Howe, James Wong

Howe, James Wong

 orig. Wong Tung Jim

(born Aug. 28, 1899, Canton, China—died July 12, 1976, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S.) U.S. cinematographer. At age five he emigrated with his family from China to the U.S. He worked in Hollywood from 1917 and became a cameraman for Cecil B. DeMille. He developed innovations in lighting in the 1920s and pioneered the use of the wide-angle lens, deep focus, and the handheld camera. His low-key cinematography is seen in such films as Kings Row (1942), Body and Soul (1947), Picnic (1956), The Rose Tattoo (1955, Academy Award), and Hud (1963, Academy Award).

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Howe, James Wong (b. Wong Tung Jim) (1899–1976) cinematographer; born in Canton, China. In the U.S.A. from the age of five, he entered films in 1917 and became a director of photography in 1922. A meticulous lighting cameraman, he was renowned for his low-key lighting and was a pioneer in hand-held cameras and deep focus. He won Academy Awards for his photography in The Rose Tattoo (1955) and Hud (1963) before turning to directing.