Philip H. Lathrop

Philip H. Lathrop, ASC (October 22, 1912 – April 12, 1995) was an American cinematographer noted for his skills with wide screen technology and detailed approach to lighting and camera placement. He was a notable collaborator of director Blake Edwards, working on ten of his productions between 1958 and 1971. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, for The Americanization of Emily and Earthquake (1974). He was also a two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner.

Lathrop was a long-time member of the ASC Board of Directors, as well as co-chairman of the ASC Awards committee. He received the ASC's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1992. He also participated in the affairs of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Early life Lathrop was born in Merced, California, on October 22, 1912. As a child, the Universal Studios lot was his playground, where his mother was employed in the film lab. Lathrop became a member there in the camera department at 18-years old. There, he watched Gilbert Warrenton photograph the first version of Show Boat in 1928–29. On the 1936 version of the film, Lathrop loaded cameras from John Mescall.

A five-story section of what is supposed to be a 25-story building was made in Stage 12, the highest in the studio, where every floor was used to shoot the action. Lathrop stated that “it was necessary to dig down 20 feet into the floor of the stage in order to accommodate [the building model].” He continued, “[the] photography of this sequence was difficult because of the way [they] had to light the set” to avoid shadows from the hanging lights when the simulated earthquakes took place. So “in order to light it, [Lathrop] went clear up above the grids with four arcs pointed down to simulate the angle of the sun. [He] matched each of the arcs on the way down and didn’t overlap them, nor did [he] use any fill light at all.” 1985 Malice in Wonderland 1986 Picking Up the Pieces 1987 Christmas Snow 1988 Little Girl Lost