Freddie Francis, 89, British cinematographer, has died.

Wayne Manor · 03-20-2007, 11:53 PM

"Freddie Francis, the legendary British cinematographer who won Academy Awards for "Sons and Lovers" in 1961 and "Glory" in 1989, died March 17 in west London. He was 89 years old.

Although he received his greatest acclaim as a cinematographer, with numerous nominations and prizes for his work on films such as "The Straight Story," "Elephant Man," "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "Cape Fear," he also had a successful career as a director of horror movies in the 1960s and 1970s for cult British studios Hammer and Amicus.

Francis was born Dec. 22, 1917 in Islington, London. Starting out as a stills photographer, he entered the film business as a clapper boy, camera loader and focus puller. After the Second World War, when he gained experienced with army film units, he worked as a camera operator on classic British films including "The Elusive Pimpernel," "The Small Back Room," "Gone to Earth," "Tales of Hoffmann," "Beat the Devil" and "Moby Dick."

He made his debut as a cinematographer with "A Hill in Korea" in 1956, moving on to shoot the new wave of realist working-class dramas, such as "Room at the Top" and "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning."

He stopped working as a cinematographer in the mid-60s when his directing career started to take off with genre pics such as "Nightmare," "Hysteria," "The Evil of Frankenstein" and "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave." He returned to cinematography in 1980 with David Lynch's "The Elephant Man," working subsequently with Lynch on "Dune" in 1984 and "Straight Story" in 1999, his last ever movie. His last film as a director was "The Dark Tower" in 1986.

He won the lifetime achievement award from the British Society of Cinematographers in 1997, and the International Award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 1998. He was nominated for four BAFTAs but never won.

He had just completed his autobiography, co-written by Tony Dalton, when he fell ill with a stroke late in 2006.

He is survived by his first wife Gladys and their son Kevin Francis, a film producer, and by his second wife Pamela Mann and their children Susanna and Gareth."

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=13&cs=1

_pi_ · 03-21-2007, 12:07 AM

One of the great cinematographers. Most people will probably remember him for his amazing work with David Lynch, but I recently watched The Innocents and, wow ... the man was a genius. RIP.

Lucio Romero · 03-21-2007, 12:10 AM

That is so sad

. Tales From The Crypt and especially Legend Of The Werewolf are two my favourites. Legend is such a great movie and very underated.

R.I.P Freddie

LUCIO!!!!

satans-sadists · 03-21-2007, 12:17 AM

Sad news indeed.

Francis was brilliant cinematographer with incomparable style in many genres. I've also long admired his work as a director, particularly in Tales from the Crypt (1972), Torture Garden, and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors. I love horror anthology films and these are three of the best in my opinion. Another favorite is the Hammer Horror flick Dracula Has Risen From The Grave.

I had the pleasure of meeting Freddie at a Hammer Horror convention in the summer of 1997. He was so friendly to talk with and happily signed a photo of himself directing Christopher Lee in The Skull.

03-21-2007, 01:10 AM

RIP Freddie, a great director -- and even better cinematographer. He'll be missed, but his films shall live on...

BloodMan · 03-21-2007, 01:57 AM

R.I.P. Man

The Chaostar · 03-21-2007, 02:08 AM

That sucks. He was indeed one of the best. The photography in Scorsese's CAPE FEAR... oh the memories!

R.I.P.

indiephantom · 03-21-2007, 06:00 AM

One of the true greats. I loved his work on "Glory", too. RIP

Erick H. · 03-21-2007, 07:26 AM

One of the great cinematographers,and rightfully admired as such,I always thought he undervalued his directorial work.I know from his enterviews that he really enjoyed directing,yet he felt his colleagues looked down on his work because he worked in the horror genre.I hope he knew how much enjoyment he brought to people.I loved his work.Rest in Peace .

Katatonia · 03-21-2007, 08:34 AM

R.I.P. - a body of great work amassed in his lifetime.

ThievingWinona · 03-21-2007, 04:39 PM

Completely underappreciated and unknown by horror fans.

Sad to see him go, he was a great filmmaker.

03-21-2007, 06:27 PM

He did some great work. R.I.P.

03-21-2007, 09:46 PM

This is really sad... I grew up watching many of his films, and they all remain favorites of mine to this day. Tales from The Crypt, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Torture Garden, and so many more are all absolutle classics. His cinematography was amazing as well, with The Innocents perhaps being his greatest achievement. RIP to a true horror legend.

dirkwu · 03-21-2007, 11:37 PM

care.

03-22-2007, 03:44 AM

R.i.p.

03-20-2007, 11:53 PM	#1
Wayne Manor Maniac Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 760	Freddie Francis, 89, British cinematographer, has died. "Freddie Francis, the legendary British cinematographer who won Academy Awards for "Sons and Lovers" in 1961 and "Glory" in 1989, died March 17 in west London. He was 89 years old. Although he received his greatest acclaim as a cinematographer, with numerous nominations and prizes for his work on films such as "The Straight Story," "Elephant Man," "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "Cape Fear," he also had a successful career as a director of horror movies in the 1960s and 1970s for cult British studios Hammer and Amicus. Francis was born Dec. 22, 1917 in Islington, London. Starting out as a stills photographer, he entered the film business as a clapper boy, camera loader and focus puller. After the Second World War, when he gained experienced with army film units, he worked as a camera operator on classic British films including "The Elusive Pimpernel," "The Small Back Room," "Gone to Earth," "Tales of Hoffmann," "Beat the Devil" and "Moby Dick." He made his debut as a cinematographer with "A Hill in Korea" in 1956, moving on to shoot the new wave of realist working-class dramas, such as "Room at the Top" and "Saturday Night and Sunday Morning." He stopped working as a cinematographer in the mid-60s when his directing career started to take off with genre pics such as "Nightmare," "Hysteria," "The Evil of Frankenstein" and "Dracula Has Risen from the Grave." He returned to cinematography in 1980 with David Lynch's "The Elephant Man," working subsequently with Lynch on "Dune" in 1984 and "Straight Story" in 1999, his last ever movie. His last film as a director was "The Dark Tower" in 1986. He won the lifetime achievement award from the British Society of Cinematographers in 1997, and the International Award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 1998. He was nominated for four BAFTAs but never won. He had just completed his autobiography, co-written by Tony Dalton, when he fell ill with a stroke late in 2006. He is survived by his first wife Gladys and their son Kevin Francis, a film producer, and by his second wife Pamela Mann and their children Susanna and Gareth." http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=13&cs=1

03-21-2007, 12:07 AM	#2
_pi_ Peace, bitch Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Iceland Posts: 2,620	One of the great cinematographers. Most people will probably remember him for his amazing work with David Lynch, but I recently watched The Innocents and, wow ... the man was a genius. RIP. __________________ "Compared to her I'm just some bland, flappy hausfrau." Baby, there ain't nothing good about this goodbye.

03-21-2007, 12:10 AM	#3
Lucio Romero Victim Join Date: May 2004 Location: The Marsten House in spring, Monroeville Mall in winter, Comfort Station in summer and the Bates Motel in autumn Posts: 124	That is so sad . Tales From The Crypt and especially Legend Of The Werewolf are two my favourites. Legend is such a great movie and very underated. R.I.P Freddie LUCIO!!!! __________________ Grease Guy : Four pounds of grease...that comes to 63 cents. Homer : Woo Hoo. Bart : Dad, all that bacon cost 27 dollars. Homer : Yeah, but your mom payed for that. Bart : But doesn't she get her money from you. Homer : And I get my money from grease, what's the problem. Some Of My DVDs

03-21-2007, 01:57 AM	#6
BloodMan Kill Time B4 It Kills You Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4,432	R.I.P. Man __________________ We Are Never Very Far From Those We Hate, For This Very Reason, We Shall Never Be Truly Close To Those We Love If I Don't Have The Right To Torture You, Why Then Do You Have The Right To Torture Me By Taking Away The Pleasure That I Could Get From Torturing You? Remember, one cannot make footprints in the sands of time by sitting on their butt, and who wants to leave butt prints in the sands of time?

03-21-2007, 02:08 AM	#7
The Chaostar Johnny Hallyday forever Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Hell-as Posts: 4,257	That sucks. He was indeed one of the best. The photography in Scorsese's CAPE FEAR... oh the memories! R.I.P. __________________ "Only on Horrordvds.com could a well intentioned get well thread turn into an infomercial about the propensity for testicular perspiration". There Is No Freedom, Wake Up.

03-21-2007, 12:17 AM	#4
satans-sadists Humanitarian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 4,867	Sad news indeed. Francis was brilliant cinematographer with incomparable style in many genres. I've also long admired his work as a director, particularly in Tales from the Crypt (1972), Torture Garden, and Dr. Terror's House of Horrors. I love horror anthology films and these are three of the best in my opinion. Another favorite is the Hammer Horror flick Dracula Has Risen From The Grave. I had the pleasure of meeting Freddie at a Hammer Horror convention in the summer of 1997. He was so friendly to talk with and happily signed a photo of himself directing Christopher Lee in The Skull.

03-21-2007, 01:10 AM	#5
4Gotten1 Guest Posts: n/a	RIP Freddie, a great director -- and even better cinematographer. He'll be missed, but his films shall live on...

03-21-2007, 06:00 AM	#8
indiephantom Horny Spirit Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Ghost World Posts: 3,880	One of the true greats. I loved his work on "Glory", too. RIP __________________ My Collection 2011 2010 2009

03-21-2007, 07:26 AM	#9
Erick H. HackMaster Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 7,438	One of the great cinematographers,and rightfully admired as such,I always thought he undervalued his directorial work.I know from his enterviews that he really enjoyed directing,yet he felt his colleagues looked down on his work because he worked in the horror genre.I hope he knew how much enjoyment he brought to people.I loved his work.Rest in Peace .

03-21-2007, 08:34 AM	#10
Katatonia Hellbound Heart Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Missouri Posts: 15,901	R.I.P. - a body of great work amassed in his lifetime. __________________ "The machines are faster and the bombs are worse, as we're all sucked into this unholy curse." - Saint Vitus - War Is Our Destiny DVD Profiler Collection

03-21-2007, 04:39 PM	#11
ThievingWinona Stalker Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 169	Completely underappreciated and unknown by horror fans. Sad to see him go, he was a great filmmaker. __________________ MaT Listen to the Splattercast! Deadlantern.com The Grand Horror

03-21-2007, 06:27 PM	#12
RyanPC Guest Posts: n/a	He did some great work. R.I.P.

03-21-2007, 09:46 PM	#13
jefff Guest Posts: n/a	This is really sad... I grew up watching many of his films, and they all remain favorites of mine to this day. Tales from The Crypt, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Torture Garden, and so many more are all absolutle classics. His cinematography was amazing as well, with The Innocents perhaps being his greatest achievement. RIP to a true horror legend.

03-21-2007, 11:37 PM	#14
dirkwu Bannable Lector Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: 45 Grave Posts: 743	care. __________________ Give me something to stop the bleeding!

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03-22-2007, 03:44 AM	#15
thrashard76 Guest Posts: n/a	R.i.p.