Any John Alton fans here?

[CaveGirl]

I'd watch anything he shot, but particularly like "The Amazing Mr. X".

 

Of course he did many more famous films, and often one can just tell while watching if he was behind the camera as his style is so distinctive.

 

A lot like the still photographer, Hurrell. But always cognescent of the joys of chiaroscuro on film, Alton makes the black in black and white, really surprise one.

[Emgee66]

Yes, many noir movies owe a lot to his mastery of light and shade.

Raw Deal, T-Men, The Crooked Way , He Walked by Night; the list is long and impressive.

 

Still, he won an Oscar for a color musical; go figure.

[MisterSable]

I bought and studied Alton's book "Painting With Light" to make my own film noir.  He's one of my favourites and a definite influence.

[cigarjoe]

I bought and studied Alton's book "Painting With Light" to make my own film noir.  He's one of my favourites and a definite influence.

Yea I bought that one also.

[TopBilled]

Nice to find this thread (hadn't seen it before). 

 

Yesterday on Amazon Prime I watched the Republic crime drama THE PRETENDER, made in 1947. I knew by the way it was lit that visually it very much resembled RAW DEAL. And sure enough, Alton was the cinematographer.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pretender_(film)