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Wikipedia / Russell Metty

Russell Louis Metty, ASC (September 20, 1906 – April 28, 1978) was an American cinematographer. Described by Charlton Heston as “unquestionably one of the great cameramen,” he worked on over 170 film and television productions between 1934 and 1977, and was noted for his versatility across many different genres and styles.

Metty was best known for his collaborations with directors Douglas Sirk, with whom he worked on in 11 films, and Orson Welles. He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Color) for his work on Stanley Kubrick’s 1960 film Spartacus, with a second nomination for the musical Flower Drum Song (1961).

Early life

Metty was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, to George Andrew Metty and Ida Blanche Campbell. His career began around 1925 as an assistant with Standard Film Laboratory, then was hired by Paramount Pictures to work in the camera department. He left for RKO in 1929.

Career

His first film as cinematographer was the 1934 Richard Dix Western West of the Pecos.

Metty became a regular cameraman at Universal. He became known for his versatility across different genres and styles, both in black-and-white and color photography. He was a collaborator of Orson Welles during the 1940s. He was the pre-production test photographer for Citizen Kane, shot additional scenes for The Magnificent Ambersons, and was the main director of photography for The Stranger and Touch of Evil.

Beginning with 1952’s Against All Flags, Metty began a long collaboration with director Douglas Sirk. He shot a total of 11 films for Sirk, becoming known for his lush Technicolor palettes.

He won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Color) for his work on Stanley Kubrick's Spartacus (1960), although his duties on that project had been largely superseded by its director during production. He received a second Oscar nomination for the musical Flower Drum Song (1961).

He also worked with notable directors like Dorothy Arzner, Edward Dmytryk, William A. Wellman, Raoul Walsh, Norman Jewison, King Vidor, John Huston (The Misfits, 1961), Franklin J. Schaffner (The War Lord, 1965), and George Roy Hill (Thoroughly Modern Millie, 1967).

Later in his career, Metty worked mainly on television, earning Primetime Emmy nominations for The Waltons and Tribes. He shot the first five episodes of Columbo and the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. One of his last film credits was shooting test footage for Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974).

Personal life

Metty was married to actress Edith Haskins, with whom he had two children. After their divorce, he married Glenna Lee (née Rice), and they had a daughter, Andrea (b. 1969).

Death

A longtime resident of the Canoga Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Metty died there in 1978, five years after his second wife.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

References