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George Barnes

George Barnes

Cinematographer · Died May 30, 1953, aged 60 · Pasadena, California, USA

From Wikipedia George S. Barnes, A.S.C. (October 16, 1892 – May 30, 1953) was an American cinematographer from the era of silent films to the early 1950s. Over the course of his career, he was nominated for an Academy Award eight times, including his work on The Devil Dancer (1927) with Gilda Gray and Clive Brook. However, he only won once, for his work on the Alfred Hitchcock film Rebecca (1940). He died at the age of 60 in Los Angeles, California after having worked on at least 142 films. He was married to Joan Blondell from 1933 to 1936, and was the father of television executive Norman S. Powell.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 16, 1892
Died
May 30, 1953 (aged 60)
From
Pasadena, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 128 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 37 days to Oct 26Down 7% in 30 days

What are George Barnes' films like?

Across their 47 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action 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
40%
Morality
23%
Self
14%
Society
10%
Power
7%
Survival
5%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love27 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 47 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 23 · Serious 14 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 15 · Stylized 25 · Heightened 7

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

Gentle 13 · Charged 28 · Intense 6

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

Steady 22 · Shifting 24 · Whiplash 1

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 17 · Funny 8

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

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 29 · Engaged 17 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 44 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Romantic
27
Tense
22
Joyful
15
Melancholic
17
Warm
8
Other
41

How their films linger

Feel-good27 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy27
  • Bittersweet16
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

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 George Barnes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for George Barnes' 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

128 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page.

  • Housejackers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Cinematographer

  • Ordinary Love(2019)

    Second Assistant "A" Camera

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Little Boy Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The War of the Worlds(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Road to Bali(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Just for You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Somebody Loves Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Something to Live For(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Greatest Show on Earth(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Here Comes the Groom(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Let's Dance(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Force of Evil(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Riding High (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Samson and Delilah(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The File on Thelma Jordon(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Boy with Green Hair(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • No Minor Vices (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Good Sam(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Emperor Waltz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Mourning Becomes Electra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Cinematographer

  • Sinbad, the Sailor(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • From This Day Forward(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Bells of St. Mary's(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Spellbound(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Spanish Main(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • None But the Lonely Heart(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Frenchman's Creek (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Jane Eyre(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Mr. Lucky(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Once Upon a Honeymoon(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Nightmare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Rings on Her Fingers(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Sex Hygiene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Unholy Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Ladies in Retirement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • That Uncertain Feeling(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Meet John Doe(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Hudson's Bay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • The Return of Frank James(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Maryland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • Rebecca(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Joan Fontaine Wardrobe Test (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Stanley and Livingstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Jesse James(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Devil's Island(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Love, Honor and Behave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Hollywood Hotel(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Ever Since Eve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Marked Woman(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Black Legion(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Varsity Show(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Cain and Mabel(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Love Begins at Twenty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • The Singing Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • The Irish in Us(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Broadway Gondolier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • In Caliente(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Traveling Saleslady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • Flirtation Walk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Kansas City Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Dames(1934)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • He Was Her Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

  • Smarty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Gambling Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Massacre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Havana Widows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Footlight Parade(1933)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Goodbye Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Peg o' My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Broadway Bad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Blondie of the Follies(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Society Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • The Wet Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Polly of the Circus(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Greeks Had a Word for Them(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Unholy Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Street Scene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Five and Ten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • One Heavenly Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • The Devil to Pay!(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • A Lady's Morals(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • What a Widow! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Raffles(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Trespasser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Condemned! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • This Is Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Bulldog Drummond(1929)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Rescue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • The Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Our Dancing Daughters(1928)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Two Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Sadie Thompson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • The Devil Dancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Magic Flame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • Venus of Venice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Love of Sunya(1927)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Night of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Winning of Barbara Worth(1926)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Son of the Sheik(1926)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Mademoiselle Modiste (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • The Eagle(1925)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • The Dark Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • The Teaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • Zander the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • Janice Meredith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • Yolanda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • The Love Piker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Alice Adams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Bulldog Drummond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Peg o' My Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Conquering the Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Dusk to Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • The Real Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Opened Shutters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • The Beautiful Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • Silk Hosiery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • Her Husband's Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Woman in the Suitcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Haunted Bedroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • What Every Woman Learns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • Stepping Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • The Virtuous Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • The Law of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • Vive la France! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 127 titles from 1918 to 2025.

Biggest box office

The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)

$36M worldwide

Highest rated

Rebecca (1940)

Midcredits 98th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography126 of 127: 125 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score66thOther crew2 of 127: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1910s6 · crew1920s36 · crew1930s42 · crew1940s29 · crew1950s12 · crew2010s1 · crew2020s1 · 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.

How do George Barnes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 49; across their 47 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 47

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Reach · how many have seen their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 47

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th27
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

36 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser36
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed5

Most divisive · cinematographer

Our Dancing Daughters (1928)

63rd percentile spread · 13% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Rebecca (1940)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 70/100 in their films, across 41 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 58. 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 George Barnes' work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles4–16 · median 10 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity5 titles1–8 · median 5 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles25–30 · median 28 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles19–49 · median 39 · 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 George Barnes work with?

People who share at least 2 of George Barnes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hal B. Wallis shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles