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John Rawlins

Director and editor, also writer · Died May 20, 1997, aged 94 · Long Beach, California, USA

Director John Rawlins started in films in 1918 as an actor, stunt man, gag writer and assistant director. For a while he sidelined as a comedy writer, then became an editor and later directed second features for First National in Britain from the early 1930s. Returning to the US, he joined Universal (1938-46), where he turned out "B" pictures and serials, including installments of the "Dick Tracy" and "Sherlock Holmes" series. He had similar assignments at RKO (1947-48) and United Artists (1951-53), before branching out into television dramas.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
June 9, 1902
Died
May 20, 1997 (aged 94)
From
Long Beach, California, USA
Works as
Director and editor, also writer
Titles
13 on MovieCove · 67 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 38 days to Oct 27

What are John Rawlins' films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
52%
Bonds
26%
Power
13%
Self
7%
Survival
2%
Society
2%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 2 · Dark 1

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 0

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 10 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 13 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Thrilling
8
Warm
4
Romantic
2
Hopeful
3
Other
9

How their films linger

Fun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet3

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 John Rawlins' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 13 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Rawlins' 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

67 credits, 13 with a MovieCove page.

  • Lost Lagoon(1957)

    Director · Adaptation · Producer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Shark River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director · Story

  • Fort Defiance(1951)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Rogue River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • The Boy From Indiana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director

  • Massacre River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Michael O'Halloran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • The Arizona Ranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dick Tracy's Dilemma(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Her Adventurous Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • Strange Conquest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • Sudan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Ladies Courageous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • We've Never Been Licked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Director

  • Arabian Nights(1942)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Great Impersonation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Overland Mail(1942)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Half Way to Shanghai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror(1942)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Mississippi Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Unseen Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Torpedo Boat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Bombay Clipper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Secret of the Wastelands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Williams

  • Sea Raiders(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • A Dangerous Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Raiders of the Desert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Men of the Timberland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Mutiny in the Arctic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Mr. Dynamite (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Six Lessons From Madame La Zonga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • The Green Hornet Strikes Again!(1940)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Junior G-Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • Dead End Kids vs. Spies, Inc. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • The Leather Pushers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • Argentine Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Gaucho

  • Whispering Enemies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Story

  • The Missing Guest(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Young Fugitives(1938)

    Director

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

  • Air Devils (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • State Police (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Let Them Live (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Editor

  • Pennies from Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Editor

  • The Final Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Editor

  • You May Be Next! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Editor

  • Hoi Polloi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Editor

  • Men of the Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Editor

  • Death Flies East (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Editor

  • Mills of the Gods(1934)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Fugitive Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Editor

  • Among the Missing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Editor

  • The Hell Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Editor

  • The Line-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Editor

  • Above the Clouds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Editor

  • Shadows of Sing Sing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Editor

  • Dangerous Crossroads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Editor

  • They're Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • Lucky Ladies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

  • High Society (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

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

    Editor

  • Murder at Midnight(1931)

    Editor

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

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

    Editor

  • Too Young to Marry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Editor

  • Sweethearts and Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Editor

  • Waterfront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Editor

  • Skinner's Dress Suit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Editor

Career shape

A full career of 67 titles from 1926 to 1957.

Highest rated

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror (1942)

Midcredits 64th

Most popular right now

The Green Hornet Strikes Again! (1940)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting2 of 67: 2 only acting, 0 with another roleDirecting42 of 67: 40 only directing, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score41stWriting3 of 67: 1 only writing, 2 with another roleProducing1 of 67: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleEditing22 of 67: 22 only editing, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s2 · crew1930s28 · crew1940s32 · 2 acting · 30 crew1950s5 · 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 John Rawlins' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 41st percentile, the median of all 13; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 46th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

36thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

20thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 13 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

7 of their 13 titles are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · director

The Green Hornet Strikes Again! (1940)

72nd percentile spread · 14% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

The Green Hornet Strikes Again! (1940)

Midcredits 71st · 64% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 63/100 and the pacing 55/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

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 John Rawlins work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Rawlins' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ford Beebe shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers