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Karl Freund

Karl Freund

Cinematographer, also director, producer and writer · Died May 3, 1969, aged 79 · Königinhof, Bohemia, Czech Republic

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.   Karl W. Freund, A.S.C. (January 16, 1890-May 3, 1969) was a cinematographer and film director. Born in Dvůr Králové (Königinhof), Bohemia, his career began in 1905 when, at age 15, he got a job as an assistant projectionist for a film company in Berlin where his family moved in 1901. He worked as a cinematographer on over 100 films, including the German Expressionist films The Golem (1920), The Last Laugh (1924) and Metropolis (1927). Freund emigrated to the United States in 1929 where he continued to shoot well remembered films such as Dracula (1931) and Key Largo (1948). He won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for The Good Earth (1937). In 1937, he went to Germany to bring his only daughter, Gerda Maria Freund, back to the United States, saving her from almost certain death in the concentration camps. Karl's ex-wife, Susette Freund (née Liepmannssohn), remained in Germany where she was interned at the Ravensbrück concentration camp and eventually taken in March, 1942 to Bernburg Euthanasia Center where she was murdered. Between 1921 and 1935, Freund also directed ten films, of which the best known are probably The Mummy (1932) starring Boris Karloff, and his last film as director, Mad Love (1935) starring Peter Lorre. Freund's only known film as an actor is Carl Dreyer's Michael (1924) in which he has a cameo as a sycophantic art dealer who saves the tobacco ashes dropped by a famous painter. At the beginning of the 1950s, he was persuaded by Desi Arnaz at Desilu to be the cinematographer in 1951 for the televisions series I Love Lucy. Critics have credited Freund for the show's lustrous black and white cinematography, but more importantly, Freund designed the "flat lighting" system for shooting sitcoms that is still in use today. This system covers the set in light, thus eliminating shadows and allowing the use of three moving cameras without having to modify the lighting in-between shots. And where Freund did not invent the three camera shooting system, he did perfect it for use with film cameras in front of a live audience. Freund and his production team also worked on other sitcoms produced at/through Desilu such as "Our Miss Brooks". Description above from the Wikipedia article Karl Freund, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 16, 1890
Died
May 3, 1969 (aged 79)
From
Königinhof, Bohemia, Czech Republic
Works as
Cinematographer, also director, producer and writer
Titles
42 on MovieCove · 136 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 61% in 30 days

What are Karl Freund's films like?

Across their 40 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Fantasy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Fantasy 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
33%
Morality
18%
Power
15%
Self
12%
Survival
11%
Society
9%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love18 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass8 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 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 11 · Serious 12 · Dark 17

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 20 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 4

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 21 · Intense 10

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

Steady 19 · Shifting 20 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 27 · Some laughs 12 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 18 · Engaged 21 · 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 13 · Affecting 15 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 36 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
26
Melancholic
23
Romantic
12
Dread
9
Hopeful
9
Other
31

How their films linger

Bittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet17
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical1

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 Karl Freund's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 42 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Karl Freund'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

136 credits, 42 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Golem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • I Love Lucy: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Bright Leaf(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Montana(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • South of St. Louis(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Decision of Christopher Blake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Key Largo(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Wallflower (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • That Hagen Girl(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • This Time for Keeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Cinematographer

  • Undercurrent(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • A Letter for Evie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Cinematographer

  • Two Smart People(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Dangerous Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Cinematographer

  • Without Love(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Thin Man Goes Home(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Seventh Cross(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • A Guy Named Joe(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Cry 'Havoc'(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Du Barry Was a Lady(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • A Yank at Eton(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The War Against Mrs. Hadley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • The Affairs of Martha(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Tortilla Flat(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Chocolate Soldier(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Blossoms in the Dust(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Comrade X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Camera Operator

  • Pride and Prejudice(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • We Who Are Young(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • Green Hell(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Earl of Chicago(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Balalaika(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Barricade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Golden Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Rose of Washington Square(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tail Spin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Letter of Introduction(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Port of Seven Seas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Three Comrades(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Man-Proof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Conquest(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Parnell(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Good Earth(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Camille(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Great Ziegfeld(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Mad Love(1935)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Gift of Gab (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • I Give My Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

