Alex Phillips
Biography
Alex Phillips (January 11, 1901 Renfrew, Ontario – June 14, 1977) was a Canadian-born Mexican cinematographer and the father of Alex Phillips, Jr., also a cinematographer. In his youth, his family moved to Russia, but he returned to Canada because of his dislike with the czarist government. He enlisted in the Canadian Army where he met Mary Pickford who introduced him to Hollywood since he expressed his interest in becoming an actor. He auditioned with Fox and Paramount Pictures but was unable to obtain a role. He later approached Christie Comedies where he was advised to look for more stable positions in the movie industry and started his career in cinematography and film editing. He received an opportunity when an assistant fell sick and was able to travel to France with the Canadian Official Photography. After Christie Comedies went bankrupt, he was hired by Samuel Goldwyn while he attended evening classes. He received the opportunity of working with Barnes, Edison and Meyer, and learned techniques such as graduations, tridimensional vision and the sense of potential balance. Phillips then began experimenting with lights and camera movements. He moved to Mexico in 1931 and worked with directors such as Arcady Boytler, Roberto Gavaldón, Julio Bracho and Luis Buñuel. He worked on some of the earliest Mexican movies such as the silent film Santa (1931) where his worked was considered expressionist. He worked in more than 250 movies in Mexico and 150 in the United States including La mujer del puerto (1934), Aventuras de Robinson Crusoe (1952 with Luis Buñuel), La Red (1953 with Emilio Fernández). His last film was El castillo de la pureza (1972 with Arturo Ripstein).
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (50)
Alex Phillips: The magic between light and shadow
as self (archive)
1998
Golpe de suerte
Cinematography (Crew)
1992
Dos de abajo
Cinematography (Crew)
1983
The Birthday of the Dog
Director of Photography (Camera)
1975
Castle of Purity
Director of Photography (Camera)
1973
The Night of a Thousand Cats
Director of Photography (Camera)
1972
Ya se quien eres (te he estado observando)
Camera Department Manager (Camera)
1971
The Moderate Doctor
Director of Photography (Camera)
1971
Dead Aim
Director of Photography (Camera)
1971
Remolino de pasiones
Director of Photography (Camera)
1970
Andante
1969
Memories of the Future
Director of Photography (Camera)
1969
Despedida de casada
Director of Photography (Camera)
1968
There are not Crosses in the Sea
Director of Photography (Camera)
1968
La guerrillera de Villa
Director of Photography (Camera)
1967
Damiana and the Men
Director of Photography (Camera)
1967
La soldadera
Director of Photography (Camera)
1967
Estrategia matrimonio
Director of Photography (Camera)
1967
Alazán y enamorado
Director of Photography (Camera)
1966
Juan Colorado
Director of Photography (Camera)
1966
Time to Die
Director of Photography (Camera)
1966
Black Wind
Director of Photography (Camera)
1965
Of Love and Desire
Director of Photography (Camera)
1963
Little Town
Director of Photography (Camera)
1962
The Shame of the Sabine Women
Director of Photography (Camera)
1962
Geronimo
Director of Photography (Camera)
1962
La rabia por dentro
Director of Photography (Camera)
1962
The Happy Musketeers
Cinematography (Crew)
1961
Rumbo a Brasilia
Director of Photography (Camera)
1961
For the Love of Mike
Director of Photography (Camera)
1960
The Wonderful Country
Director of Photography (Camera)
1959
Little Red Riding Hood
Director of Photography (Camera)
1959
Sube y baja
Director of Photography (Camera)
1959
Ten Days To Tulara
Director of Photography (Camera)
1958
La odalisca No. 13
Director of Photography (Camera)
1958
Villa!!
Director of Photography (Camera)
1958
Music of Always
Director of Photography (Camera)
1958
Sierra Baron
Director of Photography (Camera)
1958
The Last of the Fast Guns
Director of Photography (Camera)
1958
School for Buglars
Director of Photography (Camera)
1958
El diario de mi madre
Director of Photography (Camera)
1957
Tizoc
Director of Photography (Camera)
1957
Adam and Eve
Director of Photography (Camera)
1956
Playa prohibida
Director of Photography (Camera)
1956
María la Voz
Director of Photography (Camera)
1955
Nosotros dos
Director of Photography (Camera)
1955
Untouched
Director of Photography (Camera)
1954
Robinson Crusoe
Director of Photography (Camera)
1954
The Proud and the Beautiful
Director of Photography (Camera)
1953
Reportaje
Director of Photography (Camera)
1953