Robby Müller

Person

Robby Müller

Camera April 4, 1940

Willemstad, Curaçao, Territory of Curaçao

Robby Müller (4 April 1940 - 4 July 2018) was a Dutch cinematographer. Known both for his use of natural light and minimalist imagery, as well as expressionistic use of colors, Mü…

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Known for

Popular titles

Paris, Texas

Paris, Texas

8.1 1984 Movie
Dancer in the Dark

Dancer in the Dark

7.8 2000 Movie
Dead Man

Dead Man

7.3 1995 Movie
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

7.3 1999 Movie
Breaking the Waves

Breaking the Waves

7.5 1996 Movie
Coffee and Cigarettes

Coffee and Cigarettes

6.9 2004 Movie
Down by Law

Down by Law

7.4 1986 Movie
To Live and Die in L.A.

To Live and Die in L.A.

7.1 1985 Movie
Repo Man

Repo Man

6.6 1984 Movie
Mystery Train

Mystery Train

7.3 1989 Movie
24 Hour Party People

24 Hour Party People

7.0 2002 Movie
The American Friend

The American Friend

7.1 1977 Movie

Photos

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Biography

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Robby Müller (4 April 1940 - 4 July 2018) was a Dutch cinematographer. Known both for his use of natural light and minimalist imagery, as well as expressionistic use of colors, Müller first gained recognition for his contributions to West German Cinema through his acclaimed collaborations with Wim Wenders. Müller's first work as a cinematographer was also Wim Wenders' first as director, Alabama: 2000 Light Years. They went on making many more films together such as Summer in the City, The Goalie's Anxiety at the Penalty Kick, The Scarlet Letter, Alice in the Cities, Wrong Move, Kings of the Road, The American Friend, Wings of Desire, Until the End of the World and Paris, Texas. Throughout the course of his career, he also worked closely with directors Jim Jarmusch (Down by Law, Mystery Train, Dead Man, Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai), Lars Von Trier (Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark), Peter Bogdanovich (Saint Jack, They All Laughed), Barbet Schroeder (Barfly, Tricheurs) and Hans W. Geissendörfer (Jonathan, The Glass Cell, Carlos, The Wild Duck, Der Fall Lena Christ, Die Eltern). Müller's other work has been on both mainstream productions and independent films, including the hazy, yellow-tinted cinematography of William Friedkin's To Live and Die in LA, Alex Cox's Repo Man, Michael Winterbottom's 24 Hour Party People, Andrzej Wajda's Korczak, Jerry Schatzberg's Honeysuckle Rose, Peter Handke's The Left Handed Woman, Sally Potter's The Tango Lesson, Dom Rotheroe's My Brother Tom and Steve McQueen's Carib’s Leap. Paul Thomas Anderson referred to Müller as "The master of night exteriors. Like a chef with a secret sauce. I can't quite figure it out." Barry Sonnenfeld recalls the first thing he and the Coen Brothers bonded over was Müller's The American Friend cinematography, which convinced the brothers that Sonnenfeld had good enough taste to shoot their first film (Blood Simple). Müller died on 3 July 2018, aged 78, having suffered from vascular dementia for several years.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2020
    Wim Wenders, Desperado

    Movie Self (archive footage)

  2. 2018
    Living the Light: Robby Müller

    Movie Self

  3. 2014
    Ashes

    Movie Director of Photography

  4. 2008
    One Who Set Forth: Wim Wenders' Early Years

    Movie Self

  5. 2006
    From Dogma to Dogville: Don't Try This at Home

    Movie himself

  6. 2004
    Visions of Europe

    Movie Director of Photography

  7. 2004
    Prologue

    Movie Director of Photography

  8. 2004
    Coffee and Cigarettes

    Movie Director of Photography

  9. 2003
    Poem: I Set My Foot Upon the Air and It Carried Me

    Movie Director of Photography

  10. 2002
    24 Hour Party People

    Movie Director of Photography

  11. 2001
    My Brother Tom

    Movie Director of Photography

  12. 2000
    Dancer in the Dark

    Movie Director of Photography

  13. 1999
    Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai

    Movie Director of Photography

  14. 1999
    Buena Vista Social Club

    Movie Director of Photography

  15. 1998
    Shattered Image

    Movie Director of Photography

  16. 1997
    The Tango Lesson

    Movie Director of Photography

More credits
  1. 1996
    Breaking the Waves

    Movie Director of Photography

  2. 1995
    Dead Man

    Movie Director of Photography

  3. 1995
    Beyond the Clouds

    Movie Director of Photography

  4. 1995
    Edward Hopper - The Silent Witness

    Movie Self

  5. 1995
    Last Call

    Movie Director of Photography

  6. 1993
    When Pigs Fly

    Movie Director of Photography

  7. 1993
    Mad Dog and Glory

    Movie Director of Photography

  8. 1992
    The Ditvoorst Domains

    Movie Self

  9. 1991
    Until the End of the World

    Movie Director of Photography

  10. 1990
    Korczak

    Movie Director of Photography

  11. 1990
    Motion and Emotion: The Road to 'Paris, Texas'

    Movie Self

  12. 1990
    Motion and Emotion: The Films of Wim Wenders

    Movie Self

  13. 1989
    Notebook on Cities and Clothes

    Movie Director of Photography

  14. 1989
    Mystery Train

    Movie Director of Photography

  15. 1989
    Coffee and Cigarettes II

    Movie Director of Photography

  16. 1988
    The Little Devil

    Movie Director of Photography

  17. 1987
    Barfly

    Movie Director of Photography

  18. 1987
    The Believers

    Movie Director of Photography

  19. 1986
    Down by Law

    Movie Director of Photography

  20. 1986
    The Longshot

    Movie Director of Photography

  21. 1985
    To Live and Die in L.A.

    Movie Director of Photography

  22. 1985
    Finnegan Begin Again

    Movie Director of Photography

  23. 1984
    Body Rock

    Movie Director of Photography

  24. 1984
    Paris, Texas

    Movie Director of Photography