Biography
The traditional entree into the British cinematographer's fraternity was as a clapper boy; thus did 17-year-old Jack Hildyard launch his movie career in 1932. Hildyard then moved on to camera operator, distinguishing himself in the Technicolor field with such films as
The Divorce of Lady X (1938),
Henry V (1945) and
Caesar and Cleopatra (1946) (coincidentally, he would later handle several scenes in the 1963
Cleopatra). A full lighting cameraman from
School for Secrets (1946) onward, Hildyard alternated between British and American films for the rest of his career. In 1957, Jack Hildyard won an Oscar for his work on
David Lean's
Bridge on the River Kwai; he continued to flourish until voluntarily packing up his equipment after 1981's
Lion of the Desert. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide