The Best Troy Donahue Movies

Ranker Film
Updated June 23, 2023 446 votes 181 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Troy Donahue Movies
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List of the best Troy Donahue movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Troy Donahue's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Troy Donahue movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Troy Donahue movies will be at the top of the list. Troy Donahue has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Troy Donahue movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Troy Donahue films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Troy Donahue role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Troy Donahue performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

Everything from A Dirty Little Business to A Summer Place is included on this list.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Troy Donahue movies?" and "What are the greatest Troy Donahue roles of all time?"
Most divisive: Wild Heritage
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  • A Summer Place
    1

    A Summer Place

    Richard Egan, Dorothy McGuire, Sandra Dee
    63 votes
    • Released: 1959
    • Directed by: Delmer Daves
    The big-screen adaptation of Sloan Wilson's popular novel follows wealthy Ken Jorgenson (Richard Egan) as he brings his wife (Constance Ford) and teenage daughter, Molly (Sandra Dee), to the Maine vacation spot where he worked as a middle-class youth. When Ken reunites with his former flame, the now-married Sylvia (Dorothy McGuire), it sparks a passionate tryst. Meanwhile, Sylvia's son, Johnny (Troy Donahue), and Molly begin a romance of their own, unaware of their parents' affair.

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  • Parrish
    2

    Parrish

    Claudette Colbert, Connie Stevens, Karl Malden
    47 votes
    • Released: 1961
    • Directed by: Delmer Daves
    Parrish is a 1961 drama film made by Warner Bros.. It was written, produced and directed by Delmer Daves, based on the novel by Mildred Savage. The music score was by Max Steiner, the cinematography by Harry Stradling Sr., the art direction by Leo K. Kuter and the costume design by Howard Shoup. The film stars Troy Donahue, Claudette Colbert, Karl Malden and Dean Jagger, with Connie Stevens, Diane McBain, Sharon Hugueny, Sylvia Miles, Madeleine Sherwood and Hayden Rorke. The film marked Claudette Colbert's last role on the big screen.

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  • Rome Adventure
    3

    Rome Adventure

    Troy Donahue, Suzanne Pleshette, Angie Dickinson
    38 votes
    • Released: 1962
    • Directed by: Delmer Daves
    Prudence (Suzanne Pleshette), a feisty but romantic-minded young librarian at an all-female school in New England, resigns from her job after getting disciplined for recommending a banned book to one of her students. Impulsively deciding to summer in Rome, she's romanced by the smooth Roberto (Rossano Brazzi) and becomes friends with American architect Don (Troy Donahue), who is trying to extricate himself from a failed relationship with the emotionally needy Lyda (Angie Dickinson).

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  • Susan Slade
    4

    Susan Slade

    Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Dorothy McGuire
    36 votes
    • Released: 1961
    • Directed by: Delmer Daves
    Roger Slade (Lloyd Nolan), his wife Leah (Dorothy McGuire) and their teenage daughter, Susan (Connie Stevens), return to California after 10 years abroad. On the journey home, Susan has an affair with an older man (Grant Williams) and becomes pregnant. The father of Susan's child dies in an accident, driving Susan to suicidal hysteria. To save her family, Leah pretends the baby is hers, but Susan has trouble maintaining the lie as two men compete for her attention.

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  • Palm Springs Weekend
    5

    Palm Springs Weekend

    Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Ty Hardin
    19 votes
    • Released: 1963
    • Directed by: Norman Taurog
    Love is the game for a group of college students letting loose in Palm Springs, Calif. For basketball player Jim Munroe (Troy Donahue), the attractive Bunny Dixon (Stefanie Powers) quickly becomes the object of his affection. Jim's friend Biff is after the sporty Amanda. As the adults -- including the local police chief, a hotel owner and a basketball coach -- try to keep order, the kids make connections that may, or may not, continue back on campus.

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  • Imitation of Life
    6

    Imitation of Life

    Lana Turner, John Gavin, Sandra Dee
    27 votes
    • Released: 1959
    • Directed by: Douglas Sirk
    Lora Meredith (Lana Turner), a white single mother who dreams of being on Broadway, has a chance encounter with Annie Johnson (Juanita Moore), a black widow. Annie becomes the caretaker of Lora's daughter, Suzie (Sandra Dee), while Lora pursues her stage career. Both women deal with the difficulties of motherhood: Lora's thirst for fame threatens her relationship with Suzie, while Annie's light-skinned daughter, Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner), struggles with her African-American identity.

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