Joseph Biroc

Director Of Photography

About

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Also Known As

Joseph F Biroc, Joe Biroc, Joe Birac, Joseph F. Biroc

Birth Place

New York City, New York, USA

Born

February 12, 1903

Died

September 07, 1996

Cause of Death

Heart Failure

Biography

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Biroc worked his way up from studio office boy to become an assistant to cinematographer George Folsey and co-photographed his first feature, "It's a Wonderful Life," in 1946. He often collaborated with Samuel Fuller and Robert Aldrich and did extensive work in TV. Biroc photographed one of the first TV programs to shoot on film, rather than using the kinescope process--1951's "The Honey...

Filmography

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It's All True: Based on an Unfinished Film by Orson Welles (1993)

Outrage! (1986)

Director Of Photography

A Winner Never Quits (1986)

Director Of Photography

Father of Hell Town (1985)

Director Of Photography

The Jerk, Too (1984)

Director Of Photography

Desperate Lives (1982)

Director Of Photography

Photos & Videos

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Viva Las Vegas (1964) -- (Movie Clip) Come On Everybody!

To Trap A Spy (1964) -- (Movie Clip) You Might Have Taken That Man Alive

Notes

Was nominated for an Oscar for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte"

Biography

Biroc worked his way up from studio office boy to become an assistant to cinematographer George Folsey and co-photographed his first feature, "It's a Wonderful Life," in 1946. He often collaborated with Samuel Fuller and Robert Aldrich and did extensive work in TV. Biroc photographed one of the first TV programs to shoot on film, rather than using the kinescope process--1951's "The Honeymoon Is Over"--and won an Emmy for "Brian's Song" (1971). Three years later, he shared an Oscar for Irwin Allen's disaster film "The Towering Inferno" (1974). In 1989, Biroc was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.

Filmography

Cast (Feature Film)

It's All True: Based on an Unfinished Film by Orson Welles (1993)

Cinematography (Feature Film)

Outrage! (1986)

Director Of Photography

A Winner Never Quits (1986)

Director Of Photography

Father of Hell Town (1985)

Director Of Photography

The Jerk, Too (1984)

Director Of Photography

Desperate Lives (1982)

Director Of Photography

Director Of Photography

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)

Director Of Photography

. . . All the Marbles (1981)

Director Of Photography

Kenny Rogers as the Gambler (1980)

Director Of Photography

Airplane! (1980)

Director Of Photography

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979)

Director Of Photography

A Family Upside Down (1978)

Director Of Photography

The Clone Master (1978)

Director Of Photography

SST -- Death Flight (1977)

Director Of Photography

The Choirboys (1977)

Director Of Photography

Director Of Photography

The Towering Inferno (1974)

Camera Operator

Honky Tonk (1974)

Director Of Photography

The Longest Yard (1974)

Director Of Photography

Thursday's Game (1974)

Director Of Photography

Blazing Saddles (1974)

Director Of Photography

Director Of Photography

Wonder Woman (1974)

Director Of Photography

Emperor of the North Pole (1973)

Cinematographer

Cahill, U.S. Marshal (1973)

Director Of Photography

Gidget Gets Married (1972)

Director Of Photography

The Crooked Hearts (1972)

Director Of Photography

Playmates (1972)

Director Of Photography

Mrs. Pollifax--Spy (1971)

Director of Photography

Brian's Song (1971)

Director Of Photography

Too Late the Hero (1970)

Director of Photography

What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice? (1969)

Director of Photography

Lady in Cement (1968)

Director of Photography

The Killing of Sister George (1968)

Director of Photography

The Detective (1968)

Director of Photography

The Legend of Lylah Clare (1968)

Director of Photography

Tony Rome (1967)

Director of Photography

Fitzwilly (1967)

Director of Photography

Who's Minding the Mint? (1967)

Director of Photography

Enter Laughing (1967)

Director of Photography

Warning Shot (1967)

Cinematographer

The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming (1966)

Director of Photography

To Trap a Spy (1966)

Director of Photography

The Swinger (1966)

Director of Photography

I Saw What You Did (1965)

Director of Photography

The Flight of the Phoenix (1965)

Director of Photography

Kitten With a Whip (1964)

Director of Photography

The Young Lovers (1964)

Director of Photography

Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)

Director of Photography

Viva Las Vegas (1964)

Director of Photography

Bullet for a Badman (1964)

Director of Photography

Ride the Wild Surf (1964)

Director of Photography

4 for Texas (1963)

2nd unit Photographer

Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

Director of Photography

Promises! Promises! (1963)

Director of Photography

Gunfight at Comanche Creek (1963)

Director of Photography

Toys in the Attic (1963)

Director of Photography

Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963)

Director of Photography

Confessions of an Opium Eater (1962)

Director of Photography

Director of Photography

Convicts 4 (1962)

Cinematographer

Sail a Crooked Ship (1962)

Director of Photography

Operation Eichmann (1961)

Director of Photography

Gold of the Seven Saints (1961)

Director of Photography

The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961)

Director of Photography

Ice Palace (1960)

Director of Photography

The FBI Story (1959)

Director of Photography

Verboten! (1959)

Director of Photography

Born Reckless (1959)

Director of Photography

Underwater Warrior (1958)

Director of Photography

Underwater Warrior (1958)

Home Before Dark (1958)

Director of Photography

The Unknown Terror (1957)

Director of Photography

China Gate (1957)

Director of Photography

Forty Guns (1957)

Director of Photography

The Ride Back (1957)

Run of the Arrow (1957)

Director of Photography

The Garment Jungle (1957)

Director of Photography

The Amazing Colossal Man (1957)

Director of Photography

The Black Whip (1956)

Director of Photography

Tension at Table Rock (1956)

Director of Photography

Nightmare (1956)

Director of Photography

Quincannon, Frontier Scout (1956)

Ghost Town (1956)

Director of Photography

The Steel Cage (1954)

Director of Photography

Down Three Dark Streets (1954)

Director of Photography

World for Ransom (1954)

Appointment in Honduras (1953)

Director of Photography

Donovan's Brain (1953)

Director of Photography

The Twonky (1953)

Director of Photography

The Tall Texan (1953)

The Glass Wall (1953)

Director of Photography

Vice Squad (1953)

Director of Photography

Loan Shark (1952)

Bwana Devil (1952)

Red Planet Mars (1952)

Director of Photography

Without Warning! (1952)

Director of Photography

The Bushwackers (1952)

Cinematographer

All That I Have (1951)

The Bushwhackers (1951)

Director of Photography

Cry Danger (1951)

Director of Photography

The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)

Director of Photography

Tokyo Joe (1949)

Roughshod (1949)

Director of Photography

Johnny Allegro (1949)

Director of Photography

Mrs. Mike (1949)

Director of Photography

My Dear Secretary (1948)

Director of Photography

On Our Merry Way (1948)

Cine [James Stewart--Henry Fonda episode]

Magic Town (1947)

Director of Photography

It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Bombardier (1943)

Swing Time (1936)

Break of Hearts (1935)

Camera Operator

Camera Operator

The Gay Divorcee (1934)

Camera Operator

Their Big Moment (1934)

Camera Operator

No Other Woman (1933)

Before Dawn (1933)

The Monkey's Paw (1933)

Assistant Camera

Rafter Romance (1933)

Camera Operator

Ann Vickers (1933)

Camera Operator

Ladies of the Jury (1932)

The Lost Squadron (1932)

Camera Operator

Secrets of the French Police (1932)

Assistant Camera

State's Attorney (1932)

Camera Operator

The Animal Kingdom (1932)

Camera Operator

Cimarron (1931)

Assistant Camera

Are These Our Children (1931)

Young Donovan's Kid (1931)

Three Who Loved (1931)

Misc. Crew (Feature Film)

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)

Dp/Cinematographer

Airplane! (1980)

