Ernest B. Schoedsack

Ernest Beaumont Schoedsack (June 8, 1893 - December 23, 1979) was an exceptional American motion picture cinematographer, producer, and director who left a significant footprint in the film industry. He started his career as a cameraman in World War I, following which he remained in Europe to advance in his career. Schoedsack worked on splendid films with Merian C. Cooper, including King Kong, Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness, and The Most Dangerous Game. He also had a close professional relationship with screenwriter and actress Ruth Rose, whom he later married. Despite the severe damage to his eyesight in World War I, he continued to contribute to films as a cinematographer and director. On the other hand, his personal life was marked by his towering height of 6 ft 5 in, earning him the nickname 'Shorty'. Schoedsack began his exciting career in the film industry in 1914, thanks to his brother Felix. He served in the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army in France in 1918 and flew in combat bombing missions. After the war, he stayed in Europe to expand his career as a cameraman, during which he also assisted war refugees. He worked on a series of films during his early days, such as Grass and Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness. His remarkable collaborations with Merian C. Cooper and Ruth Rose led to King Kong in 1933, followed by Arabia, Son of Kong, and Blind Adventure. He ventured into various genres, including Hollywood's first science fiction film in Technicolor_, Dr. Cyclops_. Schoedsack's final project was Mighty Joe Young, another reunion of the main King Kong creative team of Cooper, Schoedsack, and Ruth Rose.