Biography
Paul Beeson, B.S.C. (16 November 1921 β 19 July 2001) was a British cinematographer. He was initially at Ealing Studios before going on to work on films for various other companies. He worked on over three hundred feature films, including 74 where he was director of photography.
Beeson was the cameraman who filmed the iconic The Sound of Music opening scene of Julie Andrews from a helicopter. Beeson was born on 16 November 1921 to Leslie Frank Beeson and his Italian heritage wife, Paul was given the 2nd name Antonio. As a teenager he gained a passion for photography. While still studying at Cranleigh School, his father managed find him an opportunity as a trainee at Ealing Studios, then known as Associated Talking Pictures. His first film was during 1937 for the George Formby film, I See Ice, where he worked with Anthony Kimmins.During World War II, Beeson was drafted into the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in 1941. He transferred to the naval film unit and became an official naval photographer, again with Kimmins. Beeson landed at Normandy with BBC correspondent Howard Marshall. During his time with the navy, he met his wife, Olga, who was a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service.After the war, Beeson returned to Ealing Studios, becoming a camera operator for the film Against the Wind in 1947. He was director of photography in the film West of Zanzibar (1954).Beeson stayed with Ealing Studios for 19 years, before going freelance. He would act as a cameraman on over 300 films, 74 of which he acted as director of photography, working with directors such as Robert Zemekis on Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Ron Howard on Willow, Alfred Hitchcock on Under Capricorn and Steven Spielberg on the Indiana Jones trilogy. Beeson was the cameraman for the opening shot of The Sound of Music, shooting Julie Andrews' iconic title song from a helicopter.Beeson would receive awards for his long service to the film industry including the John Alcott award from British Society of Cinematographers, where he had served as president and was its longest serving member, as well as the David Lenham award from Guild of British Camera Technicians. Beeson died on 19 July 2001.
Filmography
all 56
Movies 53
Director 13
TV Shows 3
The Lost World (1992)
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Taffin (1988)
Jane and the Lost City (1987)
An African Dream (1987)
Lost In London (1985)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Hawk the Slayer (1980)
Silver Dream Racer (1980)
Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979)
Starcrash (1978)
Candleshoe (1977)
The Love Boat (1977)
Beauty and the Beast (1976)
One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)
The Mutations (1974)
A Warm December (1973)
Kidnapped (1971)
Jane Eyre (1970)
Crescendo (1970)
Taste of Excitement (1969)
Moon Zero Two (1969)
Mosquito Squadron (1969)
The Lost Continent (1968)
Attack on the Iron Coast (1968)
Submarine X-1 (1968)
To Sir, with Love (1967)
Africa: Texas Style! (1967)
Die, Monster, Die! (1965)
The Sound of Music (1965)
The Moon-Spinners (1964)
The Horse Without a Head (1964)
The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963)
Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow (1963)
In Search of the Castaways (1962)
The Saint (1962)
Tarzan Goes to India (1962)
The Prince and the Pauper (1962)
The Happy Thieves (1961)
Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog (1961)
Spare the Rod (1961)
Kidnapped (1960)
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (1959)
The Scapegoat (1959)
Nowhere to Go (1958)
Dunkirk (1958)
The Shiralee (1957)
The Feminine Touch (1956)
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (1954)
West of Zanzibar (1954)
The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
The Cruel Sea (1953)
Train of Events (1949)
Scott of the Antarctic (1948)
Against the Wind (1948)
Ratings
Information
Known ForCamera
GenderMale
Birthday1921-11-16
Deathday2001-07-19 (79 years old)
Birth PlaceHammersmith, United Kingdom
CitizenshipsUnited Kingdom
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