Louis Lichtenfield
Louis Lichtenfield also Lou Lichtenfield (born June 1, 1919 , † September 12, 2003 in Los Angeles , California ) was an American special effects artist who was nominated for an Oscar in 1958 for the best special effects .
life and career
Louis Lichtenfield, born in 1919, began his career as a special effects artist with experience as an Air Force photographer in Hollywood . In the mid-1950s in the two monumental films Basilus - Held von Rom , directed by Victor Saville, and in The beautiful Helena by director Robert Wise . Until 1980 he was involved in the production of only six films. For his third work, Billy Wilder's biographical drama Lindbergh - My Flight Over the Ocean with James Stewart in the title role, Lichtenfield received an Oscar nomination for best special effects at the 1958 Academy Awards . In 1958 he worked for Mervyn LeRoy's comedy Duds of the Company with Andy Griffith and Nick Adams in the lead roles.
He was only involved in two films during the 1970s and 1980s. Once in 1976 on John Guillermin's remake of the 1933 classic King Kong with the cast Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange , and in 1980 on Mike Hodges' comic adaptation Flash Gordon with Sam J. Jones and Max von Sydow . Lichtenfield later worked as head of the photographic f / x department at Warner Bros.
In addition to his film work, Lichtenfield served as Executive Vice President and CEO of Universal Studios' commercial industrial film division in the 1970s . Later also as a consultant for film studios and as a production manager at Epcot Center in Florida.
He was married to his wife Dona Lichtenfield (1918–1984) until her death. Lichtenfield died of cancer at his Los Angeles home at the age of 84.
Awards (selection)
- 1958: Oscar nomination in the Oscar category for best special effects at the 1958 awards ceremony for Lindbergh - My Flight Over the Ocean
Filmography
movie theater
- as a special effects artist
- 1954: Basilus - Hero of Rome (The Silver Chalice)
- 1956: The beautiful Helena (Helen of Troy)
- 1957: Lindbergh - My flight over the ocean (The Spirit of St. Louis)
- 1958: Company duds (No Time for Sergeants)
- 1976: King Kong
- 1980: Flash Gordon
Web links
- Louis Light Field in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Louis Lichtenfield in Find A Grave
Individual evidence
- ↑ Louis Lichtenfield . in: Gene Phillips: Some Like It Wilder: The Life and Controversial Films of Billy Wilder. , University Press of Kentucky, 2010, p. 355
- ↑ Louis Lichtenfield . in: Jason Buchanan: Louis Lichtenfield Biography. , The New York Times
- ↑ Louis Lichtenfield . Obituary in: Lauren Lyster: Matte artist, Oscar-nommed photographic f / x producer. , Variety
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Lichtenfield, Louis |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Lichtenfield, Lou (alternative name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American special effects technician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 1, 1919 |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 12, 2003 |
| Place of death | Los Angeles , California |