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Russell Metty

Russell Metty

Cinematographer · Died April 28, 1978, aged 71 · Los Angeles, California, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Russell Metty, A.S.C. (September 20, 1906 – April 28, 1978) was an American cinematographer who won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color, for the 1960 film Spartacus. Metty's career began around 1925 as an assistant with Standard Film Laboratory, who was then was hired by Paramount Pictures working in the camera department. He left for RKO in 1929. He became a regular cameraman at Universal Studios, and was a regular collaborator with the German film director Douglas Sirk, making eleven films all together with Sirk.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 20, 1906
Died
April 28, 1978 (aged 71)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
108 on MovieCove · 148 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 2% in 30 days

What are Russell Metty's films like?

Across their 103 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama36 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy23 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Adventure9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Western4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile
: browse their Western movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Horror3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Horror 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
29%
Morality
29%
Self
15%
Power
10%
Society
9%
Survival
6%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love34 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice16 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds19 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity14 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth12 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption13 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity10 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception11 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 102 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 41 · Serious 36 · Dark 25

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

Grounded 43 · Stylized 49 · Heightened 10

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

Gentle 25 · Charged 51 · Intense 26

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

Steady 41 · Shifting 55 · Whiplash 6

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 58 · Some laughs 27 · Funny 17

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

Slow burn 33 · Even-paced 64 · Relentless 5

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

Casual 64 · Engaged 34 · Full focus 4

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 45 · Affecting 35 · Heavy 22

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

Resolved 91 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 2

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
58
Melancholic
44
Romantic
34
Warm
28
Joyful
23
Other
83

How their films linger

Bittersweet45 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good38 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun30 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 10 with a twist

  • Happy45
  • Bittersweet39
  • Tragic10
  • Ambiguous8
  • Cyclical1

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 Russell Metty's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 17 of their 108 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Russell Metty'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

148 credits, 108 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Mallory: Circumstantial Evidence(1976)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Runaways (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Cinematographer

  • Hawkins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 3 episodes · Cinematographer

  • Brock's Last Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Cinematographer

  • Cancel My Reservation (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Cinematographer

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · Cinematographer · Director of Communications

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Ben(1972)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Harness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Cinematographer

  • Lock, Stock and Barrel(1971)

    Cinematographer

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

  • The Omega Man(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Maybe I'll Come Home in the Spring(1971)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Tribes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Cinematographer · Stunts

  • How Do I Love Thee?(1970)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Change of Habit(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Eye of the Cat(1969)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Matter of Humanities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Cinematographer

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Madigan(1968)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Secret War of Harry Frigg(1968)

    Camera Operator · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Counterpoint(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Rough Night in Jericho(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Thoroughly Modern Millie(1967)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Texas Across the River(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Appaloosa(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Madame X(1966)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The War Lord(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Art of Love(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Bus Riley's Back in Town(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • I'd Rather Be Rich(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Captain Newman, M.D.(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Thrill of It All(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Tammy and the Doctor(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • If a Man Answers(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Interns (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Cinematographer

  • That Touch of Mink(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Flower Drum Song(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • By Love Possessed(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Misfits(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Midnight Lace(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Spartacus(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Portrait in Black(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Platinum High School (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Cinematographer

  • This Earth Is Mine(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Imitation of Life(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • One Step Beyond(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Monster on the Campus(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Step Down to Terror(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • A Time to Love and a Time to Die(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Thing That Couldn't Die(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Touch of Evil(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Female Animal(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Man of a Thousand Faces(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Midnight Story(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Man Afraid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Mister Cory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Cinematographer

  • Battle Hymn(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Written on the Wind(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Congo Crossing(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Miracle in the Rain(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • There's Always Tomorrow(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • All That Heaven Allows(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Man from Bitter Ridge(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Cult of the Cobra(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Man Without a Star(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • Sign of the Pagan(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Four Guns to the Border(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Naked Alibi(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Magnificent Obsession(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Taza, Son of Cochise(1954)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Tumbleweed(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Man from the Alamo(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Take Me to Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • It Happens Every Thursday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Cinematographer

  • Seminole(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Veils of Bagdad(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Against All Flags(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Because of You(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The World in His Arms(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Yankee Buccaneer(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Scarlet Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • The Treasure of Lost Canyon(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Flame of Araby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • The Raging Tide(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Horde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Katie Did It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Wyoming Mail(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Desert Hawk(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Peggy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • Sierra(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Curtain Call at Cactus Creek(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Buccaneer's Girl(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Lady Gambles(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • We Were Strangers(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Kiss the Blood Off My Hands(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • You Gotta Stay Happy(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • All My Sons(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • A Woman's Vengeance(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Arch of Triumph(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Ride the Pink Horse(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Private Affairs of Bel Ami(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Marriage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Cinematographer

  • The Stranger(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Whistle Stop(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Breakfast in Hollywood(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Pardon My Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Cinematographer

  • Story of G.I. Joe(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Betrayal from the East(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • It's in the Bag!(1945)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Music in Manhattan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • The Master Race (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Tender Comrade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Cinematographer

  • Seven Days Ashore(1944)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Around the World(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Behind the Rising Sun(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Sky's the Limit(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Forever and a Day(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Hitler's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Cinematographer

  • The Falcon's Brother(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Big Street(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Four Jacks and a Jill(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Joan of Paris(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Weekend for Three (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Sunny(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Dance, Girl, Dance(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Irene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • Curtain Call (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Cinematographer

  • That's Right – You're Wrong (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • The Spellbinder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • The Girl and the Gambler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Sagebrush Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Bad Lands(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Great Man Votes(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Next Time I Marry(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Annabel Takes a Tour(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Mr. Doodle Kicks Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • The Affairs of Annabel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Bringing Up Baby(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Forty Naughty Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Annapolis Salute(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • West of the Pecos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Morning Glory(1933)

    Camera Operator

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Penguin Pool Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Camera Operator

Career shape

A full career of 142 titles from 1932 to 1976.

Biggest box office

Touch of Evil (1958)

$2.3M worldwide

Highest rated

Touch of Evil (1958)

Midcredits 97th

Most popular right now

Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Cinematography139 of 142: 137 only cinematography, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thOther crew5 of 142: 3 only other crew, 2 with another role

By decade

1930s14 · crew1940s39 · crew1950s48 · crew1960s28 · crew1970s13 · 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 Russell Metty's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 105; across their 102 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 102

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 102

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 102

Midcredits score across 108 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up26
  • 50th to 74th40
  • 25th to 49th30
  • Below 25th12

Shape of the crowd

60 of their 108 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser60
  • Broadly Agreed19
  • Mixed21

Most divisive · cinematographer

Mallory: Circumstantial Evidence (1976)

81st percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

Touch of Evil (1958)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 69/100 in their films, across 85 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 56. 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 Russell Metty's work okay for kids?

Across up to 9 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity and profanity run lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles2–66 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity9 titles6–41 · median 17 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles2–29 · median 14 · minimallighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs9 titles21–57 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense8 titles3–59 · median 49 · 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 Russell Metty work with?

People who share at least 2 of Russell Metty's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Frank Skinner shares the most, 23.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

  • Frank Skinner23 titles    See newest 12 of 23 shared titles with Frank Skinner
  • Milton Carruth17 titles    See newest 12 of 17 shared titles with Milton Carruth
  • Ted J. Kent10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Ted J. Kent
  • Roy Webb10 titles    See all 10 shared titles with Roy Webb

Producers

Mixed roles