Walter Lassally (18 December 1926 – 23 October 2017) was a German-born British

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 ...

. He won the

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 Best Cinematography in 1965 for the film ''

Zorba the Greek ''Zorba the Greek'' ( el, Βίος και Πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά, , Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas) is a novel written by the Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis, first published in 1946. It is the tale of a young Greek int ...

''.

Life and work

Walter Lassally was born in Berlin, Germany. His family was Protestant by religion, but Jewish by ancestry. They moved to England in 1939 to escape the Nazis. He was closely associated with the

Free cinema Free Cinema was a documentary film movement that emerged in the United Kingdom in the mid-1950s. The term referred to an absence of propagandised intent or deliberate box office appeal. Co-founded by Lindsay Anderson (but he later disdained the ' ...

movement in the 1950s, and the

British New Wave The British New Wave is a style of films released in Great Britain between 1959 and 1963. The label is a translation of ''Nouvelle Vague'', the French term first applied to the films of François Truffaut, and Jean-Luc Godard among others. Styl ...

in the early 1960s. He worked in the early 1960s with director

Tony Richardson Cecil Antonio "Tony" Richardson (5 June 1928 – 14 November 1991) was an English theatre and film director and producer whose career spanned five decades. In 1964, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film ''Tom Jones (1963 film ...

on the film versions of ''

A Taste of Honey ''A Taste of Honey'' is the first play by the British dramatist Shelagh Delaney, written when she was 19. It was intended as a novel, but she turned it into a play because she hoped to revitalise British theatre and address social issues that ...

'' (1961), ''

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner "The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner" is a short story by Alan Sillitoe, published in 1959 as part of a short story collection of the same title. The work focuses on Smith, a poor Nottingham teenager from a dismal home in a working clas ...

'' (1962) and '' Tom Jones'' (1963). Lassally also worked with Greek filmmaker

Michael Cacoyannis Michael Cacoyannis ( el, Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης, ''Michalis Kakogiannis''; 11 June 1922 – 25 July 2011), sometimes credited as Michael Yannis, was a Greek Cypriots, Greek Cypriot theatre and film director, writer, produce ...

between 1956 and 1967, and with

James Ivory James Francis Ivory (born June 7, 1928) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. For many years, he worked extensively with Indian-born film producer Ismail Merchant, his domestic as well as professional partner, and with screen ...

in the 1970s and 1980s. In the 1990s he moved to Stavros, near

Chania Chania ( el, Χανιά ; vec, La Canea), also spelled Hania, is a city in Greece and the capital of the Chania regional unit. It lies along the north west coast of the island Crete, about west of Rethymno and west of Heraklion. The muni ...

Crete Crete ( el, Κρήτη, translit=, Modern: , Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the 88th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and ...

, the town where he shot ''

'' in 1963. His autobiography, ''Itinerant Cameraman'', was published in 1987. He was featured in the book Conversations with Cinematographers by David A. Ellis, published by Scarecrow Press in 2011. He made his debut as an actor in

Richard Linklater Richard Stuart Linklater (; born July 30, 1960) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is known for films that revolve mainly around suburban culture and the effects of the passage of time. His films include the comedies '' ...

's ''

Before Midnight ''Before Midnight'' is a 2013 American romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy. The sequel to ''Before Sunrise'' (1995) and ''Before Sunset'' (2004), it is the third instal ...

'' (2013), where he played an older British writer settled in Greece. Lassally died on October 23, 2017 at the age of 90 in Crete, Greece.

Awards

In 1965, Lassally won an

for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) for ''

'' (1964). This Oscar melted during a fire at Christiana's Restaurant, on the night of January 1, 2012. On January 26, 2008, 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) presented Lassally with an International Achievement Award at the 22nd Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards celebration, at the Hollywood and Highland Grand Ballroom, Los Angeles.

Filmography

*''

Passing Stranger ''Passing Stranger'' is the debut album of British singer-songwriter, Scott Matthews, and was originally released in March 2006, before being re-issued by Island Records in October of the same year. The album contains the singles " Elusive", " ...

'' (1954) *''Another Sky'' (1954) *''

A Girl in Black ''A Girl in Black'' ( el, Το Κορίτσι με τα Μαύρα) is a 1956 Greek dramatic film by the Cypriot director Michael Cacoyannis starring Dimitris Horn and Ellie Lambeti. The film takes place on the Greek island of Hydra, where two Ath ...

