Joseph Francis Biroc, ASC (February 12, 1903 – September 7, 1996) was an American cinematographer. He was born in New York City and began working in films at the Paragon Studios in Fort Lee, New Jersey. After working there for approximately six years, he moved to Los Angeles. Once in Southern California, Biroc worked at the RKO Pictures movie studio. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and filmed the Liberation of Paris in August 1944. In 1950, Biroc left RKO Pictures and freelanced on projects at various studios. In addition to his film work, which included It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and The Flight of the Phoenix (1965), Biroc worked on various television series, including the Adventures of Superman and Wonder Woman. He frequently collaborated with film director Robert Aldrich.
Academy Awards
Best Cinematography
Known For
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Director of Photography
Airplane!
(1980)
Director of Photography
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
(1971)
Director of Photography
Blazing Saddles
(1974)
Director of Photography
Airplane II: The Sequel
(1982)
Director of Photography
The Towering Inferno
(1974)
Additional Photography
Emperor of the North
(1973)
Director of Photography
The Longest Yard
(1974)
Director of Photography
Cahill: United States Marshall
(1973)
Director of Photography
The Flight of the Phoenix
(1965)
Director of Photography
The Bat
(1959)
Director of Photography
Bye Bye Birdie
(1963)
Director of Photography
Ulzana's Raid
(1972)
Director of Photography
Attack
(1956)
Director of Photography
13 Ghosts
(1960)
Director of Photography
Viva Las Vegas
(1964)
Director of Photography
Full Filmography
Camera
Street Girl
(1929)
Camera Operator
The Lost Squadron
(1932)
Camera Operator
Before Dawn
(1933)
Camera Operator
Shall We Dance
(1937)
Camera Operator
Five Came Back
(1939)
Camera Operator
It's a Wonderful Life
(1946)
Director of Photography
Magic Town
(1947)
Director of Photography
On Our Merry Way
(1948)
Director of Photography
My Dear Secretary
(1948)
Director of Photography
Johnny Allegro
(1949)
Director of Photography
Roughshod
(1949)
Director of Photography
Mrs. Mike
(1949)
Director of Photography
The Killer That Stalked New York
(1950)
Director of Photography
Cry Danger
(1951)
Director of Photography
The Bushwhackers
(1951)
Director of Photography
Without Warning!
(1952)
Director of Photography
Red Planet Mars
(1952)
Director of Photography
Loan Shark
(1952)
Director of Photography
The Glass Wall
(1953)
Director of Photography
Donovan's Brain
(1953)
Director of Photography
Vice Squad
(1953)
Director of Photography
Appointment in Honduras
(1953)
Director of Photography
The Twonky
(1953)
Director of Photography
World for Ransom
(1954)
Director of Photography
Down Three Dark Streets
(1954)
Director of Photography
The Steel Cage
(1954)
Director of Photography
Bengazi
(1955)
Director of Photography
Attack
(1956)
Director of Photography
Nightmare
(1956)
Director of Photography
Tension at Table Rock
(1956)
Director of Photography
The Black Whip
(1956)
Director of Photography
The Unknown Terror
(1957)
Director of Photography
Forty Guns
(1957)
Director of Photography
The Garment Jungle
(1957)
Director of Photography
Run of the Arrow
(1957)
Director of Photography
The Ride Back
(1957)
Director of Photography
The Amazing Colossal Man
(1957)
Director of Photography
China Gate
(1957)
Director of Photography
Home Before Dark
(1958)
Director of Photography
Born Reckless
(1958)
Director of Photography
The Bat
(1959)
Director of Photography
Verboten!
(1959)
Director of Photography
The FBI Story
(1959)
Director of Photography
Ice Palace
(1960)
Director of Photography
13 Ghosts
(1960)
Director of Photography
Gold of the Seven Saints
(1961)
Director of Photography
Hitler
(1962)
Director of Photography
Convicts 4
(1962)
Director of Photography
Confessions of an Opium Eater
(1962)
Director of Photography
Gunfight at Comanche Creek
(1963)
Director of Photography
Promises! Promises!
(1963)
Director of Photography
Toys in the Attic
(1963)
Director of Photography
Bye Bye Birdie
(1963)
Director of Photography
Viva Las Vegas
(1964)
Director of Photography
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte
(1964)
Director of Photography
Ride the Wild Surf
(1964)
Director of Photography
Bullet for a Badman
(1964)
Director of Photography
The Young Lovers
(1964)
Director of Photography
Kitten with a Whip
(1964)
Director of Photography
The Flight of the Phoenix
(1965)
Director of Photography
I Saw What You Did
(1965)
Director of Photography
The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!
(1966)
Director of Photography
The Swinger
(1966)
Director of Photography
Warning Shot
(1967)
Director of Photography
Fitzwilly
(1967)
Director of Photography
Enter Laughing
(1967)
Director of Photography
Who's Minding the Mint?
(1967)
Director of Photography
Tony Rome
(1967)
Director of Photography
Lady in Cement
(1968)
Director of Photography
The Killing of Sister George
(1968)
Director of Photography
The Legend of Lylah Clare
(1968)
Director of Photography
The Detective
(1968)
Director of Photography
What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?
(1969)
Director of Photography
The Greatest Mother of 'em All
(1969)
Director of Photography
Too Late the Hero
(1970)
Director of Photography
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
(1971)
Director of Photography
The Organization
(1971)
Director of Photography
The Grissom Gang
(1971)
Director of Photography
Brian's Song
(1971)
Director of Photography
Mrs. Pollifax — Spy
(1971)
Director of Photography
Mean Justice
(1971)
Director of Photography
The Crooked Hearts
(1972)
Director of Photography
Ulzana's Raid
(1972)
Director of Photography
Playmates
(1972)
Director of Photography
Gidget Gets Married
(1972)
Director of Photography
Emperor of the North
(1973)
Director of Photography
Cahill: United States Marshall
(1973)
Director of Photography
The Longest Yard
(1974)
Director of Photography
Blazing Saddles
(1974)
Director of Photography
Thursday's Game
(1974)
Director of Photography
Shanks
(1974)
Director of Photography
The Towering Inferno
(1974)
Additional Photography
Wonder Woman
(1974)
Director of Photography
Hustle
(1975)
Director of Photography
The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox
(1976)
Director of Photography
SST: Death Flight
(1977)
Director of Photography
The Choirboys
(1977)
Director of Photography
The Clone Master
(1978)
Director of Photography
A Family Upside Down
(1978)
Director of Photography
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure
(1979)
Director of Photography
Airplane!
(1980)
Director of Photography
The Gambler
(1980)
Director of Photography
...All the Marbles
(1981)
Director of Photography
Airplane II: The Sequel
(1982)
Director of Photography
Hammett
(1982)
Director of Photography
Desperate Lives
(1982)
Director of Photography
The Jerk, Too
(1984)
Director of Photography
Father of Hell Town
(1985)
Director of Photography
A Winner Never Quits
(1986)
Director of Photography
Crew