# Paul Beeson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Paul_Beeson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Paul_Beeson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Beeson > Source revision: 1357088862 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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.](/source/British_Society_of_Cinematographers) | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|11|16}} | birth_place = [Hammersmith](/source/Hammersmith), London, England, United Kingdom | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2001|07|19|1921|11|16}} | death_place = [Gerrard's Cross](/source/Gerrard's_Cross), [Buckinghamshire](/source/Buckinghamshire), England,
United Kingdom | other_names = | occupation = [Cinematographer](/source/Cinematographer) | years_active = 1938–1996 }} '''Paul Beeson''', [B.S.C.](/source/British_Society_of_Cinematographers) (16 November 1921 – 19 July 2001) was a British [cinematographer](/source/cinematographer). He was initially at [Ealing Studios](/source/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](/source/director_of_photography). Beeson was the cameraman who filmed the iconic ''[The Sound of Music](/source/The_Sound_of_Music_(film))'' opening scene of [Julie Andrews](/source/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](/source/Cranleigh_School), his father managed find him an opportunity as a trainee at [Ealing Studios](/source/Ealing_Studios), then known as Associated Talking Pictures. His first film was during 1937 for the [George Formby](/source/George_Formby) film, ''[I See Ice](/source/I_See_Ice)'', where he worked with [Anthony Kimmins](/source/Anthony_Kimmins).{{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}} During [World War II](/source/World_War_II), Beeson was [drafted](/source/Conscription) into the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy)'s [Fleet Air Arm](/source/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](/source/Normandy_landings) with BBC correspondent [Howard Marshall](/source/Howard_Marshall_(broadcaster)). During his time with the navy, he met his wife, Olga, who was a member of the [Women's Royal Naval Service](/source/Women's_Royal_Naval_Service). After the war, Beeson returned to Ealing Studios, becoming a camera operator for the film ''[Against the Wind](/source/Against_the_Wind_(1948_film))'' in 1947. He was [director of photography](/source/director_of_photography) in the film ''[West of Zanzibar](/source/West_of_Zanzibar_(1954_film))'' (1954).{{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}} Beeson stayed with Ealing Studios for 19 years, before going freelance. He would act as a cameraman on over 300 films, 74 of which he acted as director of photography,{{cite news |title=Paul Beeson |work=The Times |issue=67222 |date=20 August 2001 |location=London, England |page=15}} working with directors such as [Robert Zemeckis](/source/Robert_Zemeckis) on ''[Who Framed Roger Rabbit](/source/Who_Framed_Roger_Rabbit)'', [Ron Howard](/source/Ron_Howard) on ''[Willow](/source/Willow_(1988_film))'', [Alfred Hitchcock](/source/Alfred_Hitchcock) on ''[Under Capricorn](/source/Under_Capricorn)'' and [Steven Spielberg](/source/Steven_Spielberg) on the [Indiana Jones](/source/Indiana_Jones) trilogy. Beeson was the cameraman for the opening shot of ''[The Sound of Music](/source/The_Sound_of_Music_(film))'', shooting [Julie Andrews](/source/Julie_Andrews)' iconic [title song](/source/The_Sound_of_Music_(song)) from a helicopter.{{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}} Beeson would receive awards for his long service to the film industry including the [John Alcott](/source/John_Alcott) award from [British Society of Cinematographers](/source/British_Society_of_Cinematographers), where he had served as president and was its longest serving member, as well as the [David Lenham](/source/David_Lenham) award from [Guild of British Camera Technicians](/source/Guild_of_British_Camera_Technicians).{{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}} 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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Paul Beeson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Beeson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Beeson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.