Lucien Ballard

Lucien Ballard (6 May 1908 - 1 October 1988) was an American cinematographer and director of photography.

Related Topics:
6 May - 1908 - 1 October - 1988 - American - Cinematographer - Director of photography

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Born in Miami, Oklahoma, Ballard began working on films at Paramount Studios in 1929. He later joked in an interview that it was a three day party at the home of actress Clara Bow that convinced him "this is the business for me". He began his career loading trucks at Paramount, and became a camera assistant, often working for director Josef von Sternberg. Von Sternberg allowed him credit for his work on The Devil is a Woman (1935), and the two shared a Venice Film Festival award for "Best Cinematography" in 1935.

Related Topics:
Miami, Oklahoma - Paramount Studios - 1929 - Clara Bow - Director - Josef von Sternberg - The Devil is a Woman - 1935 - Venice Film Festival - Award - 1935

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On the set of The Lodger (1944), Ballard met, and then married actress Merle Oberon (from 1945 until 1949). After she was involved in a near fatal car crash in London, he invented a light which was mounted by the side of the camera, to provide direct light onto a subject's face, with the aim of reducing blemishes and wrinkles. Named the "Obie", the device benefited Oberon who had sustained facial scarring in the car accident. The Obie would become widely used in the film industry.

Related Topics:
The Lodger - 1944 - Merle Oberon - 1945 - 1949 - Car crash - London

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One film of note is 1941's controversial Howard Hughes film The Outlaw. Hughes cast Jane Russell in the lead, and had numerous camera shots of her ample cleavage, this would get the attention of the Hollywood censors. The film was shot in 1940 and 1941 but would take five years to get to selected theaters. Ballard was the camera man for the screen tests and did some of the second unit work with both director Howard Hawks and assisted cinematographer Gregg Toland on the first unit crew.

Related Topics:
1941's - Howard Hughes - The Outlaw - Jane Russell - Howard Hawks - Gregg Toland

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In one of his first films, Morocco (1930), directed by Von Sternberg, Ballard would work with assistant director Henry Hathaway. This relationship with Hathaway would comeback to benifit Ballard when Hathaway himself became a noted director. They would work together on several films, including: Diplomatic Courier (1952), O. Henry's Full House (1952), Prince Valiant (1954), The Sons of Katie Elder (1965), Nevada Smith (1966), and True Grit (1969). The last, because of the natural beauty of southwestern Colorado, would also graner Ballard aclaim among his peers.

Related Topics:
Morocco - 1930 - Assistant director - Henry Hathaway - Diplomatic Courier - 1952 - O. Henry's Full House - Prince Valiant - 1954 - The Sons of Katie Elder - 1965 - Nevada Smith - 1966 - True Grit - 1969 - Southwestern Colorado

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After working with Bud Boetticher on The Magnificent Matador (1955), they would go on to work togeather several times, including: The Killer Is Loose (1956), the television show Maverick (1957), Buchanan Rides Alone (1958),

Related Topics:
Bud Boetticher - The Magnificent Matador - 1955 - The Killer Is Loose - 1956 - Maverick - 1957 - Buchanan Rides Alone - 1958

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The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond (1960),

Related Topics:
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond - 1960

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A Time for Dying (1969), Arruza (1972), and My Kingdom For... (1985).

Related Topics:
A Time for Dying - 1969 - Arruza - 1972 - My Kingdom For... - 1985

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Another relationship of importance is with Sam Peckinpah, they worked together on the following motion pictures: The Westerner (1960), Ride the High Country (1962), The Wild Bunch (1969), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970), The Getaway (1972), and Junior Bonner (1972).

Related Topics:
The Westerner - Ride the High Country - 1962 - The Wild Bunch - 1969 - The Ballad of Cable Hogue - 1970 - The Getaway - 1972 - Junior Bonner

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Ballard was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for The Caretakers (1963), and won the National Society of Film Critics award for "Best Cinematography" for The Wild Bunch. He worked on more than 130 films during his 50-year career.

Related Topics:
Academy Award for Best Cinematography - The Caretakers - 1963 - National Society of Film Critics

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Lucien Ballard built a large beach house in Trancas Beach, in Malibu, California where he lived with his second wife Inez. They had two sons, Christopher and Anthony. He died in Rancho Mirage, California in a car accident.

Related Topics:
Trancas Beach - Malibu, California - Rancho Mirage, California

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