Jack Asher

Jack Asher (29 March 1916, London – 1991) was an English cinematographer. His brother Robert Asher was a film and TV director.

He began his cinematic career as a camera operator, and made his first film as cinematographer or "lighting cameraman" in 1946 (The Magic Bow).

He was best known for his work on Hammer films, beginning with The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), the first of Hammer's gothic horrors, and the earliest version of the Frankenstein story to be shot in colour. He was the director of photography on several of the horror films the studio is remembered for including Dracula (1958), The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), The Mummy (1959) and The Brides of Dracula (1960).

His style was characterized by a fantastical use of colours, such as non-realistic purples and greens, and set the standard for Hammer's celebrated distinctive look. His use of elaborate - not to mention expensive - camera and lighting set-ups may have been the reason for his gradual departure from Hammer Studios, whereupon he was replaced by a succession of cinematographers including Arthur Grant and Michael Reed.

Notable non-Hammer films included The Good Die Young (1954) and Reach for the Sky (1956).

External links

• Jack Asher at the Internet Movie Database

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