William H. Clothier

Director Of Photography

About

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Also Known As

William Clothier, Major William Clothier, Wm. H. Clothier

Birth Place

Decatur, Illinois, USA

Born

February 21, 1903

Died

January 07, 1996

Cause of Death

Complications From A Broken Hip

Biography

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Born and raised in Illinois, Clothier moved to California when he turned twenty in 1923. He began his career in films as a set painter at Warner Brothers before gaining work as an assistant cameraman at several Poverty Row studios. Clothier worked on the aerial photography crew of the Oscar-winning "Wings" (1927) for Paramount. He continued working there until 1929 when he moved to RKO. ...

Filmography

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The Train Robbers (1973)

Director Of Photography

Big Jake (1971)

Director of Photography

Rio Lobo (1970)

Director of Photography

Director of Photography

The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)

Director of Photography

The Undefeated (1969)

Director of Photography

Photos & Videos

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Horse Soldiers, The (1959) -- (Movie Clip) Sense of Justice

Horse Soldiers, The (1959) -- (Movie Clip) Quite Enough of Both

Family & Companions

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Carmen Clothier

Wife

Survived him.

Biography

Born and raised in Illinois, Clothier moved to California when he turned twenty in 1923. He began his career in films as a set painter at Warner Brothers before gaining work as an assistant cameraman at several Poverty Row studios. Clothier worked on the aerial photography crew of the Oscar-winning "Wings" (1927) for Paramount. He continued working there until 1929 when he moved to RKO. Because of a strike, he relocated to Mexico City in 1933 and moved to Spain the following year. In 1938, he was imprisoned by the Spanish Communist forces. Upon his release and return to the US, Clothier returned to work as a camera operator and as a second unit director of photography and aerial cameraman.

Clothier made his debut as director of photography with "Sofia" (1948). He went on to lens a variety of films including the aerial sequences in "The High and the Mighty" (1954), the sci-fi thriller "Killers from Space" (1954) and John Farrow's adventure "The Sea Chase" (1955). He shot his first western "Seven Men from Now" in 1956. Clothier went on to work with a number of top directors including Frank Borzage ("China Doll," 1958), John Ford ("The Horse Soldiers," 1959; "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence," 1962; and "Cheyenne Autumn" 1964) and Sam Peckinpah ("The Deadly Companions" 1961). He shot John Wayne's directorial debut, "The Alamo" (1960), and other Wayne westerns including Howard Hawks' "Rio Lobo" (1970) and "Big Jake" (1971). Clothier also worked with director Andrew V McLaglen on eight films including "Shenandoah" (1965), "The Way West" (1967), "Bandolero!" (1968) and "Chisum" (1970). He retired after shooting his last film "The Train Robbers" (1973). Clothier died in January 1996 at the age of 92.

Filmography

Cinematography (Feature Film)

The Train Robbers (1973)

Director Of Photography

Big Jake (1971)

Director of Photography

Rio Lobo (1970)

Director of Photography

Director of Photography

The Cheyenne Social Club (1970)

Director of Photography

The Undefeated (1969)

Director of Photography

Hellfighters (1968)

Director of Photography

Bandolero! (1968)

Director of Photography

The Devil's Brigade (1968)

Director of Photography

Firecreek (1968)

Director of Photography

The Way West (1967)

Director of Photography

The War Wagon (1967)

Director of Photography

The Rare Breed (1966)

Director of Photography

Way ... Way Out (1966)

Director of Photography

Stagecoach (1966)

Director of Photography

Shenandoah (1965)

Director of Photography

A Distant Trumpet (1964)

Director of Photography

Cheyenne Autumn (1964)

Director of Photography

McLintock! (1963)

Director of Photography

Donovan's Reef (1963)

Director of Photography

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Director of Photography

Merrill's Marauders (1962)

Director of Photography

Ring of Fire (1961)

Director of Photography

The Deadly Companions (1961)

Director of Photography

The Comancheros (1961)

Director of Photography

Tomboy and the Champ (1961)

Director of Photography

The Alamo (1960)

Director of Photography

Escort West (1959)

Director of Photography

The Horse Soldiers (1959)

Director of Photography

China Doll (1958)

Director of Photography

Darby's Rangers (1958)

Director of Photography

Lafayette Escadrille (1958)

Director of Photography

Fort Dobbs (1958)

Director of Photography

Dragoon Wells Massacre (1957)

Director of Photography

Bombers B-52 (1957)

Director of Photography

Good-Bye, My Lady (1956)

Director of Photography

Seven Men from Now (1956)

Director of Photography

Man in the Vault (1956)

Gun the Man Down (1956)

Gang Busters (1955)

Director of Photography

Blood Alley (1955)

Sincerely Yours (1955)

Director of Photography

Top of the World (1955)

Alaskan aerial Photographer

The Sea Chase (1955)

Director of Photography

Killers from Space (1954)

Director of Photography

Track of the Cat (1954)

The High and the Mighty (1954)

Aerial Photographer

Island in the Sky (1953)

Phantom from Space (1953)

Director of Photography

One Minute to Zero (1952)

Aerial Photographer

Confidence Girl (1952)

Director of Photography

Air Cadet (1951)

Air Photographer

Once a Thief (1950)

For You I Die (1948)

Director of Photography

Director of Photography

High Tide (1947)

Camera Operator

The Gay Cavalier (1946)

Behind the Mask (1946)

Memphis Belle (1944)

One Man's Journey (1933)

Assistant Camera

Flying Devils (1933)

Assistant Camera

King Kong (1933)

Assistant Camera

Men of Chance (1932)

Assistant Camera

Ladies of the Jury (1932)

Assistant Camera

What Price Hollywood? (1932)

Assistant Camera

Fanny Foley Herself (1931)

Assistant Camera

Peach-O-Reno (1931)

Assistant Camera

Producer (Feature Film)

Gang Busters (1955)

Life Events

1923

Went to Hollywood and became newsreel cameraman for Paramount

1926

Assistant cameraman

1935

First film as director of photography, "El 113" (Spain)

1947

First US feature as director of photography, "For You I Die"

1973

Final feature as director of photography, "The Train Robbers"

Videos

Horse Soldiers, The (1959) -- (Movie Clip) Sense of Justice Showcase for Confederate deserters (Denver Pyle and Strother Martin) whom Colonel Marlowe (John Wayne) uses and abuses, impressing Miss Hannah (Constance Towers) and Kendall (William Holden) in John Ford's The Horse Soldiers, 1959.

Horse Soldiers, The (1959) -- (Movie Clip) Quite Enough of Both Southerner Hannah Hunter (Constance Towers) entertains Union officers Marlowe (John Wayne), Secord (Willis Bouchey), Gray (William Leslie) and Kendall (William Holden) in John Ford's The Horse Soldiers, 1959.

Lafayette Escadrille (1958) -- (Movie Clip) He's Forgotten You Exist Just arrived in 1914 France, American volunteer fliers (William Wellman Jr., Jody McCrea, David Janssen and especially Tab Hunter as "Thad") notice Renee' (Etchika Choreau) and other locals, early in director William A. Wellman's Lafayette Escadrille, 1958.

Lafayette Escadrille (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Got Ya' Scared, Princeton? American hijinks on the French airfield, David Janssen leads the jokers and the last bit baseball, with "Billy Jack" (Tom Laughlin) pitching to "Dirty Harry" (Clint Eastwood), in producer-director William A. Wellman's tribute to the World War One flying corps, Lafayette Escadrille, 1958.

Darby's Rangers (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Tip Of The Javelin Darby (James Garner) pitches generals Wise (Raymond Bailey) then Truscott (Willis Bouchey) for the chance to lead the commando team he's dreamed up, in William A. Wellman's generous bio-pic, Darby's Rangers, 1958.

Merrill's Marauders (1962) -- (Movie Clip) Take The Point Kolowicz (Claude Akins) reminds Stock (Ty Hardin) he's the platoon leader, causing him to order Bullseye (Peter Brown) to the point, Merrill (Jeff Chandler) in command, re-enacting an actual battle in 1944 Burma, in Samuel Fuller's Merrill's Marauders, 1962.

Merrill's Marauders (1962) -- (Movie Clip) My Big Nightmare Merrill (Jeff Chandler), expecting relief after having completed his mission in 1944 Burma, gets bad news from Stilwell (John Hoyt), his troops (Ty Hardin, Peter Brown, Will Hutchins, Claud Akins, Charles Briggs et al) already celebrating, in Samuel Fuller's Merrill's Marauders, 1962.

Merrill's Marauders (1962) -- (Movie Clip) Seasoned Jungle Fighters Former newsman and combat veteran Samuel Fuller directing and co-writing, the real General Joseph Stilwell briefly featured, shot on location in the Philippines, the opening of Merrill's Marauders, 1962, starring Jeff Chandler and Ty Hardin.

Darby's Rangers (1958) -- (Movie Clip) Real Meat Grinder Outfit Jack Warden as sidekick Sergeant Rosen narrates scenes introducing the recruits, Murray Hamilton (as "Delancey"), Adam Williams (as "Heavy Hall") and Corey Allen (as "Sutherland") in William A. Wellman's Darby's Rangers, 1958, starring James Garner.

Sea Chase, The (1955) -- (Movie Clip) Against The New Regime Days before their countries are expected to go to war, British officer Napier (David Farrar) brings his German fiancee' Elsa (Lana Turner) to meet his old family friend, also-German Captain Ehrlich (John Wayne), a former naval officer who refused to become a Nazi, on his freighter docked at Sydney, in The Sea Chase, 1955.

Sea Chase, The (1955) -- (Movie Clip) Muster All Hands Departing Sydney, Australia, just after the declaration of WWII, anti-Nazi German freighter captain Ehrlich (John Wayne) instructs his crew on avoiding British patrols, then tells Elsa (Lana Turner), an old acquaintance and Nazi spy whom he's been ordered to transport, to stay out of sight, in The Sea Chase, 1955.

Alamo, The (1960) -- (Movie Clip) You Must Be Jim Bowie! Maybe emulating his mentor John Ford’s comedy mode, writer-director John Wayne contrives for his character, Tennesseean Davy Crocket, to meet Texan Jim Bowie (Richard Widmark) and his renowned knife, through an after-hours brawl, in The Alamo, 1960.

One Minute To Zero - (Original Trailer) A U.S. colonel (Robert Mitchum) tries to evacuate American civilians during the Korean War in One Minute To Zero (1952).

Distant Trumpet, A (1964) -- (Original Trailer) Veteran director Raoul Walsh features in the original trailer for what proved to be his last film, the 1964 Western A Distant Trumpet, starring Troy Donahue and Suzanne Pleshette, from a Paul Horgan novel.

Firecreek - (Original Trailer) A pacifist sheriff (James Stewart) must use tougher means when his town is threatened by a band of outlaws in Firecreek (1968) co-starring Henry Fonda.

Devil's Brigade, The - (Original Trailer) Experienced Canadian soldiers and misfit Americans join to beat the Nazis in The Devil's Brigade (1968).

Cheyenne Social Club, The - (Original Trailer) An aging cowboy finds that the successful business he has inherited is actually a house of prostitution in The Cheyenne Social Club (1970).

Rare Breed, The - (Original Trailer) In this Western with breeding, James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara fight to take a rare English bull to Texas in The Rare Breed (1966).

High and the Mighty, The -- (Original Trailer) The passengers and crew of an imperiled airliner reflect on their lives in William Wellman's The High and the Mighty (1954), Starring John Wayne.

War Wagon, The - (Original Trailer) John Wayne and Kirk Douglas plan to steal a half million in gold from a greedy mine owner. Trouble is, it's in The War Wagon (1967).

Donovan's Reef - (Original Trailer) A war veteran in the South Seas tries to salvage a buddy's reputation when the man's daughter comes calling. Director John Ford's last movie starring John Wayne.

Track Of The Cat - (Original Trailer) A panther haunts a dysfunctional pioneer family in Track of the Cat (1954) starring Robert Mitchum.

Cheyenne Autumn - (Original Trailer) A reluctant calvary Captain must track a defiant tribe of migrating Cheyennes in Cheyenne Autumn (1964).

Blood Alley - (Original Trailer) John Wayne breaks out of a Chinese jail and dodges Communist agents through the road to Hong Kong called Blood Alley, 1955, with Lauren Bacall in tow.

Family

Mirabel DiDonato

Daughter

Survived him.

Companions

Carmen Clothier

Wife

Survived him.

Bibliography

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