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William H. Daniels

William H. Daniels

Cinematographer, also producer · Died June 14, 1970, aged 68 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA

William H. Daniels (December 1, 1901 – June 14, 1970) was an American cinematographer. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Daniels served as the cinematographer for the early films of director Erich von Stroheim and on all but three of Greta Garbo's films during her tenure at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Later he worked on myriad notable films such as The Shop Around the Corner (1940), Harvey (1950), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), Ocean's 11 (1960), How the West Was Won (1962), and Valley of the Dolls (1967).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 1, 1901
Died
June 14, 1970 (aged 68)
From
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Works as
Cinematographer, also producer
Titles
100 on MovieCove · 153 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 21% in 30 days

What are William H. Daniels' films like?

Across their 97 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy32 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama31 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 76th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Musical2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 74th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Musical 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
41%
Morality
22%
Self
14%
Power
10%
Society
6%
Survival
4%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love47 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds24 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception17 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice11 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 97 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 48 · Serious 21 · Dark 28

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

Grounded 43 · Stylized 45 · Heightened 9

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

Gentle 34 · Charged 47 · Intense 16

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

A split, not a type: Steady 50 · Shifting 41 · Whiplash 6

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 49 · Some laughs 25 · Funny 23

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 51 · Even-paced 44 · 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 56 · Engaged 37 · Full focus 4

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 47 · Affecting 29 · Heavy 21

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

Resolved 85 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
49
Romantic
45
Melancholic
38
Joyful
30
Warm
22
Other
72

How their films linger

Feel-good44 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet36 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun30 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful26 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy44
  • Bittersweet35
  • Tragic10
  • Ambiguous8

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 William H. Daniels' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 100 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (17).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William H. Daniels' 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

153 credits, 100 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Move (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • Marlowe(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Impossible Years(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Valley of the Dolls(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • In Like Flint(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Assault on a Queen(1966)

    Associate Producer · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Marriage on the Rocks(1965)

    Cinematographer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Von Ryan's Express(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • None But the Brave(1965)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Robin and the 7 Hoods(1964)

    Associate Producer · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Money Dance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • The Prize(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Come Blow Your Horn(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Billy Rose's Jumbo(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • How the West Was Won(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Come September(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • All the Fine Young Cannibals(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Ocean's Eleven(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Can-Can(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Never So Few(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • A Hole in the Head(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • A Stranger in My Arms(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Never Steal Anything Small(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Some Came Running(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Voice in the Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Interlude (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • My Man Godfrey(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Night Passage(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Istanbul(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Unguarded Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Away All Boats(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Benny Goodman Story(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Girl Rush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Foxfire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • The Shrike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Strategic Air Command(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Six Bridges to Cross(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Far Country(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Glenn Miller Story(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • War Arrow(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Forbidden(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Thunder Bay(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Never Wave at a WAC(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Plymouth Adventure(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Pat and Mike(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Glory Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Thunder on the Hill(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Lady Pays Off(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bright Victory(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Harvey(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Deported (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Winchester '73(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Woman in Hiding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Three Came Home(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Abandoned (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • The Gal Who Took the West(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Illegal Entry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • The Life of Riley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Family Honeymoon(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • For the Love of Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • The Naked City(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Lured(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Brute Force(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Sure Cures (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Cinematographer

  • Maisie Goes to Reno(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Canterville Ghost(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Girl Crazy(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Keeper of the Flame(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • For Me and My Gal(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Kildare's Victory(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Design for Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Shadow of the Thin Man(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Honky Tonk(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • They Met in Bombay(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Love Crazy(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • So Ends Our Night(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Back Street(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • New Moon(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Mortal Storm(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Shop Around the Corner(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Another Thin Man(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Ninotchka(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Stronger Than Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Idiot's Delight(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Dramatic School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Three Loves Has Nancy(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Marie Antoinette(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Shopworn Angel(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Young in Heart(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Beg, Borrow or Steal(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Last Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Double Wedding(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Broadway Melody of 1938(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Personal Property (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Camille(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Romeo and Juliet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • Rose-Marie(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Rendezvous(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Anna Karenina(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Naughty Marietta(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • I Live My Life(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Painted Veil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • The Barretts of Wimpole Street(1934)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Queen Christina(1933)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Dinner at Eight(1933)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Broadway to Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • The Stranger's Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • The White Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Rasputin and the Empress(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Grand Hotel(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Skyscraper Souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • As You Desire Me(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Lovers Courageous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Mata Hari(1931)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)(1931)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • A Free Soul(1931)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Strangers May Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Inspiration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • The Great Meadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Anna Christie(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Romance(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Strictly Unconventional (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Montana Moon(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Anna Christie(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Queen Kelly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Their Own Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • The Trial of Mary Dugan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Wild Orchids(1929)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Wise Girls(1929)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • A Woman of Affairs(1928)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Dream of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • The Mysterious Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Bringing Up Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Love(1927)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Tillie the Toiler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • Captain Salvation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • Altars of Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • Flesh and the Devil(1926)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Temptress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • Bardelys the Magnificent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • The Boob (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • Monte Carlo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • Torrent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • Dance Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • 1925 Studio Tour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • Women and Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • Greed(1924)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Helen's Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • Merry-Go-Round(1923)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Foolish Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 143 titles from 1922 to 1970.

Biggest box office

Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)

$6.2M worldwide

Highest rated

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Marlowe (1969)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Producing3 of 143: 0 only producing, 3 with another roleCinematography143 of 143: 140 only cinematography, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

143 titles, 3 with more than one role — cinematography and producing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1920s27 · crew1930s41 · crew1940s24 · crew1950s33 · crew1960s17 · crew1970s1 · 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 William H. Daniels' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 100; across their 97 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 97

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 97

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 97

Midcredits score across 100 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up38
  • 50th to 74th40
  • 25th to 49th21
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

67 of their 100 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser67
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · cinematographer

I Live My Life (1935)

79th percentile spread · 28% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

Midcredits 99th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 67/100 in their films, across 87 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 55. 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 William H. Daniels' work okay for kids?

Across up to 13 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles6–44 · median 23 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity13 titles8–35 · median 19 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles0–24 · median 9 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles12–57 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles7–31 · median 24 · mildlighter than most 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 William H. Daniels work with?

People who share at least 2 of William H. Daniels' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Greta Garbo shares the most, 15.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles