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Lesley Selander

Lesley Selander

Director · Died December 5, 1979, aged 79 · Los Angeles, California, USA

From Wikipedia. Lesley Selander (May 26, 1900 – December 5, 1979) was an American film director of Westerns and science fiction movies. His career as director, spanning 127 feature films and dozens of TV episodes, lasted from 1936 to 1968. Before that, Selander was assistant director on films such as The Cat and the Fiddle (1934), A Night at the Opera (1935), and Fritz Lang's Fury (1936). To this day, Selander remains one of the most prolific directors of feature Westerns in cinema history, having taken the helm for 107 Westerns between his first directorial feature in 1936 and 1967. In 1956, he was nominated for the Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television, for his work directing a 1954 episode of Lassie.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 26, 1900
Died
December 5, 1979 (aged 79)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Director
Titles
61 on MovieCove · 155 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 27Down 39% in 30 days

What are Lesley Selander's films like?

Across their 55 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama42 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 24th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Western4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Western movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 14th percentile
: browse their Action 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
54%
Bonds
19%
Society
9%
Power
8%
Survival
6%
Self
4%
Justice41 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity13 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty11 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 55 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 33 · Serious 15 · Dark 7

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

Grounded 40 · Stylized 15 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 40 · Intense 6

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

Steady 35 · Shifting 19 · Whiplash 1

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

Straight-faced 33 · Some laughs 22 · Funny 0

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

Slow burn 15 · Even-paced 38 · 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 46 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 54 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
38
Thrilling
29
Hopeful
25
Warm
11
Melancholic
10
Other
29

How their films linger

Fun24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy32
  • Bittersweet22

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 Lesley Selander's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 42 of their 61 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (23).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lesley Selander'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

155 credits, 61 with a MovieCove page.

  • Arizona Bushwhackers(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Fort Utah(1967)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The Texican(1966)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Town Tamer(1965)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Fort Courageous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • War Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Convict Stage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • Daniel Boone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Tall Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Overland Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Laramie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 14 episodes · Director

  • Cannonball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

  • The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold(1958)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Wayward Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Taming Sutton’s Gal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Outlaw's Son(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Revolt at Fort Laramie(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Tomahawk Trail(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Quincannon, Frontier Scout(1956)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Broken Star(1956)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Desert Sands(1955)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

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

    Director

  • Fort Yuma(1955)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Tall Man Riding(1955)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Shotgun(1955)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 23 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • Return from the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director

  • The Yellow Tomahawk(1954)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Arrow in the Dust(1954)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Dragonfly Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director

  • The Royal African Rifles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • Fighter Attack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • Fort Algiers(1953)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • War Paint(1953)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Cow Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • Fort Vengeance(1953)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • The Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • Battle Zone(1952)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Flat Top (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • Desert Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • Road Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • Trail Guide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • Fort Osage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • Overland Telegraph (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Flight to Mars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Pistol Harvest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • The Highwayman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Gunplay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Cavalry Scout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • I Was an American Spy(1951)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Saddle Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Law of the Badlands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Short Grass(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Kangaroo Kid(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Rio Grande Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director

  • Rider from Tucson(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Storm Over Wyoming (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director

  • Dakota Lil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director

  • Riders of the Range(1950)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Mysterious Desperado (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Masked Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Stampede(1949)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Sky Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Rustlers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Brothers in the Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Indian Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Strike It Rich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Belle Starr's Daughter(1948)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Guns of Hate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Panhandle(1948)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Red Stallion(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Blackmail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Robin Hood of Texas(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Saddle Pals(1947)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Last Frontier Uprising (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • The Pilgrim Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Out California Way(1946)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Night Train to Memphis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • Traffic in Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • Passkey to Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • The Catman of Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • The Fatal Witness(1945)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Jungle Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Phantom of the Plains (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Trail of Kit Carson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Three's a Crowd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • The Vampire's Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Great Stagecoach Robbery(1945)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sheriff of Las Vegas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Firebrands of Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Sheriff of Sundown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Cheyenne Wildcat(1944)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Stagecoach to Monterey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Bordertown Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Call of the Rockies(1944)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Forty Thieves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Lumberjack(1944)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Riders of the Deadline(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Bar 20(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Colt Comrades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Director

  • Buckskin Frontier(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Border Patrol(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Lost Canyon(1942)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Red River Robin Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Undercover Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Bandit Ranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Thundering Hoofs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Riders of the Timberline (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Stick to Your Guns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Wide Open Town(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Pirates on Horseback(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Roundup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Director

  • Doomed Caravan(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Three Men from Texas(1940)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Cherokee Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • Stagecoach War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • Hidden Gold(1940)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Light of Western Stars(1940)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Knights of the Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • Santa Fe Marshal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Director

  • Range War(1939)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Renegade Trail(1939)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Heritage of the Desert(1939)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Silver on the Sage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Director

  • Sunset Trail(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Frontiersmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • The Mysterious Rider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Pride of the West(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Bar 20 Justice(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Heart of Arizona (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Cassidy of Bar 20 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Partners of the Plains(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Barrier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Black Aces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Hopalong Rides Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Smoke Tree Range (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Left-Handed Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

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

    Director

  • Empty Saddles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • The Boss Rider of Gun Creek (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Ride 'Em Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Fury(1936)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Moonlight Murder(1936)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Garden Murder Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Assistant Director

  • A Night at the Opera(1935)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • What Every Woman Knows(1934)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Thin Man(1934)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Warrior's Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Assistant Director

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

    Assistant Director

  • Don't Marry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Assistant Director

  • Napoleon, Jr. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Director

  • Wolf Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Cinematographer

  • Durand of the Bad Lands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Assistant Director

  • The Timber Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1925)

    Assistant Director

Career shape

A full career of 155 titles from 1925 to 1968.

Highest rated

The Lone Ranger and the Lost City of Gold (1958)

Midcredits 60th

Most popular right now

The Yellow Tomahawk (1954)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing143 of 155: 143 only directing, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score42ndCinematography1 of 155: 1 only cinematography, 0 with another roleOther crew11 of 155: 11 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score95th

By decade

1920s5 · crew1930s29 · crew1940s61 · crew1950s50 · crew1960s10 · 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 Lesley Selander's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 42nd percentile, the median of all 60; across their 55 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Approval · how many liked their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Reach · how many have seen their films

14thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 55

Midcredits score across 61 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th20
  • 25th to 49th27
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

21 of their 61 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser21
  • Broadly Agreed16
  • Mixed20

Most divisive · director

Call of the Rockies (1944)

80th percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Call of the Rockies (1944)

Midcredits 67th · 52% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 59/100 and the pacing 51/100 in their films, across 52 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 Lesley Selander work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lesley Selander's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Russell Harlan shares the most, 20.

Writers

Actors

  • William Boyd16 titles    See newest 12 of 16 shared titles with William Boyd
  • Russell Hayden13 titles    See newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Russell Hayden
  • Andy Clyde9 titles    See all 9 shared titles with Andy Clyde
  • Morris Ankrum8 titles    See all 8 shared titles with Morris Ankrum

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles