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Eugen Schüfftan

Cinematographer, also producer · Died September 6, 1977, aged 84 · Breslau, Silesia, Germany [now Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Eugen Schüfftan (21 July 1893, Breslau, Silesia, Germany, now Wroclaw, Poland – 6 September 1977, New York City) was a German Jewish cinematographer. He invented the Schüfftan process, a special effects technique that employed mirrors to insert actors into miniature sets. One of the first uses of the process was for Metropolis (1927), directed by Fritz Lang. The technique was widely used throughout the first half of the 20th century until it was supplanted by the travelling matte and bluescreen techniques. Schüfftan won the 1962 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White for his work on the film The Hustler.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 21, 1893
Died
September 6, 1977 (aged 84)
From
Breslau, Silesia, Germany [now Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland]
Works as
Cinematographer, also producer
Titles
21 on MovieCove · 66 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 20% in 30 days

What are Eugen Schüfftan's films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 78th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 46th percentile
: 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
Bonds
28%
Morality
25%
Power
20%
Self
15%
Survival
6%
Society
6%
Romantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 15 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 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 10

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

Grounded 3 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 4 · Charged 8 · Intense 3

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

Steady 7 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

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 5 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 9

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 8 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
11
Tense
8
Romantic
5
Dread
3
Thrilling
3
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet8
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous2
  • 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 Eugen Schüfftan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 21 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Eugen Schüfftan'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

66 credits, 21 with a MovieCove page.

  • Chappaqua (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Camera Operator

  • The Doctor Speaks Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Cinematographer

  • Three Rooms in Manhattan(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Big Scare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • Lilith(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Virgins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Cinematographer

  • Captain Sindbad(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Something Wild(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Hustler(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Eyes Without a Face(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • A Couple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • The Bloody Brood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Head Against the Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • The First Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans(1957)

    Show 20 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • A Parisian in Rome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Ulysses(1954)

    Special Effects

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Venus of Tivoli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Mina de Vanghel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The Crimson Curtain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The Respectful Prostitute (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Gunman in the Streets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Women in the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Art Direction · Cinematographer · Set Decoration

  • The Strange Woman(1946)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Dark Mirror(1946)

    Visual Effects

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • A Scandal in Paris(1946)

    Cinematographer · Production Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Wife of Monte Cristo(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Club Havana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Cinematographer

  • Bluebeard(1944)

    Cinematographer · Production Design

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Summer Storm(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • It Happened Tomorrow(1944)

    Technical Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Voice in the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Technical Advisor

  • Hitler's Madman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Cinematographer

  • There's No Tomorrow(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Emigrant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • María de la O (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • The Shanghai Drama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Port of Shadows(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Hatred(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Forfaiture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Bizarre, Bizarre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Yoshiwara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Street of Shadows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • The Trouble with Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • The Tender Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • The Invader (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • The Slump Is Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • The Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • High and Low (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Invisible Opponent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • The Oil Sharks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Queen of Atlantis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • The Mistress of Atlantis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Into the Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director

  • I'd Rather Have Cod Liver Oil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • The Scoundrel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Les quatre vagabonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Popular Tune (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • The Stolen Face (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • People on Sunday(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Jagd auf dich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Metropolis(1927)

    Visual Effects

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Napoleon(1927)

    Special Effects · Visual Effects Supervisor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

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

    Additional Photography

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

    Show 39 episodes · Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 65 titles, 64 of them dated from 1926 to 1966.

Biggest box office

Eyes Without a Face (1960)

$63K worldwide

Highest rated

The Hustler (1961)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Eyes Without a Face (1960)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing2 of 65: 1 only directing, 1 with another roleProducing1 of 65: 1 only producing, 0 with another roleCinematography55 of 65: 51 only cinematography, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score71stOther crew11 of 65: 8 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score81st

65 titles, 4 with more than one role — cinematography and other crew overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1920s4 · crew1930s26 · crew1940s12 · crew1950s11 · crew1960s11 · 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 Eugen Schüfftan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 77th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 15 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 67th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

67thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Approval · how many liked their films

68thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Reach · how many have seen their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 15

Midcredits score across 21 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th3

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 21 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · cinematographer

Three Rooms in Manhattan (1965)

64th percentile spread · 17% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Hustler (1961)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 75/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 57. 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.

Who does Eugen Schüfftan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Eugen Schüfftan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Edgar G. Ulmer shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Composers

Producers