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Eugen Schüfftan
German cinematographer (1893-1977) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Eugen Schüfftan (21 July 1893 – 6 September 1977) was a German cinematographer.
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (May 2010) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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Biography
Schüfftan was born on 21 July 1893 in Breslau, Silesia, German Empire (now Wrocław, Poland). He invented the Schüfftan process, a special effects technique that employed mirrors to insert actors into miniature sets. One of the early uses of the process was for Metropolis (1927), directed by Fritz Lang. The technique was widely used throughout the first half of the 20th century until it was supplanted by the travelling matte and bluescreen techniques.
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Schüfftan began his career in Berlin as a painter of Impressionist paintings, then turned to Expressionism and then worked as an architect and decorative painter. The artist came to film via detours. In 1923, his fascination for the camera and camera techniques led him to the mirror animation process, which later became named after him, which became famous in 1924 with Fritz Lang's film epic Die Nibelungen (The Nibelungs) and was used on a large scale for the first time in Metropolis (1927). The arrangement of one or more partially transparent mirrors made it possible to depict miniature models behind actors as huge buildings. Eugen Schüfftan initially became technical director at Deutsche Spiegeltechnik GmbH & Co., but after a few years he handed over his post to the film architect Fritz Maurischat in order to devote himself again to his work as a cameraman. In 1930, Schüfftan was the cinematographer in charge of the documentary Menschen am Sonntag, directed by Robert Siodmak and Billy Wilder. As a result of the National Socialists' seizure of power, his work was soon massively restricted. Schüfftan emigrated to France, where he filmed with Marcel Carné (A Strange Case and Harbour in the Fog), among others. After the occupation of France, he emigrated to the USA, where he was able to continue his work.
In the film Hitler's Madman 1942/1943, director Sierck wanted him as a cameraman, but Schüfftan did not get a work permit for the USA because the local cameramen's association A.S.C. refused him membership. Therefore, an American photographer named Jack Greenhalgh received credit, while Schüfftan was de facto solely responsible for photographing the film. In technical professions, the American trade unions were anxious to protect the interests of their members, which is why emigrated cameramen such as Schüfftan and Curt Courant found difficulty being employed in film productions.
. His animation techniques were later used in the films The Voyages of Odysseus and Captain Sinbad, among others.
Schüfftan won the 1962 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White for his work on the film The Hustler.
He died on 6 September 1977 in New York City.
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Selected filmography
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  | This article about a cinematographer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
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