Robert De Grasse (February 9, 1900 – January 28, 1971) was an American cinematographer and member of the

American Society of Cinematographers The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), founded in Hollywood in 1919, is a cultural, educational, and professional organization that is neither a labor union nor a guild. The society was organized to advance the science and art of cinem ...

. Over the course of his career, he was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

in 1939 and a Primetime Emmy Award in 1958.

Career

Born in Maplewood, New Jersey, his family worked in the fledgling movie industry. Robert De Grasse began his career as an assistant cameraman and then moved on to become a full-time cinematographer by the time he was 21 years old. He was also the nephew of Canadian Actor

Sam De Grasse Samuel Alfred De Grasse (June 12, 1875 – November 29, 1953) was a Canadian actor. He was the uncle of cinematographer Robert De Grasse. Biography Samuel Alfred De Grasse was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick to Lange De Grasse (1828–1891) ...

. He worked on over 100 movies including ''

Vigil in the Night ''Vigil in the Night'' is a 1940 RKO Pictures drama film based on the 1939 serialized novel '' Vigil in the Night'' by A. J. Cronin. The film was produced and directed by George Stevens and stars Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne and Anne Shirley. ...

'' (1940), ''

The Leopard Man ''The Leopard Man'' is a 1943 American horror film directed by Jacques Tourneur, and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Jean Brooks, and Margo. Based on the book ''Black Alibi'' by Cornell Woolrich, it follows a series of violent murders in a small Ne ...

'' (1943) and ''

The Body Snatcher "The Body Snatcher" is a short story by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894). First published in ''The Pall Mall Gazette'' in December 1884, its characters were based on criminals in the employ of real-life surgeon Robert K ...

'' (1945) as well as classic television shows such as ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along wit ...

'' and ''

The Dick Van Dyke Show ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Product ...

''. In 1939, he was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Cinematography The Academy Award for Best Cinematography is an Academy Award awarded each year to a cinematographer for work on one particular motion picture. History In its first film season, 1927–28, this award (like others such as the acting awards) w ...

for his work on the film ''

Vivacious Lady ''Vivacious Lady'' is a 1938 American black-and-white romantic comedy film directed by George Stevens and starring Ginger Rogers and James Stewart. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures. The screenplay was written by P.J. Wolfson and Ernest Paga ...

''. Robert De Grasse died in 1971 in Newport Beach, California.

Filmography

* '' Desperate Trails'' (1921) * '' The Kickback'' (1922) * '' Good Men and True'' (1922) * ''Thundergate'' (1923) * ''

Crashin' Thru ''Crashin' Thru'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Val Paul and starring Harry Carey. With no copies of ''Crashin' Thru'' located in any film archives, it is a lost film. Cast * Harry Carey as Blake * Cullen Landis as Con ...

'' (1923) * '' Desert Driven'' (1923) * '' Canyon of the Fools'' (1923) * '' Three Pals'' (1926) * ''The Swift Shadow'' (1927) *'' Law of Fear'' (1928) * ''Breed of the Sunsets'' (1928) * '' Lightning Speed'' (1928) * ''

Dog Law The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...

'' (1928) * ''Fangs of the Wild'' (1928) * '' Tracked'' (1928) * ''Beyond London Lights'' (1928) * ''Fury of the Wild'' (1929) * ''The One Man Dog'' (1929) * ''

The Sign of Four ''The Sign of the Four'' (1890), also called ''The Sign of Four'', is the second novel featuring Sherlock Holmes by British writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Doyle wrote four novels and 56 short stories featuring the fictional detective. Pl ...

'' (1932) * '' Nine Till Six'' (1932) * '' The Water Gipsies'' (1932) * ''Freckles'' (1935) * '' Alice Adams'' (1935) * '' Seven Keys to Baldpate'' (1935) * '' Break of Hearts'' (1935) * ''Wanted Jane Turner'' (1936) * ''

A Woman Rebels ''A Woman Rebels'' is a 1936 American historical drama film adapted from the 1930 novel ''Portrait of a Rebel'' by Netta Syrett and starring Katharine Hepburn as Pamela Thistlewaite, who rebels against the social mores of Victorian England. The fi ...

'' (1936) * ''Love on a Bet'' (1936) * '' M'Liss'' (1936) * ''

The Witness Chair ''The Witness Chair'' is a 1936 courtroom drama film directed by George Nicholls, Jr. and starring Ann Harding and Walter Abel. Plot Late one night, secretary Paula Young (Ann Harding) leaves the office of her boss, Stanley Whittaker (Douglas ...

'' (1936) * ''Chatterbox'' (1936) * ''

Stage Door ''Stage Door'' is a 1937 RKO film directed by Gregory La Cava. Adapted from the play of the same name, it tells the story of several would-be actresses who live together in a boarding house at 158 West 58th Street in New York City. The film ...

'' (1937) * ''The Outcasts of Poker Flat'' (1937) * '' Quality Street'' (1937) * ''

Having Wonderful Time ''Having Wonderful Time'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy film, based on the Broadway play of the same name, starring Ginger Rogers and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and directed by Alfred Santell. It was Red Skelton’s film debut. Plot summary Bo ...

'' (1938) * '' Carefree'' (1938) * ''

'' (1938) * ''

Career The career is an individual's metaphorical "journey" through learning, work and other aspects of life. There are a number of ways to define career and the term is used in a variety of ways. Definitions The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' defi ...

'' (1939) * '' Fifth Avenue Girl'' (1939) * ''

Bachelor Mother ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna from an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix Jac ...

