Jack Asher

Jack Asher (born 29 March 1916 in London - died 1991) was an acclaimed English cinematographer. His brother Robert Asher was a film and TV director.

He began his cinematic career as a camera operator, and made his first film as cinematographer or "lighting cameraman" in 1946 ("The Magic Bow").

He was most well-known for his work on Hammer films, beginning with "The Curse of Frankenstein" (1957), the first of Hammer's gothic horrors, and the first retelling of the Frankenstein story to be shot in colour. He went on to light several of the horror films that made the studio famous. He shot films including "Dracula" (1958), "The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), "The Hound of the Baskervilles" (1959), "The Mummy" (1959) and "The Brides of Dracula" (1960).

His style was characterized by a fantastical use of colours, such as non-realistic purples and greens, and set the standard for Hammer's celebrated distinctive look. His use of elaborate -- not to mention expensive -- camera and lighting set-ups may have been the reason for his gradual departure from Hammer Studios, whereupon he was replaced by a succession of cinematographers including Arthur Grant and Michael Reed.

Notable non Hammer films included "The Good Die Young" (1954) and "Reach for the Sky" (1956), on which he was the director of photography.

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