1934 in film

The top ten 1934 released films by box office gross in North America are as follows:

• January 26 – Samuel Goldwyn (formerly of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.
• February 19 – Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade.
• April 19 – Fox Studios releases Stand Up and Cheer!, with five-year-old Shirley Temple in a relatively minor role. Shirley steals the film and Fox, which had been near bankruptcy, finds itself owning a goldmine.
• May 18 – Paramount releases Little Miss Marker, with Shirley Temple, on loan from Fox, in the title role.
• June 13 – An amendment to the Production Code establishes the Production Code Administration, and requires all films to obtain a certificate of approval before being released.
• July 28 – Canadian-born actress Marie Dressler, best known for starring in films such as Min and Bill and Emma, dies from cancer in Santa Barbara, California at the age of 65. For her performance in Min and Bill, Dressler received the Academy Award for Best Actress.
• October 12 – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers wham audiences again with their first joint starring roles in The Gay Divorcee, grossing $1.8 million[5] to add to the $1.5 million[5] earned by Flying Down to Rio released at the end of 1933.
• November 12 – The musical Babes in Toyland debuts, starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as comic relief.
• December 11 – Fox releases the Sol M. Wurtzel production of Bright Eyes, starring their hot new property, Shirley Temple. Shirley sings "On the Good Ship Lollipop", and wins the first Academy Award ever given to a child, for her endearing portrayal of Shirley Blake.

The 7th Academy Awards was held on February 27, 1935, at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. They were hosted by Irvin S. Cobb. For the first time, the Academy standardized the practice – still in effect, notwithstanding changes to the 93rd and 94th Academy Awards as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – that the award eligibility period for a film would be the preceding calendar year.

Most nominations: One Night of Love (Columbia Pictures) – 6

Major Awards

• Best Picture: It Happened One Night – Columbia Pictures
• Best Director: Frank Capra – It Happened One Night
• Best Actor: Clark Gable – It Happened One Night
• Best Actress: Claudette Colbert – It Happened One Night

Most Awards: It Happened One Night – 5

It Happened One Night became the first film to perform a "clean sweep" of the top five award categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. This feat would later be duplicated by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest in 1976 and The Silence of the Lambs in 1992. It also was the first romantic comedy to be named Best Picture.

United States unless stated

United States unless stated

• Burn 'Em Up Barnes (released June 16) (12-chapter Mascot Pictures action), starring Frankie Darro and (as Barnes) Jack Mulhall
• Mystery Mountain (released December 3) (12-chapter Mascot Pictures western), starring Ken Maynard
• The Lost Jungle
• The Law of the Wild, starring Rin Tin Tin
• Pirate Treasure
• The Red Rider (released July 16) (15-chapter Universal Pictures western), starring Buck Jones
• Tailspin Tommy (released October 29) (12-chapter Universal Pictures action), starring Maurice Murphy
• The Vanishing Shadow
• Young Eagles

Harold Lloyd (1913–1938)

• The Cat's-Paw

Lupino Lane (1915–1939)

• My Old Duchess (directed by)

Buster Keaton (1917–1944)

• The Gold Ghost (short, directed by)
• Allez Oop (short, directed by)
• Le Roi des Champs-Élysées (feature)

Laurel and Hardy (1921–1945)

• Oliver the Eighth (short)
• Hollywood Party (feature)
• Going Bye-Bye! (short)
• Them Thar Hills (short)
• Babes in Toyland (feature)
• The Live Ghost (short)

Our Gang (1922–1944)

• Hi'-Neighbor!
• For Pete's Sake!
• The First Round-Up
• Honky Donkey
• Mike Fright
• Washee Ironee

Harry Langdon (1924–1936)

• Circus Hoodoo (short)
• Petting Preferred (short)
• Counsel on De Fence (short) as Darrow Langdon
• Shivers (short) as Ichabod Somerset Crop

Wheeler & Woolsey (1929–1937)

• Hips, Hips, Hooray!
• Cockeyed Cavaliers
• Kentucky Kernels

Ted Healy and His Stooges (1933–1934)

The Three Stooges (1934–1959)

• Woman Haters (May 5)
• Punch Drunks (July 13)
• Men in Black (September 28) AAN
• Screen Snapshots Series 14 #1 (September 29)
• Screen Snapshots Series 14 #2 (October 26)
• The Captain Hates the Sea (November 28) §
• Three Little Pigskins (December 8)

Krazy Kat.

• Krazy Kat (1925–1940)
  • The Autograph Hunter
  • Southern Exposure
  • Tom Thumb
  • Cinder Alley
  • Bowery Daze
  • Busy Bus
  • Masquerade Party
  • The Trapeze Artist
  • The Katnips of 1940
  • Krazy's Waterloo
  • Goofy Gondolas
• Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (1927–1938)
  • Chicken Reel
  • The Candy House
  • The County Fair
  • The Toy Shoppe
  • Kings Up
  • Wolf! Wolf!
  • The Ginger Bread Boy
  • Goldielocks and the Three Bears
  • Annie Moved Away
  • Wax Works
  • William Tell
  • Chris Columbus, Jr.
  • The Dizzy Dwarf
  • Ye Happy Pilgrims
  • Sky Larks
  • Spring in the Park
• Mickey Mouse (1928–1953)
  • Shanghaied
  • Camping Out – known as "Camping Troubles" in releases outside the United States.
  • Playful Pluto
  • Gulliver Mickey
  • Hollywood Party (guest appearance)
  • Mickey's Steam Roller – First appearance of Mickey's nephews.
  • Orphan's Benefit – First time Donald Duck from The Wise Little Hen appears in a Mickey cartoon. First appearance of Clara Cluck. Last black and white appearance of Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar. First cartoon were Mickey wears a shirt.
  • Mickey Plays Papa
  • The Dognapper
  • Babes in Toyland (guest appearance in live action; costumed character)
  • Two-Gun Mickey – Last black and white appearance of Minnie Mouse.
• Silly Symphonies (1929–1939)
  • The China Shop
  • The Grasshopper and the Ants
  • Funny Little Bunnies
  • The Big Bad Wolf
  • The Wise Little Hen
  • The Flying Mouse
  • Peculiar Penguins
  • The Goddess of Spring
• Screen Songs (1929–1938)
  • Keeps Rainin' All the Time
  • Let's All Sing Like the Birdies Sing
  • Tune Up and Sing
  • Lazy Bones
  • This Little Piggie Went to Market
  • She Reminds Me of You
  • Love Thy Neighbor
  • Let's Sing with Popeye
• Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies (1930–1969)
  • Buddy the Gob
  • Pettin' in the Park
  • Honeymoon Hotel
  • Buddy and Towser
  • Buddy's Garage
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Those Were Wonderful Days
  • Buddy's Trolley Troubles
  • Goin' to Heaven on a Mule
  • Buddy of the Apes
  • How Do I Know It's Sunday
  • Buddy's Bearcats
  • Why Do I Dream Those Dreams
  • The Girl at the Ironing Board
  • The Miller's Daughter
  • Shake Your Powder Puff
  • Buddy the Detective
  • Rhythm in the Bow
  • Buddy the Woodsman
  • Buddy's Circus
  • Those Beautiful Dames
  • Buddy's Adventures
  • Pop Goes Your Heart
  • Viva Buddy
  • Buddy the Dentist
• Terrytoons (1930–1964)
• Scrappy (1931–1941)
• Betty Boop (1932–1939)
  • She Wronged Him Right
  • Red Hot Mamma
  • Ha! Ha! Ha!
  • Betty in Blunderland
  • Betty Boop's Rise to Fame
  • Betty Boop's Trial
  • Betty Boop's Lifeguard
  • Poor Cinderella (first and only Betty Boop cartoon in colour)
  • There's Something About a Soldier
  • Betty Boop's Little Pal
  • Betty Boop's Prize Show
  • Keep in Style
  • When My Ship Comes In
• Popeye the Sailor (1933–1957)
• Willie Whopper (1933-1934)
• ComiColor Cartoons (1933–1936)
• Cubby Bear (1933-1934)
• The Little King (1933-1934)
• Happy Harmonies (1934–1938)
• Cartune Classics (1934–1935)
• Color Rhapsodies (1934–1949)
• Amos 'n' Andy (1934)

• January 6 – Sylvia Syms, English actress (d. 2023)
• January 8 – Roy Kinnear, British character actor (d. 1988)
• January 11 – Mitchell Ryan, American actor (d. 2022)
• January 14 – Richard Briers, English actor (d. 2013)
• January 20 – Tom Baker, British actor
• January 21
  • Audrey Dalton, Irish actress
  • Ann Wedgeworth, American character actress (d. 2017)
• January 22 – Bill Bixby, American actor (d. 1993)
• January 23 – Carmine Caridi, American actor (d. 2019)
• January 25 – Donald W. Ernst, American editor and producer (d. 2023)
• February 5 - Jimmy Flynn, American actor (d. 2022)
• February 10 – Tatyana Lolova, Bulgarian actress (d. 2021)
• February 11 – Tina Louise, American actress
• February 12
  • Annette Crosbie, Scottish actress
  • Valerio Ruggeri, Italian actor and voice actor (d. 2015)
• February 13 – George Segal, American actor and musician (d. 2021)
• February 17
  • Alan Bates, English actor (d. 2003)
  • Barry Humphries, Australian comedian, actor, satirist, artist and author (d. 2023)
• February 21 – Rue McClanahan, American actress (d. 2010)
• March 4 – Anne Haney, American actress (d. 2001)
• March 5
  • James Sikking, American actor
  • Nicholas Smith, English comedy actor (d. 2015)
• March 9
  • Del Close, American actor, writer and teacher (d. 1999)
  • Joyce Van Patten, American actress
• March 12 - Henryk Bista, Polish actor (d. 1997)
• March 22 – May Britt, Swedish actress
• March 26
  • Alan Arkin, American actor (d. 2023)
  • Norman Reynolds, English production designer (d. 2023)
• March 27 – Peter Schamoni, German director (d. 2011)
• March 30 - Count Prince Miller, British actor and musician (d. 2018)
• March 31
  • Richard Chamberlain, American actor and singer
  • Shirley Jones, American singer and actress
• April 2 – Shirley Douglas, Canadian actress (d. 2020)
• April 4 - Helen Hanft, American actress (d. 2013)
• April 7 – Ian Richardson, Scottish actor (d. 2007)
• April 14 – Josef Somr, Czech actor (d. 2022)
• April 16 – Robert Stigwood, Australian-born British producer (d. 2016)
• April 24 – Shirley MacLaine, American actress
• April 25 – Denny Miller, American actor (d. 2014)
• May 1 – John Meillon, Australian character actor (d. 1989)
• May 3 – Ivan Andonov, Bulgarian film director (d. 2011)
• May 11 – André Gregory, French-born American director, writer and actor
• May 18 – Dwayne Hickman, American actor, producer and director (d. 2022)
• May 22 – Fred Roos, American film producer
• May 24 – Kiril Gospodinov, Bulgarian actor (d. 2003)
• May 29 – Marina Cicogna, Italian producer (d. 2023)
• June 1
  • Pat Boone, American singer and actor
  • Peter Masterson, American actor, director, producer and writer (d. 2018)
• June 8 – Millicent Martin, English actress, singer and comedian
• June 15 – William Newman, American actor (d. 2015)
• June 16
  • Eileen Atkins, British actress
  • Bill Cobbs, American actor
  • Jane Henson, American puppeteer (d. 2013)
• June 21
  • Terrence Evans, American actor (d. 2015)
  • Maro Kontou, Greek actress and politician
• June 26 – Josef Sommer, German-American actor
• July 1
  • Jamie Farr, American actor
  • Jean Marsh, English actress (Upstairs, Downstairs)
  • Ester Pajusoo, Estonian actress [6]
  • Sydney Pollack, American director, producer and actor (d. 2008)
• July 5 – Nikolay Binev, Bulgarian actor (d. 2003)
• July 8 – Marty Feldman, English comedian and actor (d. 1982)
• July 10 – Jerry Nelson, American puppeteer (d. 2012)
• July 15 – Eva Krížiková, Slovak actress (d. 2020)
• July 22
  • Eric del Castillo, Mexican actor
  • Louise Fletcher, American actress (d. 2022)
• July 23 – Silvana Bosi, Italian actress (d. 2020)
• July 26 – Ken Pogue, Canadian actor (d. 2015)
• July 29 – Sergio Fiorentini, Italian actor and voice actor (d. 2014)
• August 5 – Zakes Mokae, South African-American actor (d. 2009)
• August 7 – Marija Kohn, Croatian actress (d. 2018)
• August 14 – Vernon Dobtcheff, British actor
• August 24 – Kenny Baker, English-born actor (d. 2016)
• August 30 – Helen Craig, English children's author and illustrator (Angelina Ballerina)
• September 2 - Chuck McCann, American actor, comedian, puppeteer and television host (d. 2018)
• September 5 - Dennis Letts, American actor (d. 2008)
• September 11 – Ian Abercrombie, English-American actor and comedian (d. 2012)
• September 20
  • Sophia Loren, Italian actress
  • Jeff Morris, American actor (d. 2004)
  • Karen Sharpe, American actress
• September 24 - Robert Lang, English actor (d. 2004)
• September 27
  • Wilford Brimley, American actor (d. 2020)
  • Claude Jarman Jr., American child actor
• September 28 – Brigitte Bardot, French actress
• September 29 – Alan Hopgood, Australian actor (d. 2022)
• October 13 – Savely Kramarov, Russian-American actor (d. 1995)
• October 15 – Peter Haskell, American actor (d. 2010)
• October 19 – Glória Menezes, Brazilian actress
• October 20 – Timothy West, English actor
• October 28 - Charles A. Gargano, Italian-American actor
• October 31 - Suzanne Shepherd, American actress (d. 2023)
• November 5 – Kira Muratova, Russian director (d. 2018)
• November 10
  • Richard Bradford, American actor (d. 2016)
  • Joanna Moore, American actress (d. 1997)
• November 11
  • Suzanne Lloyd, Canadian actress
  • Nadine Trintignant, French director, producer and screenwriter
• November 13 – Garry Marshall, American director, actor, producer, writer and voice artist (d. 2016)
• November 15 – Joanna Barnes, American actress (d. 2022)
• November 21
  • Jack Kehoe, American actor (d. 2020)
  • Laurence Luckinbill, American actor, playwright and director
• November 23 – Michael Wayne, American producer and actor (d. 2003)
• November 25 – Ann Davies, English actress (d. 2022)
• November 28 – Jaakko Pakkasvirta, Finnish film director and screenwriter (d. 2018)
• December 9 – Judi Dench, English actress
• December 16 – Pete Schrum, American actor (d. 2003)
• December 26 – Matt Zimmerman, Canadian actor (d. 2022)
• December 28 – Maggie Smith, English actress
• December 29 – Forugh Farrokhzad, Iranian poet and film director (d. 1967)
• December 30 – Russ Tamblyn, American actor

• March 21 – Lilyan Tashman, 34, American actress (cancer)
• May 31 – Lew Cody, 50, American actor
• June 8 – Dorothy Dell, 19, American actress (road accident)
• July 6 – Harry A. Pollard, 55, American actor & director
• July 28 – Marie Dressler, 65, Canadian-born American Academy Award winning actress (cancer)

• Gene Autry – In Old Santa Fe
• Virginia Carroll – Sweet Adeline
• Esther Dale – Crime Without Passion
• Donald Duck – The Wise Little Hen
• Alice Faye – George White's Scandals
• Alec Guinness – Evensong
• Sara Haden – Spitfire
• Rita Hayworth – Cruz Diablo
• Kathleen Howard – Death Takes a Holiday
• Sam Jaffe – The Scarlet Empress
• Margaret Lockwood – Lorna Doone
• Louise Lorimer – I've Got Your Number
• Keye Luke – The Painted Veil
• Ann Miller – Anne of Green Gables
• Anne Revere – Double Door
• Rosalind Russell – Evelyn Prentice
• Ann Rutherford – Student Tour
• George Sanders – Love, Life and Laughter
• Ann Sheridan – Search for Beauty
• Robert Taylor – Handy Andy
• Lurene Tuttle – Stand Up and Cheer!
• Chill Wills – It's a Gift
• Ian Wolfe – The Barretts of Wimpole Street
• Jane Wyatt – One More River

• List of 1934 films at IMDb
• List of 1934 deaths at IMDb
• List of 1934 births at IMDb