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Joseph F. Biroc

Joseph F. Biroc

Cinematographer · Died September 7, 1996, aged 93 · New York City, New York, USA

Joseph Francis Biroc, ASC (February 12, 1903 – September 7, 1996) was an American cinematographer. He was born in New York City and began working in films at the Paragon Studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey. After working there for approximately six years, he moved to Los Angeles. Once in Southern California, Biroc worked at the RKO Pictures movie studio. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and filmed the Liberation of Paris in August 1944. In 1950, Biroc left RKO Pictures and freelanced on projects at various studios. In addition to his film work, which included It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965), Biroc worked on various television series, including the Adventures of Superman and Wonder Woman. He frequently collaborated with film director Robert Aldrich.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 12, 1903
Died
September 7, 1996 (aged 93)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
90 on MovieCove · 129 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 37 days to Oct 26Up 35% in 30 days

What are Joseph F. Biroc's films like?

Across their 85 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy22 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama18 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime16 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 43rd percentile
: browse their Horror movies
Western2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Western 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
30%
Bonds
19%
Self
17%
Survival
16%
Power
9%
Society
7%
Ideas
1%
Justice24 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival21 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity9 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition9 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 85 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 27 · Serious 24 · Dark 34

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 41 · Stylized 34 · Heightened 10

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

Gentle 10 · Charged 50 · Intense 25

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

Steady 34 · Shifting 47 · Whiplash 4

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 50 · Some laughs 20 · Funny 15

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

Slow burn 28 · Even-paced 52 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 41 · Engaged 42 · Full focus 2

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 36 · Affecting 29 · Heavy 20

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

Resolved 72 · Open-ended 10 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
61
Melancholic
29
Absurd
19
Joyful
15
Dread
18
Other
79

How their films linger

Bittersweet29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy36
  • Bittersweet32
  • Tragic9
  • Ambiguous8

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 Joseph F. Biroc's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 39 of their 90 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (22).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joseph F. Biroc'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

129 credits, 90 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • A Winner Never Quits(1986)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Father of Hell Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Cinematographer

  • The Jerk, Too (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Cinematographer

  • Airplane II: The Sequel(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Hammett(1982)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Desperate Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Cinematographer

  • ...All the Marbles(1981)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Airplane!(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Gambler(1980)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Scruples (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Beyond the Poseidon Adventure(1979)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Little Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Clone Master (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • SST: Death Flight(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • A Family Upside Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Cinematographer

  • The Choirboys(1977)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Washington: Behind Closed Doors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 6 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Arthur Hailey's The Moneychangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 4 episodes · Cinematographer

  • The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Hustle(1975)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Towering Inferno(1974)

    Additional Photography

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Shanks(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Longest Yard(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Thursday's Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Wonder Woman(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Blazing Saddles(1974)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Cahill U.S. Marshal(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Emperor of the North(1973)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Crooked Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • Ulzana's Raid(1972)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Playmates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • Gidget Gets Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • Brian's Song(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Organization(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Grissom Gang(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Escape from the Planet of the Apes(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Pollifax — Spy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Mean Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Too Late the Hero(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Greatest Mother of 'em All (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Lady in Cement(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Killing of Sister George(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Legend of Lylah Clare(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Detective(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Fitzwilly(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Tony Rome(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Who's Minding the Mint?(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Enter Laughing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Cinematographer

  • Warning Shot(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Swinger(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Flight of the Phoenix(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • I Saw What You Did(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • To Trap a Spy(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Young Lovers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Cinematographer

  • Kitten with a Whip(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E.(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Bullet for a Badman(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Ride the Wild Surf(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Viva Las Vegas(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Gunfight at Comanche Creek(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Under the Yum Yum Tree(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Promises..... Promises!(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Toys in the Attic(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Bye Bye Birdie(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Convicts 4(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Confessions of an Opium Eater(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Hitler(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Operation Eichmann(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Gold of the Seven Saints(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Sail a Crooked Ship(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Devil at 4 O'Clock(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • 13 Ghosts(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Ice Palace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • The FBI Story(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Bat(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Verboten!(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Home Before Dark(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Born Reckless(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Colossal Man(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Playroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Forty Guns(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Run of the Arrow(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Unknown Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • China Gate(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Garment Jungle(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Ride Back(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Black Whip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Cinematographer

  • Tension at Table Rock(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Attack(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Nightmare(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Quincannon, Frontier Scout(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Ghost Town(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Steel Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Down Three Dark Streets(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • World for Ransom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Cinematographer

  • Riders to the Stars(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Appointment in Honduras(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Donovan's Brain(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Charade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Vice Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The Twonky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The Glass Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • The Tall Texan(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Loan Shark(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Red Planet Mars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Without Warning! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • Bwana Devil(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Bushwhackers(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Cry Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • The Killer That Stalked New York(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Mrs. Mike (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

  • Johnny Allegro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • My Dear Secretary(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • On Our Merry Way(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Magic Town(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • It's a Wonderful Life(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Bombardier(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Five Came Back(1939)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Where Sinners Meet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Camera Operator

  • Before Dawn(1933)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Secrets of the French Police(1932)

    Assistant Camera

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Squadron (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Camera Operator

  • Street Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 122 titles from 1929 to 1986.

Biggest box office

Blazing Saddles (1974)

$120M worldwide

Highest rated

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography115 of 122: 115 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58thOther crew7 of 122: 7 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s1 · crew1930s5 · crew1940s7 · crew1950s34 · crew1960s35 · crew1970s30 · crew1980s10 · 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 Joseph F. Biroc's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 89; across their 85 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 56th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 85

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 85

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 85

Midcredits score across 90 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th35
  • 25th to 49th28
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

43 of their 90 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser43
  • Broadly Agreed16
  • Mixed23

Most divisive · cinematographer

Wonder Woman (1974)

76th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 61/100 in their films, across 72 reviewed titles; fans 68, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as a cinematographer.

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 Joseph F. Biroc's work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore10 titles26–64 · median 34 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles5–57 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity11 titles5–75 · median 22 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs12 titles27–56 · median 34 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles10–57 · median 29 · mildlighter 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 Joseph F. Biroc work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joseph F. Biroc's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Aldrich shares the most, 16.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles