John Alton (October 5, 1901 – June 2, 1996), born Johann Jacob Altmann, in

Sopron Sopron (; german: Ödenburg, ; sl, Šopron) is a city in Hungary on the Austrian border, near Lake Neusiedl/Lake Fertő. History Ancient times-13th century When the area that is today Western Hungary was a province of the Roman Empire, a ...

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from the Middle Ages into the 20th century. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephen ...

, was an American

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 ...

of Hungarian-German origin. Alton photographed some of the most famous

films noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...

of the classic period and won an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for the cinematography of ''

An American in Paris ''An American in Paris'' is a jazz-influenced orchestral piece by American composer George Gershwin first performed in 1928. It was inspired by the time that Gershwin had spent in Paris and evokes the sights and energy of the French capital ...

'' (1951), becoming the first Hungarian-born person to do so in the cinematography category.

Career

Alton moved to the US to attend college and first became involved in the film industry when he was spotted by a gateman at Cosmopolitan Studios in New York looking for extras. He began as a lab technician 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' ...

in the 1920s, later becoming a cameraman within four years. He moved to

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

with

Ernst Lubitsch Ernst Lubitsch (; January 29, 1892November 30, 1947) was a German-born American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His urbane comedies of manners gave him the reputation of being Hollywood's most elegant and sophisticated director; as ...

to film backgrounds for ''

The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg ''The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg'', also known as ''The Student Prince'' and ''Old Heidelberg'', is a 1927 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer silent drama film based on the 1901 play '' Old Heidelberg'' by Wilhelm Meyer-Förster. It was directed by Ern ...

'' (1927) and ended up staying for one year heading the camera department of

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film and television production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the main namesake division of Paramount Global (formerly ViacomCBS). It is the fifth-oldes ...

's Joinville Studios. He claimed he discovered

Maurice Chevalier Maurice Auguste Chevalier (; 12 September 1888 – 1 January 1972) was a French singer, actor and entertainer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including " Livin' In The Sunlight", " Valentine", "Louise", " Mimi", and "Thank Hea ...

. In 1932, he moved to Argentina where he shot many Spanish-language films and designed the country's first sound film studio for

Lumiton Lumiton is a former film production company and current museum located in Munro, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lumiton Studios was founded in 1932 at the start of the golden age of film in that country. Its lowbrow, populist films appealed to local aud ...

and

Argentina Sono Film Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...

. He intended to stay for a year but ended up staying for seven. He won a prize for best photography in Argentina in 1937. He returned to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

in the late 1930s, and shot 30

B-movies A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double featur ...

in seven years, mostly for

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...

and

RKO 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-Orpheu ...

. He then worked with director

Anthony Mann Anthony Mann (born Emil Anton Bundsmann; June 30, 1906 – April 29, 1967) was an American film director and stage actor. Mann initially started as a theatre actor appearing in numerous stage productions. In 1937, he moved to Hollywood where ...

to make ''

T-Men ''T-Men'' is a 1947 semidocumentary and police procedural style film noir about United States Treasury agents. The film was directed by Anthony Mann and shot by noted noir cameraman John Alton. The production features Dennis O'Keefe, Mary Meade ...

'' (1947) and became one of the most sought-after cinematographers of the time being known for unconventional camera angles—especially low camera shots. His style is most notable in the films noir: ''

He Walked by Night ''He Walked by Night'' is a 1948 American police procedural film noir directed by Alfred L. Werker and an uncredited Anthony Mann. The film, shot in semidocumentary tone, was loosely based on newspaper accounts of the real-life actions of Erwin ...

'' (1948), ''

The Amazing Mr. X ''The Amazing Mr. X'', also known as ''The Spiritualist'', is a 1948 American Horror film, horror Thriller film, thriller film noir directed by Bernard Vorhaus with cinematography by John Alton. The film tells the story of a phony spiritualist ra ...

'' (1948), '' Raw Deal'' (1948) and ''

The Big Combo ''The Big Combo'' is a 1955 American film noir crime film directed by Joseph H. Lewis, written by Philip Yordan and photographed by cinematographer John Alton, with music by David Raksin. The film stars Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte and Brian Donlev ...

'' (1955). Alton also photographed many color movies including '' Slightly Scarlet'' (a color film noir). He worked with

Vincente Minnelli Vincente Minnelli (born Lester Anthony Minnelli; February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was an American stage director and film director. He directed the classic movie musicals ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' (1944), ''An American in Paris'' (1951), ''Th ...

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

for 10 years including on ''

Father of the Bride The Father of the Bride is commonly one of the wedding ceremony participants. Father of the Bride may also refer to: * ''Father of the Bride'' (novel), 1949, by Edward Streeter ** ''Father of the Bride'' (franchise), media franchise based on the 1 ...

'' (1950) and ''

'' (1951), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Color Cinematography with

Alfred Gilks Alfred Gilks (29 December 1891 – 6 September 1970) was an American cinematographer from 1920 through to 1956. Career Gilks worked on many silent films in the 1920s, such as ''Red Hair'' (1928) with Clara Bow and the historical epic '' Old ...

. He also worked multiple times with

Richard Brooks Richard Brooks (May 18, 1912 – March 11, 1992) was an American screenwriter, film director, novelist and film producer. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, Oscars in his career, he was best known for ''Blackboard Jungle'' (1955), ''Cat on a ...

including on '' Battle Circus'' (1953) and ''

The Brothers Karamazov ''The Brothers Karamazov'' (russian: Братья Карамазовы, ''Brat'ya Karamazovy'', ), also translated as ''The Karamazov Brothers'', is the last novel by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky. Dostoevsky spent nearly two years writing '' ...

'' (1958). Alton resigned from the

American Society of Cinematographers The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), founded in Hollywood in 1919, is a cultural, educational, and professional organization that is neither a labor union nor a guild. The society was organized to advance the science and art of cinem ...

(ASC) in January 1944, reportedly due to conflicts with ASC founding member and MGM camera department head John Arnold. He was reinstated at his request less than a year later, with the help of

Leon Shamroy Leon Shamroy, A.S.C. (July 16, 1901 – July 7, 1974) was an American film cinematographer known for his work in 20th Century Fox motion pictures shot in Technicolor. He and Charles Lang share the record for most Oscar nominations for Cinematogr ...

, but ended up resigning a second and final time in March 1954 after a personal dispute with the president. Alton's last film was ''

Elmer Gantry ''Elmer Gantry'' is a satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the religious activity of America in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. The novel's protagonis ...

'' (1960). He worked with director

Charles Crichton Charles Ainslie Crichton (6 August 1910 – 14 September 1999) was an English film director and editor. Born in Wallasey, Cheshire, he became best known for directing many comedies produced at Ealing Studios and had a 40-year career ...

on ''

Birdman of Alcatraz Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...

'' (1962) but both were fired after two weeks and Alton quit the industry.

Television

In 1966, Alton shot the

pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...

for '' Mission: Impossible'', which became a successful television series.

Book

Alton wrote ''Painting with Light'' (1949), one of the first books written by a working studio cinematographer. The book put forth several controversial theories for the day, such as depth is created by placing the brightest object in the scene furthest from the camera, and that studio lighting must always simulate natural light in texture and direction. It addresses both conventional and unconventional methods of studio motion-picture lighting. Despite the vast technical advances achieved within the motion picture industry much of the content is still pertinent. ''Painting with Light'' (1949) contains essential reading for any budding filmmaker with detailed information and ideas for lighting several difficult interior and exterior setups and situations. The table of contents includes chapters such as "Mystery Lighting", "Special Illumination", and "Visual Symphony".

Personal life

After quitting the movie industry, Alton and his wife Rozalia kept out of the public eye and traveled the world until the early 1980s living in Europe, South America, South Africa and Asia. They met while he was in Argentina and were married for 55 years until her death. In 1986, he married Billie, who died in the early 1990s.

Filmography

* ''

'' (1927) * ''

The Man Who Murdered ''The Man Who Murdered'' (german: Der Mann, der den Mord beging) is a 1931 German crime drama film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and starring Conrad Veidt, Trude von Molo and Heinrich George.Grange p. 357 It is adapted from the play by Pierre Fro ...

'' (1930) * ' (1930) * ''

Los tres berretines ''Los tres berretines'' (''The Three Whims'') is a 1933 Argentine black and white comedy film, the first film made by the newly formed Lumiton film studio, and one of the first sound films made in Argentina. It was a great success and launched th ...

'' (1933) * ''El hijo de papá'' (1933) * ''

Crimen a las tres ''Crimen a las tres'' is a 1935 Argentine crime film directed and written by Luis Saslavsky. Main cast *Blanca de Castejón *Eduardo Berri *Malena Bravo *Héctor Cataruzza *Augusto Codecá Augusto Codecá (7 June 1906 – 7 May 1978) was an ...

'' (1935) * ''Big Calibre'' (1935) * ''

Escala en la ciudad ''Escala en la ciudad'' (''A stop in the city'') is a 1935 Argentine film directed and written by Alberto De Zavalia with Carlos Aden. It was produced by SIFAL, a production company run by de Zavalia and his partner Luis Saslavsky. The produ ...

'' (1935) * ''Puerto Nuevo'' (1936) * ''Compañeros'' (1936) * '' Loco lindo'' (1936) * ''Tararira'' (1936) * ''

Goal A goal is an idea of the future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan and commit to achieve. People endeavour to reach goals within a finite time by setting deadlines. A goal is roughly similar to a purpose or ai ...

'' (1936) * '' Amalia'' (1936) * ''El Pobre Pérez'' (1937) * ''

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...

'' (1937) * ''La vida bohemia'' (1938) * ''

Honeysuckle Honeysuckles are arching shrubs or twining vines in the genus ''Lonicera'' () of the family Caprifoliaceae, native to northern latitudes in North America and Eurasia. Approximately 180 species of honeysuckle have been identified in both contin ...

'' (1938) * '' Puerta cerrada'' (1938) * '' Cadetes de San Martín'' (1939) * ''El último encuentro'' (1939) * ''

Caminito de Gloria ''Caminito de Gloria'' is a List of Argentine films of 1939, 1939 Argentina, Argentine musical melodrama film written and directed by Luis César Amadori. The film starred Libertad Lamarque, who sings "Caminito", the celebrated 1926 tango compo ...

'' (1939) * '' Puerta cerrada'' (1939) * ''

Doce mujeres ''Twelve Women'' ( es, Doce mujeres) is a List of Argentine films:1939, 1939 cinema of Argentina, Argentine comedy film directed by Luis Moglia Barth and starring Roberto Escalada. Cast * Olinda Bozán * Paquito Busto * Delia Garcés * Nuri Monts ...

'' (1939) * ''El matrero'' (1939) * ''

Remedy for Riches ''Remedy for Riches'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Erle C. Kenton and featuring Jean Hersholt. It is the fourth of the six films of the Dr. Christian series. Plot A college friend of the local soda-jerk comes to town and lets ...

'' (1940) * ''

Dr. Christian Meets the Women ''Dr. Christian Meets the Women'' is a 1940 American film directed by William C. McGann, one of the series of six Dr. Christian films featuring Jean Hersholt. Plot summary Professor Kenneth Parker, a God-fearing physical culturist, arrives to ...

'' (1940) * ''

Three Faces West ''Three Faces West'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Bernard Vorhaus and starring John Wayne, Sigrid Gurie and Charles Coburn. The film, mainly set in North Dakota was one of a handful of overtly anti-Nazi films produced by Hollywood ...

'' (1940) * ''

The Courageous Dr. Christian ''The Courageous Dr. Christian'' is a 1940 American film directed by Bernard Vorhaus. It was part of a film series about Dr. Christian. Plot summary Kindhearted Dr. Paul Christian is appalled by the harsh living conditions of homeless inhabit ...

'' (1940) * ''

The Devil Pays Off ''The Devil Pays Off'' is a 1941 American spy film directed by John H. Auer. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording ( Charles L. Lootens). Plot The former naval lieutenant Chris Waring is awakened by the police la ...

'' (1941) * ''

Forced Landing A forced landing is a landing by an aircraft made under factors outside the pilot's control, such as the failure of engines, systems, components, or weather which makes continued flight impossible. For a full description of these, see article on ' ...

'' (1941) * ''

Melody for Three ''Melody for Three'' is a 1941 American film directed by Erle C. Kenton, one of the six films of the Dr. Christian series. Plot summary Dr. Christian takes an interest in a young boy, a violin prodigy, whose mother is a divorced music teache ...

'' (1941) * ''Power Dive'' (1941) * ''Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case'' (1941) * '' The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine'' (1942) * ''Ice-Capades Revue'' (1942) * ''Johnny Doughboy'' (1942) * ''

Moonlight Masquerade ''Moonlight Masquerade'' is a 1942 United States, American film starring Dennis O'Keefe and Jane Frazee. It is also known as ''Moonstruck'' and ''Tahiti Honey''. Plot Two business partners, John Bennett, Sr. and Robert Forrester, are starting t ...

'' (1942) * ''Pardon My Stripes'' (1942) * '' The Sultan's Daughter'' (1943) * ''

The Lady and the Monster ''The Lady and the Monster'' is a 1944 American science fiction horror film directed by George Sherman, and starring Vera Ralston, Richard Arlen, and Erich von Stroheim. The film is about the attempts to keep alive the brain of a multimillionaire ...

'' (1944) * ''

Lake Placid Serenade ''Lake Placid Serenade'' is a 1944 American musical romance film directed by Steve Sekely and starring Vera Ralston, Eugene Pallette and Barbara Jo Allen.Martin p.103 Following the German invasion of Czechoslovakia a Czech ice-skating champion goe ...

'' (1944) * ''

Storm Over Lisbon ''Storm Over Lisbon'' is a 1944 American thriller film produced and directed by George Sherman and starring Vera Ralston. The screenplay concerns a nightclub owner who attempts to gain secret information. The film's sets were designed by the ...

'' (1944) * ''Enemy of Women'' (1944) * ''

Atlantic City Atlantic City, often known by its initials A.C., is a coastal resort city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. The city is known for its casinos, Boardwalk (entertainment district), boardwalk, and beaches. In 2020 United States censu ...

'' (1944) * '' The Captain from Köpenick'' (1945) * ''

Girls of the Big House ''Girls of the Big House'' is a 1945 American drama film directed by George Archainbaud and starring Lynne Roberts, Virginia Christine and Marion Martin.LoBrutto p.449 The film's sets were designed by the art director Gano Chittenden. Plot A c ...

'' (1945) * ''

Song of Mexico ''Song of Mexico'' is a 1945 American musical film written and directed by James A. FitzPatrick and starring Adele Mara, Edgar Barrier, George J. Lewis, Jacqueline Dalya, José Pulido and Raquel De Alva. It was released on December 28, 1945, by ...

'' (1944) * ''Love, Honor and Goodbye'' (1945) * ''I Was a Criminal'' (1945) * ''Affairs of Geraldine'' (1946) * ''A Guy Could Change'' (1946) * ''The Madonna's Secret'' (1946) * '' Murder in the Music Hall'' (1946) * ''One Exciting Week'' (1946) * ''The Magnificent Rogue'' (1947) * ''The Ghost Goes Wild'' (1947) * ''Hit Parade of 1947'' (1947) * ''

'' (1947) * ''

The Trespasser Trespasser In the law of tort, property, and criminal law a trespasser is a person who commits the act of trespassing on a property, that is, without the permission of the owner. Being present on land as a trespasser thereto creates liabi ...

'' (1947) * ''

Winter Wonderland "Winter Wonderland" is a song written in 1934 by Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard Bernhard Smith. Due to its seasonal theme, it is often regarded as a Christmas song in the Northern Hemisphere. Since its original recording by Richard Himber, ...

'' (1947) * ''

Wyoming Wyoming () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It is bordered by Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho to the west, Utah to the south ...

'' (1947) * ''

Bury Me Dead ''Bury Me Dead'' is a 1947 American film noir directed by Bernard Vorhaus. The drama features Cathy O'Donnell, June Lockhart, Hugh Beaumont and Mark Daniels.. Plot When the remains of a woman's body are found after a fire consumes the stables ...

'' (1947) * '' The Pretender'' (1947) * ''

Driftwood __NOTOC__ Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea, lake, or river by the action of winds, tides or waves. In some waterfront areas, driftwood is a major nuisance. However, the driftwood provides shelter and fo ...

'' (1947) * ''

'' (1948) * ''

Hollow Triumph ''Hollow Triumph'' (working title ''The Man Who Murdered Himself'', reissued in the United States as ''The Scar'') is a 1948 American film noir crime film directed by Steve Sekely starring Paul Henreid, Joan Bennett and Leslie Brooks. It was rel ...

'' (1948) * ''

'' (1948) * '' Canon City'' (1948) * '' Raw Deal'' (1948) * ''

Border Incident ''Border Incident'' is a 1949 film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, George Murphy, Howard Da Silva. Directed by Anthony Mann, the MGM production was written by John C. Higgins and George Zuckerman. The film was shot by cinematographer John Al ...

'' (1949) * '' The Crooked Way'' (1949) * ''

Captain China ''Captain China'' is a 1950 American adventure film directed by Lewis R. Foster and written by Lewis R. Foster and Gwen Bagni. The film stars John Payne, Gail Russell, Jeffrey Lynn, Lon Chaney Jr., Edgar Bergen, Michael O'Shea and Ellen Corb ...

'' (1949) * ''

Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public executions took place in response to revolutionary fervour, ...

'' (1949) * '' Red Stallion in the Rockies'' (1949) * ''

Mystery Street ''Mystery Street'' is a 1950 black-and-white film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, Sally Forrest, Bruce Bennett, Elsa Lanchester, and Marshall Thompson. Produced by MGM, it was directed by John Sturges with cinematography by John Alton. The f ...

'' (1950) * ''

'' (1950) * '' Grounds for Marriage'' (1950) * ''

Devil's Doorway ''Devil's Doorway'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Robert Taylor as an Indian who returns home from the American Civil War a hero awarded the Medal of Honor. However, his hopes for a peaceful life are sha ...

'' (1950) * ''

'' (1951) (ballet photography) * ''

The People Against O'Hara ''The People Against O'Hara'' is a 1951 American crime film noir directed by John Sturges and based on Eleazar Lipsky's novel. The film features Spencer Tracy, Pat O'Brien, John Hodiak, and James Arness. Plot James Curtayne ( Tracy) was once a ...

'' (1951) * ''

Father's Little Dividend ''Father's Little Dividend'' is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor. The movie is the sequel to '' Father of the Bride'' (1950). Plot In this sequel to '' Fat ...

'' (1951) * ''

It's a Big Country ''It's a Big Country An American Anthology'' is a 1951 American anthology film consisting of eight segments by seven directors: Richard Thorpe, John Sturges, Charles Vidor, Don Weis, Clarence Brown, William A. Wellman and Don Hartman. Plot In ...

'' (1951) * ''

Talk About a Stranger ''Talk About a Stranger'' is a 1952 American film noir directed by David Bradley and starring George Murphy, Nancy Davis and Billy Gray. The motion picture was shot by noted cinematographer John Alton, A.S.C. and was based on Charlotte Armstron ...

'' (1952) * ''

Washington Story ''Washington Story'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Robert Pirosh and starring Van Johnson and Patricia Neal. The screenplay concerns a reporter in search of government corruption who falls for a congressman. Plot On her first trip to ...

'' (1952) * ''

Apache War Smoke ''Apache War Smoke'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Harold F. Kress and starring Gilbert Roland, Glenda Farrell, and Robert Horton. The film is based on the 1939 short story "Stage Station" by Ernest Haycox. It was released by M ...

'' (1952) * ''

Count the Hours ''Count the Hours!'' is a 1953 crime film noir directed by Don Siegel, featuring Macdonald Carey, Teresa Wright, John Craven, and Jack Elam.. Plot The bodies of farmer Fred Morgan and his housekeeper are found. Suspicion falls on hired hand Geor ...

'' (1952) * '' Battle Circus'' (1953) * ''

Take the High Ground! ''Take the High Ground!'' is a 1953 American war film directed by Richard Brooks and starring Richard Widmark and Karl Malden as drill sergeants who must transform a batch of everyday civilians into soldiers during the Korean War. Plot In May 195 ...

'' (1953) * ''

I, the Jury ''I, the Jury'' is the 1947 debut novel of American crime fiction writer Mickey Spillane, the first work to feature private investigator Mike Hammer. Plot summary The novel opens as private detective Mike Hammer is called to the apartment of i ...

'' (1953) * ''

Cattle Queen of Montana ''Cattle Queen of Montana'' is a 1954 American Western film shot in Technicolor directed by Allan Dwan and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Ronald Reagan. The supporting cast includes Gene Evans, Lance Fuller, Jack Elam, Chubby Johnson, and Morris ...

'' (1954) * '' Silver Lode'' (1954) * ''

Witness to Murder ''Witness to Murder'' is a 1954 American film noir crime drama directed by Roy Rowland and starring Barbara Stanwyck, George Sanders, and Gary Merrill. While the film received moderately positive reviews, it ended up as an also-ran to Alfred ...

'' (1954) * ''

Duffy of San Quentin ''Duffy of San Quentin'' is a 1954 American film noir crime film directed by Walter Doniger and written by Walter Doniger and Berman Swarttz. The film stars Louis Hayward, Joanne Dru, Paul Kelly, Maureen O'Sullivan, George Macready and Horace ...

'' (1954) * '' Passion'' (1954) * ''

Tennessee's Partner ''Tennessee's Partner'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Allan Dwan, written by Graham Baker, D. D. Beauchamp, Milton Krims, and Teddi Sherman, with uncredited rewrites by Dwan, and starring John Payne, Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fl ...

'' (1955) * ''

'' (1955) * '' Pearl of the South Pacific'' (1955) * ''

Escape to Burma ''Escape to Burma'' is a 1955 American Technicolor adventure film directed by Allan Dwan starring Barbara Stanwyck, Robert Ryan and David Farrar. The film was based on the short story "Bow Tamely to Me" by Kenneth Perkins, originally publis ...

'' (1955) * '' The Teahouse of the August Moon'' (1956) * '' Slightly Scarlet'' (1956) * ''

The Catered Affair ''The Catered Affair'' (also known as ''Wedding Party'') is a 1956 American comedy-drama film directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Sam Zimbalist from a screenplay by Gore Vidal, based on a 1955 television play by Paddy Chayefsky. The film ...

'' (1956) * '' Tea and Sympathy'' (1956) * ''

Designing Woman ''Designing Woman'' is a 1957 American Metrocolor romantic comedy film, in CinemaScope, about two young, whirlwind-romanced newlywed professionals and their misadventures in adjusting to each other's lifestyles. Vincente Minnelli directed the fi ...

'' (1957) * ''

'' (1958) * ''

Lonelyhearts ''Lonelyhearts'', also known as ''Miss Lonelyhearts'', is a 1958 American drama film directed by Vincent J. Donehue. It is based on the 1957 Broadway play by Howard Teichmann, which in turn is based on the 1933 novel ''Miss Lonelyhearts'' by N ...

'' (1958) * '' 12 to the Moon'' (1960) * ''

'' (1960) Sources:Steeman, Albert. Ibid.

Accolades

Wins *

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

: Oscar, Best Cinematography, Color; ''An American in Paris,'' shared with:

; 1951. Nominations * Laurel Awards: Golden Laurel, Top Cinematography, Color, ''The Brothers Karamazov,'' 4th place; 1959. Other honors *

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards The Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) is an American film critic organization founded in 1975. Background Its membership comprises film critics from Los Angeles-based print and electronic media. In December of each year, the organiza ...

: Career Achievement Award; 1992.

References

Sources

* Harry Tomicek: Das grosse Schwarz. ''Border Incident,'' von Anthony Mann, Kamera: John Alton (1949). In: Christian Cargnelli, Michael Omasta (eds.): Schatten. Exil. ''Europäische Emigranten im Film noir.'' PVS, Vienna 1997. .

External links

* *
John Alton
at ''Painting With Light''

images and analysis at ''Images Journal''

at Film Reference * (7min:41secs) {{DEFAULTSORT:Alton, John 1901 births 1996 deaths American cinematographers Best Cinematographer Academy Award winners Hungarian cinematographers Hungarian emigrants to the United States People from Sopron American expatriates in Argentina American people of Hungarian descent