William H. Clothier

William H. Clothier, ASC (February 21, 1903 – January 7, 1996) was an American cinematographer and television producer, best known as the favored director of photography for John Wayne. He was twice nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, for The Alamo and Cheyenne Autumn (1964). He received the American Society of Cinematographers' President's Award in 1995.

Biography

Born in Decatur, Illinois, Clothier entered the film industry painting sets at Warner Bros., and at the end of the silent era began photographing such films as Wings (1927) and Ernst Lubitsch's The Patriot (1928). Between 1933 and 1938, he worked in Spain, where he was imprisoned during the Spanish Civil War. In August 1943, he became the first commanding officer of the new 4th Combat Camera Unit 4th Combat Camera Squadron (4th CCU). He advanced to a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force during World War II, and flew seventeen missions on the Memphis Belle.

In 1955, Clothier filmed The Sea Chase, his first project as Director of Photography with John Wayne, after which the actor signed him to a contract with his Batjac Productions. The two went on to collaborate on 21 more films, including John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. He retired in 1972 after filming The Train Robbers for Burt Kennedy.

Clothier was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography for The Alamo (1960) and Cheyenne Autumn (1964). His work on numerous Westerns earned him the 1973 Heritage Award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame, and he received the American Society of Cinematographers President's Award in 1995.

Filmography Cinematographer

Year Title Director 1936 Corner in Madrid León Artola 1948 Fort Apache John Ford 1950 Once a Thief W. Lee Wilder 1954 Track of the Cat William A. Wellman1955 The Sea Chase John Farrow Blood Alley William A. Wellman1956 Gun the Man DownAndrew V. McLaglen Man in the Vault Good-bye, My Lady William A. Wellman Seven Men from Now Budd Boetticher 1957 Dragoon Wells Massacre Harold D. Schuster1958 China Doll Frank Borzage Darby's Rangers William A. Wellman1959 Escort West Francis D. Lyon The Horse Soldiers John Ford 1960 The Alamo John Wayne1961 The Deadly Companions Sam Peckinpah The Comancheros Michael Curtiz1962 Merrill's Marauders Samuel Fuller The Man Who Shot Liberty ValanceJohn Ford1963 Donovan's Reef McLintock! Andrew V. McLaglen1964 A Distant Trumpet Raoul Walsh Cheyenne Autumn John Ford 1965 ShenandoahAndrew V. McLaglen1966 The Rare Breed Stagecoach Gordon Douglas 1967 The Way WestAndrew V. McLaglen1968 The Devil's Brigade Firecreek Vincent McEveety Bandolero!Andrew V. McLaglen Hellfighters 1969 The Undefeated1970 The Cheyenne Social Club Gene Kelly Chisum Andrew V. McLaglen Rio Lobo Howard Hawks 1971 Big Jake George Sherman 1973 The Train Robbers Burt Kennedy

Other Year Title Role 1927 WingsCamera operator 1932 The Big Stampede 1933 King Kong First assistant camera 1953 Island in the SkyAerial cameraman 1954 The High and the Mighty 1957 Jet Pilot

TV Cheyenne - episode - Fury at Rio Hondo - Director of Photography (1956) Gang Busters - 4 episodes - Director of Photography (1952-1955)

Other works The Hollywood Greats - episode - John Wayne - Himself (1984) John Wayne's The Alamo - Video Documentary - Himself (1992)