Alex Phillips

Person

Alex Phillips

Camera January 11, 1901

Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

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…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Up and Down

Up and Down

8.1 1956 Movie
Robinson Crusoe

Robinson Crusoe

6.3 1954 Movie
Castle of Purity

Castle of Purity

7.4 1973 Movie
The Wonderful Country

The Wonderful Country

6.1 1959 Movie
Geronimo

Geronimo

5.5 1962 Movie
Tizoc

Tizoc

7.6 1957 Movie
Gran Hotel

Gran Hotel

7.4 1944 Movie
The Night of a Thousand Cats

The Night of a Thousand Cats

5.3 1972 Movie
The Proud and the Beautiful

The Proud and the Beautiful

6.7 1953 Movie
The Other

The Other

6.9 1946 Movie
Doña Bárbara

Doña Bárbara

7.1 1943 Movie
Mexican Bus Ride

Mexican Bus Ride

6.6 1952 Movie

Biography

A closer look

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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).

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 1998
    Alex Phillips: The magic between light and shadow

    Movie self (archive)

  2. 1992
    Golpe de suerte

    Movie Cinematography

  3. 1983
    Dos de abajo

    Movie Cinematography

  4. 1975
    Dead Aim

    Movie Director of Photography

  5. 1975
    The Birthday of the Dog

    Movie Director of Photography

  6. 1973
    Castle of Purity

    Movie Director of Photography

  7. 1972
    The Night of a Thousand Cats

    Movie Director of Photography

  8. 1971
    The Fearmaker

    Movie Director of Photography

  9. 1971
    Ya Sé Quién Eres (Te He Estado Observando)

    Movie Camera Department Manager

  10. 1971
    The Moderate Doctor

    Movie Director of Photography

  11. 1971
    Santo vs. the Vice Mafia

    Movie Director of Photography

  12. 1970
    Los años vacíos

    Movie Director of Photography

  13. 1970
    Remolino de pasiones

    Movie Director of Photography

  14. 1969
    Andante

    Movie

  15. 1969
    Memories of the Future

    Movie Director of Photography

  16. 1968
    Corazón salvaje

    Movie Director of Photography

More credits
  1. 1968
    There are not Crosses in the Sea

    Movie Director of Photography

  2. 1968
    Despedida de casada

    Movie Director of Photography

  3. 1967
    La guerrillera de Villa

    Movie Director of Photography

  4. 1967
    Damiana and the Men

    Movie Director of Photography

  5. 1967
    La soldadera

    Movie Director of Photography

  6. 1967
    Estrategia matrimonio

    Movie Director of Photography

  7. 1966
    Alazán y enamorado

    Movie Director of Photography

  8. 1966
    Juan Colorado

    Movie Director of Photography

  9. 1966
    Time to Die

    Movie Director of Photography

  10. 1965
    Black Wind

    Movie Director of Photography

  11. 1963
    Of Love and Desire

    Movie Director of Photography

  12. 1963
    La fierecilla del puerto

    Movie Director of Photography

  13. 1962
    Little Town

    Movie Director of Photography

  14. 1962
    The Shame of the Sabine Women

    Movie Director of Photography

  15. 1962
    Geronimo

    Movie Director of Photography

  16. 1962
    La rabia por dentro

    Movie Director of Photography

  17. 1961
    The Happy Musketeers

    Movie Cinematography

  18. 1961
    Rumbo a Brasilia

    Movie Director of Photography

  19. 1960
    For the Love of Mike

    Movie Director of Photography

  20. 1959
    The Wonderful Country

    Movie Director of Photography

  21. 1959
    Los hijos ajenos

    Movie Cinematography

  22. 1959
    Little Red Riding Hood

    Movie Director of Photography

  23. 1958
    Ten Days To Tulara

    Movie Director of Photography

  24. 1958
    La odalisca No. 13

    Movie Director of Photography