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'''Jack Cardiff''' (born [[18 September]] [[1914]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[cinematographer]], [[film director|director]] and [[photographer]].
'''Jack Cardiff''' (born [[18 September]] [[1914]]) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[cinematographer]], [[film director|director]] and [[photographer]].


His career spans the development of cinema, from silent film, through early experiments in [[Technicolor]] (and, less sucessfully, [[Smell-o-vision]]), to filmmaking in the 21st century. He is best known for his influential cinematography for directors such as [[Michael Latham Powell|Powell]], [[John Huston|Huston]] and [[Alfred Hitchcock|Hitchcock]].
His career spans the development of cinema, from silent film, through early experiments in [[Technicolor]] (and, less successfully, [[Smell-o-vision]]), to filmmaking in the 21st century. He is best known for his influential cinematography for directors such as [[Michael Latham Powell|Powell]], [[John Huston|Huston]] and [[Alfred Hitchcock|Hitchcock]].


In 2000 he was awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]].
In 2000 he was awarded an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]].
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In 1935 Cardiff graduated to camera operator and occasional cinematographer, working mostly for [[London Films]]. He was the first to shoot a film in the UK in [[Technicolor]]: ''Wings of the Morning'' (1937). When [[WWII|the war]] began he worked a cinematographer on public information films.
In 1935 Cardiff graduated to camera operator and occasional cinematographer, working mostly for [[London Films]]. He was the first to shoot a film in the UK in [[Technicolor]]: ''Wings of the Morning'' (1937). When [[WWII|the war]] began he worked a cinematographer on public information films.


The turning point in his career was as a 2nd unit camerman on [[Powell and Pressburger|Powell & Pressburger's]] ''[[The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp]]'' (1943) — they were impressed enough to hire Cardiff as cinematographer on their post-war Technicolor masterpiece ''[[A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946). Their collaboration continued with ''[[Black Narcissus]]'' (1947), which won Cardiff an [[Academy Award|Oscar]] and a [[Golden Globe]], and ''[[The Red Shoes]]'' (1948). These films put Cardiff's talents in high demand, and a string of big-budget films followed. After concentrating on direction in the 1960s, he returned to cinematography in the 1970s and 1980s.
The turning point in his career was as a 2nd unit cameraman on [[Powell and Pressburger|Powell & Pressburger's]] ''[[The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp]]'' (1943) — they were impressed enough to hire Cardiff as cinematographer on their post-war Technicolor masterpiece ''[[A Matter of Life and Death]]'' (1946). Their collaboration continued with ''[[Black Narcissus]]'' (1947), which won Cardiff an [[Academy Award|Oscar]] and a [[Golden Globe]], and ''[[The Red Shoes]]'' (1948). These films put Cardiff's talents in high demand, and a string of big-budget films followed. After concentrating on direction in the 1960s, he returned to cinematography in the 1970s and 1980s.


Notable films as cinematographer include:
Notable films as cinematographer include:
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==Directorial work==
==Directorial work==


In the late 1950s Cardiff began to direct, with two modest successes in ''Intent to Kill'' (1958) and ''Beyond this Place'' (1959). In 1960 his adaptation of [[D. H. Lawrence|D. H. Lawrence's]] novel ''[[Sons and Lovers]]'', starring [[Trevor Howard]], [[Wendy Hiller]] and [[Dean Stockwell]], was a successful hit. It earned seven [[Academy Award|Oscar]] nominations and won [[Freddie Francis]] Best Black-and-White Cinematography. Cardiff recieved a Golden Globe for direction.
In the late 1950s Cardiff began to direct, with two modest successes in ''Intent to Kill'' (1958) and ''Beyond this Place'' (1959). In 1960 his adaptation of [[D. H. Lawrence|D. H. Lawrence's]] novel ''[[Sons and Lovers]]'', starring [[Trevor Howard]], [[Wendy Hiller]] and [[Dean Stockwell]], was a successful hit. It earned seven [[Academy Award|Oscar]] nominations and won [[Freddie Francis]] Best Black-and-White Cinematography. Cardiff received a Golden Globe for direction.


After the highwater mark of ''Sons and Lovers'', he directed a unusal mix of films, including:
After the high water mark of ''Sons and Lovers'', he directed a unusual mix of films, including:
*''The Scent of Mystery'' (1960) — the first production in [[Smell-o-vision]]
*''The Scent of Mystery'' (1960) — the first production in [[Smell-o-vision]]
*''My Geisha'' (1962)
*''My Geisha'' (1962)

Revision as of 00:33, 5 May 2005

Jack Cardiff (born 18 September 1914) is a British cinematographer, director and photographer.

His career spans the development of cinema, from silent film, through early experiments in Technicolor (and, less successfully, Smell-o-vision), to filmmaking in the 21st century. He is best known for his influential cinematography for directors such as Powell, Huston and Hitchcock.

In 2000 he was awarded an OBE.

Born in Yarmouth, Norfolk, Cardiff's parents were music hall entertainers. He worked as an actor from an early age, both in the music hall and in a number of silent films: My Son, My Son (1918), Billy's Rose (1922), The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots (1923) and Tiptoes (1927). At 15 he began working as a camera assistant, clapper boy and production runner for British International Pictures, including Hitchcock's The Skin Game (1931).

Cinematography

In 1935 Cardiff graduated to camera operator and occasional cinematographer, working mostly for London Films. He was the first to shoot a film in the UK in Technicolor: Wings of the Morning (1937). When the war began he worked a cinematographer on public information films.

The turning point in his career was as a 2nd unit cameraman on Powell & Pressburger's The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) — they were impressed enough to hire Cardiff as cinematographer on their post-war Technicolor masterpiece A Matter of Life and Death (1946). Their collaboration continued with Black Narcissus (1947), which won Cardiff an Oscar and a Golden Globe, and The Red Shoes (1948). These films put Cardiff's talents in high demand, and a string of big-budget films followed. After concentrating on direction in the 1960s, he returned to cinematography in the 1970s and 1980s.

Notable films as cinematographer include:

Directorial work

In the late 1950s Cardiff began to direct, with two modest successes in Intent to Kill (1958) and Beyond this Place (1959). In 1960 his adaptation of D. H. Lawrence's novel Sons and Lovers, starring Trevor Howard, Wendy Hiller and Dean Stockwell, was a successful hit. It earned seven Oscar nominations and won Freddie Francis Best Black-and-White Cinematography. Cardiff received a Golden Globe for direction.

After the high water mark of Sons and Lovers, he directed a unusual mix of films, including:

References

  • Cardiff's autobiography Magic Hour (ISBN 0571192742)
  • Conversations with Jack Cardiff: Art, Light and Direction in Cinema by Justin Bowyer (ISBN 0713488557)
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