---
name: "Robert C. Thomas"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/robert-c-thomas"
fi1m_id: "robert-c-thomas"
imdb_id: "nm0859446"
tmdb_id: 1404767
roles: ["Camera operator"]
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-10-05T04:30:49.361875+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Robert C. Thomas

## Identity

Robert C. Thomas

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/robert-c-thomas
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** robert-c-thomas
- **IMDb ID:** nm0859446
- **TMDB ID:** 1404767
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0859446/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1404767

Camera operator.

## Details

- **Work:** Camera operator
- **Active:** 1967–1988
- **Also known as:** Robert Thomas, Bob Thomas, Bobby Thomas, Robert Charles Thomas
- **Frequently works with:** [Robert K. Weiss](https://film.one/person/robert-k-weiss.md)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (2), 1970s 86 (1), 1980s 64 (7)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 71 to 67 across 9 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 4, Crime 4, Romance 4, Action 2, Science Fiction 2
- **Screen time:** 19 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $685m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0859446/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1404767

## Streaming the US now

- **Hulu:** [*The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!*](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md) (88)
- **Netflix:** [*Dragnet*](https://film.one/film/dragnet.md) (55)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Robert C. Thomas is a cinematographer and camera operator. He worked as a camera operator on numerous feature films, including *Cool Hand Luke* (1967), *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975), *Blade Runner* (1982), *Romancing the Stone* (1984) and *Pee-wee's Big Adventure* (1985).

He served as director of photography on second unit crews for *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988) and *The Great Outdoors* (1988), among other productions. Earlier credits as director of photography include the concert films *Elvis on Tour* (1972) and *Let the Good Times Roll* (1973).

*Sources: imdb.com, catalog.afi.com, shotonwhat.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), Fi1m 88, Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md)
- *Dragnet* (1987), Fi1m 55, Director of Photography, Second Unit Director of Photography, Cinematography — [page](https://film.one/film/dragnet.md)
- *Romancing the Stone* (1984), Fi1m 77, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md)
- *Staying Alive* (1983), Fi1m 38, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/staying-alive.md)
- *Blade Runner* (1982), Fi1m 85, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner.md)
- *The Four Seasons* (1981), Fi1m 65, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/the-four-seasons-1981.md)
- *Xanadu* (1980), Fi1m 38, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/xanadu.md)
- *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975), Fi1m 86, Camera Operator — [page](https://film.one/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest.md)
- *Cool Hand Luke* (1967), Fi1m 84, Assistant Camera — [page](https://film.one/film/cool-hand-luke.md)
- *In Cold Blood* (1967), Fi1m 84, First Assistant Camera — [page](https://film.one/film/in-cold-blood.md)

## Complete filmography (46)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot* (1992), Camera Operator
- *The Butcher's Wife* (1991), Camera Operator
- *Downtown* (1990), Second Unit Director of Photography
- *The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), Director of Photography — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-naked-gun-from-the-files-of-police-squad.md)
- *The Great Outdoors* (1988), Director of Photography
- *Dragnet* (1987), Second Unit Director of Photography, Director of Photography — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/dragnet.md)
- *All Is Forgiven* (1986), series, Director of Photography
- *Wildcats* (1986), Camera Operator
- *Pee-wee's Big Adventure* (1985), Camera Operator
- *Secret Admirer* (1985), Camera Operator
- *Stop Making Sense* (1984), Camera Operator
- *Romancing the Stone* (1984), Camera Operator — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/film/romancing-the-stone.md)
- *The Lonely Guy* (1984), Camera Operator
- *Staying Alive* (1983), Camera Operator — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/staying-alive.md)
- *Stroker Ace* (1983), Camera Operator
- *Let's Spend the Night Together* (1982), Camera Operator
- *Blade Runner* (1982), Camera Operator — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/blade-runner.md)
- *Chu Chu and the Philly Flash* (1981), Camera Operator
- *The Four Seasons* (1981), Camera Operator — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-four-seasons-1981.md)
- *Xanadu* (1980), Camera Operator — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/xanadu.md)
- *The Final Countdown* (1980), Camera Operator
- *...And Justice for All* (1979), Camera Operator
- *Magic* (1978), Camera Operator
- *The End* (1978), Camera Operator
- *California Suite* (1978), Camera Operator
- *Blue Collar* (1978), Camera Operator
- *First Love* (1977), Camera Operator
- *The Ransom* (1977), Camera Operator
- *Audrey Rose* (1977), Camera Operator
- *A Star Is Born* (1976), Camera Operator
- *The Last Tycoon* (1976), Camera Operator
- *Stay Hungry* (1976), Camera Operator
- *One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest* (1975), Camera Operator — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest.md)
- *Night Moves* (1975), Camera Operator
- *Shampoo* (1975), Camera Operator
- *Let the Good Times Roll* (1973), Director of Photography
- *Black Gunn* (1972), Camera Operator
- *When the Legends Die* (1972), Camera Operator
- *The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid* (1972), Camera Operator
- *Play Misty for Me* (1971), Camera Operator
- *Joe Cocker: Mad Dogs & Englishmen* (1971), Additional Photography
- *Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here* (1969), Assistant Camera
- *In Cold Blood* (1967), First Assistant Camera — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/in-cold-blood.md)
- *Cool Hand Luke* (1967), Assistant Camera — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/cool-hand-luke.md)
- *Blindfold* (1966), Assistant Camera
- *40 Pounds of Trouble* (1962), Assistant Camera

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/robert-c-thomas