BIG SUR, Calif.–Legendary cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond, best known for “The Deer Hunter” and “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” died here January 1. He was 85.
The Hungarian-born Zsigmond helped define cinema’s American New Wave in the 1970s through iconic collaborations and a preference for natural light. He first gained renown for his collaboration with Robert Altman on classics “McCabe & Mrs. Miller” and “The Long Goodbye.” In addition to his work on Michael Cimino’s classic “The Deer Hunter,” for which he earned an Oscar nomination, Zsigmond also worked with Brian De Palma on a number of films including “Blow Out.” Zsigmond’s sole Oscar win was for Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”
But, every great artist has to start somewhere, and MSTies know that among his first gigs was as a camera operator for the movie in episode 812- THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE CREATURES WHO STOPPED LIVING AND BECAME MIXED-UP ZOMBIES!!? along with his pal and fellow Hungarian, László Kovács.
Thanks to Timmy for the heads up.
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I’d like to think that his time working for Ray Dennis Steckler helped him become such a great cinematographer… by showing him how NOT to make a film.
EDIT: TIL that Jerry Warren and Ray Dennis Steckler were actually two different people.
The trio is Natalie Cole, Wayne Rogers and Vilmos Zsigmond (although we could also include Haskell Wexler).
Every Hungarian should be proud of this man.
R.I.P. I LOVE this man’s work. For the few of you out there who aren’t familiar… watch his films. “McCabe & Mrs. Miller”, ” Deliverance”, “The Long Goodbye”, “The Deer Hunter” and “Heaven’s Gate” are visually remarkable. Words don’t do him justice. See to believe.
Few people realize that The Deer Hunter, or “Go watch The Deer Hunter and find out,” is actually the only acceptable answer to the question, “Daddy, what’s Vietnam?”
wow, a lot of my favorite media makers have been passing away lately: Haskell Wexler, George Clayton Johnson, now Vilmos Zsigmond… they shall all have a great legacy. not too sure what I can continue to watch in the future
A reminder — if one was needed — that even the most talented people in Hollywood have often had to take whatever work they could get to practice and refine their craft.
RIP to one of the greatest cinematographers to ever pick up a camera. The Long Goodbye is one of my favorite movies ever and Zsigmond’s very first picture in America, a film called The Sadist, is a great little treasure that happens to star Arch Hall Jr. (my avatar comes from that movie).
http://squealingtiresondirt.blogspot.com/2016/01/rip-vilmos-zsigmond.html
So he helped put the famous line on film: “Whadoyouthinwecameherefordowee??”