Alfred Gilks (29 December 1891 – 6 September 1970) was an American

cinematographer The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the recording of a film, television production, music video or other live-action piece. The cinematographer is the chief of the camera ...

from 1920 through to 1956. Gilks has worked on over sixty films and is known for utilizing his U.S. Navy background to capture and operate one of the first 'nautical cameras' for the film '' Old Ironsides''. Gilks won one Academy Award for his cinematography in the film ''

An American in Paris ''An American in Paris'' is a jazz-influenced symphonic poem (or tone poem) for orchestra by American composer George Gershwin first performed in 1928. It was inspired by the time that Gershwin had spent in Paris and evokes the sights and en ...

'' (1951) before retiring from the cinematography work in 1960.

Career

Gilks began his career in cinematography in 1918 while serving as a member of the Field Photographic Unit of the Office of Strategic Services. He then went to work for Paramount Studios while remaining involved with other production companies such as MGM, RKO Radio Pictures, and C.V. Whitney Pictures. Alfred Gilks joined the American Society of Cinematographers in 1922 and eventually won his first and only Oscar with his film ''An American in Paris.'' Gilks worked on many

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

s in the 1920s, such as ''

Red Hair Red hair, also known as ginger hair, is a human hair color found in 2–6% of people of northern Europe, Northern or Northwestern European ancestry and lesser frequency in other populations. It is most common in individuals Zygosity#Homozy ...

'' (1928) with

Clara Bow Clara Gordon Bow (; July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to "talkies" in 1929. Her appearance as a plucky shopgirl in the ...

and the historical epic '' Old Ironsides'' (1926) starring

Esther Ralston Esther Ralston (born Esther Louise Worth, September 17, 1902 – January 14, 1994) was an American silent films, silent film star. Her most prominent sound picture was ''To the Last Man (1933 film), To the Last Man'' in 1933. Early life and c ...

. In the latter film, he used some of the first motorized camera equipment on a production. He also worked on well-known sound films such as ''

Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen ''Miss Fane's Baby Is Stolen'' is a 1934 pre-Code American comedy-drama film, starring Dorothea Wieck, Alice Brady, and Baby LeRoy, written by Adela Rogers St. Johns and Jane Storm from a novel and story by Rupert Hughes, and directed by Ale ...

'' (1934), ''

Ruggles of Red Gap ''Ruggles of Red Gap'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring: Charles Laughton, Mary Boland, Charlie Ruggles and ZaSu Pitts and featuring Roland Young and Leila Hyams. It was based on the best-selling 1915 nove ...

'' (1935), several of the '' Dr. Kildare'' movies, and his

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

-winning work on ''

'' (1951). Gilks shared the Best Cinematography Academy Award for ''

'' with John Alton. His last credit was for

second unit A second unit is a discrete team of filmmakers tasked with filming shots or sequences of a production, separate from the main or "first" unit. The second unit will often shoot simultaneously with the other unit or units, allowing the filming s ...

photography on

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

's seminal ''

The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American epic Western film directed by John Ford and written by Frank S. Nugent, based on the 1954 novel by Alan Le May. It is set during the Texas–Indian wars, and stars John Wayne as a middle-aged Civil War v ...

'' (1956).IMDB entry
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Selected filmography

*'' Double Speed'' (1920) *''

Sick Abed ''Sick Abed'' is a 1920 silent film, silent comedy film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures/Artcraft, an affiliate of Paramount. It was directed by Sam Wood and stars matinee idol Wallace Reid. It is based on ...

'' (1920) *'' Her Beloved Villain'' (1920) *'' Her Husband's Trademark'' (1922) *'' Beyond the Rocks'' (1922) *''

Prodigal Daughters ''Prodigal Daughters'' is a 1923 American silent film, silent societal drama film produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed through Paramount Pictures. The film stars Gloria Swanson and was directed by Sam Wood. It is based on a novel of ...

'' (1923) *'' Bluebeard's 8th Wife'' (1923) *''

His Children's Children ''His Children's Children'' is a lost 1923 American silent drama film directed by Sam Wood and starring the winsome Bebe Daniels. It is based on a novel, ''His Children's Children'' by Arthur Train. Famous Players–Lasky produced and Paramount ...

'' (1923) *''

The Enchanted Hill ''The Enchanted Hill'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent Western (genre), Western film directed by Irvin Willat and written by James Shelley Hamilton and Peter B. Kyne. The film stars Jack Holt (actor), Jack Holt, Florence Vidor, Noah Beery ...

'' (1926) *'' The Blind Goddess'' (1926) *'' Old Ironsides'' (1926) *''

Ten Modern Commandments ''Ten Modern Commandments'' is a 1927 American silent romantic comedy-drama film that starred Esther Ralston and was distributed through Paramount Pictures. It is based on an original screen story and was directed by Dorothy Arzner. Plot Ca ...

'' (1927) *''

Figures Don't Lie ''Figures Don't Lie'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and written by Ethel Doherty and Louise Long from an adaptation by Grover Jones of a story by B. F. Zeidman, with intertitles by Herman J. Mankiew ...

'' (1927) *'' Get Your Man'' (1927) *''

'' (1928) *'' The First Kiss'' (1928) *''

Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of Emotional insecurity, insecurity, fear, and concern over a relative lack of possessions or safety. Jealousy can consist of one or more emotions such as anger, resentment, inadequacy, he ...

'' (1929) *'' Secrets of the French Police'' (1932) *''

'' (1934) *''

'' (1935) *''

Dancing Co-Ed ''Dancing Co-Ed'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Lana Turner in the title role, Richard Carlson as an inquisitive college reporter, and bandleader Artie Shaw as himself. Plot When a dancer's par ...

'' (1939) *'' Mariona Rebull'' (1947) *''

Two Weeks with Love ''Two Weeks with Love'' is a 1950 romantic musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Roy Rowland and based on a story by John Larkin, who co-wrote the screenplay with Dorothy Kingsley. Set in the early 20th century, the fil ...

'' (1950) *'' Excuse My Dust'' (1951) *''

'' (1951) *''

'' (1956)

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gilks, Alfred American cinematographers Best Cinematographer Academy Award winners 1891 births 1970 deaths Film people from Los Angeles