John Alton; Won Oscar for ‘American in Paris’

John Alton, 94, Academy Award-winning cinematographer considered the finest of film noir cameramen. Alton, who shot the classic ballet sequence in Gene Kelly’s “An American in Paris,” shared an Oscar with Alfred Gilks in 1951 for their work on that film. Born in Hungary, Alton immigrated to New York when he was 18 and five years later moved to Los Angeles, where he became an MGM laboratory technician. By 1928 he had become a cameraman and in 1931 went to Paris as head of Paramount’s camera department. He later installed sound studios in Argentina. Returning to Hollywood in 1937, he shot 96 films, becoming known for his daring, low-light chiaroscuro cinematography in black and white that raised many B-level pictures to A-level quality. His films included “T-Men” and “The Big Combo,” as well as “Father of the Bride,” “Teahouse of the August Moon,” “Designing Woman” and “Elmer Gantry.” Alton wrote two books about his art, “Painting With Light” and “Photography and Lighting in General.” On Sunday in Santa Monica of complications from hip replacement surgery.