John J. Mescall, A.S.C. (1899–1962) was an American cinematographer. He photographed such silent films as Ernst Lubitsch's The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927), but he is best known for his work in the 1930s at Universal Pictures, where he often worked on the films of James Whale. Mescall was famous for his elaborate (some might say grandiose), effective camera movements, in which the camera would often track completely across or around a set, or even one performer (as it does around Paul Robeson while he sings Ol' Man River in the 1936 film version of Show Boat). He would not always use these kinds of camera movements (The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg has none), but his most famous films all have them.
January 10, 1899, Litchfield, Illinois, United States
Died
February 10, 1962, Los Angeles County, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Litchfield, Illinois, USA
Profession
Cinematographer, Director, Camera Department
Nominations
Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
Star Sign
Capricorn
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Fact
1
Director of photography from 1920. Under contract at Pathe, 1927-1930; Universal, 1934-1936 (where he did his most memorable work on James Whale's Bride of Frankenstein (1935)) and Show Boat (1936)); 20th Century Fox, 1938; Paramount 1941-1942; and United Artists, 1943-1945,1950.
2
Had a penchant for off-beat tilted camera angles and eccentric tracking movements. After winding down his career as a cinematographer in the 1940's, he free-lanced as a trick photography consultant.
3
Left Universal Pictures after the failure of James Whale's adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque's novel "The Road Back" due to the studio's demands that the picture be re-edited. They were afraid the picture would be boycotted in Europe because of its strong anti-Nazi content. The film had subsequently been "watered down" by the new heads of Universal so as not to upset the Nazi regime.
Cinematographer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hi, Grandma!
1958
TV Movie
Not of This Earth
1957
as John Mescall, photographed by
The Quiet Gun
1957
as John Mescall
The Desperados Are in Town
1956
as John Mescall
TV Reader's Digest
1956
TV Series 1 episode
Davy Crockett, Indian Scout
1950
as John Mescall
Bedside Manner
1945
as John Mescall
Dark Waters
1944
as John Mescall
Youth Runs Wild
1944
director of photography
Sensations of 1945
1944
as John Mescall
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
1944
uncredited
Three Russian Girls
1943
as John Mescall
Andy Hardy's Double Life
1942
director of photography - as John Mescal
Sweater Girl
1942
Take a Letter, Darling
1942
director of photography - as John Mescall
The Night of January 16th
1941
Henry Aldrich for President
1941
New Wine
1941
Her First Romance
1940
Kit Carson
1940
as John Mescall, photography
South of Pago Pago
1940
When Tomorrow Comes
1939
Exile Express
1939
as John Mescall
My Lucky Star
1938
Josette
1938
as John Mescall, photography
Happy Landing
1938
Make a Wish
1937
The Road Back
1937
Follow Your Heart
1936
as John Mescall
Show Boat
1936
Magnificent Obsession
1935
Smart Girl
1935
Bride of Frankenstein
1935
photographer
I've Been Around
1935
Night Life of the Gods
1935
One More River
1934
Affairs of a Gentleman
1934
The Poor Rich
1934
uncredited
By Candlelight
1933
The Return of Casey Jones
1933
as John Mescall
Almost Married
1932
New Morals for Old
1932
as John Mescal, photographed by
Ambassador Bill
1931
as John Mescall, photographed by
Skyline
1931
Born to Love
1931
as John Mescall, photographer
The Easiest Way
1931
as John Mescall, photographed by
Sin Takes a Holiday
1930
as John Mescall, photographer
Big Money
1930/I
Night Work
1930
as John Mescall
His First Command
1929
Red Hot Rhythm
1929
Big News
1929
as J. Joseph Mescall
The Sophomore
1929
High Voltage
1929
as J. Joseph Mescall, photography
The Leatherneck
1929
The Shady Lady
1928
Love Over Night
1928
Sal of Singapore
1928
Captain Swagger
1928
Man-Made Women
1928
as John Mescall
Walking Back
1928
as J. Joseph Mescall
The Leopard Lady
1928
as John Mescall
The Wreck of the Hesperus
1927
as John Mescall
The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg
1927
as John Mescall, photographed by
The Yankee Clipper
1927
as John Mescall
So This Is Paris
1926
as John Mescall
The Social Highwayman
1926
as John Mescall
Silken Shackles
1926
as John Mescall
Oh What a Nurse!
1926
as John Mescall
The Love Toy
1926
Satan in Sables
1925
as John Mescall
Below the Line
1925
as John Mescall
The Wife Who Wasn't Wanted
1925
as John Mescall
The Woman Hater
1925
as John Mescall
The Bridge of Sighs
1925
as John Mescall
His Hour
1924
as John Mescall
The Tenth Woman
1924
as John Mescall
Wine of Youth
1924
True As Steel
1924
Three Weeks
1924
Reno
1923
Six Days
1923
Souls for Sale
1923
photographed by
Gimme
1923
The Glorious Fool
1922
Brothers Under the Skin
1922
The Wall Flower
1922
Watch Your Step
1922
From the Ground Up
1921
Dangerous Curve Ahead
1921
All's Fair in Love
1921
Hold Your Horses
1921
as John Mescall
Edgar, the Explorer
1920
Short
It's a Great Life
1920
as John Mescall
Edgar's Hamlet
1920
Short
Edgar and the Teacher's Pet
1920
Short
Camera Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Black Cat
1934
camera
The Invisible Man
1933
director of photography: additional photography - uncredited
Beyond Victory
1931
first camera - uncredited
Director
Title
Year
Status
Character
Fairways and Foul
1929
Short
The Garden of Eatin'
1929
Short as J. Joseph Mescall
Visual Effects
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Invisible Man
1933
miniature photographer - uncredited
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1943
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
Take a Letter, Darling (1942)
Known for movies
Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as Cinematographer
Show Boat (1936) as Cinematographer
Take a Letter, Darling (1942) as Cinematographer
The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927) as Cinematographer
$15 Million
