Arthur J. Ornitz

Arthur J. Ornitz
Born
Arthur Jacob Ornitz

(1916-11-28)November 28, 1916
DiedJuly 10, 1985(1985-07-10) (aged 68)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Other nameArthur Ornitz
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Occupations
  • Cinematographer
  • film director
  • screenwriter
Years active1936–1983
Children1
ParentSamuel Ornitz (father)
RelativesDon Ornitz (brother)

Arthur Jacob Ornitz, ASC (November 28, 1916 – July 10, 1985) was an American cinematographer and filmmaker, known best for his work on New York-based productions. He worked with such directors as William Friedkin, Sidney Lumet, John Cassavetes, Paul Mazursky, and Shirley Clarke.

Early life and education

Ornitz was born in New York City, the son of Sadie (née Lesser) and screenwriter Samuel Ornitz, a Hollywood Ten blacklistee. He had a brother, Don, who was a photographer. Ornitz studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Career

Ornitz made his directing debut with short film Wanted – A Master (1936), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (One-Reel). He was a documentary cameraman for Joris Ivens and Floyd Crosby during the latter part of the decade. During World War II, he served in the US Army Signal Corps, under a unit commanded by Frank Capra.

During the 1950s, Ornitz lived in Denmark and worked with Danish filmmaker couple Astrid and Bjarne Henning-Jensen. His first American feature film was The Goddess (1958), directed by John Cromwell. During the decade, he also shot and directed various commercials.

Among other films, he shot The Connection (1961), A Thousand Clowns (1965), Charly (1968), The Boys in the Band (1970), The Anderson Tapes, Minnie and Moskowitz (both 1971), Serpico (1973), Death Wish (1974), Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), An Unmarried Woman (1978), and Hanky Panky (1982).

Victor J. Kemper cited him as a mentor.

Death

Ornitz died of cancer at his home in Manhattan on July 10, 1985. He was survived by his mother, his wife and a son. Ornitz's son, Kim H. Ornitz, is a sound mixer.

Filmography

Film

Feature films

Year Title Director Notes
1950 North Sea Boys Astrid Henning-Jensen
Bjarne Henning-Jensen
1951 Kranes konditori Astrid Henning-Jensen
Ukjent mann
1952 Vi arme syndere Erik Balling
Ole Palsbo
1958 The Goddess John Cromwell
1959 Kiss Her Goodbye Albert Lipton
1960 The Pusher Gene Milford
1961 The Connection Shirley Clarke
Teenage Millionaire Lawrence Doheny
The Young Doctors Phil Karlson
1962 Jacktown William Martin
Requiem for a Heavyweight Ralph Nelson
1963 Act One Dore Schary
1964 The World of Henry Orient George Roy Hill
1965 The Colonial Naturalist — Mark Catesby Charles S. Dubin
A Thousand Clowns Fred Coe
1967 A Midsummer Night's Dream George Balanchine
Dan Eriksen
The Tiger Makes Out Arthur Hiller
1968 Charly Ralph Nelson
1969 Me, Natalie Fred Coe
Change of Mind Robert Stevens
1970 The Boys in the Band William Friedkin
House of Dark Shadows Dan Curtis
Soldier Blue Ralph Nelson Replaced by Robert B. Hauser
1971 The Anderson Tapes Sidney Lumet
Minnie and Moskowitz John Cassavetes
1972 The Possession of Joel Delaney Waris Hussein
1973 Black Snake Russ Meyer
Serpico Sidney Lumet
Badge 373 Howard W. Koch
1974 Death Wish Michael Winner
Law and Disorder Ivan Passer
Forever Young, Forever Free Ashley Lazarus
1976 Next Stop, Greenwich Village Paul Mazursky
1977 Thieves John Berry
1978 An Unmarried Woman Paul Mazursky
Oliver's Story John Korty
1981 The Chosen Jeremy Kagan
Tattoo Bob Brooks
1982 Hanky Panky Sidney Poitier

Short films

Year Title Director Notes
1936 Wanted – A Master Himself Co-director with Gunther von Fritsch
1940 Power and the Land Joris Ivens Docuementary short
1949 I gode hender Himself
1960 The Computer Comes to Marketing Maurice Rapf
1961 The Shoes Ernest Pintoff
After Hours Shepard Traube Docuementary short

Television

TV series

Year Title Notes
1955 Omnibus Episode: "Uncle Tom's Cabin"
1957-58 Harbourmaster 2 episodes
1958 Decision Episode: "Man Against Crime"
1964 East Side West Side Episode: "It's War, Man"
1970 NET Playhouse Episode: "Helen Hayes Remembers"

TV films, miniseries, and specials

Year Title
1956 Bulletin from Bertie
Out of Darkness
1964 Carol for Another Christmas
1973 Honor Thy Father
1977 The Quinns
Wilma
1979 Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure
1980 Hardhat and Legs
Playing for Time
1982 The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana
1983 Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number
First Affair

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "ARTHUR J. ORNITZ". cinematographers.nl. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Arthur Ornitz". The New York Times. July 16, 1985. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "ASC Breakfast Club 2014 Video Collection". The American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Soldier Blue (1970)". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved April 7, 2026. Arthur Ornitz was replaced as photographer several weeks into production; Robert B. Hauser receives screen credit.