She had the kind of screen presence you couldn’t ignore-cool, composed, and at times electric. Angie Dickinson was not just a star but a force of nature. She built a film career that defied expectations and redefined the leading lady with her distinctive blend of elegance and edge. Dickinson competed with Hollywood heavyweights in everything from classy thrillers to noir-tinged dramas, and she frequently took center stage without even trying. Her filmography is a masterclass in subtle and timeless charisma. Whether she was a lover, a law enforcer, or something more complicated, Angie always brought something extra. Let’s take a look back at the memorable roles that reflect why she is still regarded as one of the most fascinating figures in classic Hollywood.
Lily Beloit – Young Billy Young (1969)
First up we have a classic Western in Young Billy Young. Here, Angie Dickinson plays the role of the beautiful Lily Beloit who is the love interest to Robert Michum’s Ben Kane. Ben Kane is a lawman who comes across a young man called Billy who he kind of takes under his wing and promises him a job. The twist here is that Kane is looking for the men that killed his son and this has a personal touch to Billy! This is a solid Western and one that does not get the attention it deserves!
Wilma McClatchie – Big Bad Mama (1974)
Now we are talking! Big Bad Mama from 1974 is cool, sexy, funny, and one of the most memorable Angie Dickinson movies of all time. In this fun thriller, she plays the role of Wilma, a mother who starts a life of crime as a bank robber, with her two kids in tow and two men that she meets along the way…. Who she may or may not hook up with! This is a really fun movie and one that is always worth watching. What makes this extra cool is that she has amazing chemistry with her two leading men: William Shatner and Tom Skerritt. A neat bit of trivia about this is that it got a very strange “sequel” which also stars Dickenson over a decade later!
Laura Breckenridge – Sam Whiskey (1969)
You cannot go wrong with the pairing of Angie Dickinson and the legendary Burt Reynolds, can you? In this Western comedy caper from 1969, she plays the role of Laura Breckenridge. Her dead husband stole a bunch of gold from the mint and he is about to be found out and she will be implicated in the crime! Thankfully, she hires “legendary” outlaw, Sam Whiskey to go and retrieve the gold for her. The problem is, the gold is at the bottom of the water on a sunken riverboat! This is a fun time and there is no denying that Dickinson and Reynolds are perfect together!
Lisa Denton – The Last Challenge (1967)
The Last Challenge had to be on this list as it is a classic Western. Lisa Denton is a brothel owner and she is in love with the town’s lawman, Marshall Dan Blaine who is known for being the fastest gun in the West. Well, heavy is the crown as another gunslinger called Lot McGuire has his sights on being known as the fastest shot in the West and sets out to kill Blaine! This is a great movie and while Angie Dickinson is fantastic in her role as a desperate woman willing to do anything to get the man she loves. It is the chemistry between Glenn Ford and Chad Everett that makes this movie. This would also be the last theatrical feature that legendary director Robert Thorpe would do!
Betty Smith – Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
They would never make a movie like Pretty Maids All in a Row these days! This is a murder mystery/dark comedy movie about a high school where female students are being killed by a serial killer. Betty Smith is a substitute teacher who strikes up a relationship with a student called Ponce. Yes, teacher/student relationships are basically what this movie is all about. This is one of the more “seductive” roles that the beautiful Angie Dickinson played in her career!
Francie Corum – Captain Newman, M.D. (1963)
As you would expect, Dickinson is fantastic in her role as 1st Lt. Francie Corum. Captain Newman, M.D. is a fantastic part drama part comedy movie about a psych ward at a military hospital led by Gregory Peck who plays the titular, Captain Newman. This is a wonderful movie that has many iconic moments such as the “Old Macdonald Had A Farm” singalong. This movie has a great ensemble cast and is the kind of movie that can make you smile and even laugh one moment and then make you really think the next.
Sheila Farr – The Killers (1964)
The Killers from 1964 is a very entertaining mystery thriller about two hit men who wonder why their latest victim did not put up a fight and let them kill him! With many twists and turns this movie will well and truly keep you guessing. Angie Dickinson is Sheila Farr, a woman who has a rather interesting connection to the man who was killed! If you love movie trivia, The Killers is perfect for you! To start with, this is a remake of a movie from the 40s, which was based on the classic Ernest Hemingway short story. Also, this would be the last movie Ronald Reagan would make before becoming a politician!
Kate Miller – Dressed to Kill (1980)
As one of the earlier movies of the erotic thriller boom of the 80s and 90s, Dressed to Kill may not be as well remembered as the likes of Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct, but this is one heck of a wild and hot thrill ride. Dickinson plays the important role of a bored and sexually frustrated housewife called Kate Miller whose brutal murder is the catalyst for the crazy and truly shocking game of cat and mouse between a killer, a high-class call girl, and a detective!
Feathers – Rio Bravo (1959)
Many people consider Rio Bravo to be one of the best Westerns of all time and we certainly would not argue with them! This is a John Wayne classic who plays the sheriff who has arrested a man who has a brother who will do whatever it takes and kill whoever it takes to get him out of jail. The sheriff and a rag tag group need to make a last stand to stop this from happening. This one just had to make this list as it was a real standout role for Dickinson as she played John Wayne’s love interest in the movie.
Chris – Point Blank (1967)
1967’s Point Blank is a crime thriller that will certainly make you reconsider every double-crossing Lee Marvin! In this stylish thriller, a heist is pulled off, but one of the men, Lee Marvin’s Walker is double-crossed and left for dead! Walker comes back and wants his money and also to make the man who left him for dead pay! Thankfully, the stunning Angie Dickinson playing the role of his sister-in-law, Chris is here to lend his bullet flying revenge rampage a hand!
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And there we have it, the 10 roles that we believe are Dickinson’s greatest. For more lists like these and premium video content, be sure to check out Stream TV on YouTube!