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

    Director

  • The Countess of Monte Cristo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Madame Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Moonlight and Pretzels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • The Kiss Before the Mirror(1933)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Mummy(1932)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Afraid to Talk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Air Mail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Back Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Scandal for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Murders in the Rue Morgue(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Strictly Dishonorable (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Personal Maid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Up for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • The Bad Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Dracula(1931)

    Co-Director · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Boudoir Diplomat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lottery Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • All Quiet on the Western Front(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Sleeping Partners (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Fräulein Else (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • A Knight in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Lady Juan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Berlin: Symphony of Metropolis(1927)

    Cinematographer · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Metropolis(1927)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Madame Wants No Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Producer

  • Adventures of a Ten Mark Note (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Production Supervisor

  • Manon Lescaut (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Variety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • The Last Laugh(1924)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer · as LeBlanc - Art Dealer

  • The Finances of the Grand Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • The Expulsion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Der Tiger des Zirkus Farini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Herzog Ferrantes Ende (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Lucrezia Borgia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • The Burning Soil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Marizza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Das blinde Glück (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Torgus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • The Rats (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • The Boy in Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lost Shadow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • The Golem(1920)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Catherine the Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • Panic in the House of Ardon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Head of Janus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Hunchback and the Dancer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • Die Nacht auf Goldenhall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Spiders: Part 2 - The Diamond Ship (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • Satan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Spiders - Episode 1: The Golden Sea(1919)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Die Arche. 2. Teil: Die letzten Menschen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • The Arc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • Intoxication (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • Augen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Camera Department Manager · Cinematographer

  • Phantome des Lebens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1919)

    Cinematographer

  • Die Dame, der Teufel und die Probiermamsell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Die blaue Laterne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Die Heimkehr des Odysseus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Das Maskenfest des Lebens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Agnes Arnau und ihre drei Freier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Das Geschlecht derer von Ringwall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Auf Probe gestellt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Countess Kitchenmaid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • The Giant's Fist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Cinematographer

  • Die Claudi vom Geiserhof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Cinematographer

  • Gefangene Seele (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Cinematographer

  • Christa Hartungen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Cinematographer

  • Der Liebesbrief der Königin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Cinematographer

  • Die Ehe der Luise Rohrbach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1917)

    Cinematographer

  • The White Roses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Cinematographer

  • The Robber Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Cinematographer

  • Das wandernde Licht (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Cinematographer

  • Little Angel's Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Camera Operator

  • Frau Eva (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Cinematographer

  • Bummelstudenten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Cinematographer

  • The Man in the Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Cinematographer

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Cinematographer

  • A Venetian Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Cinematographer

  • Das Feuer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Cinematographer

  • Zapata's Gang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Cinematographer

  • Little Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1914)

    Cinematographer

  • The Film Prima Donna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Cinematographer

  • The Suffragette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1913)

    Cinematographer

  • Poor Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1912)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 136 titles from 1912 to 1960.

Biggest box office

Pride and Prejudice (1940)

$4M worldwide

Highest rated

Metropolis (1927)

Midcredits 98th

Film career

  • 1924Screen debut· Michael

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 136: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleDirecting9 of 136: 8 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 136: 1 only producing, 1 with another roleCinematography124 of 136: 119 only cinematography, 5 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thOther crew5 of 136: 3 only other crew, 2 with another role

136 titles, 5 with more than one role — cinematography and directing overlap on 1 of them.

By decade

1910s35 · crew1920s32 · 1 acting · 32 crew1930s37 · crew1940s28 · crew1950s3 · crew1960s1 · 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 Karl Freund's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 42; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 42 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th12
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 42 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed7
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · cinematographer

That Hagen Girl (1947)

51st percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Metropolis (1927)

Midcredits 98th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 74/100 in their films, across 35 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 60. 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 Karl Freund's work okay for kids?

Across up to 8 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles15–62 · median 31 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity8 titles4–27 · median 8 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles1–15 · median 4 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles19–43 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles35–66 · median 44 · 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 Karl Freund work with?

People who share at least 2 of Karl Freund's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Herbert Stothart shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles