Alexander Thomson BSC (12 January 1929 – 14 June 2007) was an English cinematographer and former president of the British Society of Cinematographers.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on John Boorman's Excalibur (1981).
The BSC posthumously described him as "a cinematographer's cinematographer."
Early life Thomson was born and raised in the Kingsbury district of London. His father was a tailor, whose clients included Anthony Havelock-Allan.
Career As a teenager, Thomson was offered a job by Bert Easey, who was head of cameras at Denham and Pinewood Studios. He entered the film industry as a clapper boy.
After that, he went on to serve as a camera operator under cinematographer Nicolas Roeg throughout the 60s, until he made his debut as a cinematographer with the film Ervinka (1967).
Thomson was the original director of photography for Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), but during the first week of principal photography, he was seriously injured after falling from a camera crane. Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe was then brought up as replacement.
During his recovery, Thomson worked as second unit for Oswald Morris on The Man Who Would Be King (1975) and The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976), and additional photography on Superman (1978).
In 1980, Thomson was brought in to shoot John Boorman's Excalibur, replacing Tony Pierce-Roberts. Thomson's work on the Arthurian fantasy epic subsequently earned him a nomination for Academy Award for Best Cinematography.
From 1980 to 1982, Thomson served as the 16th President of the British Society of Cinematographers.
Style and techniques Thomson was an avid user of Joe Dunton's custom-built Xtal Xpress anamorphic lenses, shooting many of his more high-profile projects with them.
Personal life and death He was married to the sculptor Diana Thomson, and they had a daughter, Chyna."Diana Thomson" Silver Wood Books. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
Thomson died on 14 June 2007, at the age of 78, in Chertsey, Surrey.
He is featured in the book Conversations with Cinematographers by David A. Ellis, published by Scarecrow Press.
Filmography Film Year Title Director 1967 Ervinka Ephraim Kishon1968 Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Clive Donner The Strange Affair David Greene1969 The Best House in London Philip Saville Alfred the Great Clive Donner I Start Counting David Greene 1970 The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Kevin Billington 1971 The Night Digger Alastair Reid1972 Dr. Phibes Rises Again Robert Fuest Death Line Gary Sherman Fear Is the Key Michael Tuchner1978 Rosie Dixon – Night Nurse Justin Cartwright The Cat and the Canary Radley Metzger The Class of Miss MacMichael Silvio Narizzano1979 Game for Vultures James Fargo Follow That Rainbow Louis Burke 1981 Excalibur John Boorman1983 Eureka Nicolas Roeg Bullshot Dick Clement The Keep Michael Mann 1984 Electric Dreams Steve Barron1985 Year of the Dragon Michael Cimino Legend Ridley Scott1986 Raw Deal John Irvin Labyrinth Jim Henson Duet for One Andrei Konchalovsky1987 The Sicilian Michael Cimino Date with an Angel Tom McLoughlin1988 Track 29 Nicolas Roeg High Spirits Neil Jordan1989 Leviathan George P. Cosmatos The Rachel Papers Damian Harris1990 Wings of Fame Otakar Votocek The Krays Peter Medak Mr. Destiny James Orr 1992 Alien 3 David Fincher1993 Cliffhanger Renny Harlin Demolition Man Marco Brambilla 1994 Black Beauty Caroline Thompson 1995 The Scarlet Letter Roland Joffé1996 Executive Decision Stuart Baird HamletKenneth Branagh2000 Love's Labour's Lost A Shot at Glory Michael Corrente
Short film Year Title Director 1972 LHR Mike Fox 1981 The Last of Linda Cleer Bob Mahoney 1998 The Man Who Couldn't Open Doors Paul Arden 1999 The Troop Marcus Dillistone 2003 Listening Kenneth Branagh 2004 Der letzte Flug Roger Moench
TV movies Year Title Director 1973 The Going Up of David Lev James F. Collier 1981 Skokie Herbert Wise
TV series Year Title Director Episode 1980 ABC Weekend Special Robert Fuest "The Gold Bug"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result1981 Academy Awards Best CinematographyExcalibur British Society of CinematographersBest Cinematography 1983 Eureka 1985 Legend 1996 Hamlet 2002 Lifetime Achievement Award 1996 Camerimage Golden Frog Hamlet 1980 Daytime Emmy Awards Outstanding Achievement in Children's Programming ABC Weekend Special 1996 Satellite Awards Best Cinematography Hamlet
References
External links
Alex Thomson at the British Society of Cinematographers