Age, Biography and Wiki

John Alton was an American cinematographer and film director. He is best known for his work on film noir classics such as The Big Combo (1955), T-Men (1947), and The Big Heat (1953). He was born in Sopron, Austria-Hungary (now Hungary) on October 5, 1901. Alton began his career in the 1920s as a camera assistant in Germany. He moved to the United States in 1929 and worked as a cinematographer for various studios, including Warner Bros. and MGM. He was known for his use of low-key lighting and dramatic camera angles. Alton won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for An American in Paris (1951). He was nominated for two other Academy Awards for The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) and The Big Heat (1953). Alton directed several films, including The Big Combo (1955) and The Big Night (1956). He also wrote the screenplay for The Big Combo. Alton died on June 2, 1996 in Los Angeles, California. He was 94 years old.

Popular As Johann Altmann
Occupation cinematographer,camera_department,director
Age 95 years old
Zodiac Sign Libra
Born 5 October 1901
Birthday 5 October
Birthplace Sopron, Austria-Hungary [now Hungary]
Date of death 2 June, 1996
Died Place Santa Monica, California, USA
Nationality Austria

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 5 October. He is a member of famous Cinematographer with the age 95 years old group.

John Alton Height, Weight & Measurements

At 95 years old, John Alton height not available right now. We will update John Alton's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
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Who Is John Alton's Wife?

His wife is Rozalia Kiss (? - 1987) ( her death)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Rozalia Kiss (? - 1987) ( her death)
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

John Alton Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. So, how much is John Alton worth at the age of 95 years old? John Alton’s income source is mostly from being a successful Cinematographer. He is from Austria. We have estimated John Alton's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2023 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2023 Under Review
Net Worth in 2022 Pending
Salary in 2022 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Cinematographer

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Timeline

1962

He was replaced after two weeks of shooting Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)) by Burnett Guffey.

1960

In 1960, following his work on Elmer Gantry (1960), he quit the movie business. He returned briefly in 1966 to direct photography for the pilot episode of the TV series Mission: Impossible (1966). Afterwards, he virtually disappeared. For years, even his closest friends did not know his whereabouts. In 1984, his work was honored at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado, with a tribute entitled, "Where is John Alton?" In 1993, at the age of 92, Alton heard about Visions of Light (1992), a documentary about cinematographers that included some of his movie work. He contacted the film's producer, Todd McCarthy, and asked to attend the premiere. McCarthy, who had hoped to include an interview with Alton in the film, was astonished to hear from him. Afterwards, Alton insisted that there was nothing mysterious in his disappearance, that he and his wife had simply decided to give up the movie business and travel a bit. They had lived in France, Germany, and Argentina, and had a great time. He died in 1996 at the age of 95.

1940

He became one of the most controversial cinematographers during the 1940s and 1950s in Hollywood, causing all of the MGM cinematographers to file a complaint with studio head Dore Schary and MGM exec E.J. Mannix and the AMPAS regarding his contribution to An American in Paris (1951). The charges were refuted by the film's director Vincente Minnelli and star 'Gene Kelly (I)' . Alton further incited the wrath of American cinematographers by charging that the use of light beds above the sets was not only unnatural but forced cinematographers to work more slowly. He was a brilliant iconoclast who was forced to work on low-budget features because of his flamboyant behavior, which was considered outside of the norm for a very flamboyant Hollywood.

1937

Returning to Hollywood in 1937, he soon achieved a reputation as one of the industry's most accomplished cinematographers.

1930

In the early 1930s, Alton traveled to Argentina to help develop that country's film industry. He helped train several cinematographers and directors, photographed over 20 films himself, and even directed several.

1927

Although he had been a cinematographer since at least 1927, he didn't shoot his first color film until 1951, An American in Paris (1951) -- which got him an Academy Award for Best Cinematography.

1924

Starting out in 1924 as a lab technician at MGM, John Alton left there for Paramount to become a cameraman. He traveled to France and then to South America, where he wrote, photographed and directed several Spanish-language films.

1890

Alton's father was an American who had moved to Hungary in the 1890s.