Dp/Cinematographer

SST -- Death Flight (1977)

Blazing Saddles (1974)

Dp/Cinematographer

The Longest Yard (1974)

Dp/Cinematographer

Film Production - Main (Special)

Time Out For Dad (1987)

Cinematography (TV Mini-Series)

A Death in California (1985)

Director Of Photography

Scruples (1980)

Director Of Photography

Little Women (1978)

Director Of Photography

Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977)

Director Of Photography

Moneychangers (1976)

Director Of Photography

Life Events

1918

Entered industry as an office boy at Paragon Studios in Fort Lee, NJ

1924

Became assistant cameraman for cinematographer George Folsey at Long Island Studios

1927

Moved to Hollywood; worked at United Artists

1946

First feature as co-director of photography, "It's A Wonderful Life" with Joseph Walker

1946

Solo debut as director of photography, "Magic Town"

1951

Photographed one of the first TV series shot on film, as opposed to kinescope, "The Honeymoon Is Over"

1952

Photographed first 3-D film, "Bwana Devil"

Photo Collections

Top Hat - Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Here are several photos taken behind-the-scenes during production of RKO's Top Hat (1935), starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and directed by Mark Sandrich.

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford - Behind-the-Scenes Photo

Here is a photo taken behind-the-scenes during production of RKO's The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936), starring William Powell.

Videos

Viva Las Vegas (1964) -- (Movie Clip) Come On Everybody! Lucky (Elvis Presley) is persuaded to perform Stanley Chianese's "Come On Everybody" for the kids, ably assisted by Rusty (Ann-Margret) in Viva Las Vegas, 1964.

To Trap A Spy (1964) -- (Movie Clip) You Might Have Taken That Man Alive Joining a complex caper in which nameless espionage goons have penetrated a disguised Manhattan entrance to some modern agency, we see them nearly get past William Marshall (later known as “Blacula”) at the elevators, before they encounter Ilya (David McCallum), Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and their boss Allison (Will Kuluva), early in the sort-of TV pilot, then the delayed first feature film in the The Man From U.N.C.L.E. franchise, To Trap A Spy, 1966.

Run Of The Arrow (1957) -- (Movie Clip) Rebel Soldier Writer-producer-director Samuel Fuller supplies a balladeer (Frank Warner) with a genuine Confederate war song (using the original lyric, rather than the more polite segments usually recorded), before meeting vanquished O'Meara (Rod Steiger) and his mother (Olive Carey) in Run Of The Arrow, 1957.

Run Of The Arrow (1957) -- (Movie Clip) Open, Palm Sunday The opening scene at Appomattox, 1865, as Confederate O'Meara (Rod Steiger) fires the last shot, not quite killing Yankee Ralph Meeker, leading to the credits for writer-producer-director Samuel Fuller's searing Run Of The Arrow, 1957.

Run Of The Arrow (1957) -- (Movie Clip) Another Sioux Post Office Recalcitrant ex-Confederate soldier O'Meara (Rod Steiger) is learning Indian ways from Sioux trail buddy and ex-Union scout Walking Coyote (Jay C. Flippen) as they travel west, when they're intercepted by H.M. Wynant (as Crazy Wolf) and his crew, in Samuel Fuller's Run Of The Arrow, 1957.

Run Of The Arrow (1957) -- (Movie Clip) I'm Not An American Irish Confederate fugitive O'Meara (Rod Steiger), having improbably survived the "Run Of The Arrow" Sioux ritual, is given shelter by Yellow Moccasin (Sarita Montiel, her voice dubbed by Angie Dickinson), then presents himself to chief Blue Buffalo (Charles Bronson), who has sophisticated views on justice, in Samuel Fuller's Run Of The Arrow, 1957.

Run Of The Arrow (1957) -- (Movie Clip) This God Of Yours Irish Catholic-born fugitive Confederate veteran O'Meara (Rod Steiger) has come just about around to Sioux ways, Blue Buffalo (Charles Bronson) approving his proposal and marrying him to Yellow Moccasin (Sarita Montiel) in Samuel Fuller's Run Of The Arrow, 1957.

