Cinematographer. He began as a lab assistant, graduating to assistant cameraman and finally making his first film as a lighting cameraman in 1935. A creative master of his craft he achieved impressive effects with black-and-white contrasting while shooting twilight and night. He was also known for his complex crane shots. Brilliant in black and white, he could be even more remarkable in color. At Universal Pictures in the 1950s, he had a long-term and very successful collaboration with director Douglas Sirk on 10 films, among them "Magnificent Obsession" (1954), "All That Heaven Allows" (1955), "Written on the Wind" (1956) and "Imitation of Life" (1959). Other films include "Sylvia Scarlett" (1936), "Bringing Up Baby" (1938), "The Story of G.I.Joe" (1945), "The World in His Arms" (1952), "Touch of Evil" (1958), "The Misfits" (1960), "Madigan" (1968) and "The Omega Man" (1971). He won an Academy Award for "Spartacus" (1960) and received another Academy Award nomination for "Flower Drum Song" (1962). From the early 1970s, he concentrated on TV work, filming segments of "Columbo", "Rich Man, Poor Man" and 57 episodes of "The Waltons", retiring shortly before his death.
Cinematographer. He began as a lab assistant, graduating to assistant cameraman and finally making his first film as a lighting cameraman in 1935. A creative master of his craft he achieved impressive effects with black-and-white contrasting while shooting twilight and night. He was also known for his complex crane shots. Brilliant in black and white, he could be even more remarkable in color. At Universal Pictures in the 1950s, he had a long-term and very successful collaboration with director Douglas Sirk on 10 films, among them "Magnificent Obsession" (1954), "All That Heaven Allows" (1955), "Written on the Wind" (1956) and "Imitation of Life" (1959). Other films include "Sylvia Scarlett" (1936), "Bringing Up Baby" (1938), "The Story of G.I.Joe" (1945), "The World in His Arms" (1952), "Touch of Evil" (1958), "The Misfits" (1960), "Madigan" (1968) and "The Omega Man" (1971). He won an Academy Award for "Spartacus" (1960) and received another Academy Award nomination for "Flower Drum Song" (1962). From the early 1970s, he concentrated on TV work, filming segments of "Columbo", "Rich Man, Poor Man" and 57 episodes of "The Waltons", retiring shortly before his death.
Bio by: Fritz Tauber
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