Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Walter Wottitz

Walter Wottitz was a French cinematographer. He won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on The Longest Day (1962).

Last revised
Jul 20, 2026
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Walter Wottitz
Born(1912-06-22)June 22, 1912
Thessaloniki, Greece
DiedNovember 1, 1986(1986-11-01) (aged 74)
OccupationCinematographer

Walter Wottitz (June 22, 1912 – November 1, 1986) was a French cinematographer.12 He won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography for his work on The Longest Day (1962).23

Life and career

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Wottitz began his cinematography career in the late 1930's, working for director Christian-Jaque. He worked for several prominent directors in French cinema, including Marcel Pagnol, Claude Sautet, Jean-Pierre Melville, and Pierre Granier-Deferre.

Wottitz (along with Jean Bourgoin) shot the 1962 World War II epic The Longest Day for 20th Century Fox, which earned them an Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) and a Golden Globe Award for Best Cinematography (Black-and-White).34 His other American film credits included The Train (1964) and Up from the Beach (1965), both shot in France.

Wottitz died on November 1, 1986, at the age of 74.5

Partial filmography

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1963 Academy Award Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) The Longest Day Won 6
1963 Golden Globe Award Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) Won 7
References

References

  1. "WOTITZ, Walter". www.lesgensducinema.com. Retrieved 2026-01-14.
  2. Langman, Larry (2000). Destination Hollywood: The Influence of Europeans on American Filmmaking. McFarland. p. 52. ISBN 9780786406814 – via Google Books.
  3. "The 35th Academy Awards (1963) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  4. "Red Buttons May Be Divine But 'From the Beach' Isn't". Newsday. Melville, New York. June 10, 1965. p. 103. Retrieved November 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  5. Films in Review: Volume 38. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. 1987. p. 250 – via Google Books.
  6. "The 35th Academy Awards | 1963". www.oscars.org. 2014-10-05. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
  7. "Longest Day, The". Golden Globes. Retrieved 2026-01-15.
External links