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Jack Hildyard

Jack Hildyard

Cinematographer · Died September 5, 1990, aged 82 · London, England

Jack Hildyard (17 March 1908 – 5 September 1990) was a British cinematographer. He made several films with David Lean, including The Sound Barrier (1952), Hobson's Choice (1954), and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), for which he won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 17, 1908
Died
September 5, 1990 (aged 82)
From
London, England
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 71 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 156 days to Oct 27Down 11% in 30 days

What are Jack Hildyard's films like?

Across their 38 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th 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
Morality
29%
Bonds
22%
Self
21%
Power
12%
Survival
11%
Society
5%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeWar4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 38 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 14 · Serious 12 · Dark 12

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

Grounded 13 · Stylized 16 · Heightened 9

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 19 · Intense 10

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

Steady 16 · Shifting 18 · Whiplash 4

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 24 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 6

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

Slow burn 18 · Even-paced 19 · 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 13 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 4

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

Easy watch 15 · Affecting 16 · Heavy 7

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

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
24
Melancholic
16
Contemplative
8
Romantic
8
Hopeful
10
Other
41

How their films linger

Bittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy9
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous5

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 Hildyard's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jack Hildyard'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

71 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Florence Nightingale(1985)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Ellis Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood(1984)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Clash of Loyalties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Cinematographer

  • Lion of the Desert(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Geese(1978)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Emily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • The Message(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Message(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Not Now, Comrade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Cinematographer

  • Mousey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • The Beast Must Die(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Last Chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

  • Mafia Junction(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Puppet on a Chain(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Topaz(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Hard Contract (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • Villa Rides(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Long Duel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Cinematographer

  • Casino Royale(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Modesty Blaise(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Battle of the Bulge(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Rolls-Royce(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Circus World(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The V.I.P.s(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • 55 Days at Peking(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Cleopatra(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Live Now - Pay Later (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • The Road to Hong Kong(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Sundowners(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Millionairess(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Suddenly, Last Summer(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Jet Storm(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Disciple(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Journey(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Another Time, Another Place(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Gypsy and the Gentleman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • The Bridge on the River Kwai(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Living Idol(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Anastasia(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Charley Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • The March Hare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • The Deep Blue Sea(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Summertime(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Teckman Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Hobson's Choice(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Heart of the Matter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Folly to Be Wise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • The Sound Barrier(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Home at Seven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Talk of a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Hotel Sahara(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Reluctant Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • The Chiltern Hundreds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • The Perfect Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Cardboard Cavalier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Sleeping Car to Trieste(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The First Gentleman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Vice Versa(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • While the Sun Shines (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Cinematographer

  • School for Secrets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Cinematographer

  • Caesar and Cleopatra(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Henry V(1944)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Lamp Still Burns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Camera Operator

  • Escape to Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Camera Operator

  • The Flemish Farm(1943)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Thunder Rock(1942)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Spitfire(1942)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Mister V(1941)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Pygmalion(1938)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 68 titles from 1938 to 1985.

Biggest box office

Cleopatra (1963)

$58M worldwide

Highest rated

The Message (1976)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography60 of 68: 60 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60thOther crew8 of 68: 8 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score80th

By decade

1930s1 · crew1940s16 · crew1950s21 · crew1960s16 · crew1970s10 · crew1980s4 · 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 Hildyard's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 65th percentile, the median of all 44; across their 38 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Reach · how many have seen their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 38

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up17
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984)

80th percentile spread · 35% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Message (1976)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 70/100 in their films, across 37 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 Jack Hildyard's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, frightening / intense runs heavier than most films and sex & nudity and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles46–61 · median 51 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles2–27 · median 10 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles3–29 · median 8 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs7 titles17–41 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles34–74 · median 58 · 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 Hildyard work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jack Hildyard's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Maurice Jarre shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles