Pioneering cinematographer Victor Milner acquired his fascination with the celluloid media during the days of the nickelodeon. After working as a lab assistant for a film equipment manufacturer, he joined Pathe Weekly News in the capacity of projectionist and newsreel cameraman. Among other events, he filmed the U.S. occupation of Vera Cruz during the conflict with Mexico in 1914. After moving to California in 1916, Milner was hired by the Balboa Amusement Producing Company (founded in Long Island in 1913), notably working on several westerns starring William S. Hart. He subsequently spent time under contract with Metro, Universal, Paramount (the bulk of his career: 1925-1944) and RKO (1945). A versatile craftsman and a master at creating moods (in his own words, 'painting with light'), he was equally adept at shooting unsentimental black & white films noir (Martha Ivers'in Aşkı (1946)), or sprawling, romantic Technicolor adventure (Reap the Wild Wind (1942)). He often worked on the films of legendary director Cecil B. DeMille, winning his only Academy Award (from nine nominations) for the epic Kleopatra (1934).

Milner retired in 1953. He was one of the founding members of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC).