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Don Siegel

Don Siegel

Director, writer, actor and producer · Died April 20, 1991, aged 78 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Donald Siegel (October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film director and producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Clint Eastwood, including Two Mules for Sister Sara (1970), Dirty Harry (1971), and Escape from Alcatraz (1979).

Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 26, 1912
Died
April 20, 1991 (aged 78)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Director, writer, actor and producer
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 71 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 7% in 30 days

What are Don Siegel's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Crime8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
41%
Survival
15%
Self
15%
Bonds
13%
Power
9%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Justice8 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 28 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 7 · Dark 18

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

Grounded 20 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 1

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 10 · Intense 16

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 15 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

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

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 18 · 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 5 · Engaged 20 · Full focus 3

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

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 9 · Heavy 12

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

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 6 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
27
Melancholic
11
Dread
7
Thrilling
7
Contemplative
6
Other
14

How their films linger

Haunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic3
  • Ambiguous9

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 Don Siegel's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 21 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Don Siegel'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

71 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Unmasking Zorro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Cinematographer

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 1 episode · Writer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Unforgiven(1992)

    Thanks

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 180 episodes · Producer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Into the Night(1985)

    as Embarrassed Man

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Jinxed!(1982)

    Director · Screenplay · as Owner Adult Bookstore

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Rough Cut(1980)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Escape from Alcatraz(1979)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1978)

    as Taxi Driver

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Telefon(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Shootist(1976)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Arena (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Black Windmill(1974)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Charley Varrick(1973)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Murphy

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Dirty Harry(1971)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay · as Pedestrian Passing Harry's Car (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Play Misty for Me(1971)

    as Murphy

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Beguiled(1971)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Two Mules for Sister Sara(1970)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • McCloud(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Death of a Gunfighter(1969)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Faces(1968)

    as Extra at Whiskey A-Go-Go (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Coogan's Bluff(1968)

    Director · Producer · as Elevator Passenger (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Madigan(1968)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Stranger on the Run(1967)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Convoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Legend of Jesse James (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Hanged Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • The Killers(1964)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Destry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Solid Gold Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • Breaking Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Lloyd Bridges Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Hell Is for Heroes(1962)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Bus Stop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Flaming Star(1960)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Hound-Dog Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • Edge of Eternity(1959)

    Director · Associate Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Silent Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Director

  • The Gun Runners(1958)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • The Lineup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director · Writer

  • Baby Face Nelson(1957)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Spanish Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • The Hired Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director

  • Crime in the Streets(1956)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1956)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • An Annapolis Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • Private Hell 36 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director

  • Riot in Cell Block 11(1954)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • China Venture (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director

  • Count the Hours!(1953)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • No Time for Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Director

  • The Duel at Silver Creek(1952)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • All the King's Men(1949)

    Second Unit · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Big Steal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • Night Unto Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director

  • The Verdict(1946)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Devotion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Editorial Services

  • Hitler Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director

  • Star in the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Director · Screenplay

  • To Have and Have Not(1944)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Conspirators(1944)

    Assistant Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Passage to Marseille(1944)

    Special Effects

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Northern Pursuit(1943)

    Editorial Staff · Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Casablanca(1942)

    Other

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Hard Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Editorial Services

  • Gentleman Jim(1942)

    Editorial Services

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • George Washington Slept Here(1942)

    Other

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Now, Voyager(1942)

    Other

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant York(1941)

    Second Unit

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 71 titles from 1941 to 2001.

Biggest box office

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

$43M worldwide

Highest rated

Dirty Harry (1971)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Escape from Alcatraz (1979)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting10 of 71: 6 only acting, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score79thDirecting49 of 71: 34 only directing, 15 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thWriting12 of 71: 1 only writing, 11 with another role · typical Midcredits score93rdProducing9 of 71: 1 only producing, 8 with another role · typical Midcredits score86thCinematography1 of 71: 1 only cinematography, 0 with another roleOther crew13 of 71: 13 only other crew, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score93rd

71 titles, 15 with more than one role.

By decade

1940s17 · crew1950s19 · crew1960s16 · 2 acting · 15 crew1970s12 · 6 acting · 8 crew1980s4 · 2 acting · 3 crew1990s2 · crew2000s1 · crew

Billing

usually 15th · top billed in 0% of 5 roles

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. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Don Siegel's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 78th percentile, the median of all 41; across their 28 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 66th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

66thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Approval · how many liked their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Reach · how many have seen their films

76thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 28

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up24
  • 50th to 74th17
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

25 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Crowd Pleaser25
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed1

Most divisive · actor, director, writer

Jinxed! (1982)

58th percentile spread · 43% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director, writer, producer

Dirty Harry (1971)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 72/100 and the pacing 55/100 in their films, across 28 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.

Is Don Siegel's work okay for kids?

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

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles57–71 · median 63 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles17–58 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity9 titles23–58 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles22–51 · median 35 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles43–73 · median 64 · intenseheavier 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 Don Siegel work with?

People who share at least 2 of Don Siegel's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Clint Eastwood shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles