Credit: Richard Blanshard
Oswald Morris BSC at home in Fontmell Magna, U.K.
Remembering
Oswald Norman Morris obe, dfc, afc, bsc: 1915-2014
O
ne of the inaugural members of the British Society of Cinematographers, Oswald Morris was enormously involved in the management of the Society over the years, notching up 22 years on the board between 1955 and 1969, and from 1984 to 1992 and acting as BSC president between 1960 and 1962. An Oscar-winning cinematographer, Oswald Morris was one of the most outstanding directors of photography of the 20th century, making his reputation by expanding the parameters of colour cinematography. Born in November 1915 in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England, Ossie was educated at nearby Bishopshalt School in Hillingdon. A dedicated film fan in his teenage years, he worked as a cinema projectionist in his school holidays, before entering
18 • Canadian Cinematographer - April 2014
the industry in 1932 as a runner and clapper boy at Wembley Studios, a month short of his 17th birthday. He left the studio in the spring of 1933 to work at British International Pictures (B.I.P.) based at Elstree Studios, but after it was taken over by Fox, he soon returned to Wembley as a camera assistant. By 1938 he had graduated to camera operator at Wembley Studios, but with the outbreak of World War II the following year, his career was curtailed and he enlisted into the Royal Air Force, serving as bomber pilot. His services earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross, flying missions over France and Germany before being transferred to transport planes. After demobilization, Ossie joined Independent Producers at Pinewood Studios in January 1946 and was engaged as camera operator on three notable productions: Green
