Eugen Schüfftan
An image from Metropolis, one of the productions that also features Eugen Schüfftan.

Eugen Schüfftan

July 21, 1893 — Breslau, Silesia, Germany [now Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eugen Schüfftan (21 July 1893, Breslau, Silesia, Germany, now Wroclaw, Poland – 6 September 1977, New York City) was a German Jewish cinematographer.

He invented the Schüfftan process, a special effects technique that employed mirrors to insert actors into miniature sets. One of the first uses of the process was for Metropolis (1927), directed by Fritz Lang. The technique was widely used throughout the first half of the 20th century until it was supplanted by the travelling matte and bluescreen techniques.

Schüfftan won the 1962 Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White for his work on the film The Hustler.

Metropolis

Metropolis

1927

The Hustler

The Hustler

1961

Eyes Without a Face

Eyes Without a Face

1960

Port of Shadows

Port of Shadows

1938

Napoleon

Napoleon

1927

Ulysses

Ulysses

1954

The Dark Mirror

The Dark Mirror

1946

People on Sunday

People on Sunday

1930