Skip to content
MovieCove

Leo Tover

Cinematographer · Died December 30, 1964, aged 62 · New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Leo Tover, A.S.C. (December 6, 1902 – December 30, 1964) was an American cinematographer, twice nominated for Academy Awards for his work on The Heiress (1949) and Hold Back the Dawn (1941). Among his other credits are the original silent version of The Great Gatsby, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Payment on Demand, both released in 1951. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut and died in Los Angeles, California. Description above from the Wikipedia article Leo Tover, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 6, 1902
Died
December 30, 1964 (aged 62)
From
New Haven, Connecticut, USA
Works as
Cinematographer
Titles
63 on MovieCove · 115 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 26Down 46% in 30 days

What are Leo Tover's films like?

Across their 62 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama24 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th 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
36%
Morality
22%
Self
20%
Power
9%
Survival
9%
Society
3%
Ideas
2%
Romantic love24 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception15 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds11 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition11 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 62 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 28 · Serious 21 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 34 · Stylized 26 · Heightened 2

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 28 · Charged 25 · Intense 9

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

Steady 34 · Shifting 28 · Whiplash 0

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 32 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 19

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 33 · Even-paced 29 · 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 42 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 2

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

Resolved 52 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
30
Romantic
26
Joyful
18
Melancholic
22
Warm
14
Other
45

How their films linger

Feel-good29 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun23 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful20 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy32
  • Bittersweet24
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous4

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 Leo Tover's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 63 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Leo Tover'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

115 credits, 63 with a MovieCove page.

  • A Very Special Favor(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Strange Bedfellows(1965)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Island of the Blue Dolphins(1964)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Sunday in New York(1963)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Follow That Dream(1962)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • The Home Owner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • Misty(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • All Hands on Deck(1961)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Marriage-Go-Round (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Cinematographer

  • From the Terrace(1960)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Journey to the Center of the Earth(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Blue Denim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Cinematographer

  • Say One for Me(1959)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Cinematographer

  • In Love and War(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Fräulein(1958)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Sun Also Rises(1957)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Love Me Tender(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Between Heaven and Hell(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Revolt of Mamie Stover(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Conqueror(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Lieutenant Wore Skirts(1956)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Tall Men(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Soldier of Fortune(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Untamed(1955)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Man in the Attic(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • A Blueprint for Murder(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The President's Lady(1953)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • My Pal Gus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • My Wife's Best Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Cinematographer

  • We're Not Married!(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Pride of St. Louis(1952)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Day the Earth Stood Still(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of Convict Lake(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Follow the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Cinematographer

  • Payment on Demand(1951)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Fury(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • When Willie Comes Marching Home(1950)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Paid in Full (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Cinematographer

  • My Friend Irma(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Heiress(1949)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Sealed Verdict (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Cinematographer

  • The Snake Pit(1948)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • I Walk Alone(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Woman on the Beach(1947)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Dead Reckoning(1946)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • China(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Young and Willing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Cinematographer

  • The Crystal Ball(1943)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • The Major and the Minor(1942)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Night in New Orleans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Star Spangled Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Cinematographer

  • Bahama Passage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

  • Hold Back the Dawn(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • I Wanted Wings(1941)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Life with Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Farmer's Daughter(1940)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Night of Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • Invitation to Happiness(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • King of Chinatown(1939)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Never Say Die (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    Cinematographer

  • The Arkansas Traveler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Cocoanut Grove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    Cinematographer

  • Bluebeard's Eighth Wife(1938)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Night Club Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Ebb Tide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • I Met Him in Paris(1937)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Maid of Salem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    Cinematographer

  • Valiant Is the Word for Carrie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • The Arizona Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • F-Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • Florida Special (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    Cinematographer

  • Rose of the Rancho(1936)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Bride Comes Home(1935)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Big Broadcast of 1936 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • Love in Bloom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    Cinematographer

  • College Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • You Belong to Me(1934)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Shoot the Works (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Murder at the Vanities(1934)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Bolero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    Cinematographer

  • Girl Without a Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • I'm No Angel(1933)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • College Humor(1933)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Great Jasper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • The Monkey's Paw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Cinematographer

  • No Man of Her Own(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Flag Lieutenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Theatre Play

  • Thirteen Women(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Is My Face Red?(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • State's Attorney(1932)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Symphony of Six Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • Girl of the Rio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Cinematographer

  • Are These Our Children? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • The Gay Diplomat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Traveling Husbands (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Transgression (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    Cinematographer

  • Bachelor Apartment(1931)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Lady Refuses(1931)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Royal Bed(1931)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Silver Horde(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Fall Guy(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Runaway Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Framed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Cinematographer

  • Girl of the Port(1930)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Vagabond Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • Tanned Legs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

  • The Very Idea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Cinematographer

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

    Cinematographer

  • The Flag Lieutenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Theatre Play

  • The Telephone Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1927)

    Cinematographer

  • The Great Gatsby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1926)

    Cinematographer

Career shape

A full career of 114 titles from 1926 to 1965.

Biggest box office

The Conqueror (1956)

$15K worldwide

Highest rated

The Heiress (1949)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Writing2 of 114: 2 only writing, 0 with another roleCinematography112 of 114: 112 only cinematography, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1920s7 · crew1930s49 · crew1940s20 · crew1950s28 · crew1960s10 · 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 Leo Tover's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 59th percentile, the median of all 63; across their 62 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 62

Midcredits score across 63 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th32
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

37 of their 63 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser37
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed14

Most divisive · cinematographer

Rose of the Rancho (1936)

80th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · cinematographer

The Heiress (1949)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the cinematography 65/100 in their films, across 52 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 50. 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 Leo Tover's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 8 · minimalMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Leo Tover work with?

People who share at least 2 of Leo Tover's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; William LeBaron shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers

Mixed roles