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Don Taylor

Don Taylor

Director and actor, also writer and producer · Died December 29, 1998, aged 78 · Freeport, Pennsylvania, USA

Donald Richie Taylor (December 13, 1920 – December 29, 1998) was an American actor and film director. He co-starred in 1940s and 1950s classics, including The Naked City, Battleground, Father of the Bride, Father's Little Dividend and Stalag 17. He later turned to directing films such as Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Tom Sawyer (1973), Echoes of a Summer (1976), and Damien: Omen II (1978). Description above from the Wikipedia article Don Taylor, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 13, 1920
Died
December 29, 1998 (aged 78)
From
Freeport, Pennsylvania, USA
Works as
Director and actor, also writer and producer
Titles
44 on MovieCove · 123 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 25% in 30 days

What are Don Taylor's films like?

Across their 36 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 56th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th 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
Bonds
28%
Morality
24%
Self
18%
Survival
11%
Power
7%
Society
7%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds9 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 36 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 17 · Serious 7 · Dark 12

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 21 · Stylized 13 · Heightened 2

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 19 · Intense 7

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

Steady 17 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 2

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 19 · Some laughs 10 · Funny 7

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

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 19 · 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 22 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 1

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 16 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 8

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

Resolved 34 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

11 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 5 of 11 analyzed roles.

Ally
5 of 11
Hero
4 of 11
Shapeshifter
1 of 11
Shadow
1 of 11
Show the 11 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Warm
11
Melancholic
11
Joyful
9
Contemplative
7
Other
34

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic3

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 Taylor's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 44 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Don Taylor'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

123 credits, 44 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Mrs. Weekley's Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Director

  • That's Entertainment! III(1994)

    as (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Bingo: Scenes of Money and Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director

  • The Diamond Trap(1988)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Ghost of a Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Director

  • Classified Love(1986)

    Director · Producer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Director

  • Secret Weapons(1985)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • My Wicked, Wicked Ways: The Legend of Errol Flynn(1985)

    Director · Teleplay

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Man Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Actor

  • He's Not Your Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director

  • September Gun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Ghost Dancing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Listen to Your Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Director

  • Drop-Out Father(1982)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Red Flag: The Ultimate Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director

  • Broken Promise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Director · Producer

  • The Promise of Love(1980)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • In Hiding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director · Writer

  • The Final Countdown(1980)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Gift (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • The BBC Television Shakespeare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Damien: Omen II(1978)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • When the Actors Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director · Writer

  • For Tea on Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Director

  • The Island of Dr. Moreau(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • A Circle Street of Children(1977)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Achurch Letters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Director · Writer

  • The Great Scout & Cathouse Thursday(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Dad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director · Writer

  • The Hemingway Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Director

  • Echoes of a Summer(1976)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Petrocelli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Honky Tonk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Night Games (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Director

  • Tom Sawyer(1973)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Man Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Heat of Anger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Escape from the Planet of the Apes(1971)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Night Gallery(1969)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Wild Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Director

  • They Call Me Trinity(1970)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The 5-Man Army(1969)

    Director · as Poker Player (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Something for a Lonely Man(1968)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Mod Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • Jack of Diamonds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Director

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Danny Thomas Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Flying Nun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Tammy Grimes Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

  • Preview Tonight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Loner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Wild Wild West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Big Valley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Amos Burke: Secret Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • And Did Those Feet ? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director

  • The Rogues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Ride the Wild Surf(1964)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 8 episodes · Director · as George Hogarth · as Scubie Baker

  • The Farmer's Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 13 episodes · Director

  • The Lieutenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Vacation Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • Ensign O'Toole (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Everything's Ducky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Director

  • The Savage Guns(1961)

    as Mike Summers

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • The New Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Fred Kingman

  • Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • The Dick Powell Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

  • 87th Precinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Follow the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Checkmate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 3 episodes · Director · Teleplay · as Chip Damion

  • Hong Kong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Dennis the Menace(1959)

    Show 3 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 3 episodes · Director

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

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Peck's Bad Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 4 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Steve Canyon(1958)

    Show 34 episodes · Director

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Love Slaves of the Amazons(1957)

    as Dr. Pete L. Masters

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • M Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 7 episodes · Director

  • Bachelor Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Ride the High Iron(1956)

    as Hugo Danielchik

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

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

    Show 3 episodes · Director · as Yankee

  • Hey, Jeannie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Director · Actor

  • The Bold and the Brave(1956)

    as Ewald "Preacher" Wallister

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • I'll Cry Tomorrow(1955)

    as Wallie

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Father Felix

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 7 episodes · Director · as Prof. Donald Mason

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • The Men of Sherwood Forest(1954)

    as Robin Hood

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as John Appleby · as Julian Coates · as Timothy Colt

  • Summer Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • Johnny Dark(1954)

    as Duke Benson

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Stalag 17(1953)

    as James Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Girls of Pleasure Island(1953)

    as Lt. Jimmy Gilmartin

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Destination Gobi(1953)

    as Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Farrell

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Lawrence

  • Japanese War Bride(1952)

    as Jim Sterling

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Submarine Command(1951)

    as Lt. Cmdr. Peter Morris

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Blue Veil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Dr. Robert Palfrey

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Soames · as Max Swanson · as Pete · as Sergeant Ben Destry · as Tom Weldon

  • Flying Leathernecks(1951)

    as Lt. Vern 'Cowboy' Blithe

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Father's Little Dividend(1951)

    as Buckley Dunstan

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Target Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Lt. Frank Webster

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Emerson · as Roger

  • Father of the Bride(1950)

    as Buckley Dunstan

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Pine

  • Ambush(1950)

    as Lt. Linus Delaney

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Battleground(1949)

    as Standiferd

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • For the Love of Mary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as David Paxton

  • The Naked City(1948)

    as Jimmy Halloran

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Song of the Thin Man(1947)

    as Buddy Hollis

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Time to Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as George

  • The Last Bomb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Gunner

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

    as Danny 'Pinkie' Scariano

  • Swing Shift Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Young Pilot (Uncredited)

Career shape

A full career of 122 titles from 1943 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Damien: Omen II (1978)

$27M worldwide

Highest rated

Stalag 17 (1953)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

They Call Me Trinity (1970)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting42 of 122: 36 only acting, 6 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thDirecting86 of 122: 73 only directing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score54thWriting6 of 122: 0 only writing, 6 with another roleProducing2 of 122: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

122 titles, 13 with more than one role — directing and acting overlap on 6 of them.

By decade

1940s9 · 8 acting · 1 crew1950s39 · 27 acting · 15 crew1960s32 · 5 acting · 30 crew1970s22 · crew1980s17 · 1 acting · 16 crew1990s2 · 1 acting · 1 crew2020s1 · crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 8 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 Taylor's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 38; across their 36 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 49th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Reach · how many have seen their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 36

Midcredits score across 44 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

22 of their 44 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser22
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · director, producer

Classified Love (1986)

81st percentile spread · 31% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Stalag 17 (1953)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 61/100 and the pacing 49/100 in their films, across 32 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 Taylor's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films and sex & nudity and profanity lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore5 titles32–72 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles5–39 · median 7 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles11–40 · median 21 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles16–66 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all 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 Taylor work with?

People who share at least 2 of Don Taylor's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tom Stevens shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles