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Leon Shamroy

Leon Shamroy

Cinematographer · Died July 7, 1974, aged 72 · New York City, New York, USA

Leon Shamroy (July 16, 1901 – July 7, 1974) was an American film cinematographer known for his work in 20th Century Fox motion pictures shot in Technicolor. During his half-century career, he earned a record 18 Academy Award nominations (tied with Charles Lang) for Best Cinematography with a record 4 wins (tied with Joseph Ruttenberg).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 16, 1901
Died
July 7, 1974 (aged 72)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
67 on MovieCove · 110 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 28Up 18% in 30 days

What are Leon Shamroy's films like?

Across their 66 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy27 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Adventure8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
38%
Morality
22%
Self
14%
Society
12%
Power
8%
Survival
3%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love33 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage6 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition6 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 66 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 36 · Serious 15 · Dark 15

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

Grounded 23 · Stylized 31 · Heightened 12

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

Gentle 24 · Charged 34 · Intense 8

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

Steady 38 · Shifting 26 · Whiplash 2

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 28 · Some laughs 26 · Funny 12

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

Slow burn 37 · Even-paced 25 · Relentless 4

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

Casual 42 · Engaged 24 · Full focus 0

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

Easy watch 38 · Affecting 17 · Heavy 11

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

Resolved 61 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Romantic
35
Tense
24
Joyful
20
Warm
23
Melancholic
20
Other
51

How their films linger

Feel-good36 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy39
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2

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 Leon Shamroy's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 67 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Leon Shamroy'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

110 credits, 67 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Prudence and the Chief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer

  • Footprints on the Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Justine(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Skidoo(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Life of an American Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Cinematographer

  • Planet of the Apes(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Caprice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Cinematographer

  • The Glass Bottom Boat(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Do Not Disturb(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Agony and the Ecstasy(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • What a Way to Go!(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Cardinal(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Cleopatra(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Tender Is the Night(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Snow White and the Three Stooges(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • North to Alaska(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Wake Me When It's Over(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Beloved Infidel(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Blue Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Porgy and Bess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys!(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Bravados(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • South Pacific(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Desk Set(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Girl Can't Help It(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Best Things in Life Are Free (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • The King and I(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Good Morning, Miss Dove(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Daddy Long Legs(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • There's No Business Like Show Business(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Egyptian(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • King of the Khyber Rifles(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Robe(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • White Witch Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The Girl Next Door(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Call Me Madam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Down Among the Sheltering Palms(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Tonight We Sing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The Snows of Kilimanjaro(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • With a Song in My Heart(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • David and Bathsheba(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • On the Riviera (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Two Flags West(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Cheaper by the Dozen(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Twelve O'Clock High(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Prince of Foxes(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • That Lady in Ermine(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Daisy Kenyon(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Forever Amber(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Shocking Miss Pilgrim(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Leave Her to Heaven(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • State Fair(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Where Do We Go from Here? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Cinematographer

  • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Greenwich Village(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Wilson(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Buffalo Bill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Claudia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Cinematographer

  • Stormy Weather(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Crash Dive(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Black Swan(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Ten Gentlemen from West Point(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Roxie Hart(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Confirm or Deny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • A Yank in the RAF(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Moon Over Miami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • The Great American Broadcast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • That Night in Rio(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Tin Pan Alley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • Down Argentine Way(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Four Sons (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • Lillian Russell(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • I Was an Adventuress(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Little Old New York(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Second Fiddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • The Story of Alexander Graham Bell(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Made for Each Other(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Young in Heart(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Blossoms On Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Her Husband Lies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • You Only Live Once(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Wedding Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • Fatal Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • Soak the Rich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • Mary Burns, Fugitive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • She Couldn't Take It(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • She Married Her Boss(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Accent on Youth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • Private Worlds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • Behold My Wife! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Ready for Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Kiss and Make-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Thirty Day Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Good Dame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Three Cornered Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Her Bodyguard(1933)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Jennie Gerhardt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • At Twelve Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • A Strange Adventure(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Stowaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Gaucho Soul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Bitter Sweets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • The Last Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • The Telltale Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director · Cinematographer

  • Land of the Lawless (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Trunk Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 110 titles from 1926 to 1970.

Biggest box office

Cleopatra (1963)

$58M worldwide

Highest rated

Planet of the Apes (1968)

Midcredits 98th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 110: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleCinematography110 of 110: 109 only cinematography, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score63rd

By decade

1920s5 · crew1930s28 · crew1940s30 · crew1950s29 · 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 Leon Shamroy's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 67; across their 66 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 66

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 66

Reach · how many have seen their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 66

Midcredits score across 67 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th26
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

44 of their 67 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser44
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · cinematographer

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965)

75th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Planet of the Apes (1968)

Midcredits 98th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 73/100 in their films, across 63 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 61. 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 Leon Shamroy's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles19–58 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles17–48 · median 19 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles4–26 · median 11 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs5 titles22–37 · median 24 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles16–53 · 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 Leon Shamroy work with?

People who share at least 2 of Leon Shamroy's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alfred Newman shares the most, 25.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

  • Alfred Newman25 titles    See newest 12 of 25 shared titles with Alfred Newman
  • Barbara McLean13 titles    See newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Barbara McLean
  • Cyril J. Mockridge11 titles    See all 11 shared titles with Cyril J. Mockridge
  • Robert L. Simpson8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Robert L. Simpson

Producers

Mixed roles