| Birth name | Arthur Jacob Ornitz[1] |
|---|---|
| Birth date | November 28, 1916 |
| Birth place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Death date | July 10, 1985 (aged 68)[2] |
| Death place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Other names | Arthur Ornitz |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Occupation | Cinematographer · film director · screenwriter |
| Years active | 1936–1983 |
| Parents | Samuel Ornitz (father) |
| Relatives | Don Ornitz (brother) |
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]
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]
Death
Ornitz died of cancer at his home in Manhattan on July 10, 1985. He was survived by his mother, his wife and a son.[2] Ornitz's son, Kim H. Ornitz, is a sound mixer.[1]
Filmography
Film
Feature films
Short films
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | Wanted – A Master | Himself | Co-director with Gunther von Fritsch |
| 1940 | Power and the Land | Joris Ivens | Docuementary short |
| 1949 | I gode hender | Himself | |
| 1960 | The Computer Comes to Marketing | Maurice Rapf | |
| 1961 | The Shoes | Ernest Pintoff | |
| After Hours | Shepard Traube | Docuementary short |
Television
TV series
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Omnibus | Episode: "Uncle Tom's Cabin" |
| 1957-58 | Harbourmaster | 2 episodes |
| 1958 | Decision | Episode: "Man Against Crime" |
| 1964 | East Side West Side | Episode: "It's War, Man" |
| 1970 | NET Playhouse | Episode: "Helen Hayes Remembers" |
TV films, miniseries, and specials
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Bulletin from Bertie |
| Out of Darkness | |
| 1964 | Carol for Another Christmas |
| 1973 | Honor Thy Father |
| 1977 | The Quinns |
| Wilma | |
| 1979 | Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure |
| 1980 | Hardhat and Legs |
| Playing for Time | |
| 1982 | The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana |
| 1983 | Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number |
| First Affair |
References
- ^ "ARTHUR J. ORNITZ". cinematographers.nl. Archived 2023-09-23 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ^ "Arthur Ornitz". The New York Times. July 16, 1985. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
- ^ "ASC Breakfast Club 2014 Video Collection". The American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
- ^ "Soldier Blue (1970)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
"Arthur Ornitz was replaced as photographer several weeks into production; Robert B. Hauser receives screen credit."
External links
- Arthur J. Ornitz at IMDb