Eugen Schüfftan (21 July 1893 – 6 September 1977) was a German cinematographer.
Biography Schüfftan was born on 21 July 1893 in Breslau, Silesia, German Empire (now Wrocław, Poland). He invented the Schüfftan process, a special effects technique that employed mirrors to insert actors into miniature sets. One of the early uses of the process was for Metropolis (1927), directed by Fritz Lang. The technique was widely used throughout the first half of the 20th century until it was supplanted by the travelling matte and bluescreen techniques.
Career Schüfftan began his career in Berlin as a painter of Impressionist paintings, then turned to Expressionism and then worked as an architect and decorative painter. The artist came to film via detours. In 1923, his fascination for the camera and camera techniques led him to the mirror animation process, which later became named after him, which became famous in 1924 with Fritz Lang's film epic Die Nibelungen (The Nibelungs) and was used on a large scale for the first time in Metropolis (1927). The arrangement of one or more partially transparent mirrors made it possible to depict miniature models behind actors as huge buildings. Eugen Schüfftan initially became technical director at Deutsche Spiegeltechnik GmbH & Co., but after a few years he handed over his post to the film architect Fritz Maurischat in order to devote himself again to his work as a cameraman. In 1930, Schüfftan was the cinematographer in charge of the documentary Menschen am Sonntag, directed by Robert Siodmak and Billy Wilder. As a result of the National Socialists' seizure of power, his work was soon massively restricted. Schüfftan emigrated to France, where he filmed with Marcel Carné (A Strange Case and Harbour in the Fog), among others. After the occupation of France, he emigrated to the USA, where he was able to continue his work.
In the film Hitler's Madman 1942/1943, director Sierck wanted him as a cameraman, but Schüfftan did not get a work permit for the USA because the local cameramen's association A.S.C. refused him membership. Therefore, an American photographer named Jack Greenhalgh received credit, while Schüfftan was de facto solely responsible for photographing the film. In technical professions, the American trade unions were anxious to protect the interests of their members, which is why emigrated cameramen such as Schüfftan and Curt Courant found difficulty being employed in film productions.
. His animation techniques were later used in the films The Voyages of Odysseus and Captain Sinbad, among others.
Schüfftan won the 1962 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White for his work on the film The Hustler.
He died on 6 September 1977 in New York City.
Selected filmography YearFilmDirectorNotes1924Die NibelungenFritz Lang1927MetropolisFritz LangNapoléonAbel Gance1930People on SundayCurt Siodmak, Robert Siodmak, Edgar G. Ulmer, Fred Zinnemann Farewell Robert SiodmakThe Stolen FacePhilipp Lothar Mayring, Erich Schmidt1931 The Street Song Lupu PickThe ScoundrelEugen Schüfftan, Franz Wenzler My Wife, the Impostor Kurt GerronI'd Rather Have Cod Liver OilMax Ophüls1932Coeurs joyeuxHanns Schwarz, Max de VaucorbeilThe Mistress of AtlantisGeorg Wilhelm Pabst Gypsies of the Night Hanns SchwarzL'AtlantideGeorg Wilhelm PabstQueen of AtlantisGeorg Wilhelm PabstThe Faceless Voice Leo Mittler1933The Oil SharksRudolf KatscherDu haut en basGeorg Wilhelm PabstLäufer von MarathonEwald André DupontInvisible OpponentRudolf Katscher1934 The Scandal Marcel L'Herbier The Crisis is OverRobert SiodmakIrish HeartsBrian Desmond Hurst1935The InvaderAdrian BrunelChildren of the FogJohn Quin and Leopold JessnerLa Tendre ennemieMax Ophüls1936The Robber SymphonyFriedrich FeherKomedie om geldMax OphülsMaría de la O Francisco Elías With Carmen Amaya and Pastora Imperio1937Bizarre, BizarreMarcel Carné The Cheat Marcel L'HerbierYoshiwaraMax Ophüls1938 The Novel of WertherMax OphülsPort of ShadowsMarcel Carné Mollenard Robert Siodmak1944It Happened TomorrowRené Clair 1950The Hunted Borys Lewin 1952 The Road to Damascus Max Glass 1953 The Venus of Tivoli Leonard Steckel1954 A Parisian in Rome Erich Kobler1955UlyssesMario Camerini1958Head Against the WallGeorges Franju1960Eyes Without a FaceGeorges Franju1961The HustlerRobert RossenSomething WildJack Garfein1963Captain SindbadByron Haskin1964 LilithRobert Rossen
See also List of German-speaking Academy Award winners and nominees
External links
Literature on Eugen Schüfftan