George J. Folsey

George J. Folsey

George Joseph Folsey, A.S.C. (July 2, 1898 – November 1, 1988) was an American cinematographer who worked on 162 films between 1919 and his retirement in 1976. Born in Brooklyn, Folsey was hired by Jesse Louis Lasky to work as an office boy in his newly formed Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company in New York City. He earned his first screen credit for His Bridal Night in 1919. Leading lady Alice Brady was so satisfied with the way he photographed her she offered him a contract to shoot all her films. He worked for both Associated First National and Paramount Astoria Studios before relocating to Hollywood and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, where he spent the bulk of his career. Folsey's many credits include The Letter, The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, The Great Ziegfeld, A Guy Named Joe, The White Cliffs of Dover, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Clock, The Harvey Girls, Adam's Rib, A Life of Her Own, Million Dollar Mermaid, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Cobweb, Cash McCall, and The Balcony. For television he served as director of photography for various episodes of the ABC series The Fugitive and an NBC special starring figure skater Peggy Fleming, for which he won an Emmy Award for Best Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming. Folsey was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography thirteen times but never won. Eight months before his death he was honored with the first Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the American Society of Cinematographers, for which he served as President in 1956-57. Folsey's son George Jr. is a director/producer/editor. Folsey died in Santa Monica, California.

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Movies Made by George J. Folsey (123)

The Balcony (1963)

Director Of Photography

I Passed for White (1960)

Director Of Photography

Cash McCall (1960)

Director Of Photography

Count Your Blessings (1959)

Director Of Photography

Torpedo Run (1958)

Director Of Photography

The High Cost of Loving (1958)

Director Of Photography

Saddle the Wind (1958)

Director Of Photography

House of Numbers (1957)

Director Of Photography

Tip on a Dead Jockey (1957)

Director Of Photography

The Power and the Prize (1956)

Director Of Photography

These Wilder Years (1956)

Director Of Photography

The Fastest Gun Alive (1956)

Director Of Photography

Forbidden Planet (1956)

Director Of Photography

The Battle of Gettysburg (1955)

Director Of Photography

The Cobweb (1955)

Director Of Photography

Hit the Deck (1955)

Director Of Photography

Deep in My Heart (1954)

Director Of Photography

Men of the Fighting Lady (1954)

Director Of Photography

Executive Suite (1954)

Director Of Photography

Tennessee Champ (1954)

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Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)

Director Of Photography

Shadow in the Sky (1952)

Director Of Photography

Lovely to Look At (1952)

Director Of Photography

The Man with a Cloak (1951)

Director Of Photography

The Law and the Lady (1951)

Director Of Photography

Mr. Imperium (1951)

Director Of Photography

Vengeance Valley (1951)

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A Life of Her Own (1950)

Director Of Photography

The Big Hangover (1950)

Director Of Photography

Malaya (1949)

Director Of Photography

Adam's Rib (1949)

Director Of Photography

The Great Sinner (1949)

Director Of Photography

State of the Union (1948)

Director Of Photography

Green Dolphin Street (1947)

Director Of Photography

The Secret Heart (1946)

Director Of Photography

Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

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The Green Years (1946)

Director Of Photography

The Harvey Girls (1946)

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Ziegfeld Follies (1945)

Director Of Photography

The Clock (1945)

Director Of Photography

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Director Of Photography

The White Cliffs of Dover (1944)

Director Of Photography

A Guy Named Joe (1944)

Director Of Photography

Thousands Cheer (1943)

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Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942)

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Seven Sweethearts (1942)

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Panama Hattie (1942)

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Grand Central Murder (1942)

Director Of Photography

Rio Rita (1942)

Director Of Photography

Married Bachelor (1941)

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Lady Be Good (1941)

Director Of Photography

Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day (1941)

Director Of Photography

The Trial of Mary Dugan (1941)

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Come Live with Me (1941)

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Third Finger, Left Hand (1940)

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Remember? (1939)

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Fast and Loose (1939)

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The Shining Hour (1938)

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Marie Antoinette (1938)

Director Of Photography

Hold That Kiss (1938)

Director Of Photography

Arsène Lupin Returns (1938)

Director Of Photography

Mannequin (1938)

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The Bride Wore Red (1937)

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The Last of Mrs. Cheyney (1937)

Director Of Photography

The Gorgeous Hussy (1936)

Director Of Photography

Hearts Divided (1936)

Director Of Photography

The Great Ziegfeld (1936)

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Kind Lady (1935)

Director Of Photography

I Live My Life (1935)

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Page Miss Glory (1935)

Director Of Photography

Reckless (1935)

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Forsaking All Others (1934)

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Chained (1934)

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Operator 13 (1934)

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Men in White (1934)

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Going Hollywood (1933)

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Stage Mother (1933)

Director Of Photography

Reunion in Vienna (1933)

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Storm at Daybreak (1933)

Director Of Photography

Men Must Fight (1933)

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The Animal Kingdom (1932)

Director Of Photography

The Big Broadcast (1932)

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The Misleading Lady (1932)

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The Cheat (1931)

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Secrets of a Secretary (1931)

Director Of Photography

The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)

Director Of Photography

Honor Among Lovers (1931)

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Stolen Heaven (1931)

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Laughter (1930)

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Animal Crackers (1930)

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Dangerous Nan McGrew (1930)

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The Big Pond (1930)

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The Battle of Paris (1929)

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Applause (1929)

Director Of Photography

The Cocoanuts (1929)

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The Hole in the Wall (1929)

Director Of Photography

The Letter (1929)

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Her Wild Oat (1927)

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American Beauty (1927)

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Naughty But Nice (1927)

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Orchids and Ermine (1927)

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The Savage (1926)

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Too Much Money (1926)

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Scarlet Saint (1925)

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Born Rich (1924)

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The Enchanted Cottage (1924)

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The Fighting Blade (1923)

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The Bright Shawl (1923)

Director Of Photography

The Man from M.A.R.S. (1922)

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A Game Chicken (1922)

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A Heart to Let (1921)

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The Stolen Kiss (1920)

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Sinners (1920)

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The Fear Market (1920)

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Uncle Tom's Cabin (1918)

Assistant Camera

Movies starring George J. Folsey (3)

Same first name: George

Same surname: Folsey