Hal Mohr
- Known for
- Camera
- Born
- August 2, 1894
- Died
- May 10, 1974 (aged 79)
- Birthplace
- San Francisco, California, USA
Biography
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.
Known For
Filmography
The Bamboo Saucer
Movie · Director of Photography
Jack and the Beanstalk
Movie · Director of Photography
Invisible Diplomats
Movie · Director of Photography
The Man from the Diners' Club
Movie · Director of Photography
The Creation of the Humanoids
Movie · Director of Photography
Underworld U.S.A.
Movie · Director of Photography
The Last Voyage
Movie · Director of Photography
The Barbara Stanwyck Show
TV · Director of Photography · 8 eps
The Gun Runners
Movie · Director of Photography
The Lineup
Movie · Director of Photography
Baby Face Nelson
Movie · Director of Photography
The Boss
Movie · Director of Photography
The Wild One
Movie · Director of Photography
Rancho Notorious
Movie · Director of Photography
The Four Poster
Movie · Director of Photography
The Member of the Wedding
Movie · Director of Photography
The Big Night
Movie · Director of Photography
Woman on the Run
Movie · Director of Photography
The Second Woman
Movie · Director of Photography
Johnny Holiday
Movie · Director of Photography
Another Part of the Forest
Movie · Director of Photography
An Act of Murder
Movie · Director of Photography
The Lost Moment
Movie · Director of Photography
I'll Be Yours
Movie · Director of Photography
Song of Scheherazade
Movie · Director of Photography
Pirates of Monterey
Movie · Director of Photography
Because of Him
Movie · Director of Photography
Her Lucky Night
Movie · Director of Photography
Salome, Where She Danced
Movie · Director of Photography
Enter Arsène Lupin
Movie · Director of Photography
The Climax
Movie · Director of Photography
This Is the Life
Movie · Director of Photography
Top Man
Movie · Director of Photography
Phantom of the Opera
Movie · Director of Photography
Watch on the Rhine
Movie · Director of Photography
Lady in a Jam
Movie · Director of Photography
International Lady
Movie · Director of Photography
Pot o' Gold
Movie · Director of Photography
When the Daltons Rode
Movie · Director of Photography
Destry Rides Again
Movie · Director of Photography
Back Door to Heaven
Movie · Director of Photography
Rio
Movie · Director of Photography
I Met My Love Again
Movie · Director of Photography
The Walking Dead
Movie · Director of Photography
Bullets or Ballots
Movie · Director of Photography
The Green Pastures
Movie · Director of Photography
Ladies in Love
Movie · Director of Photography
Captain Blood
Movie · Director of Photography
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Movie · Director of Photography
Change of Heart
Movie · Director of Photography
David Harum
Movie · Director of Photography
Servants' Entrance
Movie · Director of Photography
The Warrior's Husband
Movie · Director of Photography
The Devil's in Love
Movie · Director of Photography
State Fair
Movie · Director of Photography
I Loved You Wednesday
Movie · Director of Photography
Tess of the Storm Country
Movie · Director of Photography
A Woman Commands
Movie · Director of Photography
Week Ends Only
Movie · Director of Photography
The First Year
Movie · Director of Photography
Lady with a Past
Movie · Director of Photography
The Big Gamble
Movie · Director of Photography
A Woman of Experience
Movie · Director of Photography
Devotion
Movie · Director of Photography
The Front Page
Movie · Additional Photography
Big Boy
Movie · Director of Photography
Outward Bound
Movie · Director of Photography
King of Jazz
Movie · Director of Photography
The Czar of Broadway
Movie · Director of Photography
The Last Performance
Movie · Director of Photography
Broadway
Movie · Director of Photography
Shanghai Lady
Movie · Director of Photography
The Honeymoon
Movie · Director of Photography
The Last Warning
Movie · Director of Photography
Noah's Ark
Movie · Director of Photography
Tenderloin
Movie · Director of Photography
Glorious Betsy
Movie · Director of Photography
The Jazz Singer
Movie · Director of Photography
The Heart of Maryland
Movie · Director of Photography
Old San Francisco
Movie · Director of Photography
Bitter Apples
Movie · Director of Photography
The Third Degree
Movie · Director of Photography
Sparrows
Movie · Director of Photography
The Marriage Clause
Movie · Director of Photography
The Monster
Movie · Director of Photography
Little Annie Rooney
Movie · Director of Photography
A Woman Who Sinned
Movie · Director of Photography
Bag and Baggage
Movie · Director of Photography
Watch Him Step
Movie · Director of Photography
The Big Idea
Movie · Director of Photography