Christopher CHALLIS

challis* 18.03.1919, London, England, GB † 31.05.2012, Bristol, England, GB

Chefkameramann (BSC) * Besuch der King's College School in Wimbledon * Ende der 30er Jahre Kameraassistent bei der Wochenschau Gaumont British News und Techniker bei Technicolor * während des Krieges (1941-45) Kameramann bei Royal Air Force Film Unit - anschließend arbeitet als Schwenker/camera operator (The Red Shoes, 1947) * seit 1947 Chefkameramann (The End of the River) * 1948-50 filmt ausschließlich für das Duo Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger und etabliert sich als exzellenter Techniker ("His work, and especially his lush color photography, has been noted for its technical excellence" Film Encyclopedia) * 1984 beendet seine Filmkarriere * 1995 Veröffentlichung der Autobiografie * Präsident der British Society of Cinematographers [BSC]


"Probably best known for his work with the celebrated Powell-Pressburger partnership, The Archers, Challis' career spanned five decades and virtually every film genre, ranging from historical romance (Mary, Queen of Scots) to Airplane-style comedy (Top Secret!)." filmreference.com

FILMS

The End of the River (Abenteuer in Brasilien, 1947-GB; R: Derek Twist, B: Wolfgang Wilhelm, K: CC, M: Lambert Williamson, D: Sabu, Bibi Ferreira) 83m-Drama (Roman von Desmond Holdridge) (4712)

The Small Back Room (Experten aus dem Hinterzimmer, 1948-GB; R+B: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, M: Brian Easdale, D: David Farrar, Kathleen Byron) 108m-Drama (Roman von Nigel Balchin) (03-06; 4902)

The Elusive Pimpernel (Das dunkelrote Siegel, 1948/49-GB; R+B: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, M: Brian Easdale, D: David Niven, Margaret Leighton) 109m-Abenteuer (Roman von Baroness Emmuska Orczy) (10-?; 5011)

Gone to Earth (Die schwarze Füchsin, 1949-GB; R+B: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, M: Brian Easdale, D: Jennifer Jones, David Farrar) 110m-Drama (Roman von Mary Webb) (08-?; 5011)

The Tales of Hoffmann (Hoffmanns Erzählungen, 1950-GB; R+B: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, D: Moira Shearer, Robert Helpmann, Leonide Massine) 127m-Musikfilm (Oper von Jacques Offenbach) (07; 5111)

Angels One Five (1951-GB; d: George More O'Ferrall, B: Derek Twist, K: CC, M: John Wooldridge, D: Jack Hawkins, Michael Denison, Dulcie Gray) 98m-Kriegsdrama (5203)

24 Hours of a Woman's Life (1951-GB; d: Victor Saville, B: Warren Chetham Strode, K: CC, M: Robert Gill, Philip Green, D: Merle Oberon, Richard Todd, Leo Genn) 90m-Drama (Novelle Vierundzwanzig Stunden aus dem Leben einer Frau von Stefan Zweig, 1927) (08-10; 5209)

The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1952-GB; d: Sidney Gilliat, B: Sidney Gilliat, Leslie Baily, K: CC, ML: Malcolm Sargent, D: Robert Morley, Maurice Evans, Eileen Herlie, Martyn Green) 109m-Drama (5305)

Genevieve (Die feurige Isabella, 1952/53-GB; R: Henry Cornelius, B: William Rose, K: CC, M: Larry Adler, D: Dinah Sheridan, John Gregson, Kay Kendall, Kenneth More) 86m-Komödie (10-02; 5306)

Twice upon a Time (1953-GB; d+B: Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, ML: Frederick Lewis, D: Hugh Williams, Elizabeth Allan) 75m-Komödie (Roman von Erich Kästner) (5307)

Saadia (Saadia, 1953-USA; R+B: Albert Lewin, K: CC, M: Bronislau Kaper, D: Cornel Wilde, Mel Ferrer, Rita Gam, Michel Simon) 82m-Abenteuer (Roman von Francis D'Autheville) (02-04; 5402)

The Flame and the Flesh (Flammende Sinne, 1953-USA; R: Richard Brooks, B: Helen Deutsch, K: CC, M: Nicholas Brodszky, D: Lana Turner, Pier Angeli, Carlos Thompson, Bonar Colleano) 104m-Melodram (Roman von Auguste Bailly) (06-08; 5405)

Malaga (Feuer über Afrika, 1954-GB * Richard Sale) (5406)

Raising a Riot (Ferien mit Papa, 1954-GB; R: Wendy Toye, B: Ian Dalrymple, Hugh Perceval; James Matthews, K: CC, M: Bruce Montgomery, D: Kenneth More, Shelagh Fraser) 91m-Komödie (Roman von Alfred Toombs) (5503)

Footsteps in the Fog (Zwischen Haß und Liebe, 1954/55-GB; R: Arthur Lubin, B: Dorothy Reid, Lenore J. Coffee; Arthur Pierson, K: CC, M: Benjamin Frankel, D: Stewart Granger, Jean Simmons) 90m-Thriller (Kurzgeschichte von W.W. Jacobs) (11-01; 5507)

Oh... Rosalinda!! (Fledermaus 1955, 1955-GB; R+B: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, ML: Frederick Lewis, D: Michael Redgrave, Mel Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, Ludmilla Tcherina & Anton Walbrook / Wohlbrück) 105m-Musikfilm (5511)

Quentin Durward / The Adventures of Quentin Durward (Liebe, Tod und Teufel, 1955-GB; R: Richard Thorpe, B: Robert Ardrey; George Froeschel, K: CC, M: Bronislau Kaper, D: Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley) 100m-Abenteuer (Roman von Walter Scott) (02-06; 5603)

The Battle of the River Plate (Panzerschiff Graf Spee, 1955/56-GB; R+B: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, M: Brian Easdale, D: John Gregson, Anthony Quayle, Peter Finch) 119m-Kriegsdrama (09-?; 5612)

The Spanish Gardener (Der spanische Gärtner, 1956-GB; R: Philip Leacock, B: Lesley Storm, John Bryan, K: CC, M: John Veale, D: Dirk Bogarde, Jon Whiteley, Michael Hordern) 97m-Drama (Roman von A.J. Cronin) (5612)

Ill Met by Moonlight (1956-GB; d+B: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, M: Mikis Theodorakis, D: Dirk Bogarde, Marius Goring, David Oxley, Cyril Cusack) 104m-Kriegsaction (Buch von W. Stanley Moss) (5703)

Miracle in Soho (Eine Braut in jeder Straße, 1957-GB; R: Julian Amyes, B: Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, M: Brian Easdale, D: John Gregson, Belinda Lee, Cyril Cusack) 98m-Komödie (5708)

Windom's Way (Mann im Feuer, 1957-GB; R: Ronald Neame, B: Jill Craigie, K: CC, M: James Bernard, D: Peter Finch, Mary Ure) 108m-Drama (Roman von James Ramsey Ullman) (5712)

Rooney (1957/58-GB; d: George Pollock, B: Patrick Kirwan, K: CC, M: Philip Green, D: John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow, Barry Fitzgerald) 88m-Komödie (Roman von Catherine Cookson) (5803)

Floods of Fear (Flut der Furcht, 1958-GB; R: Charles Crichton, B: Charles Crichton; Vivienne Knight, K: CC, M: Alan Rawsthorne, D: Howard Keel, Anne Heywood, Cyril Cusack) 84m-Thriller (Roman von John Hawkins & Ward Hawkins) (5811)

The Captain's Table (Der Luxus-Käpt'n, 1958-GB; R: Jack Lee, B: John Whiting, Bryan Forbes, Nicholas Phipps, K: CC, M: Frank Cordell, D: John Gregson, Peggy Cummins, Donald Sinden, Nadia Gray) 89m-Komödie (Roman von Richard Gordon) (5901)

Blind Date (Die tödliche Falle, 1959-GB * Joseph Losey) (Roman von Leigh Howard) (03-04; 5908)

Sink the Bismarck! (Die letzte Fahrt der Bismarck, 1959-GB; R: Lewis Gilbert, B: Edmund H. North, K: CC, M: Clifton Parker, D: Kenneth More, Dana Wynter) 98m-Kriegsfilm (Buch von C.S. Forester) (?-10; 6002)

Surprise Package (Ein Geschenk für den Boß, 1959-GB; R: Stanley Donen, B: Harry Kurnitz, K: CC, M: Benjamin Frankel, D: Yul Brynner, Mitzi Gaynor, Noel Coward) 100m-Gangsterkomödie (Buch/Roman von Art Buchwald) (10-12; 6007-BBFC)

Never Let Go (Der Marder von London, 1960-GB; R: John Guillermin, B: Alun Falconer, K: CC, M: John Barry, D: Richard Todd, Peter Sellers) 91m-Krimi (6006)

The Grass Is Greener (Vor Hausfreunden wird gewarnt, 1960-GB * Stanley Donen) (Bühnenstück von Hugh Williams & Margaret Williams) (04-07; 6104)

Five Golden Hours * Cinque ore in contanti (Schöne Witwen sind gefährlich, 1960-GB/I; R: Mario Zampi, B: Hans Wilhelm, K: CC, M: Stanley Black, D: Ernie Kovacs, Cyd Charisse, George Sanders; [gb] Kay Hammond, Dennis Price | [it] Vittorio Caprioli, Franco Coop, Arnoldo Foa, Riccardo Garrone, Kay Hammond) 90m-Komödie (6102+6103) > filmed in two versions

Flame in the Streets (Schwarze Fackel, 1960/61-GB; R: Roy Ward Baker, B: Ted Willis, K: CC, M: Philip Green, D: John Mills, Sylvia Syms, Brenda de Banzie) 93m-Drama (Bühnenstück von Ted Willis) (6106)

H.M.S. Defiant (Rebellion, 1961-GB; R: Lewis Gilbert, B: Nigel Kneale, Edmund H. North, K: CC, M: Clifton Parker, D: Alec Guinness, Dirk Bogarde, Anthony Quayle) 101m-Abenteuer (Roman von Frank Tilsley) (6202)

The Victors (Die Sieger, 1962/63-GB; R+B: Carl Foreman, K: CC, M: Sol Kaplan, D: Vincent/Vince Edwards, Albert Finney, George Hamilton, Melina Mercouri, Jeanne Moreau, George Peppard, Maurice Ronet, Rosanna Schiaffino, Romy Schneider, Elke Sommer, Eli Wallach) 156/75m-Kriegsdrama (Buch/Roman von Alexander Baron) (6311)

The Long Ships / Dugi brodovi (Raubzug der Wikinger, 1963-GB/YU; R: Jack Cardiff, B: Berkely Mather, Beverley Cross, K: CC, M: Dusan Radic, D: Richard Widmark, Sidney Poitier, Russ Tamblyn, Rosanna Schiaffino) 119/26m-Abenteuer (Roman von Frans G. Bengtsson) (?-07; 6403)

A Shot in the Dark (1963/64-USA * Blake Edwards) (11-01; 6406)

Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines or How I Flew from London to Paris in 25 Hours 11 Minutes (Die tollkühnen Männer in ihren fliegenden Kisten, 1964-GB; R: Ken Annakin, B: Jack Davies, Ken Annakin, K: CC, M: Ron Goodwin, D: Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, James Fox, Alberto Sordi, Robert Morley, Gert Fröbe, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Irina Demick, Eric Sykes & Terry-Thomas, Red Skelton) 132m-Komödie (6506)

Return from the Ashes (Eine Tür fällt zu, 1965-GB; R: J. Lee Thompson, B: Julius J. Epstein, K: CC, M: John Dankworth, D: Maximilian Schell, Samantha Eggar, Ingrid Thulin, Herbert Lom) 104m-Psychodrama (Roman Le retour des cendres von Hubert Monteilhet, 1961) (?-03; 6602)

Arabesque (Arabeske, 1965-GB * Stanley Donen) (Roman von Gordon Cotler) (05-08; 6607)

Kaleidoscope (Der Gentleman-Zinker, 1966-GB; R: Jack Smight, B: Robert Carrington, Jane Howard-Carrington, K: CC, M: Stanley Myers, D: Warren Beatty, Susannah York) 103m-Krimikomödie (01-04; 6607)

Two for the Road (Zwei auf gleichem Weg, 1966-GB; R: Stanley Donen, B: Frederic Raphael, K: CC, M: Henry Mancini, D: Audrey Hepburn, Albert Finney) 112m-Liebeskomödie (05-09; 6708)

A Dandy in Aspic (Der Todestanz eines Killers, 1967-GB; R: Anthony Mann, B: Derek Marlowe, K: CC, M: Quincy Jones, D: Laurence Harvey, Tom Courtenay, Mia Farrow, Harry Andrews, Peter Cook, Lionel Stander & Per Oscarsson) 107m-Spionagethriller (Roman von Derek Marlowe) (?-05; 6803)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Tschitti tschitti bäng bäng, 1967/68-GB; R: Ken Hughes, B: Roald Dahl, Ken Hughes; Richard Maibaum, K: CC, MS: Irwin Kostal, D: Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Lionel Jeffries) 129/45m-Musikkomödie (collection of stories von Ian Fleming) (6812)

Staircase (Unter der Treppe, 1968-GB; R: Stanley Donen, B: Charles Dyer, K: CC, M: Dudley Moore, D: Richard Burton, Rex Harrison) 101m-Tragikomödie (Bühnenstück von Charles Dyer) (?-12; 6908-BBFC+USA)

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (Das Privatleben des Sherlock Holmes, 1969-USA/GB * Billy Wilder) (7010)

Villain (Die alles zur Sau machen, 1970-GB; R: Michael Tuchner, B: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais; Al Lettieri, K: CC, M: Jonathan Hodge, D: Richard Burton, Ian McShane, Nigel Davenport) 98m-Krimi (Roman von James Barlow) (7103-BBFC)

Catch Me a Spy / Les doigts croisés (1971-GB/F; d: Dick Clement, B: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, K: CC, M: Claude Bolling, D: Kirk Douglas, Marlene Jobert, Trevor Howard, Tom Courtenay) 94m-Komödie (Roman von George Marton & Tibor Meray) (7109)

Mary, Queen of Scots (Maria Stuart, Königin von Schottland, 1971-GB * Charles Jarrott) (7203)

Follow Me! (Ein liebenswerter Schatten, 1971-GB; R: Carol Reed, B: Peter Shaffer, K: CC, M: John Barry, D: Mia Farrow, Topol, Michael Jayston) 95m-Drama (Bühnenstück von Peter Shaffer) (?-10; 7205)

The Boy Who Turned Yellow (Junge sieht gelb, 1972-GB; R: Michael Powell, B: Emeric Pressburger, K: CC, M: Patrick Gowers, David Vorhaus, D: Mark Dightam, Robert Eddison, Helen Weir) 55m-Familienabenteuer (7209)

The Little Prince (Der kleine Prinz, 1973-USA; R: Stanley Donen, B: Alan Jay Lerner, K: CC, M: Frederick Loewe, D: Richard Kiley, Bob Fosse, Steven Warner & Gene Wilder) 88m-Musical (Roman von Antoine de Saint-Exupery) (01-?; 7412, LA)

Mister Quilp / The Old Curiosity Shop (1974-GB; d: Michael Tuchner, B: Louis Kamp, Irene Kamp, K: CC, MS: Elmer Bernstein, D: Anthony Newley, David Hemmings, David Warner, Jill Bennett) 119/22m-Musical (Roman von Charles Dickens) (04-?; 7410-BBFC)

The Incredible Sarah (Die unglaubliche Sarah, 1975/76-USA; R: Richard Fleischer, B: Ruth Wolff, K: CC, M: Elmer Bernstein, D: Glenda Jackson, Daniel Massey) 106m-Biopicdrama (09-16 Wochen; 7611)

The Deep (Die Tiefe, 1976-USA * Peter Yates) (Roman von Peter Benchley) (7706)

Force 10 from Navarone (Der wilde Haufen von Navarone, 1977/78-GB * Guy Hamilton) (10-02; 7811)

The Riddle of the Sands (Bei Nacht und Nebel, 1978-GB; R: Tony Maylam, B: Tony Maylam, John Bailey, K: CC, M: Howard Blake, D: Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Simon MacCorkindale) 102m-Spionagefilm (Roman von Erskine Childers) (7901-BBFC)

S.O.S. Titanic (S.O.S. Titanic, 1979-USA; R: Billy/William Hale, B: James Costigan, K: CC, M: Howard Blake, D: David Janssen, Cloris Leachman, Susan Saint James, David Warner, Ian Holm, Helen Mirren, Harry Andrews, Beverly Ross) 105m-Katastrophendrama (01-03; 8002-BBFC) > TVM (7909)

The Mirror Crack'd (Mord im Spiegel, 1980-GB * Guy Hamilton) (Roman von Agatha Christie) (8012-BBFC)

Evil under the Sun (Das Böse unter der Sonne, 1981-GB * Guy Hamilton) (Roman von Agatha Christie)

Top Secret! (Top Secret, 1983-USA * Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker) (8406)

Steaming (1984-GB; d: Joseph Losey, B: Patricia Losey, K: CC, M: Richard Harvey, D: Vanessa Redgrave, Sarah Miles, Diana Dors) 95m-Drama (Bühnenstück von Nell Dunn) (02-?; 8410-BBFC)

AWARD

BAFTA Award für Arabesque (beste britische Kamera /in Farbe/, 1967)

BOOK

Christopher Challis: Are They Really So Awful?: Cameraman's Chronicle. London: Janus Publishing Co, 1995

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