John F. Seitz

Highest Rated: 100% Sullivan's Travels (1941)

Lowest Rated: 33% The Great Gatsby (1949)

Birthday: Jun 23, 1892

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

Influential cinematographer of both the silent and sound eras. Seitz began his career as a lab technician with the St. Louis Motion Picture Company, joined American Mutual in 1916 and had graduated to cinematographer by 1919. His best work was done at Metro (1920-28), especially for director Rex Ingram, and at Paramount (1941-52), notably in collaboration with Preston Sturges ("Sullivan's Travels" 1941, "The Miracle of Morgan's Creek" 1944, etc.) and Billy Wilder ("The Lost Weekend" 1945, "Sunset Boulevard" 1950, etc.). Seitz also invented several key photographic techniques, including the matte shot. Brother of director George B. Seitz (1888-1944).