Franz Planer
- Known for
- Camera
- Born
- March 29, 1894
- Died
- January 10, 1963 (aged 68)
- Birthplace
- Karlsbad, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic]
Biography
Descended from a wealthy family of landowners in what was then Austria-Hungary, Franz Planer understood the importance of photography as an art form early in his life. He first stood behind the camera as a portrait photographer, working out of Vienna from 1910. He soon branched out, filming newsreels in Paris and, in 1919, joined the growing German film industry as chief cameraman for Emelka (which became Bavaria Studios in 1932), in Munich. During the 1920s and early 1930's, he acquired a reputation for style, having worked as cinematographer for such distinguished directors as F.W. Murnau and Wilhelm Thiele, most of his films being commercially popular entertainments. Anticipating the "Anschluss" - the forcible annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler - Planer left Austria in 1937 and, using the pseudonym Frank F. Planer, sought work in Hollywood. He joined the American Society of Cinematorgaphers and was signed under contract at Columbia from 1938-45, and, again, from 1949-50 (in between working at Universal from 1947-49), filming in a variety of different genres. At this stage in his career, he often used real-life locations and shot primarily in black-and-white, in almost semi-documentary style. Like other European cinematographers, he was heavily influenced by German expressionism and used chiaroscuro lighting and stark contrasts between light and shade to achieve thematic mood requirements - particularly for films noir, such as Criss Cross (1949) and 711 Ocean Drive (1950). Planer's creative collaboration with director Max Ophüls is frequently cited as among his best work, notably the melancholic romantic drama Letter from an Unknown Woman (1948). During the 1950s Planer was much in demand and used by many of Hollywood's top directors, including Robert Siodmak, John Huston, Edward Dmytryk and Stanley Kramer. Increasingly comfortable with color photography from 1954, Planer worked on several A-grade productions. He created a particularly realistic feel for The Caine Mutiny (1954) and The Nun's Story (1959) by utilizing sparse, functional interiors. Unusual camera angles/perspectives, tracking shots and objects inserted between camera and subject contributed to the look of the popular Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961). Planer never won an Academy Award, though he was nominated five times: for Champion (1949), Death of a Salesman (1951), Roman Holiday (1953), The Nun's Story (1959) and The Children's Hour (1961). - IMDb mini biography by: I.S.Mowis
Known For
Filmography
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Movie · Director of Photography
The Children's Hour
Movie · Director of Photography
King of Kings
Movie · Director of Photography
The Unforgiven
Movie · Director of Photography
The Nun's Story
Movie · Director of Photography
The Big Country
Movie · Director of Photography
Stage Struck
Movie · Director of Photography
The Pride and the Passion
Movie · Director of Photography
The Mountain
Movie · Director of Photography
The Left Hand of God
Movie · Director of Photography
Not as a Stranger
Movie · Director of Photography
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Movie · Director of Photography
The Caine Mutiny
Movie · Director of Photography
The Long Wait
Movie · Director of Photography
A Bullet Is Waiting
Movie · Director of Photography
99 River Street
Movie · Director of Photography
Bad for Each Other
Movie · Director of Photography
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.
Movie · Director of Photography
Roman Holiday
Movie · Director of Photography
Decision Before Dawn
Movie · Director of Photography
The Scarf
Movie · Director of Photography
Death of a Salesman
Movie · Director of Photography
The Blue Veil
Movie · Director of Photography
711 Ocean Drive
Movie · Director of Photography
Cyrano de Bergerac
Movie · Director of Photography
Three Husbands
Movie · Director of Photography
Vendetta
Movie · Director of Photography
Take One False Step
Movie · Director of Photography
Criss Cross
Movie · Director of Photography
Once More, My Darling
Movie · Director of Photography
Champion
Movie · Director of Photography
Letter from an Unknown Woman
Movie · Director of Photography
One Touch of Venus
Movie · Director of Photography
The Exile
Movie · Director of Photography
The Chase
Movie · Director of Photography
Leave It to Blondie
Movie · Director of Photography
Once Upon a Time
Movie · Director of Photography
Secret Command
Movie · Director of Photography
Strange Affair
Movie · Director of Photography
Appointment in Berlin
Movie · Director of Photography
Something to Shout About
Movie · Director of Photography
Destroyer
Movie · Director of Photography
Submarine Raider
Movie · Director of Photography
The Wife Takes a Flyer
Movie · Director of Photography
Flight Lieutenant
Movie · Director of Photography
The Adventures of Martin Eden
Movie · Director of Photography
The Face Behind the Mask
Movie · Director of Photography
Meet Boston Blackie
Movie · Director of Photography
Sweetheart of the Campus
Movie · Director of Photography
They Dare Not Love
Movie · Director of Photography
Time Out for Rhythm
Movie · Director of Photography
Honolulu Lu
Movie · Director of Photography
Sing for Your Supper
Movie · Director of Photography
Our Wife
Movie · Director of Photography
Three Girls About Town
Movie · Director of Photography
Glamour for Sale
Movie · Director of Photography
The Rebel Son
Movie · Director of Photography
Holiday
Movie · Director of Photography
Adventure in Sahara
Movie · Director of Photography
Love in Stunt Flying
Movie · Director of Photography
The Charm of La Bohème
Movie · Director of Photography
Die Julika
Movie · Director of Photography
Chopin's Brilliant Waltz
Movie · Director of Photography
Taras Bulba
Movie · Director of Photography
The Beloved Vagabond
Movie · Director of Photography
The Beloved Vagabond
Movie · Director of Photography
Turn of the Tide
Movie · Director of Photography
The Dictator
Movie · Director of Photography
The Divine Spark
Movie · Director of Photography
Casta diva
Movie · Director of Photography
Unfinished Symphony
Movie · Director of Photography
Masquerade in Vienna
Movie · Director of Photography
So Ended a Great Love
Movie · Camera Operator
The Town Stands on Its Head
Movie · Director of Photography
Liebelei
Movie · Director of Photography
Her Highness the Saleswoman
Movie · Director of Photography
Caprice de princesse
Movie · Director of Photography
Lover Divine
Movie · Director of Photography
The Prince of Arcadia
Movie · Director of Photography
The child's first right
Movie · Director of Photography
Sailor's Song
Movie · Director of Photography
The Eagle
Movie · Camera Operator
The Duke of Reichstadt
Movie · Director of Photography
No More Love
Movie · Director of Photography
The Three from the Filling Station
Movie · Director of Photography
Zapfenstreich am Rhein
Movie · Director of Photography
The Son of the White Mountain
Movie · Director of Photography
Hans in Every Street
Movie · Director of Photography
The Road to Paradise
Movie · Director of Photography
Tonight - Eventually
Movie · Director of Photography
Der Narr seiner Liebe
Movie · Director of Photography
Die Flucht vor der Liebe
Movie · Director of Photography
Frauen am Abgrund
Movie · Director of Photography
A Daughter Of Destiny
Movie · Director of Photography
Strauss, the Waltz King
Movie · Director of Photography
The Green Alley
Movie · Director of Photography
Glanz und Elend der Kurtisanen
Movie · Director of Photography
Schatz, mach' Kasse
Movie · Director of Photography
The Finances of the Grand Duke
Movie · Director of Photography
The Favourite of the Queen
Movie · Director of Photography
Sodom and Gomorrah
Movie · Director of Photography
Der Ochsenkrieg
Movie · Director of Photography
Gewitter im Mai
Movie · Director of Photography
Das schwarze Gesicht
Movie · Director of Photography