'' (1939) * ''

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle ''The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle'' is a 1939 American biographical musical comedy directed by H.C. Potter. The film stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Edna May Oliver, and Walter Brennan. The film is based on the stories ''My Husband'' and ...

'' (1939) * '' Kitty Foyle'' (1940) * ''

Lucky Partners ''Lucky Partners'' is a 1940 American comedy romance drama film directed by Lewis Milestone for RKO Radio Pictures. The film is based on the 1935 Sacha Guitry film '' Good Luck'', and stars Ronald Colman and Ginger Rogers in their only film toget ...

'' (1940) * ''

'' (1940) * '' Unexpected Uncle'' (1941) * ''

Father Takes a Wife ''Father Takes a Wife'' is a 1941 American comedy film starring Gloria Swanson and Adolphe Menjou. Silent screen queen Gloria Swanson returned to films after a seven-year absence. Eight years later, Swanson staged another comeback in the classi ...

'' (1941) * '' Footlight Fever'' (1941) * '' A Date with the Falcon'' (1941) * '' My Favorite Spy'' (1942) * '' Seven Days Leave'' (1942) * '' Seven Miles from Alcatraz'' (1942) * ''

The Mayor of 44th Street ''The Mayor of 44th Street'' is a 1942 film directed by Alfred E. Green. It stars George Murphy and Anne Shirley. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1943. Cast * George Murphy as Joe Jonathan * Anne Shirley as Jersey Lee * William Garga ...

'' (1942) * ''Highways by Night'' (1942) * ''

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

'' (1942) * '' Higher and Higher'' (1943) * ''

Lady of Burlesque ''Lady of Burlesque'' (also known as ''The G-String Murders'' and in the UK, ''Striptease Lady'') is a 1943 American musical comedy-mystery film, produced by RKO Pictures and directed by William A. Wellman and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Mich ...

'' (1943) * '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) * ''

'' (1943) * ''

The Iron Major ''The Iron Major'' is a 1943 American biographical film about the famed college football coach and World War I hero, Frank Cavanaugh. Directed by Ray Enright, the screenplay was written by Aben Kandel and Warren Duff, based on Florence E. Cava ...

'' (1943) * '' Step Lively'' (1944) * ''

Show Business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produce ...

'' (1944)

John Wayne and Ward Bond in Tall in the Saddle

* '' Tall in the Saddle'' (1944) * ''

'' (1945) * ''

George White's Scandals ''George White's Scandals'' were a long-running string of Broadway revues produced by George White that ran from 1919–1939, modeled after the ''Ziegfeld Follies''. The "Scandals" launched the careers of many entertainers, including W. C. Fi ...

'' (1945) * '' Flame of Barbary Coast'' (1945) * '' The House I Live In'' (1945) * ''Beware of Redheads'' (1945) * ''

Badman's Territory ''Badman's Territory'' is a 1946 American Western film starring Randolph Scott. It was followed by the loose sequels '' Return of the Bad Men'' (1948) and ''Best of the Badmen'' (1951). Plot Just north of Texas and west of the Oklahoma borde ...

'' (1946) * ''Riverboat Rhythm'' (1946) * ''Genius at Work'' (1946) * ''

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer ''The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer'' (released as ''Bachelor Knight'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1947 American screwball romantic comedy-drama film directed by Irving Reis and written by Sidney Sheldon. The film stars Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, a ...

'' (1946) * '' Crack-Up'' (1946) * ''

Born to Kill Born to Kill may refer to: Film * ''Born to Kill'' (1947 film), a film noir directed by Robert Wise * ''Born to Kill'' (1967 film), a Spaghetti Western directed by Antonio Mollica * ''Born to Kill'' (1974 film) or ''Cockfighter'', a film direct ...

'' (1947) * '' The Judge Steps Out'' (1948) * '' Bodyguard'' (1948) * ''

The Miracle of the Bells ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1948) * '' Make Mine Laughs'' (1949) * '' Home of the Brave'' (1949) * ''

A Dangerous Profession ''A Dangerous Profession'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff, written by Warren Duff and Martin Rackin, and starring George Raft, Ella Raines, and Pat O'Brien.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Compan ...

'' (1949) * '' Follow Me Quietly'' (1949) * ''

Adventure in Baltimore ''Adventure in Baltimore '' is a 1949 American drama film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Robert Young and Shirley Temple. Dinah Sheldon ( Shirley Temple) is a student at an exclusive girls' school who starts campaigning for women's ...

'' (1949) * ''

A Kiss for Corliss ''A Kiss for Corliss'' (retitled ''Almost a Bride'' before its release) is a 1949 American comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, written by Howard Dimsdale and starring David Niven and Shirley Temple. The film, which was the last for both Wall ...

'' (1949) * '' The Clay Pigeon'' (1949) * '' The Men'' (1950) * '' Double Dynamite'' (1951) * ''Chicago Calling'' (1951) * ''The First Legion'' (1951) * ''

Marry Me Again ''Marry Me Again'' is a 1953 comedy film written and directed by Frank Tashlin. It stars Robert Cummings and Marie Wilson. Plot Bill has an unusual dilemma when he returns home from the war in Korea, where he had been a pilot. Out of pride, he ...

'' (1953) Source:Goble, Alan. ''The Complete Index to World Film, since 1885.'' 2008
Index home page

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:De Grasse, Robert 1900 births 1971 deaths American cinematographers People from Maplewood, New Jersey