Lee Garmes, ASC, DGA, ISPA, began his film career in 1916 with the New York Motion Picture Company and joined Thomas H. Ince on the West Coast afterward.
With 111 feature films to his credit
(14 for producing and directing and 97 for cinematography), Mr.
Garmes is one of the most prolific and accomplished filmmakers in
history. Among his film credits are THE GRAND DUCHESS & THE
WAITER (Mal St. Clair and Adolph Menjou), THE JUNGLE BOOK, SINCE
YOU WENT AWAY, DUEL IN THE SUN, LAND OF THE PHARAOHS, MOROCCO,
DETECTIVE STORY, the original SCARFACE, CRIME WITHOUT PASSION,
ANGELS OVER BROADWAY, THE SCOUNDREL, THE PARADINE CASE, THE
SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY.
He directed the photography on six films that have been nominated
for an Academy Award, won an Academy Award for SHANGHAI EXPRESS
and has received the Eastman Kodak Award twice.
Mr. Garmes, a brilliant experimenter who was not afraid to let
risk factors govern his life,
was an industry pioneer: He was the first to introduce
incandescent lighting (then called mazda lights) to American
movie sets (which cut lighting costs by 75%). He produced and
directed the first 3-D movie (HANNAH LEE); photographed the
first 70mm feature in Super Panavision (THE BIG FISHERMAN) and produced the first
feature shot entirely on videotape and transferred to 35mm
negative (WHY?). Long before satellite technologies could make
possible the Turner Broadcasting Network, for instance, Mr. Garmes
could be heard predicting, if not specifying, such possibilities for the future to
his wide circle of friends and associates.
American Cinematographer Magazine of November 1978 (page 1094)
reports, "Although officially unaccredited, Lee Garmes photographed
a considerable portion of GONE
WITH THE WIND. Many consider the famous railroad yard
sequence among his finest cinematic efforts."
Always surrounded by an entourage of young, aspiring talents, Mr. Garmes was one of the most generous filmmakers with his time, money and wisdom that ever lived. He serves as an example to other celebrities and professionals who have reached a similar status in the motion picture industry.
Lee was lovingly married to well-known actress Ruth Hall for many years before he passed away in 1978. Lee Garmes was a mentor to producer/director James Jaeger.
James Jaeger's Audio Interview of LEE GARMES
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