RIP Gilbert Taylor (Star Wars, Dr. Strangelove)

[nitrox]

Gilbert Taylor Passes Away.

Sad news indeed.

BBC News - Gilbert Taylor, Star Wars cinematographer, dies aged 99

 

[jlee562]

BBC News - Gilbert Taylor, Star Wars cinematographer, dies aged 99

Gilbert Taylor, the veteran British cinematographer of Star Wars, The Omen and Dr Strangelove, has died aged 99.
According to his wife Dee, he died on Friday with his family at his bedside at his home on the Isle of Wight.
Born in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire in 1914, Taylor entered the film industry in 1929 as a camera assistant, working at Gainsborough Studios in London.
His many credits include Ice Cold in Alex, the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night and Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy.
He also worked with Roman Polanski on such films as Repulsion and Cul-de-Sac, for which he received back-to-back Bafta nominations in consecutive years.

According to his wife, Taylor "turned down a Bond picture" to work with Polanski, "because he thought Roman was a very interesting guy".
"The three of us became very firm friends, and we've been friends until this day."
'Sheer magic'
Taylor had a hand in the special effects for 1955 classic The Dam Busters and was director of photography on the 1980 fantasy Flash Gordon.
To many, though, he will be best remembered for his contribution to the first Star Wars film, on which he worked under the auspices of director George Lucas.
"George avoided all meetings and contact with me from day one," Taylor would later tell American Cinematographer magazine.
"So I read the extra-long script many times and made my own decisions as to how I would shoot the picture."
Taylor would have happier memories of his time photographing Ken Adam's famous War Room set for Doctor Strangelove, Stanley Kubrick's 1964 Cold War satire.

"Lighting that set was sheer magic," he later recalled. "I don't quite know how I got away with it all."

If you haven't seen Dr. Strangelove....what are you waiting for?

 

[nitrox]

I think I beat you to it by less than a minute. I agree though, sad news.

 

[Apollo]

Great Cinematographer who did so may great films.

Was in awe how he lit that huge set the war room in "Strangelove"

 

[Michael Bergeron]

Long and productive life. :thumbsup

Happy trails Gilbert. Thanks for the memories.

 

[DonnaEdwards]

I agree though, sad news.