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Glen MacWilliams

Cinematographer · Died April 15, 1984, aged 85 · Saratoga, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Glen MacWilliams (May 21, 1898 – April 15, 1984), was an American cinematographer. Born in California, MacWilliams started his career in the silent days. He worked in the United Kingdom for much of the 1930s, working on several musicals with Jessie Matthews. He returned to the US in the 1940s where he worked extensively for 20th Century Fox, filming Laurel and Hardy's first two films for the studio and also worked with Alfred Hitchcock on Lifeboat in 1944. He had previously worked with Hitchcock on one occasion in Britain. He later worked in television on such shows as Highway Patrol, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Untouchables and My Living Doll before he retired in the mid-1960s.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 21, 1898
Died
April 15, 1984 (aged 85)
From
Saratoga, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 75 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 27% in 30 days

What are Glen MacWilliams' films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Self.

Genres

Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy 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
44%
Self
16%
Bonds
15%
Survival
11%
Ideas
6%
Power
5%
Society
2%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 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 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 5 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

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 5 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 7 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Dread
2
Joyful
2
Manic
1
Contemplative
2
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet2
  • Ambiguous1
  • 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 Glen MacWilliams' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Glen MacWilliams' 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

75 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page.

  • My Living Doll(1964)

    Show 26 episodes · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Johnny Ringo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Law of the Plainsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

  • Girl with an Itch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • A Lust to Kill(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Shock(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Cinematographer

  • Within These Walls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Cinematographer

  • Winged Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Lifeboat(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Wing and a Prayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • It's Everybody's War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • A-Haunting We Will Go(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Young America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Blue, White and Perfect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Great Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • A Window in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • The Proud Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • Sailing Along (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • King Solomon's Mines(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • It's Love Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • The Return of Peter Grimm(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Things Are Looking Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • The Clairvoyant(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Heat Wave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • The Murder Party(1934)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Evergreen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Waltzes from Vienna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Camera Operator

  • A Cuckoo in the Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Sleeping Car (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • Cavalcade(1933)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • While Paris Sleeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Sob Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • You Have to Marry the Prince (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • The Front Page(1931)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Body and Soul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • The Sea Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Common Clay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Pleasure Crazed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Black Magic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

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

    Additional Photography

  • Hearts in Dixie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Love Hungry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Ladies Must Dress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Secret Studio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Heart of Salome (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • Stage Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Lily (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • The Golden Strain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Thunder Mountain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • The Re-Creation of Brian Kent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • The Mine with the Iron Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • Captain January (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • The Dangerous Maid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Rupert of Hentzau (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Quicksands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Oliver Twist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Ever Since Eve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • The Mother Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Wing Toy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • Partners of Fate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • The Poor Simp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • Bound in Morocco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Say! Young Fellow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Headin' South(1918)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Wild and Woolly(1917)

    Assistant Director of Photography

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • American Aristocracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1916)

    Assistant Camera

Career shape

A full career of 75 titles from 1916 to 1964.

Biggest box office

Lifeboat (1944)

$99 worldwide

Highest rated

Lifeboat (1944)

Midcredits 95th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography71 of 75: 71 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thOther crew4 of 75: 4 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1910s5 · crew1920s28 · crew1930s22 · crew1940s14 · crew1950s5 · 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 Glen MacWilliams' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 12; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up1
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 13 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · cinematographer

Headin' South (1918)

83rd percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Lifeboat (1944)

Midcredits 95th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 65/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 69, detractors 53. 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 Glen MacWilliams work with?

People who share at least 2 of Glen MacWilliams' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Alfred L. Werker shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers