flying Fists'' (7 min) *'' Terrytoons'' (1930– 1964) *'' Toby the Pup'' (1930– 1931) ** ''The Museum'' ** ''Toby the Miner'' ** ''Toby the Fiddler'' ** ''Toby the Showman'' ** ''The Bug House'' *"Beary Bear" (1930–

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2025 * January 2 – Luis ...

) ** "Experiment Gone Wrong" ** "Hickory's Hijinks" ** "Piano Problems" ** "Oh Deer!" ** "Bushy the Lion" ** "Trouble in Paris"

Births

*January 3 ** Mara Corday, American showgirl, model and actress (died 2025) ** Robert Loggia, American actor (died 2015) *January 6 – Professor Tanaka, American wrestler, boxer, actor and martial artist (died 2000) *January 10 – Roy E. Disney, American film executive and Walt Disney's nephew (died 2009) *January 11 ** Angela Paton, American actress (died 2016) ** Rod Taylor, Australian actor (died

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

) *January 12 – Edgar Landsbury, British-born Irish-American producer (died 2024) *January 13 – Frances Sternhagen, American actress (died 2023) *January 19 – Tippi Hedren, American actress *January 20 – Henry Woolf, British actor (died 2021) *January 24 – Terence Bayler, New Zealand actor (died 2016) *January 29 – Benjamin Tatar, American actor (died

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

) *January 30 – Gene Hackman, American actor (died

2025 So far, the year has seen the continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudanese civil war, and the Gaza war. Internal crises in Bangladesh post-resignation v ...

) *February 6 –

Allan King Allan Winton King, (February 6, 1930 – June 15, 2009), was a Canadian film director. Life Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, during the Great Depression, King attended Henry Hudson Elementary School, in Kitsilano.2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

) *February 10 – Robert Wagner, American actor *February 16 –

Ricou Browning Ricou Ren Browning (February 16, 1930 – February 27, 2023) was an American stunt performer, filmmaker and actor. A skilled swimmer, he was known for his innovative underwater stunt work, notably in the 1954 film ''Creature from the Black Lagoo ...

, American film director, actor, cinematographer and stuntman (died 2023) *February 20 – Patricia Smith, American actress (died

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

) *February 22 – Giuliano Montaldo, Italian film director, screenwriter and actor (died 2023) *February 24 – Barbara Lawrence, American actress, model (died

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

) *February 27 – Joanne Woodward, American actress *March 6 – Allison Hayes, American actress (died 1977) *March 9 - Taina Elg, Finnish actress and dancer (died 2025) *March 12 – Scoey Mitchell, American actor, writer and director (died 2022) *March 13 – Harrison Young, American character actor (died 2005) *March 16 – Lotte Ledl, Austrian actress *March 17 - Patrick Hines, American actor (died 1985) *March 21 – Pauline Stroud, British actress (died 2022) *March 24 – Steve McQueen, American actor (died 1980) *March 29 – Naser Malek Motiei, Iranian actor, director (died 2018) *March 30 ** John Astin, American actor ** Estella Blain, French actress (died 1982) *April 1 – Grace Lee Whitney, American actress (died 2015) *April 5 ** Mary Costa, American singer and actress ** Marietta Marich, American actress, singer, writer, stage director and television host (died 2017) *April 7 – Andrew Sachs, German-born British actor and writer (died 2016) *April 10 - Lee Weaver, American actor *April 13 – Roger Browne, American actor (died 2024) *April 14 – Bradford Dillman, American actor (died 2018) *April 18 – Clive Revill, New Zealand actor (died

) *April 19 – Dick Sargent, American actor (died

1994 The year 1994 was designated as the " International Year of the Family" and the "International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal" by the United Nations. In the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands of Kiribati, 1994 had only 364 days, omitti ...

) *April 21 – Silvana Mangano, Italian actress (died 1989) *April 23 –

Alan Oppenheimer Alan Oppenheimer (born April 23, 1930) is an American actor. He has performed numerous roles on live action television since the 1960s and has had an active career doing voice work since the 1970s. Early life Oppenheimer was born in New York ...

, American actor *April 24 –

Richard Donner Richard Donner (born Richard Donald Schwartzberg; April 24, 1930 – July 5, 2021) was an American film director, producer and actor. Described as "one of Hollywood's most reliable makers of action blockbusters", Donner directed some of the mo ...

, American director and producer (died 2021) *April 25 – Paul Mazursky, American director and actor (died 2014) *April 28 – Carolyn Jones, American actress (died 1983) *April 29 – Jean Rochefort, French actor (died 2017) *May 4 ** Lois de Banzie, Scottish-born American actress (died 2021) ** Doris Leader Charge, American actress (died 2001) *May 5 – Will Hutchins, American actor (died

) *May 9 – Joan Sims, English actress (died 2001) *May 11 – Bud Ekins, American actor and stuntman (died 2007) *May 18 – Tseng Chang, Hong Kong actor and director (died 2021) *May 20 - James McEachin, American actor (died 2025) *May 31 –

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western (genre), Western TV series ''Rawhide (TV series), Rawhide'', Eastwood rose to international fame with his role as the "Ma ...

, American actor, director and producer *June 1 ** Pat Corley, American actor (died 2006) ** Edward Woodward, English actor and singer (died 2009) *June 4 ** Edward Kelsey, English actor (died 2019) ** Morgana King, American jazz singer and actress (died 2018) ** Bill Treacher, English actor (died 2022) *June 9 – Terry Norris, Australian actor (died 2023) *June 15 – Odile Versois, French actress (died 1980) *June 19 ** Gena Rowlands, American actress (died 2024) ** Diana Sowle, American actress (died 2018) *June 25 – George Murdock, American character actor (died 2012) *June 29 – Ariadna Welter, Mexican actress (died 1998) *July 5 – Tommy Cook, American producer, screenwriter and actor *July 8 – Jerry Vale, American actor and singer (died 2014) *July 10 ** Bruce Boa, Canadian actor (died 2004) ** Susan Cummings, German actress (died 2016) *July 12 –

Gordon Pinsent Gordon Edward Pinsent (July 12, 1930 – February 25, 2023) was a Canadian actor, writer, director, and singer. He was known for his roles in numerous productions, including ''Away from Her'', ''The Rowdyman'', ''John and the Missus'', ''A Gift ...

, Canadian actor, writer, director and singer (died 2023) *July 13 – Darrell Sandeen, American character actor (died 2009) *July 18 – Burt Kwouk, British-Chinese actor (died 2016) *July 19 – Rhoda Williams, American actress (died 2006) *July 20 – Sally Ann Howes, English actress and singer (died 2021) *July 21 – Lukas Heller, German-born screenwriter (died 1988) *July 24 – Jacqueline Brookes, American actress (died 2013) *July 25 – Annie Ross, British-American singer and actress (died 2020) *July 28 – Alfie Curtis, British actor (died 2017) *July 30 – Tony Lip, American actor (died 2013) *August 1 ** Bill Allison, American actor (died 2016) ** Julie Bovasso, American actress (died 1991) ** Geoffrey Holder, Trinidadian-American actor and musician (died 2014) *August 5 – Joan Weldon, American actress, singer (died 2021) *August 11 – Paul Soles, Canadian actor (died 2021) *August 12 – Peter Weck, Austrian film director and actor *August 14 – Liz Fraser, English actress (died 2018) *August 17 – Harve Bennett, American producer and screenwriter (died 2015) *August 25 – Sir Sean Connery, Scottish actor (died 2020) *August 28 – Ben Gazzara, American and director (died 2012) *August 31 – Charles Kay, English actor (died

) *September 16 – Anne Francis, American actress (died 2011) *September 17 –

David Huddleston David William Huddleston (September 17, 1930 – August 2, 2016) was an American actor. An Emmy Awards, Emmy Award nominee, Huddleston had a prolific television career, and appeared in many films, including'' Rio Lobo'', ''Blazing Saddles'', '' ...

, American actor (died 2016) *September 21 – Dawn Addams, English actress (died 1985) *September 24 – Horst Sachtleben, German actor (died 2022) *September 26 – Philip Bosco, American actor (died 2018) *October 1 – Richard Harris, Irish actor (died 2002) *October 5 ** Skip Homeier, American actor (died 2017) ** Yuriy Yakovlev, Bulgarian actor (died 2002) *October 6 – Lou Cutell, American actor (died 2021) *October 8 – James Olson, American actor (died 2022) *October 10 – Joan O'Hara, Irish actress (died 2007) *October 13 – Paul Kent, American actor (died 2011) *October 23 –

Gérard Blain Gérard Blain (23 October 1930 – 17 December 2000) was a French actor and film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while gui ...

, French actor and director (died 2000) *October 24 – Jack Angel, American voice actor and former radio personality (died 2021) *November 3 – Lois Smith, American character actress *November 5 ** Richard Davalos, American actor (died 2016) ** Joaquín Martínez, Mexican-born American actor (died 2012) *November 15 – Whitman Mayo, American actor (died 2001) *November 20 – Bernard Horsfall, English actor (died 2013) *November 23 – Robert Easton, American actor (died 2011) *November 27 – Reinhard Glemnitz, German actor *December 3 –

Jean-Luc Godard Jean-Luc Godard ( , ; ; 3 December 193013 September 2022) was a French and Swiss film director, screenwriter, and film critic. He rose to prominence as a pioneer of the French New Wave film movement of the 1960s, alongside such filmmakers as ...

, French director (died 2022) *December 9 **

Buck Henry Buck Henry (born Henry Zuckerman; December 9, 1930 – January 8, 2020) was an American actor, screenwriter, and director. Henry's contributions to film included his work as a co-writer for Mike Nichols's ''The Graduate'' (1967) for which he re ...

, American actor, screenwriter and director (died 2020) ** Francesco Maselli, Italian director (died 2023) *December 11 – Jean-Louis Trintignant, French actor (died 2022) *December 13 – Robert Prosky, American actor (died 2008) *December 17 –

Armin Mueller-Stahl Armin Mueller-Stahl (born 17 December 1930) is a retired German actor who also appeared in numerous English-language films since the 1980s. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ''Shine (1996 film), Sh ...

, German actor *December 20 – Noel Ferrier, Australian actor, television personality and producer (died 1997)

Deaths

*January 31 – Dorothy Seastrom, American actress (born 1903) *February 23 – Mabel Normand, American actress (born 1893) *July 7 –

Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930) was a British writer and physician. He created the character Sherlock Holmes in 1887 for ''A Study in Scarlet'', the first of four novels and fifty-six short stories about Hol ...

, British author and creator of

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a Detective fiction, fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a "Private investigator, consulting detective" in his stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with obser ...

(born 1859) *August 26 – Lon Chaney, American actor (born 1883) *September 14 – Tommy Mintz, American actor, assistant director (born 1906) *September 15 – Milton Sills, American actor (born 1882) *November 8 – Clare Eames, American actress (born 1894) *December 15 – Diane Ellis, American actress (born 1909)

Film debuts

References

External links

List of 1930 films
at

IMDb IMDb, historically known as the Internet Movie Database, is an online database of information related to films, television series, podcasts, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and biograp ...

List of 1930 deaths
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List of 1930 births
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{{1930 films Film by year