William C. Mellor
Encyclopedia
William C. Mellor, A.S.C. (29 June 1903 – 30 April 1963) was a cinematographer
who worked at Paramount
, MGM and 20th Century Fox
during a career that spanned three decades.
After earning his stripes on a string of B-movie
s in the 1930s, he first started making serious inroads as a leading cinematographer in 1940 when he worked for Preston Sturges
on The Great McGinty
.
Mellor did his best work with directors George Stevens
(winning Oscars for two of his films, A Place in the Sun in 1951 and The Diary of Anne Frank in 1959) and William Wellman (Westward the Woman, 1951). He also contributed to several Anthony Mann
westerns, including The Naked Spur
in 1953, and a number of MGM musicals. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Mark Robson
's Peyton Place
in 1957.
He died suddenly of a heart attack
whilst filming Stevens' The Greatest Story Ever Told
in 1965, with Loyal Griggs
having to step in to fill his shoes.
Mellor received a posthumous Oscar nomination
for his work on the film.
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
who worked at Paramount
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, MGM and 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
during a career that spanned three decades.
After earning his stripes on a string of B-movie
B-movie
A B movie is a low-budget commercial motion picture that is not definitively an arthouse or pornographic film. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified a film intended for distribution as the less-publicized, bottom half of a double feature....
s in the 1930s, he first started making serious inroads as a leading cinematographer in 1940 when he worked for Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges , originally Edmund Preston Biden, was a celebrated playwright, screenwriter and film director born in Chicago, Illinois...
on The Great McGinty
The Great McGinty
The Great McGinty is a 1940 political satire comedy film written and directed by Preston Sturges, starring Brian Donlevy and Akim Tamiroff and featuring William Demarest and Muriel Angelus. It was Sturges's first film as a director; he sold the story to Paramount Pictures for just $10 on condition...
.
Mellor did his best work with directors George Stevens
George Stevens
George Stevens was an American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer.Among his most notable films were Diary of Anne Frank , nominated for Best Director, Giant , winner of Oscar for Best Director, Shane , Oscar nominated, and A Place in the Sun , winner of Oscar for Best...
(winning Oscars for two of his films, A Place in the Sun in 1951 and The Diary of Anne Frank in 1959) and William Wellman (Westward the Woman, 1951). He also contributed to several Anthony Mann
Anthony Mann
Anthony Mann was an American actor and film director, most notably of film noirs and Westerns. As a director, he often collaborated with the cinematographer John Alton and with James Stewart in his Westerns.-Biography:...
westerns, including The Naked Spur
The Naked Spur
The Naked Spur is a 1953 American western movie directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in their third collaboration. The screenplay was written by Sam Rolfe and Harold Jack Bloom, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay - a rare honor for a Western. The...
in 1953, and a number of MGM musicals. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Mark Robson
Mark Robson
Mark Robson was a Canadian-born film editor, film director and producer in Hollywood.-Career:Born in Montreal, Quebec, he moved to the United States at a young age. He studied at the University of California, Los Angeles then found work in the prop department at 20th Century Fox studios...
's Peyton Place
Peyton Place (film)
Peyton Place is a 1957 American drama film directed by Mark Robson. The screenplay by John Michael Hayes is based on the bestselling 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious.-Plot:...
in 1957.
He died suddenly of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
whilst filming Stevens' The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told
The Greatest Story Ever Told is a 1965 American epic film produced and directed by George Stevens and distributed by United Artists. It is a retelling of the story of Jesus Christ, from the Nativity through the Resurrection. This film is notable for its large ensemble cast and for being the last...
in 1965, with Loyal Griggs
Loyal Griggs
Loyal Griggs, A.S.C. , was an American cinematographer.Griggs joined the staff of Paramount Pictures in 1924 after graduating from school and initially worked at the studio's process department...
having to step in to fill his shoes.
Mellor received a posthumous Oscar nomination
Academy Award for Best Cinematography
The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work in one particular motion picture.-History:...
for his work on the film.