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Oswald Morris

July 26, 2023

Oswald Norman Morris, OBE DFC AFC BSC (22 November 1915 – 17 March 2014) was a British cinematographer. Known to his colleagues by the nicknames "Os" or "Ossie",[1] Morris's career in cinematography spanned six decades.

Oswald Morris

OBE
Born
Oswald Norman Morris

(1915-11-22)22 November 1915
Ruislip, England
Died17 March 2014(2014-03-17) (aged 98)
Fontmell Magna, Dorset, England
NationalityBritish
OccupationCinematographer
Years active1932–1982

Life and career

Morris was raised in Middlesex (now the London borough of Hillingdon) and attended the Bishopshalt School. His interest in film began at an early age; during summer vacations, he would work as a projectionist at the local cinema. After leaving school in 1932, he began working in the film industry at Wembley Studios as an unpaid gofer for Michael Powell, among others, eventually graduating to the positions of clapper boy and camera assistant on quota quickies. By his 20s, Morris was a camera operator, first at Wembley, and later at Elstree Studios.[2]

His career was interrupted by World War II, during which he served as a radio operator and navigator before becoming a bomber pilot with the Royal Air Force,[3][4][5] flying Lancaster bomber raids over Italy, France and Germany. He completed 30 operational tours before being transferred to Transport Command for the duration of the war. Prior to his discharge and the resumption of his career, Morris participated in the Berlin Airlift.[2] He achieved the rank of flight lieutenant and winning both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Force Cross.[2][6][7]

After his war service, Morris worked at Pinewood Studios as an assistant to such people as Ronald Neame and David Lean at their company, Cineguild. He was the camera operator for Lean's Oliver Twist (1948). He first acted as director of photography on Golden Salamander (1950). Neame called Morris "probably the greatest cameraman in the world."[1]

Morris collaborated with director John Huston on eight films, beginning with Moulin Rouge (1952) and also including Moby Dick (1956). Although his previous experience with Technicolor had been limited, Morris devised many stylish effects for Moulin Rouge by employing diffused and filtered light, fog and bold color choices, and his innovations drew critical praise. For Moby Dick, Morris developed what David Peloquin has called a "retro-silvered pictorial" that "was designed to capture the look of nineteenth-century whaling prints with their muted colors and silver sheen."[8] Morris wrote in his autobiography that he and Huston wanted a "soft wash" effect "in which we would etch in the characters." To achieve this, in prints for the original release, colour was effectively printed over a black-and-white image using two negatives.[9] As cinematographer for John Osborne's The Entertainer (1960), his name was incorporated into the story in a scene in which a radio transmission mentions the fictional Sergeant Ossie Morris.

Morris received three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on the musicals Oliver! (1968), Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and The Wiz (1978), winning for Fiddler on the Roof. Morris' brother Reginald H. Morris was also a cinematographer based in Canada.[10]

Morris was a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and was named an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1998. He published his memoirs, Huston, We Have a Problem: A Kaleidoscope of Filmmaking Memories (ISBN 978-0810857063), in 2006. In his later years, Morris participated in a film course at Bournemouth University.[2]

Morris was married twice. His first marriage to the former Connie Sharp produced three children, Gillian, Christine and Roger. The marriage lasted from 1939 until she died in 1963.[11] In 1966, Morris married Lee Turner, a member of the continuity production staff on the Franco Zeffirelli film of The Taming of the Shrew (1967). This marriage lasted until she died in 2003.

Morris was among the interviewees in the book Conversations with Cinematographers by David A. Ellis.

Morris died on March 17, 2014 at the age of 98 at his home in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, England.[12] His survivors included his three children, 10 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.[2]

Honours

In June 2009, the recently completed central building of the National Film and Television School was officially named the Oswald Morris Building in his honour.

Additional credits

Awards and nominations

  • 1953 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera (Moulin Rouge, winner)
  • 1956 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera (Moby Dick, nominee)
  • 1965 BAFTA for Best British Cinematography, Black-and-White (The Pumpkin Eater, winner)
  • 1966 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, winner)
  • 1966 BAFTA for Best British Cinematography, Black-and-White (The Hill, winner)
  • 1967 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera (The Taming of the Shrew, winner)
  • 1967 BAFTA for Best British Cinematography, Black-and-White (The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, winner)
  • 1969 Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Oliver!, nominee)
  • 1971 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera (Fiddler on the Roof, winner)
  • 1972 Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Fiddler on the Roof, winner)
  • 1972 BAFTA for Best Cinematography (Fiddler on the Roof, nominee)
  • 1974 BAFTA for Best Cinematography (Sleuth, nominee)
  • 1976 BAFTA for Best Cinematography (The Man Who Would Be King, nominee)
  • 1979 Academy Award for Best Cinematography (The Wiz, nominee)
  • 1999 American Society of Cinematographers International Award (winner)

References

  1. ^ a b Sweet, Matthew (19 October 2003). "Ronald Neame (2003 interview at the National Film Theatre)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 18 August 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Oswald Morris obituary; Oscar-winning British cinematographer who worked on a wide range of film classics. Baxter, Brian. The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  3. ^ The Washington Post via Internet Archive. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times via Internet Archive. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  5. ^ The New York Times via Internet Archive. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  6. ^ The Oscars Connection! Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  7. ^ Great Cinematographers; Oswald Morris www.cinematographers.nl. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  8. ^ Peloquin, David (June 2017). "John Huston's 1956 Film Moby Dick: A 60th-Anniversary Appreciation". Leviathan. 19 (2): 111–4. doi:10.1353/lvn.2017.0030. S2CID 149346554.
  9. ^ Morris, Oswald; Bull, Geoffrey (2006). Huston, We Have a Problem: A Kaleidoscope of Filmmaking Memories. Lanham, Maryland & Oxford, UK: Scarecrow Press. pp. 83–4. ISBN 9780810857063.
  10. ^ Dennis McLellan, "Oswald Morris, Oscar-winning cinematographer, dies at 98". Washington Post, 21 March 2014.
  11. ^ Hayward, Anthony (21 March 2014). "Oswald Morris: Cinematographer who developed a fruitful relationship with John Huston and worked on a host of classic films". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  12. ^ "Oswald Morris dies at 98; award-winning British cinematographer". Los Angeles Times. 18 March 2014.

