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James Tinling

Director · Died May 14, 1967, aged 78 · Seattle, Washington, USA

James Tinling was an American film director and assistant director active from the late 1920s through the 1950s. He directed a variety of films across multiple genres, including Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935) and Mr. Moto's Gamble (1938). Tinling's work contributed to the popularity of mystery and adventure films during Hollywood's Golden Age.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 8, 1889
Died
May 14, 1967 (aged 78)
From
Seattle, Washington, USA
Works as
Director
Titles
8 on MovieCove · 52 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 28Up 12% in 30 days

What are James Tinling's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 71st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
60%
Power
17%
Bonds
15%
Survival
8%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 0 · Dark 0

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

Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 0

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

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

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

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

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 5 · 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 5 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
4
Thrilling
4
Absurd
3
Warm
3
Romantic
1

How their films linger

Fun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy7

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 James Tinling's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 1 of their 8 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on MGM+ (1).

Subscription and free streaming for James Tinling'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

52 credits, 8 with a MovieCove page.

  • Tales of Robin Hood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director

  • Racket Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 9 episodes · Director

  • Trouble Preferred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Night Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Director

  • Roses Are Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Second Chance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Dangerous Millions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • Strange Journey(1946)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Deadline for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • Rendezvous 24 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    Director

  • The Ox-Bow Incident(1943)

    Second Unit Director

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Cosmo Jones in the Crime Smasher(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Sundown Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Lone Star Ranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Director

  • Riders of the Purple Sage(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Last of the Duanes(1941)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Boy Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Director

  • Sharpshooters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Director

  • Passport Husband(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mr. Moto's Gamble(1938)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

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

    Director

  • 45 Fathers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Sing and Be Happy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Angel's Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • The Great Hospital Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • The Holy Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Director

  • Back to Nature (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Pepper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Educating Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Champagne Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Every Saturday Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Director

  • Your Uncle Dudley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Charlie Chan in Shanghai(1935)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Welcome Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Under the Pampas Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Director

  • Love Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Call It Luck (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Three on a Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Director

  • Jimmy and Sally (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • The Last Trail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • Arizona to Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Director

  • El caballero de la noche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Director

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

    Director

  • For the Love o' Lil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • One Mad Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Director

  • Words and Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • The Exalted Flapper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

  • True Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Director

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

    Director

  • Soft Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1928)

    Director

  • Very Confidential (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Director

  • Fig Leaves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Assistant Director

Career shape

A full career of 52 titles from 1926 to 1951.

Highest rated

Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)

Midcredits 77th

Most popular right now

Strange Journey (1946)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing50 of 52: 50 only directing, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score47thOther crew2 of 52: 2 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s7 · crew1930s29 · crew1940s14 · crew1950s2 · 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 James Tinling's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 8; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 62nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

24thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 8 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up2
  • 50th to 74th2
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

4 of their 8 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · director

Passport Husband (1938)

82nd percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · director

Charlie Chan in Shanghai (1935)

Midcredits 77th · 75% liked

Reviewers score the atmosphere 53/100 and the pacing 53/100 in their films, across 5 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 James Tinling work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Tinling's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nick DeMaggio shares the most, 5.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers