Joseph H. Lewis
DirectingAbout Joseph H. Lewis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Joseph H. Lewis (April 6, 1907–August 30, 2000), was an American B-movie film director. Although he worked with both Béla Lugosi (The Invisible Ghost) and Lionel Atwill in early 1940s horror, he is best known for his work in film noir from the late 40s and the 1950s. His most acclaimed feature, Gun Crazy (1949), is a dark romance about gun-obsession, and notable for its use of location photography. At the dawn of his career (1937–1940), when Lewis was directing inexpensive westerns, he earned the derogatory nickname "Wagon-Wheel Joe" from the studio editors, because of his tendency to use wagon-wheels for constructing interesting visual compositions within the frame. Lewis's offbeat and eye-catching compositions added style and value to inexpensive productions. His 1944 musical Minstrel Man, starring singer Benny Fields, is quite possibly the finest film ever made by low-budget PRC Pictures. Industry insiders noticed, prompting Columbia Pictures to hire Lewis to film the musical sequences for its blockbuster musical The Jolson Story. Toward the end of Lewis's career, he worked in television, directing mostly westerns: The Rifleman, Bonanza, The Big Valley, Gunsmoke, and the pilot for Branded. Description above from the Wikipedia article Joseph H. Lewis, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Joseph H. Lewis reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 1 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Documentary
The majority of Joseph H. Lewis's filmography leans towards the Documentary genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 100% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Joseph H. Lewis remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Joseph H. Lewis Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Joseph H. Lewis's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Joseph H. Lewis.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
Joseph H. Lewis - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Joseph H. Lewis?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Joseph H. Lewis is "Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Joseph H. Lewis acted in?
Joseph H. Lewis has been featured in at least 1 major films throughout their career.