ALEX THOMSON, BSC

(1929-2007)

IMAGO sadly reports that the English Cinematographer ALEX THOMSON, 78 years old, died on June 14th, 2007 at 8 a.m. The European Federation of Cinematographers offers its deepest regrets to ALEX THOMSON's family and friends.

Having started his career when he was 18 years old, THOMSON slowly climbed the Cinematographer's ladder. After having acquired significant experience during his thirties as camera operator, especially under Nicolas Roeg's direction, it was in his forties, during the end of 60's decade, that he started working as Cinematographer. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Doctor Zhivago (1965) by David Lean, and Fahrenheit 451 (1966) by François Truffaut are examples of his working titles as camera operator.

But just when THOMSON's career was starting to take off, in 1973, he was forced to interrupt it when he was injured after falling off a camera rostrum on the set of Jesus Christ Superstar (1973). Back on his feet, he starts working again in 1978. No wonder then that the 80's were the best decade in THOMSON's career: he had the energy, the knowledge, the experience and a strong will to get back to work.

In 1981 Excalibur (1981) by John Boorman gave THOMSON his first career nominations: one by the British Society of Cinematographers - BSC ( UK , 1981) and another one by the Oscar Academy ( USA , 1982). Again in 1984 a second BSC nomination takes place, this time for Eureka (1984) by Nicolas Roeg. Legend (1985) grants THOMSON his first career award by BSC (1985).

The 90's brings two films both with a fantastic ambience Wings of Fame (1990) by Otakar Votocek and The Krays (1990) by Peter Medak. THOMSON having done some dark movies during the 80's is invited in 1992 to be director of photography in Alien³ (http://www.alien-movies.com/index_frames.html) (1992) by David Fincher. His next project was Cliffhanger (1993) by Renny Harlin, another big budget movie. All of these projects, since the beginning of the decade, were widely awarded.

Then, when THOMSON had 67 years old and an experience of almost 50 years, he does Hamlet (1996) directed by Kenneth Branagh. The film gives THOMSON a BSC win (1997) and two nominations by Satellite Awards ( USA , 1997) and Camerimage - Golden Frog ( Poland , 1997). This collaboration between actor/ director Kenneth Branagh and THOMSON continued in Love's Labour's Lost (2000) and in the short film Listening (2003).

THOMSON's last long feature was A Shot at Glory (2000) by Michael Corrente, featuring Robert Duvall and Michael Keaton. His last work was a German short film Der Letzte Flug / The Last Flight (http://www.derletzteflug.de/) (2004) by Roger Moench, based on a book that sets the story right on Saint-Exupery's mysterious disappearance.

Diana Soeiro