William Daniels, an esteemed and accomplished Oscar-winning director of photography, left an enduring and profound impact on the film industry through his exceptional mastery of black-and-white cinematography, a skill he honed over the course of his illustrious and prolific career, which spanned an impressive five decades.
Throughout his remarkable tenure in the film industry, Daniels had the privilege of working on an astonishing 21 films, each one showcasing his remarkable talent and artistic vision. Among the many notable projects he was involved with, Daniels had the distinction of collaborating with the incomparable Greta Garbo on multiple occasions, further solidifying his reputation as a master of his craft.
Notable among the extensive repertoire of cinematic masterpieces crafted by this visionary filmmaker is a collection of films that have stood the test of time, including but not limited to The Torrent, a 1924 production that showcased his early mastery of the medium, followed by Flesh and the Devil in 1926, a cinematic spectacle that solidified his reputation as a director of great sensitivity and skill.
The subsequent years saw the release of Love, a 1927 film that further cemented his status as a leading figure in the world of cinema, and Mata Hari, a 1931 production that demonstrated his ability to tackle complex and emotionally charged subject matter.
In 1932, he brought the world Grand Hotel, a cinematic adaptation of the popular novel that showcased his mastery of the dramatic and emotional depths of the human experience. The following year, he released Queen Christina, a 1933 film that demonstrated his ability to balance drama and comedy with ease.
The 1930s also saw the release of the sound remake of Anna Karenina, a 1935 production that showcased his ability to adapt classic literary works for the screen, and Camille, a 1936 film that demonstrated his sensitivity to the human condition.
Finally, in 1939, he released Ninotchka, a cinematic masterpiece that showcased his ability to balance humor and pathos in a way that has become a hallmark of his unique style.
The cinematic mastery of Daniels in capturing the essence of Garbo's on-screen persona has garnered him immense acclaim, with some attributing his success to his unparalleled skill in "creating a Garbo face". Nevertheless, Daniels has vehemently disputed this notion, insisting that his work was simply a result of his dedication to producing high-quality portraits of the star, akin to those he would have done for any other luminary. According to Daniels, his lighting techniques were meticulously crafted to serve the specific demands of each scene, rather than adhering to some mythical notion of creating a deliberately asymmetrical "Garbo face".
Marcel Le Jardin, a renowned cinematographer, received a prestigious Academy Award nomination for Best Cinematography in 1930 for his outstanding work on the English-language adaptation of Anna Christie, a film starring the iconic Greta Garbo. Interestingly, this was the only time Daniels was recognized for his contributions to a Garbo film, despite his impressive body of work. Daniels' wait for Oscar glory was not long, as he went on to win the coveted award in 1949 for his masterful black-and-white cinematography on the influential film noir, The Naked City, released in 1948.
Noteworthy cinematographer, Haskell Wexler Daniels, garnered widespread recognition and acclaim throughout his distinguished career, with a total of three Oscar nominations to his name.
