Franz Planner

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Franz F. Planer (born March 29, 1894 in Karlsbad , Austria-Hungary , † January 10, 1963 in Hollywood , California ) was an Austrian cameraman .

Life

Franz Planer trained as a photographer in Vienna , as which he worked from 1910. At the same time he began to shoot for newsreel reports in Vienna and Paris . From 1920 he worked mainly in Germany, initially as chief cameraman for Emelka in Munich . After completing Murnau's film The Finances of the Grand Duke together with Karl Freund on the Adriatic Sea and in Berlin studios, he moved to Berlin. There he shot mediocre entertainment films for the time being, but with the start of the sound film he also received commissions for more demanding productions. For example, for Wilhelm Thiele's operetta film Die Drei von der Gasstelle (1930). In 1933, after the Nazis came to power in Germany, he returned to Vienna with his Jewish wife. There he often continued shooting with German filmmakers who had also emigrated, such as Max Ophüls . But he also takes photos for a number of Austrian film productions, including the few masterpieces such as Leise flehen Meine Lieder (1933), Opernring (1936) and Masquerade by Willi Forst (1934). He was considered the best Austrian cameraman of the 1930s. Occasionally he continued to work in German studios, around 1937 Capriolen in the Tobis studio in Berlin-Johannisthal for Gustaf Gründgens .

In 1937 he emigrated to the United States , where he was hired by Columbia and also known as Frank Planer . His first film in the US was Holiday by George Cukor . As a result, studio films of all genres were transferred to him. He worked regularly in films by directors Sidney Salkow , Leigh Jason and Charles Barton . In 1945 his Columbia contract expired. From then on he worked primarily with other European emigrants, such as the producer Seymour Nebenzahl and the directors Edgar G. Ulmer ( Her Sister's Secret , 1946), Robert Siodmak ( Daring Alibi , 1948) and Max Ophüls ( Stefan Zweig -Adaption Letter from to Unknown Woman , 1947/1948). Others were Curtis Bernhardt and Anatole Litvak , with whom he had already cooperated in the 1930s.

Planner's films were often photographed in their original locations and were characterized by a tough, black and white, documentary style. From the 1950s onwards, he also shot in color. Franz Planer has been nominated for an Oscar five times, most recently in 1961, but never won a single time. His last completed film was infamous that same year .

Filmography (selection)

Oscar nominations

  • Best cameraman (black and white) 1950: Between women and ropes
  • Best cameraman (black and white) 1952: Death of a traveling salesman
  • Best cameraman (black and white) 1954: A heart and a crown
  • Best Cinematographer (Color) 1960: Story of a Nun
  • Best cameraman (black and white) 1962: Infam

literature

  • Robert Müller: Nightmares in Hollywood. Franz Planer: A career between Berlin, Vienna and Los Angeles. In: Christian Cargnelli, Michael Omasta (eds.): Shadows. Exile. European emigrants in film noir. PVS-Verleger, Vienna 1997, ISBN 3-901196-26-9 , pp. 143-190.
  • Kay Less : 'In life, more is taken from you than given ...'. Lexicon of filmmakers who emigrated from Germany and Austria between 1933 and 1945. A general overview. P. 391 f., ACABUS-Verlag, Hamburg 2011, ISBN 978-3-86282-049-8 (here: place of birth Komotau)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Planner, Franz
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Planner, Frank; Planner, Franz F.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian cameraman
DATE OF BIRTH March 29, 1894
PLACE OF BIRTH Karlsbad , Austria-Hungary
DATE OF DEATH January 10, 1963
Place of death Hollywood , California , United States