# Arthur J. Ornitz

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American cinematographer (1916-1985)

Arthur J. Ornitz Born Arthur Jacob Ornitz[1] (1916-11-28)November 28, 1916 New York City, New York, U.S. Died July 10, 1985(1985-07-10) (aged 68)[2] New York City, New York, U.S. Other name Arthur Ornitz Alma mater University of California, Los Angeles Occupations Cinematographer film director screenwriter Years active 1936–1983 Children 1 Parent Samuel Ornitz (father) Relatives Don Ornitz (brother)

**Arthur Jacob Ornitz**, [ASC](/source/American_Society_of_Cinematographers) (November 28, 1916 – July 10, 1985) was an American cinematographer and filmmaker, known best for his work on [New York](/source/New_York_City)-based productions. He worked with such directors as [William Friedkin](/source/William_Friedkin), [Sidney Lumet](/source/Sidney_Lumet), [John Cassavetes](/source/John_Cassavetes), [Paul Mazursky](/source/Paul_Mazursky), and [Shirley Clarke](/source/Shirley_Clarke).[1]

## Early life and education

Ornitz was born in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), the son of Sadie (née Lesser) and screenwriter [Samuel Ornitz](/source/Samuel_Ornitz), a [Hollywood Ten](/source/Hollywood_Ten) blacklistee.[2] He had a brother, [Don](/source/Don_Ornitz), who was a photographer. Ornitz studied film at the [University of California, Los Angeles](/source/University_of_California%2C_Los_Angeles).[2]

## Career

Ornitz made his directing debut with short film *[Wanted – A Master](/source/Wanted_%E2%80%93_A_Master)* (1936), which was nominated for the [Academy Award for Best Short Subject (One-Reel)](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Live_Action_Short_Film). He was a documentary cameraman for [Joris Ivens](/source/Joris_Ivens) and [Floyd Crosby](/source/Floyd_Crosby) during the latter part of the decade.[1] During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), he served in the [US Army Signal Corps](/source/US_Army_Signal_Corps), under a unit commanded by [Frank Capra](/source/Frank_Capra).[1]

During the 1950s, Ornitz lived in [Denmark](/source/Denmark) and worked with Danish filmmaker couple [Astrid](/source/Astrid_Henning-Jensen) and [Bjarne Henning-Jensen](/source/Bjarne_Henning-Jensen). His first American feature film was [*The Goddess*](/source/The_Goddess_(1958_film)) (1958), directed by [John Cromwell](/source/John_Cromwell_(director)). During the decade, he also shot and directed various commercials.[3]

Among other films, he shot *[The Connection](/source/The_Connection_(1961_film))* (1961), *[A Thousand Clowns](/source/A_Thousand_Clowns)* (1965), [*Charly*](/source/Charly_(1968_film)) (1968), *[The Boys in the Band](/source/The_Boys_in_the_Band_(1970_film))* (1970), *[The Anderson Tapes](/source/The_Anderson_Tapes)*, *[Minnie and Moskowitz](/source/Minnie_and_Moskowitz)* (both 1971), *[Serpico](/source/Serpico)* (1973), *[Death Wish](/source/Death_Wish_(1974_film))* (1974), *[Next Stop, Greenwich Village](/source/Next_Stop%2C_Greenwich_Village)* (1976), *[An Unmarried Woman](/source/An_Unmarried_Woman)* (1978), and *[Hanky Panky](/source/Hanky_Panky_(1982_film))* (1982).

[Victor J. Kemper](/source/Victor_J._Kemper) cited him as a mentor.[3]

## Death

Ornitz died of cancer at his home in [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan) on July 10, 1985. He was survived by his mother, his wife and a son.[2] Ornitz's son, Kim H. Ornitz, is a sound mixer.[1]

## 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[1][4] 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 An Unmarried Woman Paul Mazursky 1978 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. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-encyclopedia_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-encyclopedia_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-encyclopedia_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-encyclopedia_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-encyclopedia_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-encyclopedia_1-5) ["ARTHUR J. ORNITZ"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230923104606/https://cinematographers.nl/GreatDoPh/ornitz.htm). *cinematographers.nl*. Archived from [the original](https://cinematographers.nl/GreatDoPh/ornitz.htm) on September 23, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2026.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nytobituary_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nytobituary_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nytobituary_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nytobituary_2-3) ["Arthur Ornitz"](https://www.nytimes.com/1985/07/16/arts/arthur-ornitz.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. July 16, 1985. Retrieved October 24, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["ASC Breakfast Club 2014 Video Collection"](https://theasc.com/articles/asc-breakfast-club-2014-video-collection). *The American Society of Cinematographers*. Retrieved March 12, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Soldier Blue (1970)"](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/22495). *[AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/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.

## External links

- [Arthur J. Ornitz](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005817/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arthur J. Ornitz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_J._Ornitz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_J._Ornitz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.