Virgil Miller (December 20, 1886 – October 5, 1974) was an American cinematographer who was the director of photography for 157 films between 1917 and 1956.
The Phantom of the Opera
''The Phantom of the Opera'' (french: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serial in from 23 September 1909 to 8 January 1910, and was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pier ...
'' (1925), ''
Danger - Love at Work
Danger is a lack of safety and may refer to:
Places
* Danger Cave, an archaeological site in Utah
* Danger Island, Great Chagos Bank, Indian Ocean
* Danger Island, alternate name of Pukapuka Atoll in the Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean
* Danger Isla ...
The Mummy's Curse
''The Mummy's Curse'' is a 1944 American Universal Pictures horror film, directed by Leslie Goodwins. It is the third and final sequel to that company's '' The Mummy's Hand'' of 1940. The film is the sequel to '' The Mummy's Ghost'' (1944) and th ...
'' (1944), '' Navajo'' (1952), '' Crazylegs'' (1953), and six
Charlie Chan
Charlie Chan is a fictional Honolulu police detective created by author Earl Derr Biggers for a series of mystery novels. Biggers loosely based Chan on Hawaiian detective Chang Apana. The benevolent and heroic Chan was conceived as an alter ...
films.
Miller published his autobiography, ''Splinters from Hollywood Tripods'', in 1964. Prior to working for
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...
and, eventually, most other major studios, Miller was a graduate from and a professor at Kansas State University teaching physics and electrical engineering. In 1913, Miller became the first director and founder of the electrical department of Universal Studios. Best known for being one of the first to use electrical lights to film indoors and at night.''Splinters from Hollywood Tripods'' In 1915, he filmed on location in
San Francisco
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
, California, for the
World's Fair
A world's fair, also known as a universal exhibition or an expo, is a large international exhibition designed to showcase the achievements of nations. These exhibitions vary in character and are held in different parts of the world at a specif ...
; one of the earliest "on location" scenes filmed. He also coordinated very early special effects including filming stampedes, explosions, and shrinking people. He was nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work on one particular motion picture.
History
In its first film season, 1927–28, this award (like others such as the acting awards) w ...
for the
documentary film
A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in te ...
He was first married to Myrtle Bower. Together they had five boys: Joaquin, Wendell, Harlan "Lee", Lauren, and Donald. He and Myrtle divorced and Miller later remarried. He died in
North Hollywood, California
North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The North ...
A Stormy Knight
''A Stormy Knight'' is a 1917 American silent comedy mystery film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Franklyn Farnum, Jean Hersholt and Agnes Vernon.Connelly p.416
Cast
* Franklyn Farnum as John Winton
* Jean Hersholt as Dr. Fraser
* Agn ...
'' (1917)
* ''
The Man Trap
"The Man Trap" is the first episode of season one of the American science fiction television series ''Star Trek''. Written by George Clayton Johnson and directed by Marc Daniels, it featured design work by Wah Chang and first aired in the Uni ...
'' (1917)
* ''
Brace Up
''Brace Up'' is a 1918 American silent thriller film directed by Elmer Clifton and starring Herbert Rawlinson, Claire Du Brey and Alfred Allen.Parish & Pitts p.71
Cast
* Herbert Rawlinson as Henry Court
* Claire Du Brey as Ellen Miles
* Alfred ...
The Eagle
The eagle is a large bird of prey.
Eagle or The Eagle may also refer to:
Places England
* Eagle, Lincolnshire, a village
United States
* Eagle, Alaska, a city
* Eagle Village, Alaska, a census-designated place
* Eagle, Colorado, a statut ...
Pink Tights
''Pink Tights'' is a surviving 1920 American silent romantic comedy-drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Gladys Walton. It was produced and released by Universal Film Manufacturing Company.
'' (1920)
* ''
The Silent Barrier
''The Silent Barrier'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by William Worthington and starring Sheldon Lewis, Corinne Barker and Gladys Hulette.Munden p.410 It is based on the 1909 novel of the same title by the British writer Louis T ...
Red Courage
''Red Courage'' is a lost 1921 American silent Western film directed by B. Reeves Eason and featuring Hoot Gibson.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, Pinto Peters (Gibson) and his pal Chuckwalla Bill (Day) ride into town just as the edit ...
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the wes ...
Man Under Cover
''Man Under Cover'' is a 1922 American crime film directed by Tod Browning and starring Herbert Rawlinson and George Hernandez. A copy of ''Man Under Cover'' is housed at the Museum of Modern Art.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, Paul Port ...
Don't Shoot
"Don't Shoot" is a single by American rapper the Game, featuring Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Diddy, Fabolous, Wale, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Yo Gotti, Curren$y, Problem, King and recording group TGT performing the chorus. The Game's daughter als ...
The Flame of Life
''The Flame of Life'' (also known as ''That Lass o' Lowrie's'') is a 1923 American silent drama film starring Priscilla Dean, Robert Ellis, Kathryn McGuire, and Wallace Beery. The film was written by Elliott J. Clawson from the Frances Hodgso ...
'' (1923)
* ''
The Gentleman from America
''The Gentleman from America'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson and Louise Lorraine. It also featured a young Boris Karloff in an uncredited bit part. The screenplay was written by Ge ...
'' (1923)
* ''
Shootin' for Love
''Shootin' for Love'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson.The Thrill Chaser
''The Thrill Chaser'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and featuring Hoot Gibson.
Plot
As described in a film magazine, Omar K. Jenkins' (Gibson) only inheritance from an eccentric father is a copy of the ''Ru ...
'' (1923)
* ''
40-Horse Hawkins
''40-Horse Hawkins'' is a lost 1924 American silent Western comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures.The Saddle Hawk'' (1925)
* '' California Straight Ahead'' (1925)
* ''
Let 'er Buck
''Let 'er Buck'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Hoot Gibson.
Plot
As described in a review in a film magazine, Bob Carson (Gibson), working on Col. Jeff McCall's (French) ranch, is admired by ...
'' (1925)
* ''
The Phantom of the Opera
''The Phantom of the Opera'' (french: Le Fantôme de l'Opéra) is a novel by French author Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serial in from 23 September 1909 to 8 January 1910, and was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pier ...
'' (1925)
* ''
Broken Hearts of Hollywood
''Broken Hearts of Hollywood'' is a 1926 American silent comedy drama film released by Warner Bros. and directed by Lloyd Bacon. It is unknown, but the film might have been released with a Vitaphone soundtrack. A print of the film exists.
Plot ...
Finders Keepers
Finders, keepers, sometimes extended as the children's rhyme finders, keepers; losers, weepers, is an English language, English adage with the premise that when something is unowned or abandoned, whoever finds it first can claim it for themself pe ...
Two Outlaws
''Two Outlaws'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Henry MacRae and starring Jack Perrin and Kathleen Collins.Langman, p. 473
Cast
* Jack Perrin as Phil Manners / The Lone Rider
* Rex the Wonder Horse as Rex, a Horse
* Starl ...
'' (1928)
* ''
The Vagabond Cub
''The Vagabond Cub'' is a 1929 American silent Western film directed by Louis King and starring Buzz Barton, Frank Rice and Sam Nelson.Munden, p. 852
Cast
* Buzz Barton as David 'Red' Hepner
* Frank Rice as Hank Robbins
* Sam Nelson as Bob ...
Laughing at Death
''Laughing at Death'' is a 1929 American film directed by Wallace Fox for Film Booking Offices of America. The script was written by Frank Howard Clark and Helen Gregg, and the film stars Bob Steele and Natalie Joyce.
Plot
A young American ...
Danger - Love at Work
Danger is a lack of safety and may refer to:
Places
* Danger Cave, an archaeological site in Utah
* Danger Island, Great Chagos Bank, Indian Ocean
* Danger Island, alternate name of Pukapuka Atoll in the Cook Islands, Pacific Ocean
* Danger Isla ...
Charlie Chan in Reno
''Charlie Chan in Reno'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by Norman Foster, starring Sidney Toler as the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, based on an original story "Death Makes a Decree" by Philip Wylie.
Plot
Mary W ...
'' (1939)
* ''
Charlie Chan at Treasure Island
''Charlie Chan at Treasure Island'' is a 1939 American film directed by Norman Foster, starring Sidney Toler as the fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, that takes place on Treasure Island during San Francisco's Golden Gate Intern ...
Calling Dr. Death
''Calling Dr. Death'' is a 1943 Inner Sanctum mystery film. The "Inner Sanctum" franchise originated with a popular radio series and all of the films star Lon Chaney, Jr. The movie stars Chaney, Jr. and Patricia Morison, and was directed by Reg ...
'' (1943)
* ''
The Mummy's Curse
''The Mummy's Curse'' is a 1944 American Universal Pictures horror film, directed by Leslie Goodwins. It is the third and final sequel to that company's '' The Mummy's Hand'' of 1940. The film is the sequel to '' The Mummy's Ghost'' (1944) and th ...
'' (1944)
* ''
The Falcon in San Francisco
''The Falcon in San Francisco'' is a 1945 American crime and mystery film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and stars Tom Conway, Rita Corday and Edward Brophy, who played the recurring role of "Goldie" Locke. The film was the 11th in The Falcon serie ...