David Abel (15 December 1883 – 12 November 1973) was a

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...

Biography

Born in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

n parents,SilentEra.com
/ref> Abel began his career in 1916. He came to the United States as a child in the first decade of the 1900s and worked as a portrait photographer in New York before entering films with Flying A Studios in 1913. His credits include '' Grumpy'' (1930), ''

The Virtuous Sin ''The Virtuous Sin'' is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor and Louis J. Gasnier and starring Walter Huston, Kay Francis, and Kenneth MacKenna. The screenplay by Martin Brown and Louise Long is based on the 1928 p ...

'' (1930), ''

Huckleberry Finn Huckleberry "Huck" Finn is a fictional character created by Mark Twain who first appeared in the book ''The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'' (1876) and is the protagonist and narrator of its sequel, ''Adventures of Huckleberry Finn'' (1884). He is 12 ...

'' (1931), ''

The Gay Divorcee ''The Gay Divorcee'' is a 1934 American musical film directed by Mark Sandrich and starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It also features Alice Brady, Edward Everett Horton, Eric Blore, and Erik Rhodes (actor, born 1906), Erik Rhodes. The sc ...

'' (1934), ''

Top Hat A top hat (also called a high hat, a cylinder hat, or, informally, a topper) is a tall, flat-crowned hat for men traditionally associated with formal wear in Western dress codes, meaning white tie, morning dress, or frock coat. Traditionally m ...

'' (1935), ''

Follow the Fleet ''Follow the Fleet'' is a 1936 American RKO musical comedy film with a nautical theme starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in their Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, fifth collaboration as dance partners. It also features Randolph Scott, Harriet ...

'' (1936), and ''

The Affairs of Susan ''The Affairs of Susan'' is a 1945 American romantic comedy drama film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Joan Fontaine, Walter Abel, George Brent, Dennis O'Keefe and Don DeFore. It is also known as ''Chameleon''. Plot Susan Darell, a s ...

'' (1945). At

RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orphe ...

during the 1930s, Abel was a favorite collaborator of director

Mark Sandrich Mark Sandrich (born Mark Rex Goldstein; October 26, 1900 – March 4, 1945) was an American film director, writer, and producer. Early life Sandrich was born in New York City on October 26, 1900 into a American Jews, Jewish family. His siste ...

and was responsible for the photography of five Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers musicals (''

'', ''

Swing Time In music, the term ''swing'' has two main uses. Colloquially, it is used to describe the propulsive quality or "feel" of a rhythm, especially when the music prompts a visceral response such as foot-tapping or head-nodding (see pulse). This sens ...

'', and ''

Shall We Dance Shall We Dance may refer to: Films * ''Shall We Dance'' (1937 film), a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers musical * ''Shall We Dance?'' (1996 film), a Japanese film about ballroom dancing * ''Shall We Dance?'' (2004 film), an American remake of the ...

''). Other credits include ''

The Awful Truth ''The Awful Truth'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. Based on the 1923 play ''The Awful Truth'' by Arthur Richman, the film recounts how a distrustful rich couple begins d ...

'', ''

Hips, Hips, Hooray! ''Hips, Hips, Hooray!'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code slapstick comedy starring Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Ruth Etting, Thelma Todd, and Dorothy Lee. During its initial theatrical run, it was preceded by the two-color Technicolor short ''Not ...

'', '' Grumpy'', ''

'', and '' History Is Made at Night''. He filmed a total of 110 films. He retired in 1937 but Sandrich persuaded him to come back as cameraman for the classic ''

Holiday Inn Holiday Inn is an American chain of hotels based in Atlanta, Georgia. and a brand of IHG Hotels & Resorts. The chain was founded in 1952 by Kemmons Wilson, who opened the first location in Memphis, Tennessee that year. The chain was a division ...

'' (1942). After two more films, '' Follow the Boys'' (1944) and ''

'' (1945), he left Hollywood film work for good. Abel lived for over fifty years in

Sierra Madre, California Sierra Madre (Spanish for "mother range") is a city in Los Angeles County, California, whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 U.S. Census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 U.S. Census. The city is in the foothills of the San Gabriel Vall ...

and died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, buried in the

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...

. He and his wife, Eva ("Chava") Rayevsky did not leave behind children.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Heiress at Coffee Dan's ''The Heiress at Coffee Dan's'' is a 1916 American silent film, silent comedy-drama film produced by the Fine Arts Film Company and distributed by Triangle Film Corporation. It starred Bessie Love and was directed by Edward Dillon (actor), Edward ...

'' (1916) * '' Thais'' (1917) * ''

Madame Bo-Peep ''Madame Bo-Peep'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Chester Withey and starring Seena Owen, Allan Sears Allan Sears (March 9, 1887 – August 18, 1942) was an American film actor who played leading roles in the 1910s and 1920s ...

'' (1917) * ''

A Woman's Awakening ''A Woman's Awakening'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Chester Withey and starring Seena Owen, Kate Bruce and Spottiswoode Aitken.Langman p.58 Cast * Seena Owen as Paula Letchworth * Kate Bruce as Mrs. Letchworth * Allan Sear ...

'' (1917) * ''

The Splendid Sinner ''The Splendid Sinner'' is a lost 1918 American silent World War I drama film directed by Edwin Carewe and starring Opera star Mary Garden. It was produced and released by Goldwyn Pictures. Cast *Mary Garden as Dolores Farqis *Hamilton Revelle as ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Lady of the Dugout ''The Lady of the Dugout'' is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Al J. Jennings, Frank Jennings and Corinne Grant.Connelly, p. 371. Cast * Al J. Jennings as Al Jennings * Frank Jennings as Frank Jen ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Heart of Wetona ''The Heart of Wetona'' is a 1919 American silent adventure drama film directed by Sidney Franklin and starring Norma Talmadge, Fred Huntley, and Thomas Meighan. Plot The film tells the story of some Comanche Indians and their preparations fo ...

'' (1919) * ''

The Way of a Woman ''The Way of a Woman'' is a 1919 silent film drama directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Norma Talmadge. Talmadge produced and the film was distributed by Select Pictures. Cast *Norma Talmadge - Nancy Lee *Conway Tearle - Anthony Weir *Gert ...

'' (1919) * ''

Rip Van Winkle "Rip Van Winkle" is a short story by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Dutchmen, imbibes their liquor and falls aslee ...

'' (1921) * ''

Courage Courage (also called bravery or valor) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in battle. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical pain, h ...

'' (1921) * ''

Little Miss Smiles ''Little Miss Smiles'' is a 1922 American drama film directed by John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Men of Zanzibar ''The Men of Zanzibar'' is a 1922 American silent mystery film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring William Russell, Ruth Renick and Claude Payton.Solomon p.277 The American consul in Zanzibar is informed that a fugitive American has just r ...

'' (1922) * ''

Where's My Wandering Boy Tonight? ''Where's My Wandering Boy Tonight?'' is a 1922 American comedy drama silent black-and-white film directed by James P. Hogan and Millard Webb, written by Gerald C. Duffy and produced by B.F. Zeidman. Cast * Cullen Landis as Garry Beeche ...

'' (1922) * ''

Mixed Faces ''Mixed Faces'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring William Russell, Renée Adorée, DeWitt Jennings, Elizabeth Garrison, and Charles K. French. The film was released by Fox Film Corporation on October ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Barefoot Boy "The Barefoot Boy" is a poem written by American Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier. The poem was first published in ''The Little Pilgrim'' in January 1855. Overview The poem is about a barefoot boy who is both innocent and connected to nature. N ...

'' (1923) * '' Seven Sinners'' (1925) * '' Rose of the World'' (1925) * '' The Forbidden Woman'' (1927) * ''

Don't Tell the Wife Don't Tell the Wife may refer to: * Don't Tell the Wife (1937 film) ''Don't Tell the Wife'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne using a screenplay by Nat Perrin adapted from the play, ''Once Over Lightly'', written by Geor ...

'' (1927) * ''

Craig's Wife ''Craig's Wife'' is a 1925 play written by American playwright George Kelly. It won the 1926 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and has been adapted for three feature films. Production ''Craig's Wife'' premiered on Broadway at the Morosco Theatre on ...

'' (1928) * '' Tenth Avenue'' (1928) * ''

Ned McCobb's Daughter ''Ned McCobb's Daughter'' is a 1928 American drama film directed by William J. Cowen and starring Irene Rich, Theodore Roberts, and Robert Armstrong.Gehring p. 62 It was also released in a silent version. Cast * Irene Rich as Carol * The ...

'' (1928) * ''

'' (1929) * ''

The Racketeer ''The Racketeer'' is a 1929 American Pre-Code drama film. Directed by Howard Higgin, the film is also known as ''Love's Conquest'' in the United Kingdom. It tells the tale of some members of the criminal class in 1920s America, and in particular ...

'' (1929) * ''

Noisy Neighbors ''Noisy Neighbors'' is a 1929 American comedy film directed by Charles Reisner and starring Eddie Quillan, Alberta Vaughn and Jane Keckley. Cast * Eddie Quillan as Eddie Van Revel * Alberta Vaughn as Mary Carstairs * Jane Keckley as Mother * Josep ...

'' (1929) * ''

Square Shoulders ''Square Shoulders'' is a 1929 American silent crime drama film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Frank Coghlan Jr., Louis Wolheim and Anita Louise.Munden p.760 Synopsis After returning from fighting in World War I, a man falls into bad ...

'' (1929) * '' Geraldine'' (1929) * '' Grumpy'' (1930) * ''

'' (1930) * '' Swing High'' (1930) * ''

The Grand Parade ''The Grand Parade'' is a 1930 American drama film directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and starring Helen Twelvetrees, Fred Scott and Richard Carle.Kennedy p.306 It is now considered to be a lost film. A struggling minstrel show entertainer's life is ...

'' (1930) * ''

'' (1931) * ''

'' (1934) * ''

Where Sinners Meet ''Where Sinners Meet'' is a 1934 American pre-Code romantic comedy film directed by J. Walter Ruben and starring Diana Wynyard, Clive Brook and Billie Burke. It was adapted by writer Henry William Hanemann from Clara Beranger's 1927 movie '' The ...

'' (1934) * ''

'' (1935) * ''

'' (1936) * '' History Is Made at Night'' (1937) * ''

'' (1942) * '' Follow the Boys'' (1944) * ''

'' (1945)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Abel, David Mass media people from Amsterdam 1880s births 1973 deaths Dutch cinematographers Dutch expatriates in the United States Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery People from Sierra Madre, California