Biography
John Alton A.S.C. (October 5, 1901 – June 2, 1996), born Johann Altmann, in Sopron/Ödenburg, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary, was an American cinematographer. Alton won an Academy Award for the cinematography of An American in Paris (1951), becoming the first Hungarian-born person to do so. He photographed some of the most famous film noirs of the classic period. He started out in Los Angeles as a lab technician in the 1920s, later becoming a cameraman within four years. He moved to France with Ernst Lubitsch to film backgrounds for The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927) and ended up staying for one year heading the camera department of Paramount Pictures's Joinville Studios. In 1932 he moved to Argentina where he shot many Spanish-language films and designed the country's first sound film studio for Lumiton and Argentina Sono Film.
He returned to Hollywood in the late 1930s, with two dozen film credits, and became one of the most sought after cinematographers in American cinema.
Alton was known for unconventional camera angles—especially low camera shots. His style is most notable in the film noirs: He Walked by Night, The Big Combo, The Amazing Mr. X, T-Men, and Raw Deal.
Alton also photographed many color movies including Slightly Scarlet (a color film noir).
Filmography
all 105
Movies 104
Director 28
self 5
TV Shows 1
!['S Wonderful: Creating An American in Paris](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
'S Wonderful: Creating An American in Paris (2008)
![Glorious Technicolor](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/86058-glorious-technicolor.jpg)
Glorious Technicolor (1998)
![Mission: Impossible](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/21712-mission-impossible.jpg)
Mission: Impossible (1966)
![Birdman of Alcatraz](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/14468-birdman-of-alcatraz.jpg)
Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
![Elmer Gantry](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/9556-elmer-gantry.jpg)
Elmer Gantry (1960)
![12 to the Moon](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/83433-12-to-the-moon.jpg)
12 to the Moon (1960)
![Lonelyhearts](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/87650-lonelyhearts.jpg)
Lonelyhearts (1959)
![The Brothers Karamazov](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/37963-the-brothers-karamazov.jpg)
The Brothers Karamazov (1958)
![The Teahouse of the August Moon](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/31389-the-teahouse-of-the-august-moon.jpg)
The Teahouse of the August Moon (1957)
![Designing Woman](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/68777-designing-woman.jpg)
Designing Woman (1957)
![Tea and Sympathy](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/52328-tea-and-sympathy.jpg)
Tea and Sympathy (1956)
![The Catered Affair](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/53196-the-catered-affair.jpg)
The Catered Affair (1956)
![Slightly Scarlet](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/70195-slightly-scarlet.jpg)
Slightly Scarlet (1956)
![Tennessee's Partner](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/70211-tennessee-s-partner.jpg)
Tennessee's Partner (1955)
![Pearl of the South Pacific](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/104047-pearl-of-the-south-pacific.jpg)
Pearl of the South Pacific (1955)
![Escape to Burma](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/104046-escape-to-burma.jpg)
Escape to Burma (1955)
![The Big Combo](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/38607-the-big-combo.jpg)
The Big Combo (1955)
![The Steel Cage](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/64139-the-steel-cage.jpg)
The Steel Cage (1954)
![Cattle Queen of Montana](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/59076-cattle-queen-of-montana.jpg)
Cattle Queen of Montana (1954)
![Passion](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/70371-passion.jpg)
Passion (1954)
![Silver Lode](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/61812-silver-lode.jpg)
Silver Lode (1954)
![Witness to Murder](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/58898-witness-to-murder.jpg)
Witness to Murder (1954)
![Duffy of San Quentin](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/64136-duffy-of-san-quentin.jpg)
Duffy of San Quentin (1954)
![Take the High Ground!](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/57187-take-the-high-ground.jpg)
Take the High Ground! (1953)
![I, the Jury](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/117444-i-the-jury.jpg)
I, the Jury (1953)
![Count the Hours!](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/59106-count-the-hours.jpg)
Count the Hours! (1953)
![Battle Circus](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/95289-battle-circus.jpg)
Battle Circus (1953)
![Apache War Smoke](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/54512-apache-war-smoke.jpg)
Apache War Smoke (1952)
![Washington Story](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/75232-washington-story.jpg)
Washington Story (1952)
![Talk About a Stranger](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/83599-talk-about-a-stranger.jpg)
Talk About a Stranger (1952)
![An American in Paris](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/7568-an-american-in-paris.jpg)
An American in Paris (1951)
![The People Against O'Hara](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/76596-the-people-against-o-hara.jpg)
The People Against O'Hara (1951)
![Father's Little Dividend](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/66512-father-s-little-dividend.jpg)
Father's Little Dividend (1951)
![Grounds for Marriage](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/95642-grounds-for-marriage.jpg)
Grounds for Marriage (1951)
![Devil's Doorway](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/75280-devil-s-doorway.jpg)
Devil's Doorway (1950)
![Mystery Street](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/83114-mystery-street.jpg)
Mystery Street (1950)
![Father of the Bride](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/74352-father-of-the-bride.jpg)
Father of the Bride (1950)
![Captain China](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/52219-captain-china.jpg)
Captain China (1950)
![Border Incident](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/137358-border-incident.jpg)
Border Incident (1949)
![Reign of Terror](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/96558-reign-of-terror.jpg)
Reign of Terror (1949)
![Red Stallion In The Rockies](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/75089-red-stallion-in-the-rockies.jpg)
Red Stallion In The Rockies (1949)
![The Crooked Way](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/112991-the-crooked-way.jpg)
The Crooked Way (1949)
![He Walked by Night](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/22673-he-walked-by-night.jpg)
He Walked by Night (1949)
![Hollow Triumph](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/90635-hollow-triumph.jpg)
Hollow Triumph (1948)
![The Amazing Mr. X](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/22679-the-amazing-mr-x.jpg)
The Amazing Mr. X (1948)
![Canon City](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/43984-canon-city.jpg)
Canon City (1948)
![Raw Deal](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/12516-raw-deal.jpg)
Raw Deal (1948)
![T-Men](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/123454-t-men.jpg)
T-Men (1947)
![Bury Me Dead](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/91681-bury-me-dead.jpg)
Bury Me Dead (1947)
![Driftwood](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/92927-driftwood.jpg)
Driftwood (1947)
![The Pretender](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/95069-the-pretender.jpg)
The Pretender (1947)
![The Ghost Goes Wild](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/121154-the-ghost-goes-wild.jpg)
The Ghost Goes Wild (1947)
![Wyoming](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/95101-wyoming.jpg)
Wyoming (1947)
![The Trespasser](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/64031-the-trespasser.jpg)
The Trespasser (1947)
![Hit Parade of 1947](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/818040-hit-parade-of-1947.jpg)
Hit Parade of 1947 (1947)
![Affairs of Geraldine](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/111280-affairs-of-geraldine.jpg)
Affairs of Geraldine (1946)
![The Magnificent Rogue](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136846-the-magnificent-rogue.jpg)
The Magnificent Rogue (1946)
![One Exciting Week](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/103335-one-exciting-week.jpg)
One Exciting Week (1946)
![The Madonna's Secret](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/108144-the-madonna-s-secret.jpg)
The Madonna's Secret (1946)
![A Guy Could Change](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136811-a-guy-could-change.jpg)
A Guy Could Change (1946)
![Song of Mexico](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/83213-song-of-mexico.jpg)
Song of Mexico (1945)
![Girls of the Big House](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136622-girls-of-the-big-house.jpg)
Girls of the Big House (1945)
![Love, Honor and Goodbye](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136653-love-honor-and-goodbye.jpg)
Love, Honor and Goodbye (1945)
![Lake Placid Serenade](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/168861-lake-placid-serenade.jpg)
Lake Placid Serenade (1944)
![Enemy of Women](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136432-enemy-of-women.jpg)
