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 photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...

from 1920 through to 1956.

Career

Gilks worked on many

silent film A silent film is a film with no 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 orange hair and ginger hair) is a hair color found in one to two percent of the human population, appearing with greater frequency (two to six percent) among people of Northern or Northwestern European ancestry and ...

'' (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 iconic American silent film star. Her most prominent sound picture was '' To the Last Man'' in 1933. Early life and career Ralston was born Esther Loui ...

. 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 Alexan ...

'' (1934), '' Ruggles of Red Gap'' (1935), several of the '' Dr. Kildare'' movies, and his

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...

-winning work on '' An American in Paris'' (1951). His last credit was for

second unit 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 stag ...

photography on

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

's seminal ''

The Searchers ''The Searchers'' is a 1956 American Technicolor VistaVision 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-Native American wars, and stars John W ...

'' (1956).IMDB entry
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Selected filmography

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

Sick Abed ''Sick Abed'' is a 1920 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 a 1918 Broadw ...

'' (1920) *''

Her Beloved Villain ''Her Beloved Villain'' is a lost 1920 American comedy film directed by Sam Wood and written by Alice Eyton. The film stars Wanda Hawley, Ramsey Wallace, Templar Powell, Tully Marshall, Lillian Leighton and Gertrude Claire. The film was rele ...

'' (1920) *''

Her Husband's Trademark ''Her Husband's Trademark'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Sam Wood and starring Gloria Swanson and Richard Wayne. Produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures, the film was shot on location in El ...

'' (1922) *'' Beyond the Rocks'' (1922) *''

Prodigal Daughters ''Prodigal Daughters'' is a 1923 American 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 the same name ...

'' (1923) *''

Bluebeard's 8th Wife ''Bluebeard's 8th Wife'' (alternately ''Bluebeard's Eighth Wife'') is a 1923 American silent romantic comedy film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Sam Wood and stars Gloria Swanson. The ...

'' (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 Pi ...

'' (1923) *''

The Enchanted Hill ''The Enchanted Hill'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Irvin Willat and written by James Shelley Hamilton and Peter B. Kyne. The film stars Jack Holt, Florence Vidor, Noah Beery, Sr., Mary Brian, Richard Arlen, George Bancr ...

'' (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. Cast *Esthe ...

'' (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, Grover Jones, Louise Long, Herman J. Mankiewicz, and B. F. Zeidman. The film stars Esther Ralston, Richard Arlen, Ford ...

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

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

Jealousy Jealousy generally refers to the thoughts or feelings of 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, helplessness or disgus ...

'' (1929) *''

Secrets of the French Police ''Secrets of the French Police'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code crime film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Gwili Andre, Gregory Ratoff, and Frank Morgan. The film was made as a B film by RKO Radio Pictures, using some of the sets f ...

'' (1932) *''

'' (1934) *'' Ruggles of Red Gap'' (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 titular role, Richard Carlson as an inquisitive college reporter, and bandleader Artie Shaw as himself. Plot When a dancer's ...

'' (1939) *'' Mariona Rebull'' (1947) *'' Two Weeks with Love'' (1950) *'' Excuse My Dust'' (1951) *'' An American in Paris'' (1951) *''

'' (1956)

References

External links

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