Linwood G. Dunn Biography (1904-1998)

Full name, Linwood Gale Dunn; born December 27, 1904, in Brooklyn, NY; died of cancer, May 20, 1998, in Burbank, CA; married Alice; children: Nancy, Pamela, Gayle, Judy. Career: Special effects technician and optical photographer. Projectionist, New York City, 1923-25; assistant camera operator, Pathe, New York then Hollywood, 1925-29; International Photographers Guild, founder, 1928; RKO Radio Pictures, cinematographer and head of photographic effects department, 1929-56; designed special-effects photographic equipment for Eastman Kodak and the U.S. armed forces during World War II; Film Effects of Hollywood, founder and president, 1946-80; also founded the Technology Councilof the Motion Picture and Television Industry. Member: Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (board member), American Society of Cinematographers (president twice, treasurer, board member for 25 years). Awards, Honors: Academy Award, technical achievement award, 1945 (with Cecil Love);Academy Award nomination, best visual effects, 1966, for Hawaii; EmmyAward, best photographic special effects, 1967, for Star Trek(with Darrell Anderson and Joseph Westheimer); Academy Award, Medal of Commendation, 1979 (with Loren L. Ryder and Waldon O. Watson); Academy Award (Scientific orTechnical), 1980 (with Cecil Love and Acme Tool and Manufacturing Company); Academy Award, Gordon E. Sawyer Award, 1984; American Society of Cinematographers, lifetime achievement award, 1990; National Cinephile Society, lifetime achievement award, 1992; Golden Hugo Award, Chicago Film Festival; honorary doctorate, San Francisco Art Institute.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Special effects technician, Optical photographer
Birth Details
December 27, 1904
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Death Details
May 20, 1998
Burbank, California, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Special Effects Technician
  • Danger Lights, RKO Radio Pictures, 1930
  • Cimarron, RKO Radio Pictures, 1930
  • The Most Dangerous Game, RKO Radio Pictures, 1932
  • Bird of Paradise, RKO Radio Pictures, 1932
  • Flying Down to Rio, RKO Radio Pictures, 1933
  • Optical photography, King Kong (also known as Kong, TheBeast, King Ape, The Eighth Wonder of the World, and TheEighth Wonder), RKO Radio Pictures, 1933
  • The Monkey's Paw, RKO Radio Pictures, 1933
  • Down to Their Last Yacht (also known as Hawaiian Nights), RKO Radio Pictures, 1934
  • Optical effects, She, RKO Radio Pictures, 1935
  • The Last Days of Pompeii, RKO Radio Pictures, 1935
  • Bringing Up Baby, RKO Radio Pictures, 1938
  • Gunga Din, RKO Radio Pictures, 1939
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame, RKO Radio Pictures, 1939
  • The Swiss Family Robinson, RKO Radio Pictures, 1940
  • Optical effects, Citizen Kane (also known as American and John Citizen, U.S.A.), RKO Radio Pictures, 1941
  • Photographic effects, Cat People, RKO Radio Pictures, 1942
  • The Navy Comes Through, RKO Radio Pictures, 1942
  • Bombardier, RKO Radio Pictures, 1943
  • Days of Glory, RKO Radio Pictures, 1944
  • Experiment Perilous, RKO Radio Pictures, 1944
  • A Game of Death, RKO Radio Pictures, 1945
  • Mighty Joe Young (also known as Mr. Joseph Young of Africa), RKO Radio Pictures, 1949
  • The Thing from Another World (also known as The Thing),RKORadio Pictures, 1951
  • Androcles and the Lion, RKO Radio Pictures, 1952
  • The French Line, RKO Radio Pictures, 1953
  • The Conqueror, RKO Radio Pictures, 1956
  • Optical effects, Forty Guns, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957
  • Special photographic effects, China Gate, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957
  • Special effects photography, I Married a Woman, Universal, 1958
  • Photographic effects and title photography, West Side Story, United Artists, 1961
  • Photographic effects, It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963
  • Special photographic effects consultant, Circus World (also knownas The Magnificent Showman and Samuel Bronston's Circus World), Paramount, 1964
  • The Great Race, Warner Bros., 1965
  • The Bible-In the Beginning, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966
  • What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?, 1966
  • Special photographic effects, Hawaii, United Artists, 1966
  • Airport, Universal, 1969
  • Special effects photography, Darling Lili, Paramount, 1970
  • Special photographic effects, The Devil's Rain, Joseph BrennerAssociates, Inc., 1975
  • Consultant, Star Wars, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1977
  • Assistance, Spaced Invaders, Smart Egg Releasing Corp., 1990
  • Television Work
  • Series
  • Special effects, Star Trek, NBC, 1966-69
  • Television Appearances
  • Episodic
  • Hollywood: The Golden Years, Arts and Entertainment, 1988
  • WRITINGS
  • Books
  • (With George E. Turner) The ASC Treasury of Visual Effects, Hollywood, 1983
  • Periodicals
  • Contributor to American Cinematographer, Journal of the University Film Association, Wide Angle, and Classic Images.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books:
    • Brosnan, John, Movie Magic: The Story of Special Effects in the Cinema, St. Martin's Press (New York City), 1974.
    • Eyman, Scott, Five American Cinematographers, Scarecrow Press (Metuchen, NJ), 1987.
    Periodicals:
    • American Cinematographer, April 1985, .
    • Los Angeles Times, May 22, 1998, .*