Boris Abelevich Kaufman, ASC (also spelled Kauffman; ; August 24, 1906 – June 24, 1980) was a Russian cinematographer, who spent the majority of his professional life in France (1929-1940) and then the United States (1944-1970). Born in the Grodno Governorate of the Russian Empire, present-day Poland, he was the younger brother of noted Soviet filmmakers Dziga Vertov and Mikhail Kaufman.
Kaufman was known for his skillful use of black-and-white palettes and his poetic realist style of photography. He worked with such directors as Jean Vigo, Alexandr Hackenschmied, Elia Kazan and Sidney Lumet. He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-Whie for On the Waterfront (1954), with a second nomination for Baby Doll (1956).
Early life Kaufman was born into a family of Jewish intellectuals in Białystok when Congress Poland was part of the Russian Empire. At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the family moved to Moscow.
After the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, Poland regained its independence, and Boris moved there with his parents, before then moving to Paris to study philosophy and literature at the Sorbonne. Mikhail and Denis, better known as Dziga Vertov, stayed in the Soviet Union and became important filmmakers, producing avant-garde and agitprop films. The brothers later stayed in touch primarily by letters; Vertov visited Boris Kaufman in Paris twice, in 1929 and 1931.
Career
In France After graduating from the Sorbonne, Kaufman turned to cinematography at the recommendation of his brothers. Kaufman later credited Mikhail with teaching him the art of motion picture photography. He collaborated with Jean Vigo and Dimitri Kirsanoff, with his cinematography helping to define the look of poetic realism.
During World War II, he served in the French Army against the Nazis; when France fell, Kaufman escaped to Canada. After working briefly with John Grierson for the National Film Board of Canada, he moved to the United States in 1942.
In the United States Kaufman supported himself by filming short subjects and documentaries until director Elia Kazan chose him as director of photography for On the Waterfront (1954), Kaufman's first American feature film, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Black and White) and a 1955 Golden Globe Award. For Kazan's Baby Doll (1956), he received a second Oscar nomination.
Kaufman's other most fruitful collaboration was with director Sidney Lumet. During an 11-year period between 1957 and 1968, the two worked on seven films together: 12 Angry Men (1957), That Kind of Woman (1959), The Fugitive Kind (1960), Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962), The Pawnbroker (1964), The Group (1966), and Bye Bye Braverman (1968).
Films he shot for other directors included George Roy Hill's The World of Henry Orient, Jules Dassin's Uptight (1968), and his final film, Otto Preminger's Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon (1970).
Later life and death Retiring in 1970, he died in New York City on June 24, 1980, 3 months after his brother Mikhail. Kaufman's papers were donated to Yale University.
Filmography
Feature films YearTitleDirectorNotes1933Zero for ConductJean VigoThe Agony of the EaglesJean Mamy1934L'AtalanteJean VigoThe Path to HappinessJean MamyZouzouMarc Allégret1936You Can't Fool AntoinettePaul MadeuxWhen Midnight StrikesLéo Joannon1937CinderellaPierre Caron1938Fort DolorèsRené Le Hénaff1939The Fatted CalfSerge de Polignywith Philippe Agostini1940SerenadeJean Boyerwith Claude Renoir1954On the WaterfrontElia KazanFirst American filmGarden of EdenMax Nosseck1956Singing in the DarkPatternsFielder CookCrowded ParadiseFred PressburgerBaby DollElia Kazan195712 Angry MenSidney Lumet1959That Kind of Woman1960The Fugitive Kind1961Splendor in the GrassElia Kazan1962Long Day's Journey Into NightSidney Lumet1963All the Way HomeAlex Segal1964The World of Henry OrientGeorge Roy HillThe PawnbrokerSidney Lumet1966The Group1968Bye Bye BravermanThe BrotherhoodMartin RittUptightJules Dassin1970Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie MoonOtto Preminger
Short films YearTitleDirectorNotes1929À propos de NiceJean Vigo1931Jean Taris, Swimming Champion1944Hymn of the NationsAlexander Hammid1945A Better Tomorrow1949Roller Derby GirlJustin Herman1951The Gentleman in Room SixAlexander Hammid1965FilmAlan Schneider
Documentary films YearTitleDirectorNotes1947Journey Into MedicineWillard Van Dyke1952Leonardo da VinciLuciano Emmer
Awards and nominations AwardYearCategoryWorkResultRef.Academy Award1955Best Cinematography, Black-and-WhiteOn the Waterfront1957Baby DollGolden Globes1955Best Cinematography - Black-and-WhiteOn the Waterfront
References
External links
Boris Kaufman Papers. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University.