Brian West (cinematographer)

Brian West (born April 17, 1928 in London , United Kingdom ) is a British cameraman .

Live and act

West began his professional career in 1944 as a camera assistant . In 1961 he rose to become a simple cameraman (so-called camera operator) and in this role he photographed A-entertainment films such as China-Story, Fly with me to happiness, breakfast on death row, bedroom dispute , a bunch of great dogs , a place at the top, The Spy who came from the cold , Arrivederci baby, call for a dead man , Doctor Faustus and The great Katharina . In 1968 he was given camera management (chief camera) for individual sequences of the film Otley and the London recordings of The Double Life of Sister George.

At the beginning of the 1970s, Brian West, who from then on mainly shot in North America (USA, Canada ), was finally promoted to chief cameraman. But he was rarely allowed to look after expensive or high-quality films. After all, West was responsible for the camera work on two late wests with Hollywood veterans Gregory Peck ( Bury the Wolves in the Gorge ) and Lee Marvin ( Four Birds on the Gallows ). "His most important artistic work was in Canada in 1973 with the recordings of the melancholy, enjoyable story ' Duddy wants to go high '."

Since the 1990s, Brian West has only photographed (often quite melodramatic) television film productions that were consistently very conventional. Born in London, he has also worked several times as a second unit cameraman (e.g. for “ Rhapsodie in Blei ”, 1959, “ Petticoat Pirates ”, 1961, “ Goodbye, Mr. Chips ”, 1969, “ Zeppelin ”, 1970, and “ Spies Like Us ”, 1985). Shortly before his 70th birthday, West retired into private life.

Filmography

only as a head cameraman

• 1969: Squeeze a Flower
• 1970: Outback
• 1972: Sunstruck
• 1973: Bury the Wolves in the Gorge (Billy Two-Hats)
• 1974: Four birds on the gallows (The Spikes Gang)
• 1974: Duddy aims high (The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz)
• 1975: Russian Roulette (Russian Roulette)
• 1975: Summer Rain
• 1976: Age of Innocence (Midsummer Fire)
• 1979: Yesterday's Hero
• 1980: The Haunted House at Kensington Park (Never Never Land)
• 1981: The Appointment
• 1982: No place for Benny (Benny's Place)
• 1982: Career through all beds (The Lonely Lady)
• 1983: Marvin and Tige
• 1983: Bloodbath at the House of Death
• 1983: The Chaos Express / Finders Keepers
• 1984: Remington Steele (TV series)
• 1985: Ed Murrow - Passionate Reporter (Murrow)
• 1986: Between the Lines (84 Charing Cross Road)
• 1987: Still Crazy Like a Fox
• 1988: The Christmas Wife
• 1989: Jacknife (Jacknife)
• 1989: Rosamunde Pilcher: Die Musselsucher (The Shell Seekers)
• 1990: Forbidden Nights (Forbidden Nights)
• 1991: Fire in the Dark
• 1991: Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady
• 1992: Alone with Fear (Treacherous Crossing)
• 1994: Code name Caliph (Wild Justice)
• 1995: Spring in December (Daisies in December)
• 1997: Ellen Foster - A child struggles for happiness (Ellen Foster)

literature

• David Jones (Ed.): Film Fanatics Guide. Merlin Books Ltd., Braunton (Devon) 1988, p. 371
• Kay Less : The film's great personal dictionary . The actors, directors, cameramen, producers, composers, screenwriters, film architects, outfitters, costume designers, editors, sound engineers, make-up artists and special effects designers of the 20th century. Volume 8: T - Z. David Tomlinson - Theo Zwierski. Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89602-340-3 , p. 347.

Individual proof

1. ↑ Kay Less : The film's great personal dictionary . The actors, directors, cameramen, producers, composers, screenwriters, film architects, outfitters, costume designers, editors, sound engineers, make-up artists and special effects designers of the 20th century. Volume 8: T - Z. David Tomlinson - Theo Zwierski. Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-89602-340-3 , p. 347.

Web links

• Brian West in the Internet Movie Database (English)