Burnett Guffey

Burnett Guffey
Born
George Burnett Guffey

(1905-05-26)May 26, 1905
Del Rio, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedMay 30, 1983(1983-05-30) (aged 78)
Goleta, California, U.S.
SpouseLucille A. Lyon Guffey (m.1927)
Children2
Parent(s)George Washington Guffey
Josephine Loubelle Fleming Guffey
AwardsSee below
President of the American Society of Cinematographers
In office
1957–1958
Preceded byGeorge J. Folsey
Succeeded byWalter Strenge

Burnett Guffey, ASC (May 26, 1905 – May 30, 1983[1]) was an American cinematographer, who worked on over 100 films between 1929 and 1971. He won two Academy Awards for Best Cinematography — for From Here to Eternity (1953) and Bonnie and Clyde (1967) — out of five total nominations.[1] He served as President of the American Society of Cinematographers from 1957 to 1958.

Early life

Guffey was born in Del Rio, Tennessee on May 26, 1905, to Dr. George Washington Guffey and Josephine Loubelle "Josie" Guffey (née Fleming). He was educated in Etowah. Prior to his filmmaking career, he worked as a messenger at a bank.

While still a teenager, Guffey began as a camera assistant in 1923 on John Ford's 1924 western saga The Iron Horse. He was then hired by the Famous Players–Lasky studios in 1927, became a camera operator in 1928 and worked there until 1943.

Career

Between 1935 and 1944, Guffey worked as a camera operator on various well-known movies such as "Clive of India," "The Informer," "You Only Live Once," "Foreign Correspondent," "Seven Sinners," "That Hamilton Woman," and "Cover Girl."

Guffey first worked as a Director of Photography for Columbia Pictures in 1944 on the feature film "Sailor's Holiday."[2] After his period at Columbia studio, he worked as a freelance cinematographer.[3] He became well known for his clear visual style and excellent arrangement of shots, especially in film noir, having contributed to twenty of these films throughout his professional life.

During the span of 1944 to 1953, Guffey captured important movies like "My Name Is Julia Ross," "Framed," "Knock on Any Door," "The Reckless Moment," "All the King’s Men," "In a Lonely Place," "The Sniper," and "From Here to Eternity," earning his initial Oscar in his three decades career.

According to film critic Spencer Selby, Guffey was a prolific film noir cinematographer, shooting 20 of them, including In a Lonely Place (1950).[4][5]

After winning an Oscar, Guffey went on to work on well-known movies such as Lang’s "Human Desire," Don Siegel’s "Private Hell 36," Lewis Seiler’s "The Bamboo Prison," Rudolph Maté’s "The Violent Men," Phil Karlson’s "Tight Spot," George Sherman’s "Count Three."

Between 1957 and 1962, Guffey worked on movies like Jack Garfein’s "The Strange One," Karlson’s "The Brothers Rico," Gerd Oswald’s "Screaming Mimi," Peter Glenville’s "Me and the Colonel," Paul Wendkos’ "Gidget," Rossen’s "They Came to Cordura," Karlson’s "Hell to Eternity," and John Frankenheimer’s "Birdman of Alcatraz," resulting in a third Oscar nomination for him.

He received his fourth Oscar nomination for his work on Bryan Forbes' 1965 film "King Rat" and his fifth nomination, along with his second Oscar, for Arthur Penn's 1967 film "Bonnie and Clyde."

Guffey's final notable movie was the 1970 film "The Great White Hope," directed by Martin Ritt. The next year, "The Steagle" was his last movie.

Guffey was the 21st President of the American Society of Cinematographers, serving one term between 1957 and 1958.

Personal life

Guffey married Lucille A. Lyon in 1927, and had two daughters.[1]

Death

Guffey died of a brief illness in Goleta, California on May 30, 1982, at the age of 78.[1]

Filmography

Publications

  • "The Photography of King Rat," in American Cinematographer (Hollywood), December 1965.[6]

Awards and nominations

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Academy Award 1954 Best Cinematography, Black-and-White From Here to Eternity Won [7]
1957 The Harder They Fall Nominated [8]
1963 Birdman of Alcatraz Nominated [9]
1966 King Rat Nominated [10]
1968 Best Cinematography Bonnie and Clyde Won [11]
Golden Globe Award 1958 Best Cinematography, Black-and-White All the King's Men Nominated [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Burnett Guffey Is Dead at 78; Cameraman Won Two Oscars". Archived from the original on 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  2. ↑
    • Steeman, Albert. Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers, "Burnett Guffey page," Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 2007. Last accessed: January 2, 2008.
  3. ↑ "Guffey, Burnett". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  4. ↑ Selby, Spencer. Dark City: The Film Noir, page 239, 1984. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers.
  5. ↑ American Society of Cinematographers Archived July 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. "Lonely America: The Noir Cinematography of Burnett Guffey ASC," 2007. Last accessed: January 2, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Guffey, Burnett". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  7. ↑ "The 26th Academy Awards | 1954". www.oscars.org. 2014-10-04. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  8. ↑ "The 29th Academy Awards | 1957". www.oscars.org. 2015-03-26. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  9. ↑ "The 35th Academy Awards | 1963". www.oscars.org. 2014-10-05. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  10. ↑ "The 38th Academy Awards | 1966". www.oscars.org. 2014-10-04. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  11. ↑ "The 40th Academy Awards | 1968". www.oscars.org. 2014-10-04. Retrieved 2026-05-26.
  12. ↑ "Burnett Guffey". Golden Globes. Retrieved 2026-05-26.

Further reading

  • Gavin, Arthur, on They Came to Cordura in American Cinematographer (Hollywood), March 1959.
  • Mitchell, George J., on Hell to Eternity, in American Cinematographer (Hollywood), July 1960.
  • Lightman, Herb A., on Birdman of Alcatraz, in American Cinematographer (Hollywood), June 1962.
  • On Bonnie and Clyde, in American Cinematographer (Hollywood), April 1967.
  • Monthly Film Bulletin (London), April 1971; August 1971; March 1972; April 1972.
  • Film Comment (New York), Summer 1972.
  • Focus on Film (London), no. 13, 1973.
  • Obituary in Variety (New York), 8 June 1983.
  • Screen International (London), 13–20 August 1983.
  • Obituary in American Cinematographer (Hollywood), November 1983.
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