{{Short description|British cinematographer}} {{for|the American physician and professor of medicine|Paul Bruce Beeson}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | image = | image_size = | name = Paul Beeson, B.S.C. | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|11|16}} | birth_place = Hammersmith, London, England, United Kingdom | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2001|07|19|1921|11|16}} | death_place = Gerrard's Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, <br /> United Kingdom | other_names = | occupation = Cinematographer | years_active = 1938–1996 }} '''Paul Beeson''', B.S.C. (16 November 1921 – 19 July 2001) was a British cinematographer. He was initially at Ealing Studios before going on to work on films for various other companies. He worked on over 300 feature films, including 74 where he was director of photography.
Beeson was the cameraman who filmed the iconic ''The Sound of Music'' opening scene of Julie Andrews from a helicopter.
==Biography== Beeson was born on 16 November 1921 to Leslie Frank Beeson and his Italian heritage wife, Paul was given the 2nd name Antonio. As a teenager he gained a passion for photography. While still studying at Cranleigh School, his father managed find him an opportunity as a trainee at Ealing Studios, then known as Associated Talking Pictures. His first film was during 1937 for the George Formby film, ''I See Ice'', where he worked with Anthony Kimmins.<ref name=bio>{{cite news |last1=Beeson |first1=Carrie |title=Paul Beeson BSC |url=https://bscine.com/bsc-members/?id=249 |access-date=15 March 2020 |work=The British Society of Cinematographers}}</ref>
During World War II, Beeson was drafted into the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in 1941. He transferred to the naval film unit and became an official naval photographer, again with Kimmins. Beeson landed at Normandy with BBC correspondent Howard Marshall. During his time with the navy, he met his wife, Olga, who was a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service.<ref name=bio />
After the war, Beeson returned to Ealing Studios, becoming a camera operator for the film ''Against the Wind'' in 1947. He was director of photography in the film ''West of Zanzibar'' (1954).<ref name=bio /><ref>{{cite news |title=He has to go to Zanzibar to get his chance |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002465/19531003/002/0001 |access-date=15 March 2020 |work=Middlesex County Times |issue=5512 |date=3 October 1953 |page=1}}</ref>
Beeson stayed with Ealing Studios for 19 years, before going freelance.<ref name=aa /> He would act as a cameraman on over 300 films, 74 of which he acted as director of photography,<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Beeson |work=The Times |issue=67222 |date=20 August 2001 |location=London, England |page=15}}</ref> working with directors such as Robert Zemeckis on ''Who Framed Roger Rabbit'', Ron Howard on ''Willow'', Alfred Hitchcock on ''Under Capricorn'' and Steven Spielberg on the Indiana Jones trilogy.<ref name=bio /> Beeson was the cameraman for the opening shot of ''The Sound of Music'', shooting Julie Andrews' iconic title song from a helicopter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Julie |last2=Hamilton |first2=Emma Walton |title=Julie Andrews shares a behind-the-scenes look at the opening sequence of 'The Sound of Music' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/julie-andrews-shares-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-opening-sequence-of-the-sound-of-music/2019/10/09/dbbabcd0-d4d0-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c_story.html |access-date=15 March 2020 |work=Washington Post |date=12 October 2019}}</ref>
Beeson would receive awards for his long service to the film industry including the John Alcott award from British Society of Cinematographers, where he had served as president and was its longest serving member, as well as the David Lenham award from Guild of British Camera Technicians.<ref name=aa>{{cite news |last1=Maybury |first1=Nick |title=Honours for film veteran |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002468/19931229/073/0011 |access-date=15 March 2020 |work=Aversham Advertiser |date=29 December 1993 |page=11}}</ref> Beeson died on 19 July 2001.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Bibliography== * Perry, George. ''Forever Ealing: A Celebration of the Great British Film Studio''. Pavilion, 1981.
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0066607}} * {{tcmdb name|id=12723|name=Paul Beeson}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beeson, Paul}} Category:1921 births Category:2001 deaths Category:British cinematographers Category:People from Hammersmith Category:People educated at Cranleigh School