Acclaimed cinematographer John A. Alonzo, A.S.C., whose feature DP credits include the film noir classic Chinatown, passed away March 13 after a long battle with cancer. He was 66.
In addition to his renown in the movie world, Alonzo had ties to the commercial industry. For the past three and a half years, he was represented as a director/DP by Santa Monica-based production house Nolan/La Monte. A proponent of the high definition (HD) format, Alonzo directed/DPed a landmark project in June 1998: the first spot shot entirely in HD. That :15 ad, "Mountain Spring," was for Procter & Gamble/ Mountain Spring Fragrance Tide via Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, and was co-produced by Nolan/ La Monte and Mustapha Khan, a division of New York-headquartered Screen Gems (SHOOT, 6/19/98, p. 1).
"John was the first guy to try something new," said Lou La Monte, executive producer at Nolan/La Monte. "Technically, his knowledge of things like high-def was spectacular; he knew more about HD than anybody I’ve ever met." La Monte related that Alonzo worked extensively with the Sony Corporation to help develop its HD technology, and shot a good amount of test footage for experimental projects at Sony’s Culver City, Calif.-based in-house high-definition center.
Moreover, Alonzo was known for his generosity and willingness to share his knowledge of the craft with other filmmakers, stated La Monte. "He tried to help younger guys and tried to teach them. He was very generous with his knowledge and his information."
Alonzo accumulated his knowledge over a career spanning 40 years. As a cinematographer, he created a body of work comprising nearly 50 movies. In addition, he is credited with directing a handful of made-for-TV movies, including Blinded by the Light and Belle Starr (both 1980), Champions: A Love Story and Portrait of a Stripper (both 1979), and FM (1978).
A Dallas native, Alonzo landed a job after graduation at WFAA-TV, the NBC affiliate in Dallas. It was during a station strike that he persuaded the station manager to allow him to man the camera. He eventually directed both local and regional shows for WFFA.
In 1956, Alonzo came to Hollywood, where he started out as a bit player in Westerns (including The Magnificent Seven), and worked on the side as a still photographer. During the making of The Magnificent Seven, that film’s DP, Charles Lang, saw Alonzo’s stills and encouraged him to be a cinematographer.
In 1968, Alonzo earned his first feature DP credit, on Bloody Momma, directed by Roger Corman. Alonzo’s résumé includes: Harold and Maude (1971), Norma Rae (1979), Scarface (1983), Steel Magnolias (1989), Internal Affairs (1990), Cool World (1992), Star Trek: Generations (1994) and the aforementioned Chinatown (1974), for which he earned Academy Award and BAFTA nominations for best cinematography. Last year he won an Emmy Award for outstanding lighting direction/electronic for the CBS telefilm Fail Safe, starring George Clooney, which was broadcast live.
La Monte recalled that Alonzo’s trademark was a white hat, which he wore so that people would be able to find him on a set. "John was one of the good guys, and I think John and his hat are really going to be missed," the producer added. Alonzo’s final project as a cinematographer was Deuces Wild, directed by Scott Kalvert, which is slated for release later this year.
Alonzo is survived by his wife, Jan; daughter, Krista; and son-in-law, John Haines.
