Arthur J. Ornitz

• Name — Arthur J. Ornitz • Birth Name — Arthur Jacob Ornitz • Born — 28 November 1916 • Birthplace — New York City, New York, U.S. • Died — 10 July 1985 • Place of death — New York City, New York, U.S. • Other Names — Arthur Ornitz • Education — University of California, Los Angeles • Occupation — * Cinematographer • film director • screenwriter • Years Active — 1936–1983 • Children — 1 • Parents — Samuel Ornitz (father) • Relatives — Don Ornitz (brother)

Ornitz was born in New York City, the son of Sadie (née Lesser) and screenwriter Samuel Ornitz, a Hollywood Ten blacklistee. He had a brother, Don, who was a photographer. Ornitz studied film at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Ornitz made his directing debut with short film Wanted – A Master (1936), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (One-Reel). He was a documentary cameraman for Joris Ivens and Floyd Crosby during the latter part of the decade. During World War II, he served in the US Army Signal Corps, under a unit commanded by Frank Capra. During the 1950s, Ornitz lived in Denmark and worked with Danish filmmaker couple Astrid and Bjarne Henning-Jensen. His first American feature film was The Goddess (1958), directed by John Cromwell. During the decade, he also shot and directed various commercials. Among other films, he shot The Connection (1961), A Thousand Clowns (1965), Charly (1968), The Boys in the Band (1970), The Anderson Tapes, Minnie and Moskowitz (both 1971), Serpico (1973), Death Wish (1974), Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), An Unmarried Woman (1978), and Hanky Panky (1982). Victor J. Kemper cited him as a mentor.

Ornitz died of cancer at his home in Manhattan on July 10, 1985. He was survived by his mother, his wife and a son. Ornitz's son, Kim H. Ornitz, is a sound mixer.

• Year — Title — Notes • 1955 — Omnibus — Episode: "Uncle Tom's Cabin" • 1957-58 — Harbourmaster — 2 episodes • 1958 — Decision — Episode: "Man Against Crime" • 1964 — East Side West Side — Episode: "It's War, Man" • 1970 — NET Playhouse — Episode: "Helen Hayes Remembers"

• Year — Title — Director — Notes • 1950 — North Sea Boys — Astrid Henning-Jensen Bjarne Henning-Jensen • 1951 — Kranes konditori — Astrid Henning-Jensen • Ukjent mann • 1952 — Vi arme syndere — Erik Balling Ole Palsbo • 1958 — The Goddess — John Cromwell • 1959 — Kiss Her Goodbye — Albert Lipton • 1960 — The Pusher — Gene Milford • 1961 — The Connection — Shirley Clarke • Teenage Millionaire — Lawrence Doheny • The Young Doctors — Phil Karlson • 1962 — Jacktown — William Martin • Requiem for a Heavyweight — Ralph Nelson • 1963 — Act One — Dore Schary • 1964 — The World of Henry Orient — George Roy Hill • 1965 — The Colonial Naturalist — Mark Catesby — Charles S. Dubin • A Thousand Clowns — Fred Coe • 1967 — A Midsummer Night's Dream — George Balanchine Dan Eriksen • The Tiger Makes Out — Arthur Hiller • 1968 — Charly — Ralph Nelson • 1969 — Me, Natalie — Fred Coe • Change of Mind — Robert Stevens • 1970 — The Boys in the Band — William Friedkin • House of Dark Shadows — Dan Curtis • Soldier Blue — Ralph Nelson — Replaced by Robert B. Hauser • 1971 — The Anderson Tapes — Sidney Lumet • Minnie and Moskowitz — John Cassavetes • 1972 — The Possession of Joel Delaney — Waris Hussein • 1973 — Black Snake — Russ Meyer • Serpico — Sidney Lumet • Badge 373 — Howard W. Koch • 1974 — Death Wish — Michael Winner • Law and Disorder — Ivan Passer • Forever Young, Forever Free — Ashley Lazarus • 1976 — Next Stop, Greenwich Village — Paul Mazursky • 1977 — Thieves — John Berry • 1978 — An Unmarried Woman — Paul Mazursky • Oliver's Story — John Korty • 1981 — The Chosen — Jeremy Kagan • Tattoo — Bob Brooks • 1982 — Hanky Panky — Sidney Poitier

• Year — Title — Director — Notes • 1936 — Wanted – A Master — Himself — Co-director with Gunther von Fritsch • 1940 — Power and the Land — Joris Ivens — Docuementary short • 1949 — I gode hender — Himself • 1960 — The Computer Comes to Marketing — Maurice Rapf • 1961 — The Shoes — Ernest Pintoff • After Hours — Shepard Traube — Docuementary short

• Year — Title • 1956 — Bulletin from Bertie • Out of Darkness • 1964 — Carol for Another Christmas • 1973 — Honor Thy Father • 1977 — The Quinns • Wilma • 1979 — Mayflower: The Pilgrims' Adventure • 1980 — Hardhat and Legs • Playing for Time • 1982 — The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana • 1983 — Jacobo Timerman: Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number • First Affair