Born Reckless (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Title Tune, Boy Scout The never famous San Antonio rocker Johnny Olenn, on a rare Fender tenor electric guitar, leads with the title song, then leading man Jeff Richards turns down a rodeo tootsie (Asa Maynor) and visits sidekick "Cool Man" (Arthur Hunnicutt), opening the Mamie Van Doren vehicle Born Reckless, 1958.

Born Reckless (1958) -- (Movie Clip) He Believes In The Siesta Jackie (Mamie Van Doren) reprises the title song for rodeo rider and maybe-boyfriend Kelly (Jeff Richards, with sidekick Arthur Hunnicutt), en route to visit his Latin virtual family led by "Papa" (Nacho Galindo, Allegra Varron as "Mama," Ray Beltran "Grandfather,"), in Born Reckless, 1958.

Born Reckless (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Home Type Of Girl Introduced by rocker Johnny Olenn, Mamie Van Doren as trick rider and, it turns out, also singer, "Jackie," with an original novelty number by Buddy Bregman and Sammy Styne, then hassled by a boozy rodeo reporter (Tom Dugan), early in Born Reckless, 1958.

Viva Las Vegas (1964) -- (Movie Clip) Only Way to Travel! Local gal Rusty (Ann-Margret) and race driver Lucky (Elvis Presley), who turns out to also be helicopter pilot, take a vigorous recreational tour between musical numbers in Viva Las Vegas, 1964.

Viva Las Vegas (1964) -- (Movie Clip) What'd I Say? A quick sample of "The Climb" by "The Forte` Four" leads into Lucky (Elvis Presley) and Rusty (Ann-Margret) leading their rousing version of Ray Charles' "What'd I Say?" in Viva Las Vegas, 1964.

Longest Yard, The (1974) -- (Theatrical Trailer) The original trailer is a fair reflection of Robert Aldrich’s landmark football comic-drama, The Longest Yard, 1974, which received a decidedly mixed reception, but grossed better-than $22-million.

Tension at Table Rock - (Original Trailer) When the owner of a stagecoach station is killed, a gunman takes his place in Tension at Table Rock (1956) starring Richard Egan.

Garment Jungle, The - (Original Trailer) A dress manufacturer (Lee J. Cobb) brings in the mob to fight unionization in The Garment Jungle (1957).

Fitzwilly - (Original Trailer) When an aging philanthropist goes broke, her butler (Dick Van Dyke) robs from the rich so she can give to the poor.

Down Three Dark Streets - (Original Trailer) An FBI Agent takes on the three unrelated cases of his dead partner to track down his killer in Down Three Dark Streets (1954).

Johnny Allegro - (Original Trailer) A reformed hoodlum (George Raft) gets mixed up with counterfeiters and a deadly manhunt in Johnny Allegro (1949).

Bye Bye Birdie - (Original Trailer) A rock star's personal appearance turns a small town into a disaster area. Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke star in the Broadway musical hit.

Blazing Saddles - (Original Trailer) A black man is appointed sheriff of a western town in Mel Brooks' riotous farce Blazing Saddles (1974) starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder.

Bengazi - (Original Trailer) Three shady characters team up to search for Nazi gold in the African desert in Bengazi (1955).

Cahill, United States Marshal - (Original Trailer) John Wayne stars as a tough lawman who has to bring in his own sons for train robbery in Cahill, U.S. Marshall (1973).

Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte - (Academy Preview Trailer) Heads will roll as Bette Davis fights to keep her family's secrets in Robert Aldrich's Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964).

Airplane! - (Original Trailer) When a flight crew falls ill, the only man who can land the plane is afraid of flying in Airplane! (1980), a spoof of Zero Hour! (1957)."

Family

Agnes Cronmeyer

Sister

Survived him.

Bibliography

Notes

Was nominated for an Oscar for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte"

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