'' (1956) *'' A Matter of Dignity'' (1956) *''

The Day Shall Dawn ''The Day Shall Dawn'' ( ur, جاگو ہوا سویرا, Jago Hua Savera) is a 1959 Pakistani drama film directed by A. J. Kardar. The film was selected as the Pakistani entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 32nd Academy Awards, but w ...

'' (1959) *'' Our Last Spring'' (1960) *''Madelena'' (1960) *''

Wild for Kicks ''Beat Girl'' is a 1960 United Kingdom, British Teen film, teen exploitation film directed by Edmond T. Gréville. The film was released in the United States under the title ''Wild for Kicks''. The title character of ''Beat Girl'' was played by ...

'' (1960) *''

Alice in the Navy Alice in the Navy ( el, Η Αλίκη στο ναυτικό) is a 1961 Greek comedy film directed by Alekos Sakellarios. Cast * Aliki Vougiouklaki - Alice * Dimitris Papamichael - Kostas Degleris * Giannis Gionakis - cadet * Giannis Malouhos - ...

'' (1961) *''

Electra Electra (; grc, Ήλέκτρα) is one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies.Evans (1970), p. 79 She is the main character in two Greek tragedies, '' Electra'' by Sophocles and '' Electra'' by Euripides. She is also the centra ...

'' (1962) *''

'' (1962) *'' Tom Jones'' (1963) *''

Psyche 59 ''Psyche 59'' is a 1964 British drama film directed by Alexander Singer and written by Julian Halevy. It is based on the 1963 novel ''Psyche '59'' by Françoise des Ligneris. The film stars Patricia Neal, Curd Jürgens, Samantha Eggar, Ian Bannen ...

'' (1964) *''

'' (1964) -

winner *''

The Day the Fish Came Out ''The Day the Fish Came Out'' (Greece: Otan ta psaria vgikan sti steria) is a 1967 DeLuxe Color Greek–British comedy film directed and written by Michael Cacoyannis who also designed the film's futuristic costumes. The film stars Tom Courte ...

'' (1967) *''Open Letter'' (1967) *''

Oedipus the King ''Oedipus Rex'', also known by its Greek title, ''Oedipus Tyrannus'' ( grc, Οἰδίπους Τύραννος, ), or ''Oedipus the King'', is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC. Originally, to the ancient Gr ...

'' (1968) *''

Joanna Joanna is a feminine given name deriving from from he, יוֹחָנָה, translit=Yôḥānāh, lit=God is gracious. Variants in English include Joan (given name), Joan, Joann, Joanne (given name), Joanne, and Johanna. Other forms of the name in ...

'' (1968) *'' Assignment Skybolt'' (1968) *'' Three Into Two Won't Go'' (1969) *''

The Adding Machine ''The Adding Machine'' is a 1923 play by Elmer Rice; it has been called "... a landmark of American Expressionism, reflecting the growing interest in this highly subjective and nonrealistic form of modern drama." Plot The author of this play ta ...

'' (1969) *''

Lola Lola may refer to: Places * Lolá, a or subdistrict of Panama * Lola Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, United States * Lola Prefecture, Guinea * Lola, Guinea, a town in Lola Prefecture * Lola Island, in the Solomon Islands People * Lola (fo ...

'' (1970) *''

Something for Everyone ''Something for Everyone'' is a 1970 American black comedy film starring Angela Lansbury, Michael York, Anthony Higgins, and Jane Carr. The film was based on the novel ''The Cook'' by Harry Kressing, with a screenplay by Hugh Wheeler. The pl ...

'' (1970) *'' Savages'' (1972) *''

To Kill a Clown ''To Kill a Clown'' is a 1972 American psychological thriller film directed by George Bloomfield and written by George Bloomfield and I. C. Rapoport. The film stars Alan Alda, Blythe Danner, Heath Lamberts and Eric Clavering. The film was rele ...

'' (1972) *''

Visions of Eight ''Visions of Eight'' is a 1973 American documentary film offering a stylized look at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Produced by Stan Margulies and executive produced by David L. Wolper, it was directed by eight directors. It was screened out-of-compet ...

'' (1973) (one sequence: "The Highest") *''

Happy Mother's Day, Love George ''Happy Mother's Day, Love George'' (also known ''Run Stranger, Run'') is a 1973 United States, American mystery film produced and directed by Darren McGavin. The film stars Patricia Neal, Cloris Leachman, Bobby Darin (his last acting role), Tes ...

'' (1973) *''

Malachi's Cove ''Malachi's Cove'' is a 1974 British-Canadian coming-of-age period drama film directed by Henry Herbert and starring Donald Pleasence, Veronica Quilligan and Dai Bradley. It is based on the short story ''Malachi's Cove'' by Anthony Trollope ...

'' (1973) *'' The Wild Party'' (1975) *''

Autobiography of a Princess ''Autobiography of a Princess'' is a 1975 film directed by James Ivory and starring James Mason and Madhur Jaffrey. It was written by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and produced by Ismail Merchant. Plot An Indian princess (Madhur Jaffrey), long-divorced ...

'' (1975) *'' The Clown'' (1976) *'' Pleasantville'' (1976) *' (1976) *' (1978) *''

The Great Bank Hoax ''The Great Bank Hoax'' is a 1978 American comedy film written and directed by Joseph Jacoby. The film stars Richard Basehart, Ned Beatty, Charlene Dallas, Burgess Meredith, Michael Murphy, Paul Sand and Constance Forslund. Plot There's intrig ...

'' (1978) *''

Something Short of Paradise Something Short of Paradise is a 1979 American romantic comedy film directed by David Helpern from a screenplay by Fred Barron. It stars Susan Sarandon and David Steinberg. Plot Madeleine Ross (Susan Sarandon) is a journalist, and her boyfriend ...

'' (1979) *''

The Pilot A pilot is a person who flies or navigates an aircraft. Pilot or The Pilot may also refer to: * Maritime pilot, a person who guides ships through hazardous waters * Television pilot, a television episode used to sell a series to a television netw ...

'' (1980) *''

The Blood of Hussain ''The Blood of Hussain'' is a 1980 Pakistani drama film directed by Jamil Dehlavi. The film was released in February 1981 in the UK. The film was banned throughout Pakistan as the military junta led by General Zia-ul-Haq toppled the government ...

'' (1980) *''

Angels of Iron ''Angels of Iron'' (german: Engel aus Eisen) is a 1981 German crime film directed by Thomas Brasch. It was entered into the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, but did not win at Cannes. Director Thomas Brasch won the Bavarian Film Award for Best Directi ...

'' (1981) *''

Memoirs of a Survivor ''The Memoirs of a Survivor'' is a dystopian novel by Nobel Prize-winner Doris Lessing. It was first published in 1974 by Octagon Press. It was made into a film in 1981, starring Julie Christie and Nigel Hawthorne, and directed by David Glad ...

'' (1981) *''Tuxedo Warrior'' (1982) *''

Heat and Dust ''Heat and Dust'' (1975) is a novel by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala that won the Booker Prize in 1975. The book was also ranked by ''The Telegraph'' in 2014 as one of the 10 all-time greatest Asian novels. Plot summary The initial stages of the nov ...

'' (1983) - BAFTA nominee *''

Private School Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

'' (1983) *''

The Bostonians ''The Bostonians'' is a novel by Henry James, first published as a serial in ''The Century Magazine'' in 1885–1886 and then as a book in 1886. This bittersweet tragicomedy centres on an odd triangle of characters: Basil Ransom, a political co ...

'' (1984) -

British Society of Cinematographers The British Society of Cinematographers (abbreviated B.S.C. or BSC) was formed in 1949 by Bert Easey (23 August 1901 – 28 February 1973), the then head of the Denham and Pinewood studio camera departments, to represent British cinematographers ...

nominee *''

The Case of Marcel Duchamp ''The Case of Marcel Duchamp'' is a 1984 British mystery film directed by David Rowan and starring Guy Rolfe, Raymond Francis, Harold Innocent and Juliet Hammond. Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson come out of retirement to solve a final case co ...

'' (1984) *''Indian Summer'' (1987) *'' The Perfect Murder'' (1988) *'' The Deceivers'' (1988) *'' Fragments of Isabella'' (1989) * '' Diary of a Madman'' (1990) *''

The Ballad of the Sad Cafe ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1991) *'' The Little Dolphins'' (1993) *'' View Through The Window)'' (1994 ) *''

Crescent Heart A crescent shape (, ) is a symbol or emblem used to represent the lunar phase in the first quarter (the "sickle moon"), or by extension a symbol representing the Moon itself. In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is often shown wearing a crescent moon on his ...

'' (2001)

References

External links

* *
Walter Lassally telling his life story at Web of Stories
(video) 1926 births 2017 deaths Jewish emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United Kingdom Best Cinematographer Academy Award winners British emigrants to Greece Film people from Berlin Filmmakers from Crete {{cinematographer-stub