Biografía y filmografía

Hal Mohr

Hal Mohr, A.S.C. (August 2, 1894 in San Francisco – May 10, 1974 in Santa Monica, California) was a famed movie cinematographer. He is known for his Oscar-winning work on the 1935 film, A Midsummer Night's Dream. He was awarded another Oscar for his work on The Phantom of the Opera in 1943, and received a nomination for The Four Poster in 1952. From a young age, Hal Mohr wanted to pursue a career in cinematography because he was curious to learn about how to make pictures move onscreen. He worked as a photo finisher in a photo lab to gain experience with the camera. When he was 19 years old, he filmed his first movie, Pam's Daughter, which, unfortunately, was never seen by the public because of problems with the motion picture distribution company.

Although Mohr mainly worked as a cinema portraitist on movies such as The Wedding March, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Technicolor The Phantom of the Opera, he was passionate about exploring the limits of the camera. Mohr shot in deep focus years before Gregg Toland -- Bullets or Ballots and The Green Pastures were both shot in deep focus.

He was inspired by the moving shots in the Italian movie, Cabiria, and developed a camera with special tracking abilities for his 1914 film, Pan's Mountain.

Notably, Mohr is the only person to have won a competitive Academy Award without being nominated for it. In 1936, a write-in campaign won him the Best Cinematography Oscar for his work on A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935). The Academy later changed the Oscar rules, making write-in voting impossible. In 1944, Mohr became the first person to win an Oscar for both Black-and-White and Color cinematography when he won his second Academy Award, this time with W. Howard Greene for Best Cinematography in a Color Film, for their work on The Phantom of the Opera (1943).

Mohr was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematographer for his work on The Four Poster (1952), a film based on a play of the same name, written by Jan de Hartog. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Cinematography in a Black and White Film, for his work on the same movie.

Other film cinematographer credits include Little Annie Rooney (1925), The Big Gamble (1931), Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941), Another Part of the Forest (1948) and The Wild One (1953).

Mohr served as president of the American Society of Cinematographers from 1930 to 1931. Then, for two terms from 1963 to 1965 and finally from 1969 to 1970. He was one of the first members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and a senior member of the Academy's Board of Directors. He headed the Academy's Cinematography Branch for over 20 years, and was also a part of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Before his death, he would travel the country promoting cameramen and the industry of cinematography.

For his many contributions to motion pictures and the film industry, Hal Mohr received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6433 Hollywood Blvd.

Películas (98)

The Man You Loved to Hate

1979 · Self (archive audio)

Topaz

1969 · Technical Advisor

The Bamboo Saucer

1968 · Director of Photography

Jack and the Beanstalk

1967 · Director of Photography

Invisible Diplomats

1965 · Director of Photography

The Man from the Diners' Club

1963 · Director of Photography

The Creation of the Humanoids

1962 · Director of Photography

Underworld U.S.A.

1961 · Director of Photography

The Last Voyage

1960 · Director of Photography

The Gun Runners

1958 · Director of Photography

The Lineup

1958 · Director of Photography

No Time at All

1958 · Cinematography

Baby Face Nelson

1957 · Director of Photography

The Boss

1956 · Director of Photography

Rookie of the Year

1955 · Cinematography

The Wild One

1953 · Director of Photography

The Member of the Wedding

1952 · Director of Photography

The Four Poster

1952 · Director of Photography

Rancho Notorious

1952 · Director of Photography

The Big Night

1951 · Director of Photography

Woman on the Run

1950 · Director of Photography

The Second Woman

1950 · Director of Photography

Johnny Holiday

1949 · Director of Photography

An Act of Murder

1948 · Director of Photography

Another Part of the Forest

1948 · Director of Photography

Pirates of Monterey

1947 · Director of Photography

The Lost Moment

1947 · Director of Photography

Song of Scheherazade

1947 · Director of Photography

I'll Be Yours

1947 · Director of Photography

Because of Him

1946 · Director of Photography

Salome, Where She Danced

1945 · Director of Photography

Her Lucky Night

1945 · Director of Photography

Enter Arsène Lupin

1944 · Director of Photography

The Climax

1944 · Director of Photography

This Is the Life

1944 · Director of Photography

Top Man

1943 · Director of Photography

Watch on the Rhine

1943 · Director of Photography, Co-Director

Phantom of the Opera

1943 · Director of Photography

Lady in a Jam

1942 · Director of Photography

International Lady

1941 · Director of Photography

Pot o' Gold

1941 · Director of Photography

When the Daltons Rode

1940 · Director of Photography

Destry Rides Again

1939 · Director of Photography

Rio

1939 · Director of Photography

Back Door to Heaven

1939 · Director of Photography

I Met My Love Again

1938 · College Student (uncredited), Director of Photography

When Love Is Young

1937 · Director

Ladies in Love

1936 · Director of Photography

The Green Pastures

1936 · Director of Photography

Bullets or Ballots

1936 · Director of Photography

The Walking Dead

1936 · Director of Photography

Captain Blood

1935 · Director of Photography

A Midsummer Night's Dream

1935 · Director of Photography

Under Pressure

1935 · Cinematography

Servants' Entrance

1934 · Director of Photography

Change of Heart

1934 · Director of Photography

David Harum

1934 · Director of Photography

The Devil's in Love

1933 · Director of Photography

I Loved You Wednesday

1933 · Director of Photography

The Warrior's Husband

1933 · Director of Photography

State Fair

1933 · Director of Photography