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Jack Cardiff

Jack Cardiff

Cinematographer and director, also actor and writer · Died April 22, 2009, aged 94 · Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK

From Wikipedia Jack Cardiff was a British cinematographer, director and photographer. His career spanned the development of cinema, from silent film, through early experiments in Technicolor to filmmaking in the 21st century. He was best known for his influential colour cinematography for directors such as Powell and Pressburger, Huston and Hitchcock.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 18, 1914
Died
April 22, 2009 (aged 94)
From
Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, UK
Works as
Cinematographer and director, also actor and writer
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 90 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 38 days to Oct 27Down 7% in 30 days

What are Jack Cardiff's films like?

Across their 42 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Horror 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
29%
Morality
25%
Self
19%
Power
14%
Survival
8%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 41 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 16 · Serious 10 · Dark 15

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

Grounded 10 · Stylized 21 · Heightened 10

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

Gentle 7 · Charged 26 · Intense 8

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 23 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 26 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 3

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

Slow burn 20 · Even-paced 20 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 17 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 3

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 19 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 10

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

Resolved 31 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
23
Melancholic
16
Romantic
13
Thrilling
11
Contemplative
10
Other
36

How their films linger

Bittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous6

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 Jack Cardiff's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (21).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jack Cardiff'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

90 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 17 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • British Film Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Suicidal Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Cinematographer

  • Secret Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Magic Balloon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Cinematographer

  • Call from Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Cinematographer

  • Million Dollar Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Cinematographer

  • Tai-Pan(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Rambo: First Blood Part II(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Cat's Eye(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Conan the Destroyer(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Far Pavilions(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Scandalous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • The Wicked Lady(1983)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Story(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Dogs of War(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Awakening(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • A Man, a Woman and a Bank(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Avalanche Express(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The Fifth Musketeer(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Death on the Nile(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Bridge Too Far(1977)

    Aerial Camera

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Crossed Swords(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Ride a Wild Pony(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Mutations(1974)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Penny Gold(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Scalawag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Cinematographer

  • The Girl on a Motorcycle(1968)

    Director · Adaptation · Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Dark of the Sun(1968)

    Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Liquidator(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Young Cassidy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • The Long Ships(1964)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Lion(1962)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • My Geisha(1962)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Fanny(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Very Important Person (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Sons and Lovers(1960)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Scent of Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Director

  • Web of Evidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • Intent to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director

  • The Vikings(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Big Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Legend of the Lost(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Prince and the Showgirl(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • India: Introduction to Its History (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • The Brave One(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • War and Peace(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Barefoot Contessa(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Crossed Swords (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • The Master of Ballantrae(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Story of William Tell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • It Started in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • The African Queen(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Magic Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Pandora and the Flying Dutchman(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Black Rose(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Under Capricorn(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Scott of the Antarctic(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Red Shoes(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • “The Red Shoes” Sketches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Black Narcissus(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • A Matter of Life and Death(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Caesar and Cleopatra(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Cinematographer

  • Western Approaches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Scottish Mazurka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Cinematographer

  • The Great Mr Handel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Border Weave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • This Is Colour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • The Western Isles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Colour in Clay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • The Green Girdle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Indian Durbar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • The Eternal Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Paris on Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Delhi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • A Road in India (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Temples of India (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • A Village in India (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • La caccia alla volpe nella campagna Romana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Petra (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Wings of the Morning(1937)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • As You Like It(1936)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost Goes West(1935)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Last Days of Pompeii(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Assistant Camera

  • Loose Ends (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Focus Puller

  • Harmony Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Camera Operator

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

    Production Runner

  • Tiptoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Actor

  • The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 89 titles from 1924 to 2007.

Biggest box office

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

$300M worldwide

Highest rated

A Matter of Life and Death (1946)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting4 of 89: 4 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting14 of 89: 12 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score46thWriting1 of 89: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleCinematography65 of 89: 63 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdOther crew9 of 89: 8 only other crew, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score37th

By decade

1920s3 · 2 acting · 1 crew1930s15 · crew1940s16 · crew1950s18 · crew1960s11 · crew1970s10 · crew1980s12 · crew1990s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew2000s2 · 1 acting · 1 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 Jack Cardiff's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 45; across their 41 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Reach · how many have seen their films

70thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 41

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 46 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Wicked Lady (1983)

66th percentile spread · 48% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Red Shoes (1948)

Midcredits 98th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 77/100 in their films, across 40 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 63. 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 Jack Cardiff's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore and frightening / intense run heavier than most films and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles24–71 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles14–56 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles1–34 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs11 titles27–47 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles36–62 · median 51 · moderateheavier 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 Jack Cardiff work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jack Cardiff's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Marius Goring shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles