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Donald McAlpine

Donald McAlpine

Cinematographer, also actor · Born January 1, 1934 (92) · Quandialla, New South Wales, Australia

Oscar nominee · BAFTA Award nominee

Donald McAlpine ACS, ASC (born 13 April 1934) is an Australian cinematographer. McAlpine was a physical education teacher in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia. He began using a 16mm camera to film athletes preparing for the Melbourne Olympic Games. In Australia, from 1972 to 1981, McAlpine collaborated with Bruce Beresford. McAlpine filmed many of Beresford's early films, including The Adventures of Barry McKenzie, Barry McKenzie Holds His Own, Don's Party, The Getting of Wisdom, Money Movers, Breaker Morant and The Club. McAlpine also worked with director Gillian Armstrong on My Brilliant Career. McAlpine was nominated for an Academy Award for his work in Moulin Rouge!.[citation needed] He is a member of both the Australian Cinematographers Society and the American Society of Cinematographers.[citation needed] The A.S.C. honored him with the 2009 International Achievement Award. In 2016 McAlpine received an honorary doctorate in Arts from Edith Cowan University in Perth, Western Australia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 1, 1934 (92)
From
Quandialla, New South Wales, Australia
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 61 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 41% in 30 days

What are Donald McAlpine's films like?

Across their 48 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Morality
24%
Self
18%
Survival
12%
Power
7%
Society
7%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 48 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 14 · Dark 17

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 32 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 12 · Charged 21 · Intense 15

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 19 · Shifting 22 · Whiplash 7

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 22 · Some laughs 13 · Funny 13

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 5

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 20 · Engaged 27 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 14 · Affecting 19 · Heavy 15

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 39 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Melancholic
20
Hopeful
15
Warm
11
Contemplative
11
Other
48

How their films linger

Bittersweet23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful21 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet27
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Donald McAlpine's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Donald McAlpine's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

61 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 6 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Portable Door(2023)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Black Site(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • A Stitch in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Cinematographer · Executive Producer

  • Rajma Chawal(2018)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Ali's Wedding(2017)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Kapoor & Sons(2016)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Dressmaker(2015)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Ender's Game(2013)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Mental(2012)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Mega Piranha(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Main Street(2010)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine(2009)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe(2005)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Peter Pan(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Anger Management(2003)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Time Machine(2002)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Moulin Rouge!(2001)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Stepmom(1998)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Edge(1997)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Romeo + Juliet(1996)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Nine Months(1995)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Clear and Present Danger(1994)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Doubtfire(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Man Without a Face(1993)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Patriot Games(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Medicine Man(1992)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Career Opportunities(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Hard Way(1991)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Stanley & Iris(1990)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Parenthood(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • See You in the Morning(1989)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Moon Over Parador(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Moving(1988)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Orphans(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Predator(1987)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Fringe Dwellers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Cinematographer

  • Down and Out in Beverly Hills(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • My Man Adam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • King David(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Moscow on the Hudson(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Harry & Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Now and Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Blue Skies Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Tempest(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Puberty Blues(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Children of an Lac(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Cinematographer

  • The Earthling(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Breaker Morant(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Journalist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Cinematographer

  • My Brilliant Career(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Odd Angry Shot(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Money Movers(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Patrick(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Don's Party(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • The Fifth Facade: The Making of the Sydney Opera House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Camera Operator

  • The Adventures of Barry McKenzie(1972)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • How to Drive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 59 titles from 1969 to 2023.

Biggest box office

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)

$745M worldwide

Highest rated

Predator (1987)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Peter Pan (2003)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Producing1 of 59: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography57 of 59: 56 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndOther crew2 of 59: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1960s1 · crew1970s9 · crew1980s22 · crew1990s12 · crew2000s6 · crew2010s6 · crew2020s3 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

3 major nominations and no wins, 1998–2002.

  1. 2002
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Cinematography
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography
  2. 1998
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Cinematography

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Donald McAlpine's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 49; across their 48 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Reach · how many have seen their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 48

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th16
  • 25th to 49th15
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

29 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser29
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · cinematographer

Mega Piranha (2010)

75th percentile spread · 79% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Predator (1987)

Midcredits 96th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 64/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Donald McAlpine's work okay for kids?

Across up to 31 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore23 titles24–69 · median 45 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity31 titles16–55 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity22 titles11–73 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs21 titles11–43 · median 35 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense21 titles16–64 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Donald McAlpine work with?

People who share at least 2 of Donald McAlpine's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bruce Beresford shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles