Arthur J. Ornitz
American cinematographer (1916-1985)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Arthur Jacob Ornitz, ASC (November 28, 1916 – July 10, 1985) was an American cinematographer and filmmaker, known best for his work on New York-based productions. He worked with such directors as William Friedkin, Sidney Lumet, John Cassavetes, Paul Mazursky, and Shirley Clarke.[1]
November 28, 1916
Arthur J. Ornitz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arthur Jacob Ornitz[1] November 28, 1916 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 10, 1985 (aged 68)[2] New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Arthur Ornitz |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1936–1983 |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent | Samuel Ornitz (father) |
| Relatives | Don Ornitz (brother) |
Early life and education
Ornitz was born in New York City, the son of Sadie (née Lesser) and screenwriter Samuel Ornitz, a Hollywood Ten blacklistee.[2] He had a brother, Don, who was a photographer. Ornitz studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles.[2]
Career
Ornitz made his directing debut with short film Wanted – A Master (1936), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (One-Reel). He was a documentary cameraman for Joris Ivens and Floyd Crosby during the latter part of the decade.[1] During World War II, he served in the US Army Signal Corps, under a unit commanded by Frank Capra.[1]
During the 1950s, Ornitz lived in Denmark and worked with Danish filmmaker couple Astrid and Bjarne Henning-Jensen. His first American feature film was The Goddess (1958), directed by John Cromwell. During the decade, he also shot and directed various commercials.[3]
Among other films, he shot The Connection (1961), A Thousand Clowns (1965), Charly (1968), The Boys in the Band (1970), The Anderson Tapes, Minnie and Moskowitz (both 1971), Serpico (1973), Death Wish (1974), Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), An Unmarried Woman (1978), and Hanky Panky (1982).
Victor J. Kemper cited him as a mentor.[3]