External links

July 26, 2023
oswald, morris, oswald, norman, morris, november, 1915, march, 2014, british, cinematographer, known, colleagues, nicknames, ossie, morris, career, cinematography, spanned, decades, obebornoswald, norman, morris, 1915, november, 1915ruislip, englanddied17, mar. Oswald Norman Morris OBE DFC AFC BSC 22 November 1915 17 March 2014 was a British cinematographer Known to his colleagues by the nicknames Os or Ossie 1 Morris s career in cinematography spanned six decades Oswald MorrisOBEBornOswald Norman Morris 1915 11 22 22 November 1915Ruislip EnglandDied17 March 2014 2014 03 17 aged 98 Fontmell Magna Dorset EnglandNationalityBritishOccupationCinematographerYears active1932 1982 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Honours 3 Additional credits 4 Awards and nominations 5 References 6 External linksLife and career EditMorris was raised in Middlesex now the London borough of Hillingdon and attended the Bishopshalt School His interest in film began at an early age during summer vacations he would work as a projectionist at the local cinema After leaving school in 1932 he began working in the film industry at Wembley Studios as an unpaid gofer for Michael Powell among others eventually graduating to the positions of clapper boy and camera assistant on quota quickies By his 20s Morris was a camera operator first at Wembley and later at Elstree Studios 2 His career was interrupted by World War II during which he served as a radio operator and navigator before becoming a bomber pilot with the Royal Air Force 3 4 5 flying Lancaster bomber raids over Italy France and Germany He completed 30 operational tours before being transferred to Transport Command for the duration of the war Prior to his discharge and the resumption of his career Morris participated in the Berlin Airlift 2 He achieved the rank of flight lieutenant and winning both the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Force Cross 2 6 7 After his war service Morris worked at Pinewood Studios as an assistant to such people as Ronald Neame and David Lean at their company Cineguild He was the camera operator for Lean s Oliver Twist 1948 He first acted as director of photography on Golden Salamander 1950 Neame called Morris probably the greatest cameraman in the world 1 Morris collaborated with director John Huston on eight films beginning with Moulin Rouge 1952 and also including Moby Dick 1956 Although his previous experience with Technicolor had been limited Morris devised many stylish effects for Moulin Rouge by employing diffused and filtered light fog and bold color choices and his innovations drew critical praise For Moby Dick Morris developed what David Peloquin has called a retro silvered pictorial that was designed to capture the look of nineteenth century whaling prints with their muted colors and silver sheen 8 Morris wrote in his autobiography that he and Huston wanted a soft wash effect in which we would etch in the characters To achieve this in prints for the original release colour was effectively printed over a black and white image using two negatives 9 As cinematographer for John Osborne s The Entertainer 1960 his name was incorporated into the story in a scene in which a radio transmission mentions the fictional Sergeant Ossie Morris Morris received three nominations for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on the musicals Oliver 1968 Fiddler on the Roof 1971 and The Wiz 1978 winning for Fiddler on the Roof Morris brother Reginald H Morris was also a cinematographer based in Canada 10 Morris was a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and was named an officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1998 He published his memoirs Huston We Have a Problem A Kaleidoscope of Filmmaking Memories ISBN 978 0810857063 in 2006 In his later years Morris participated in a film course at Bournemouth University 2 Morris was married twice His first marriage to the former Connie Sharp produced three children Gillian Christine and Roger The marriage lasted from 1939 until she died in 1963 11 In 1966 Morris married Lee Turner a member of the continuity production staff on the Franco Zeffirelli film of The Taming of the Shrew 1967 This marriage lasted until she died in 2003 Morris was among the interviewees in the book Conversations with Cinematographers by David A Ellis Morris died on March 17 2014 at the age of 98 at his home in Fontmell Magna Dorset England 12 His survivors included his three children 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren 2 Honours EditIn June 2009 the recently completed central building of the National Film and Television School was officially named the Oswald Morris Building in his honour Additional credits EditThe Card 1952 Moulin Rouge 1952 So Little Time 1952 Beat the Devil 1953 South of Algiers 1953 Beau Brummell 1954 The Man Who Never Was 1956 Moby Dick 1956 Heaven Knows Mr Allison 1957 A Farewell to Arms 1957 Look Back in Anger 1959 The Entertainer 1960 Our Man in Havana 1960 The Guns of Navarone 1961 Lolita 1962 The Pumpkin Eater 1964 Of Human Bondage 1964 Mister Moses 1965 The Battle of the Villa Fiorita 1965 The Hill 1965 Life at the Top 1965 The Spy Who Came in from the Cold 1965 Reflections in a Golden Eye 1967 The Taming of the Shrew 1967 Oliver 1968 Goodbye Mr Chips 1969 Scrooge 1970 Fiddler on the Roof 1971 Sleuth 1972 Lady Caroline Lamb 1972 The Mackintosh Man 1973 Dracula 1974 The Man with the Golden Gun 1974 The Odessa File 1974 The Man Who Would Be King 1975 Equus 1977 The Seven Per Cent Solution 1977 The Wiz 1978 Just Tell Me What You Want 1980 The Great Muppet Caper 1981 The Dark Crystal 1982 Awards and nominations Edit1953 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera Moulin Rouge winner 1956 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera Moby Dick nominee 1965 BAFTA for Best British Cinematography Black and White The Pumpkin Eater winner 1966 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera The Spy Who Came in from the Cold winner 1966 BAFTA for Best British Cinematography Black and White The Hill winner 1967 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera The Taming of the Shrew winner 1967 BAFTA for Best British Cinematography Black and White The Spy Who Came in from the Cold winner 1969 Academy Award for Best Cinematography Oliver nominee 1971 British Society of Cinematographers Golden Camera Fiddler on the Roof winner 1972 Academy Award for Best Cinematography Fiddler on the Roof winner 1972 BAFTA for Best Cinematography Fiddler on the Roof nominee 1974 BAFTA for Best Cinematography Sleuth nominee 1976 BAFTA for Best Cinematography The Man Who Would Be King nominee 1979 Academy Award for Best Cinematography The Wiz nominee 1999 American Society of Cinematographers International Award winner References Edit a b Sweet Matthew 19 October 2003 Ronald Neame 2003 interview at the National Film Theatre British Film Institute Archived from the original on 18 August 2006 Retrieved 27 November 2016 a b c d e Oswald Morris obituary Oscar winning British cinematographer who worked on a wide range of film classics Baxter Brian The Guardian Retrieved 27 November 2016 Oswald Morris Oscar winning cinematographer dies at 98 The Washington Post via Internet Archive Retrieved 30 July 2021 Oswald Morris dies at 98 award winning British cinematographer Los Angeles Times via Internet Archive Retrieved 30 July 2021 Oswald Morris Artful Cinematographer Is Dead at 98 The New York Times via Internet Archive Retrieved 30 July 2021 The Oscars Connection Royal Air Force Museum Retrieved 30 July 2021 Great Cinematographers Oswald Morris www cinematographers nl Retrieved 30 July 2021 Peloquin David June 2017 John Huston s 1956 Film Moby Dick A 60th Anniversary Appreciation Leviathan 19 2 111 4 doi 10 1353 lvn 2017 0030 S2CID 149346554 Morris Oswald Bull Geoffrey 2006 Huston We Have a Problem A Kaleidoscope of Filmmaking Memories Lanham Maryland amp Oxford UK Scarecrow Press pp 83 4 ISBN 9780810857063 Dennis McLellan Oswald Morris Oscar winning cinematographer dies at 98 Washington Post 21 March 2014 Hayward Anthony 21 March 2014 Oswald Morris Cinematographer who developed a fruitful relationship with John Huston and worked on a host of classic films The Independent Archived from the original on 24 May 2022 Retrieved 27 November 2016 Oswald Morris dies at 98 award winning British cinematographer Los Angeles Times 18 March 2014 External links EditOswald Morris at IMDb Oswald Morris at the BFI s Screenonline Oswald Morris at AllMovie com permanent dead link Oswald Morris at FilmReference com Sandra Brennan Allmovie short biography of Oswald Morris Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oswald Morris amp oldid 1157425628, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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