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Virgil Miller

Virgil Miller

Cinematographer, also actor · Died October 5, 1974, aged 87 · Coffeen, Illinois, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Virgil Miller (December 20, 1886 - October 5, 1974) was an American cinematographer who was the director of photography for 157 films between 1917 and 1956. Miller's credits include The Phantom of the Opera (1925), Danger - Love at Work (1937), Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938), The Mummy's Curse (1944), Navajo (1952), Crazylegs (1953), and six Charlie Chan films. Prior to working for Universal Studios and, eventually, most other major studios, Miller was a graduate from and a professor at Kansas State University teaching physics and electrical engineering. In 1913 he became the first director and founder of the electrical department of Universal Studios. He also coordinated very early special effects including filming stampedes, explosions, and shrinking people.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 20, 1886
Died
October 5, 1974 (aged 87)
From
Coffeen, Illinois, USA
Works as
Cinematographer, also actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 88 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 26Up 25% in 30 days

What are Virgil Miller's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror 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
46%
Bonds
23%
Self
16%
Society
9%
Ideas
3%
Survival
3%
Justice10 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 14 · Intense 1

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

Steady 12 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 10 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 9 · 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 7 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Thrilling
7
Melancholic
6
Warm
5
Contemplative
4
Other
9

How their films linger

Fun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet6
  • Tragic2

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 Virgil Miller's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (5).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Virgil Miller'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

88 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page.

  • Unchained (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Cinematographer

  • Crazylegs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Miss Robin Crusoe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Murder Without Tears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Navajo(1952)

    Cinematographer · as Trader

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • To the Coast of Devon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Pastoral Panoramas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Land of Tradition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • A Wee Bit of Scotland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Glimpses of Old England (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • From Liverpool to Stratford (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Roaming Through Northern Ireland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Scholastic England (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Night Life in Chicago (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Wandering Through Wales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • Cape Breton Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • On the Shores of Nova Scotia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Cinematographer

  • The Vigilantes Return (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Cinematographer

  • The Red Stallion(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Falcon in San Francisco(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Woman in Green(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The House of Fear(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • The Mummy's Curse(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Pearl of Death(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Trial by Trigger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Colorful Colorado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Mackinac Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Weird Woman(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Visiting St. Louis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Calling Dr. Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Cinematographer

  • Dr. Renault's Secret(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Berlin Correspondent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Castle in the Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Man at Large (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Ride, Kelly, Ride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Pier 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • Charlie Chan in Panama(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Wouldn't Talk(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • City in Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Inside Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Mr. Moto's Last Warning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Charlie Chan at Treasure Island(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Charlie Chan in Reno(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Mysterious Mr. Moto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Walking Down Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Thank You, Mr. Moto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Courage of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Find the Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Danger - Love at Work(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Drift Fence(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Garden of Allah(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Sally's Shoulders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Stocks and Blondes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Gang War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Alex The Great (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • The Count of Ten (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Finders Keepers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Cinematographer

  • Irish Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Gay Old Bird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • Finger Prints (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • Private Izzy Murphy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • Broken Hearts of Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

  • California Straight Ahead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • The Phantom of the Opera(1925)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Saddle Hawk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • All's Swell on the Ocean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • Ride for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • Hook and Ladder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1924)

    Cinematographer

  • The Thrill Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • The Ramblin' Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1923)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Scarlet Car (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1923)

    Cinematographer

  • Man Under Cover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Don't Shoot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • The Black Bag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • The Trap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • The Scrapper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    Cinematographer

  • Red Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • Luring Lips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1921)

    Cinematographer

  • Two Kinds of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • Pink Tights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Silent Barrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1920)

    Cinematographer

  • The Eagle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Smashing Through (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • The Guilt of Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

  • Brace Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1918)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 81 titles from 1918 to 1955.

Biggest box office

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

$8.9K worldwide

Highest rated

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Midcredits 91st

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography81 of 81: 81 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1910s4 · crew1920s31 · crew1930s10 · crew1940s28 · crew1950s8 · 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 Virgil Miller's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 18; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 18 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser5
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · cinematographer

The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1940)

55th percentile spread · 15% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Midcredits 91st · 81% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 72/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 77, 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.

Who does Virgil Miller work with?

People who share at least 2 of Virgil Miller's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Paul Sawtell shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers