{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/96252/john-alton",
  "name": "John Alton",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/96252/john-alton",
  "knownForDepartment": "Camera",
  "description": "​John Alton A.S.C. (October 5, 1901 – June 2, 1996), born Johann Altmann, in Sopron/Ödenburg, Kingdom of Hungary, Austria-Hungary, was an American cinematographer. Alton won an Academy Award for the cinematography of An American in Paris (1951), becoming the first Hungarian-born person to do so. He photographed some of the most famous film noirs of the classic period. He started out in Los Angeles as a lab technician in the 1920s, later becoming a cameraman within four years. He moved to France with Ernst Lubitsch to film backgrounds for The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927) and ended up staying for one year heading the camera department of Paramount Pictures's Joinville Studios. In 1932 he moved to Argentina where he shot many Spanish-language films and designed the country's first sound film studio for Lumiton and Argentina Sono Film.\n\nHe returned to Hollywood in the late 1930s, with two dozen film credits, and became one of the most sought after cinematographers in American cinema.\n\nAlton was known for unconventional camera angles—especially low camera shots. His style is most notable in the film noirs: He Walked by Night, The Big Combo, The Amazing Mr. X, T-Men, and Raw Deal.\n\nAlton also photographed many color movies including Slightly Scarlet (a color film noir).",
  "birthDate": "1901-10-05",
  "deathDate": "1996-06-02",
  "birthPlace": "Sopron, Austria-Hungary",
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5apOLQX643Krsumz2H84WaOyqqM.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0023003"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "3 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4357,
      "title": "Mission: Impossible",
      "year": "1966",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.559,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/1PnUBKbDR1F2w5qicblLg1QGTif.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4357/mission-impossible-1966"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 898,
      "title": "Birdman of Alcatraz",
      "year": "1962",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.518,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/6EODLN11HTX4l2cmakAhWIoJLF.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/898/birdman-of-alcatraz-1962"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 2769,
      "title": "An American in Paris",
      "year": "1951",
      "role": "Additional Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.018,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/lyDXkvG53ldz6Cf7dbjJl7TaoP5.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/2769/an-american-in-paris-1951"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 20758,
      "title": "Father of the Bride",
      "year": "1950",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.991,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/sygyqqXq41SBZiYjY8nuQRAcuUv.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/20758/father-of-the-bride-1950"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 91245,
      "title": "Battle Circus",
      "year": "1953",
      "role": "Cinematography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/oSsRPi35KNeIUjMAXNIWDBBg7Uq.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/91245/battle-circus-1953"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 22013,
      "title": "Elmer Gantry",
      "year": "1960",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.278,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5vd031r08rrfSMqtB9UarwqCUOz.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/22013/elmer-gantry-1960"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 33668,
      "title": "Designing Woman",
      "year": "1957",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.648,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5iKj0fkip6j67iwejogjTGmkLZd.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/33668/designing-woman-1957"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 43138,
      "title": "The Brothers Karamazov",
      "year": "1958",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.56,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ebehR57SnzCmA9ce8hZXVQgl0lU.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/43138/the-brothers-karamazov-1958"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 22342,
      "title": "The Big Combo",
      "year": "1955",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.041,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/fltH7VmdZQeCRMwionxfYKOZoPg.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/22342/the-big-combo-1955"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 31556,
      "title": "He Walked by Night",
      "year": "1949",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.699,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/wAhLdEjC9iIvF6Oly42Qs3LXKuL.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/31556/he-walked-by-night-1949"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 63096,
      "title": "Tea and Sympathy",
      "year": "1956",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.991,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vkaMwVQKStFH5a311wCRF3io67B.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/63096/tea-and-sympathy-1956"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 121703,
      "title": "Cattle Queen of Montana",
      "year": "1954",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.786,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/xErxYP5A1zvJDf3iMwChrRGCV5F.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/121703/cattle-queen-of-montana-1954"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 27443,
      "title": "Silver Lode",
      "year": "1954",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.207,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/cVIDVhgbtQ6mAsihqzD8opW9uga.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/27443/silver-lode-1954"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 26174,
      "title": "T-Men",
      "year": "1947",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.777,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gmFklBSJdi38WDjJUq0mXRXe2qt.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/26174/t-men-1947"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 25672,
      "title": "Hollow Triumph",
      "year": "1948",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.618,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gRbXP8cKiufjKjtZoyxHjOORUMQ.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/25672/hollow-triumph-1948"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 121994,
      "title": "Driftwood",
      "year": "1947",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.75,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/qaTme0KN00199ekOdEBJnrotL2C.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/121994/driftwood-1947"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 33811,
      "title": "Border Incident",
      "year": "1949",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.956,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/FESTAHTpccVj6npkUv6GJ5d1St.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/33811/border-incident-1949"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 19170,
      "title": "Mystery Street",
      "year": "1950",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.75,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/dxabjdOtyugFdT4E9s3AI4ISjqf.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/19170/mystery-street-1950"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 95402,
      "title": "Lonelyhearts",
      "year": "1959",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.316,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/5q8FZ3uNTgcJdPWz0EP4MWYy1Gq.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/95402/lonelyhearts-1959"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 29998,
      "title": "The Amazing Mr. X",
      "year": "1948",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.198,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/7CQ5G1Jpmu2ppeHxTx47DpJ5YEw.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/29998/the-amazing-mr-x-1948"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 174278,
      "title": "Duffy of San Quentin",
      "year": "1954",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.75,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/pdgOvtPxukENz23T32zQ8tZEjLd.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/174278/duffy-of-san-quentin-1954"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 102091,
      "title": "Take the High Ground!",
      "year": "1953",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.231,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/71ZNVdhhvJaaxPxwwl4Xs5Ydrw6.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/102091/take-the-high-ground-1953"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 22968,
      "title": "Father's Little Dividend",
      "year": "1951",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.514,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/nqGO8WJwha5Shc4I640s5xBndOM.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/22968/father-s-little-dividend-1951"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 27635,
      "title": "Reign of Terror",
      "year": "1949",
      "role": "Director of Photography",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.814,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/vHJaF9RoTT1XU1uUj9c6nLVulQj.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/27635/reign-of-terror-1949"
    }
  ]
}