Biography
John J. Mescall, A.S.C. (January 10, 1899 β February 10, 1962) was an American cinematographer. He photographed such silent films as Ernst Lubitsch's The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927), but he is best known for his work in the 1930s at Universal Pictures, where he often worked on the films of James Whale. Mescall was famous for his elaborate, some might say grandiose, effective camera movements, in which the camera would often track completely across or around a set, or even one performer (as it does around Paul Robeson while he sings Ol' Man River in the 1936 film version of Show Boat). He did not always use these kinds of camera movements (The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg has none), but his most famous films all have them.
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Filmography
all 80
Movies 80
Director 20
Cinematographer
The Quiet Gun (1957)
Movie
Cinematographer
Not of This Earth (1957)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Desperados Are in Town (1956)
Movie
Director of Photography
Davy Crockett, Indian Scout (1950)
Movie
Cinematographer
Her Favorite Patient (1945)
Movie
Director of Photography
Dark Waters (1944)
Movie
Director of Photography
Youth Runs Wild (1944)
Movie
Cinematographer
Sensations of 1945 (1944)
Movie
Director of Photography
Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942)
Movie
Director of Photography
Sweater Girl (1942)
Movie
Cinematographer
Take a Letter, Darling (1942)
Movie
Cinematographer
Henry Aldrich for President (1941)
Movie
Cinematographer
New Wine (1941)
Movie
Director of Photography
Her First Romance (1940)
Movie
Cinematographer
Kit Carson (1940)
Movie
Cinematographer
South of Pago Pago (1940)
Movie
Director of Photography
When Tomorrow Comes (1939)
Movie
Cinematographer
Exile Express (1939)
Movie
Director of Photography
My Lucky Star (1938)
Movie
Cinematographer
Josette (1938)
Movie
Cinematographer
Happy Landing (1938)
Movie
Director of Photography
The Road Back (1937)
Movie
Cinematographer
Show Boat (1936)
Movie
1
Director of Photography
Magnificent Obsession (1935)
Movie
6
Cinematographer
Smart Girl (1935)
Movie
Director of Photography
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Movie
5.73
Cinematographer
I've Been Around (1935)
Movie
Cinematographer
Night Life of the Gods (1935)
Movie
Cinematographer
One More River (1934)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Black Cat (1934)
Movie
6.17
Director of Photography
By Candlelight (1933)
Movie
Director of Photography / Visual Effects Camera
The Invisible Man (1933)
Movie
5.3
Cinematographer
The Return of Casey Jones (1933)
Movie
Cinematographer
Almost Married (1932)
Movie
Cinematographer
New Morals for Old (1932)
Movie
Cinematographer
Ambassador Bill (1931)
Movie
Director of Photography
Skyline (1931)
Movie
Cinematographer
Born to Love (1931)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Easiest Way (1931)
Movie
Cinematographer
Sin Takes a Holiday (1930)
Movie
Cinematographer
Big Money (1930)
Movie
Cinematographer
Night Work (1930)
Movie
Cinematographer
His First Command (1929)
Movie
Cinematographer
Red Hot Rhythm (1929)
Movie
Director
Fairways and Foul (1929)
Movie
Director of Photography
Big News (1929)
Movie
Director of Photography
The Sophomore (1929)
Movie
Cinematographer
High Voltage (1929)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Leatherneck (1929)
Movie
Director of Photography
Sal of Singapore (1928)
Movie
Cinematographer
Captain Swagger (1928)
Movie
Cinematographer
Man-Made Women (1928)
Movie
Cinematographer
Walking Back (1928)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Leopard Lady (1928)
Movie
Director of Photography
The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1928)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Wreck of the Hesperus (1927)
Movie
Director of Photography
So This Is Paris (1926)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Social Highwayman (1926)
Movie
Cinematographer
Silken Shackles (1926)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Love Toy (1926)
Movie
Cinematographer
Satan in Sables (1925)
Movie
Cinematographer
Below the Line (1925)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted (1925)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Woman Hater (1925)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Bridge of Sighs (1925)
Movie
Cinematographer
His Hour (1924)
Movie
Cinematographer
Wine of Youth (1924)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Tenth Woman (1924)
Movie
Cinematographer
True As Steel (1924)
Movie
Cinematographer
Three Weeks (1924)
Movie
Cinematographer
Reno (1923)
Movie
Cinematographer
Six Days (1923)
Movie
Cinematographer
Souls for Sale (1923)
Movie
Cinematographer
Gimme (1923)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Wall Flower (1922)
Movie
Cinematographer
Watch Your Step (1922)
Movie
Cinematographer
The Glorious Fool (1922)
Movie
Cinematographer
Dangerous Curve Ahead (1921)
Movie
Cinematographer
All's Fair in Love (1921)
Movie
Cinematographer
It's a Great Life (1920)
Movie
Ratings
Average 4.47
Based on 130 Thousand movie and tv ratings over time
1920
1926
1930
1928
1957
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Information
Known ForCamera
GenderMale
Birthday1899-01-08
Deathday1962-02-10 (63 years old)
Birth PlaceLitchfield, United States of America
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Also Known AsJohn Mescal, J. Joseph Mescall, John Mescall
This article uses material from Wikipedia.
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