Enemy of Women (1944)
![Storm Over Lisbon](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/96748-storm-over-lisbon.jpg)
Storm Over Lisbon (1944)
![Atlantic City](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/106166-atlantic-city.jpg)
Atlantic City (1944)
![The Lady and the Monster](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/98302-the-lady-and-the-monster.jpg)
The Lady and the Monster (1944)
![The Sultan's Daughter](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136533-the-sultan-s-daughter.jpg)
The Sultan's Daughter (1943)
![Johnny Doughboy](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/104664-johnny-doughboy.jpg)
Johnny Doughboy (1942)
![Ice Capades Revue](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/113004-ice-capades-revue.jpg)
Ice Capades Revue (1942)
![Moonlight Masquerade](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/136098-moonlight-masquerade.jpg)
Moonlight Masquerade (1942)
![The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/135936-the-affairs-of-jimmy-valentine.jpg)
The Affairs of Jimmy Valentine (1942)
![Pardon My Stripes](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/376669-pardon-my-stripes.jpg)
Pardon My Stripes (1942)
![Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/64248-mr-district-attorney-in-the-carter-case.jpg)
Mr. District Attorney in the Carter Case (1941)
![Devil Pays Off](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/121858-devil-pays-off.jpg)
Devil Pays Off (1941)
![Forced Landing](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/111549-forced-landing.jpg)
Forced Landing (1941)
![Melody for Three](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/103543-melody-for-three.jpg)
Melody for Three (1941)
![Power Dive](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/116314-power-dive.jpg)
Power Dive (1941)
![Remedy for Riches](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/103532-remedy-for-riches.jpg)
Remedy for Riches (1940)
![Dr. Christian Meets the Women](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/323770-dr-christian-meets-the-women.jpg)
Dr. Christian Meets the Women (1940)
![Three Faces West](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/70986-three-faces-west.jpg)
Three Faces West (1940)
![The Courageous Dr. Christian](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/103541-the-courageous-dr-christian.jpg)
The Courageous Dr. Christian (1940)
![Caminito de Gloria](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/168488-caminito-de-gloria.jpg)
Caminito de Gloria (1939)
![Doce mujeres](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Doce mujeres (1939)
![Puerta cerrada](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/158902-closed-door.jpg)
Puerta cerrada (1939)
![El matrero](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/590680-the-outlaw.jpg)
El matrero (1939)
![El último encuentro](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
El último encuentro (1938)
![Madreselva](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/188689-madreselva.jpg)
Madreselva (1938)
![La vida bohemia](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/168862-la-vida-bohemia.jpg)
La vida bohemia (1938)
![El pobre Pérez](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/166145-el-pobre-perez.jpg)
El pobre Pérez (1937)
![Palermo](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Palermo (1937)
![Cadetes de San Martín](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/435121-cadetes-de-san-martin.jpg)
Cadetes de San Martín (1937)
![¡Goal!](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/587643-goal.jpg)
¡Goal! (1936)
![Amalia](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/374589-amalia.jpg)
Amalia (1936)
![Loco lindo](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Loco lindo (1936)
![Compañeros](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Compañeros (1936)
![Tararira (la bohemia de hoy)](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Tararira (la bohemia de hoy) (1936)
![Crimen a las 3](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/t/o.jpg)
Crimen a las 3 (1935)
![Escala en la ciudad](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/159915-escala-en-la-ciudad.jpg)
Escala en la ciudad (1935)
![El hijo de papá](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/821470-el-hijo-de-papa.jpg)
El hijo de papá (1933)
![Los Tres Berretines](https://images.moviefit.me/t/o/133814-the-three-amateurs.jpg)
Los Tres Berretines (1933)
Ratings
Information
Known ForCamera
GenderMale
Birthday1901-10-05
Deathday1996-06-02 (94 years old)
Birth PlaceSopron, Hungary
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
AwardsAcademy Award for Best Cinematography, Color
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
Last updated:
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