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IMDbPro

Vilmos Zsigmond(1930-2016)

  • Cinematographer
  • Camera and Electrical Department
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
Vilmos Zsigmond
LOUIS is an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin, beautiful women and the birth of American music. The grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide a backdrop of lust, blood and magic for 6 year old Louis (Anthony Coleman-pictured above; photo credit: Peter Sorel) as he navigates the colorful intricacies of life in the city. Young Louis's dreams of playing the trumpet are interrupted by a chance meeting with a beautiful and vulnerable girl named Grace (Lowry) and her baby, Jasmine. Haley, in a performance reminiscent of the great comic stars of the silent screen, plays the evil Judge Perry who is determined not to let Jasmine's true heritage derail his candidacy for governor.
Play Trailer2:27
Louis (2010)
2 Videos
30 Photos
Along with László Kovács, a fellow student who fled Hungary in 1956, Zsigmond rose to prominence in the 1970s. He is known for his use of natural light and vivid use of color on features such as The Long Goodbye (1973) and Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
BornJune 16, 1930
DiedJanuary 1, 2016(85)
BornJune 16, 1930
DiedJanuary 1, 2016(85)
IMDbProStarmeter
See rank
  • Won 1 Oscar

Photos30

Vilmos Zsigmond in International Cinematographer's Guild Heritage Series (1991)
Vilmos Zsigmond and Nick McLean
László Kovács and Vilmos Zsigmond in No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos (2008)
Vilmos Zsigmond
Haskell Wexler and Vilmos Zsigmond
Robert Altman, Vilmos Zsigmond, Earl L. Clark, Harry Rez, Joseph M. Wilcots, and Howard Ford in The Long Goodbye (1973)
Vilmos Zsigmond, Michael Gershman, and Nick McLean
Vilmos Zsigmond and Michael Gershman
Vilmos Zsigmond and Michael Gershman
Nancy Allen and Vilmos Zsigmond in Blow Out (1981)
Brian De Palma, John Lithgow, Vilmos Zsigmond, and Michael Gershman in Blow Out (1981)
Vilmos Zsigmond

Known for

Elliott Gould in The Long Goodbye (1973)
The Long Goodbye
7.6
  • Cinematographer(photographed by)
  • 1973
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
7.6
  • Cinematographer
  • 1977
Mia Kirshner in The Black Dahlia (2006)
The Black Dahlia
5.6
  • Cinematographer
  • 2006
Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter
8.1
  • Cinematographer
  • 1978

Credits

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IMDbPro

Cinematographer

  • Gena Rowlands and Cheyenne Jackson in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks (2014)
    Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
  • God the Father (2014)
    God the Father
  • Mindy Kaling in The Mindy Project (2012)
    The Mindy Project
  • Heather Graham and Carrie-Anne Moss in Compulsion (2013)
    Compulsion
  • Kickstart Theft (2012)
    Kickstart Theft
  • The Maiden Danced to Death (2011)
    The Maiden Danced to Death
  • Louis (2010)
    Louis
  • You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)
    You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
  • Torn from the Flag with English Laurels
    Torn from the Flag: A Film by Klaudia Kovacs
  • Cassandra's Dream (2007)
    Cassandra's Dream
  • Mia Kirshner in The Black Dahlia (2006)
    The Black Dahlia
  • Diane Keaton, Tom Everett Scott, and Alexa Davalos in Surrender, Dorothy (2006)
    Surrender, Dorothy
  • Will Ferrell, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Radha Mitchell in Melinda and Melinda (2004)
    Melinda and Melinda
  • Medicine Chest
  • Ben Affleck and Raquel Castro in Jersey Girl (2004)
    Jersey Girl

Camera and Electrical Department

  • Kickstart Theft (2012)
    Kickstart Theft
  • Independent Lens (1999)
    Independent Lens
  • Gerard Butler, Frances O'Connor, and Paul Walker in Timeline (2003)
    Timeline
    • (Los Angeles)
  • China Beach (1988)
    China Beach
  • Jack Nicholson in The Border (1982)
    The Border
  • The Last Waltz (1978)
    The Last Waltz
  • Diana Ross in Mahogany (1975)
    Mahogany
    • (uncredited)
  • Charlotte Rampling and Zalman King in The Ski Bum (1971)
    The Ski Bum
  • Dusty and Sweets McGee (1971)
    Dusty and Sweets McGee
    • (Whiskey-A-Go-Go)
  • The Cat (1966)
    The Cat
    • (as William Zsigmond)
  • The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? (1964)
    The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?
    • (as William Zsigmond)
  • Wild Guitar (1962)
    Wild Guitar
    • (as William Zsigmond, second unit)
  • Itthon

Actor

  • Louis (2010)
    Louis
  • Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson, and James Garner in Maverick (1994)
    Maverick
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

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IMDb Best of 2022

Discover the stars who skyrocketed on IMDb’s STARmeter chart this year, and explore more of the Best of 2022; including top trailers, posters, and photos.
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Image caption not available

Videos2

No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Clip 7:00
No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos
Trailer: Louis
Trailer 2:27
Trailer: Louis

Personal details

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    • Budapest Cinematographers MasterClass's Master
    • June 16, 1930
    • Szeged, Hungary
    • January 1, 2016
    • Big Sur, California, USA(undisclosed)
    • (divorced, 2 children)
  • Theatrical commercial, L.A. Times (on camera)
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Biographical Movies
    • 4 Interviews
    • 6 Articles
    • 2 Pictorials

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He and László Kovács shot footage of the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 and then escaped to the US, where they sold the footage to CBS.
  • Quotes
    [on Heaven's Gate (1980)] Michael Cimino really wanted to make a perfect film. He could have made this film for much less. He overdid it; he over-complicated it. But they should not have killed him for it.
    • Frequently worked with Robert Altman, Mark Rydell and Woody Allen.

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