Cinema legend Jack Cardiff visits PAG

Jack Cardiff, Director of Photography.

PAG was privileged to be visited, at its headquarters in May 2006, by Jack Cardiff OBE DOP BSC , the renowned British cinematographer.

Jack was eager to visit the company and find out more about it's current range of products, as well as its history. The party included Jack's son Mason, Jack's wife Niki, director Stanley Long and his wife.

Jack Cardiff, now 92, began his life in the cinema in 1918 as a 4 year old actor. He started helping camera crews when he was 14, and was one of the first trainees for Technicolor. Michael Powell launched his career as a lighting cameraman with A Matter of Life and Death in 1946. Cardiff became renowned for his dramatic use of lighting and coloured lighting effects which made his films some of the most beautiful in cinema history.

Jack Cardiff (centre) on location.

Equally versatile in the studio and on location, he worked with a dazzling array of directors and stars - Hitchcock, Huston, Ava Gardner, Bogart, Monroe, and Sophia Loren.

Jack was nominated three times for Oscars in the cinematography category, winning in 1947 for his work on Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's 'Black Narcissus'.

Other Oscar nominations followed for 'War and Peace' and 'Fanny'. His memorable cinema credits include 'The Four Feathers', 'Stairway to Heaven', 'The Red Shoes', 'The African Queen', 'The Barefoot Contessa' and 'The Dogs of War'. He also earned an Oscar nomination for directing 'Sons and Lovers'.

In 2001 he was awarded an honorary Oscar, the first time for a cinematographer, acknowledging his unique achievements in colour cinematography.In 2001 he was awarded an honorary Oscar, the first time for a cinematographer, acknowledging his unique achievements in colour cinematography.

Jack, who is still working in film production today, recently used the Paglight on a production at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, in Bradford. He took a shine to the Paglight and said of it

"I love small front-lights and the Paglight is the best example I have ever seen."

Jack Cardiff (right) and film director Stanley Long

Jack Cardiff Filmography:

As Cinematographer
(reverse chronology)

Dance of Shiva, The (1998)
Vivaldi's Four Seasons (1991)
Magic Balloon, The (1990)
Call from Space (1989)
Delius (1989)
Million Dollar Mystery (1987)
Tai-Pan (1986)
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Cat's Eye (1985)
Conan the Destroyer (1984)
Scandalous (1984)
Wicked Lady, The (1983)
Amityville 3-D (1983)
Ghost Story (1981)
Awakening, The (1980)
Dogs of War, The (1980)
Fifth Musketeer, The (1979)
Avalanche Express (1979)
Man, a Woman and a Bank, A (1979)
Prince and the Pauper, The (1978) (UK title)
Death on the Nile (1978)
Ride a Wild Pony (1976)
Scalawag (1973)
Girl on a Motorcycle (1968)
Mercenaries, The (1968)
Fanny (1961)
Diary of Anne Frank, The (1959) (outdoors)
Vikings, The (1958)
Legend of the Lost (1957)
Prince and the Showgirl, The (1957)
Big Money, The (1956)
Brave One, The (1956)
War and Peace (1956)
Barefoot Contessa, The
(1954)
Maestro di Don Giovanni, Il (1953)
William Tell (1953)
Master of Ballantrae, The (1953)
It Started in Paradise (1952)
African Queen, The (1951)
Magic Box, The (1951)
Paris (1951)
Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)
Montmartre (1950)
Black Rose, The (1950)
Under Capricorn (1949)
Red Shoes, The (1948)
Black Narcissus (1947)
Matter of Life and Death, A (1946)
Caesar and Cleopatra (1945)
Western Approaches (1944)
Scottish Mazurka (1943)
Border Weave (1942)
Colour in Clay (1942)
Great Mr. Handel, The (1942)
Out of the Box (1942)
This Is Colour (1942)
Green Girdle (1941)
Plastic Surgery in Wartime (1941)
Queen Cotton (1941)
Western Isles (1941)
Peasant Island (1940)
Main Street of Paris (1939)
World Windows (1939)
Caccia alla volpe nella campagna Romana, La (1938)
Paris On Parade (1938)
(as John Cardiff)
Wings of the Morning (1937)
As You Like It (1936)
Last Days of Pompeii, The (1935) (uncredited)

As Director

Dr. of Evil (1973) (UK title)
Penny Gold (1973)
Girl on a Motorcycle (1968)
Mercenaries, The (1968)
Liquidator, The (1965)
Young Cassidy (1965)
Long Ships, The (1963)
Lion, The (1962)
My Geisha (1962)
Holiday in Spain (1960)
(UK title)
Sons and Lovers (1960)
Beyond This Place (1959)
Intent to Kill (1958)
This Is Colour (1942)
Scott of the Antarctic (1948)

Jack, his wife Niki and son Mason.