Sol Polito

Sol Polito, A.S.C. (born Salvatore Polito, November 12, 1892 – May 23, 1960) was a Sicilian-American cinematographer. He is best known for his work with directors Michael Curtiz and Mervyn LeRoy at Warner Bros. studios in the 1930s and 1940s.

Sol Polito
Sol Polito in 1942
Born
Salvatore Polito

(1892-11-12)November 12, 1892
Palermo, Italy
DiedMay 23, 1960(1960-05-23) (aged 67)
Los Angeles, California
OccupationCinematographer
Years active1914–1949
SpouseFrances D'Angelis
Children2
RelativesGene Polito (son)

Biography

Salvatore Polito was born November 12, 1892 in Palermo, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1905.[1] He attended school in New York City and began working in the motion picture industry as a still photographer. After experience as a lab assistant and camera assistant, he was promoted to lighting cameraman in 1917.[2]

Polito married Frances (Francesca) D'Angelis in New York in 1914.[3][4] The union produced two sons. The elder son Gene Polito (1918-2010) also became a cinematographer.[5] Younger son S. Robert Polito (1922–2015) became a physician.

Polito moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles in 1919 to continue his career at First National Pictures and Warner Bros.[5] He worked on more than 170 films at various studios,[6] but is best known for his work at Warner Bros. with directors Michael Curtiz and Mervyn LeRoy.[2]

Polito died in Los Angeles on May 23, 1960, aged 67,[7] and was entombed in the Mausoleum at Calvary Cemetery in East Los Angeles, California.

Accolades

Polito received three Academy Award nominations:[8]

Select filmography
Año Título Director Notes
1914 Rip Van Winkle [6]
1915 The Butterfly Oscar A. C. Lund
1915 A Butterfly on the Wheel Maurice Tourneur [6]
1915 The Cotton King Oscar Eagle [6]
1917 The Runaway Dell Henderson [6]
1918 Treason Burton L. King
1919 Burglar by Proxy John Francis Dillon [6]
1920 The Misleading Lady George Irving
George W. Terwilliger		 [6]
1923 The Bad Man Edwin Carewe [6]
1928 The Haunted House Benjamin Christensen
1929 Scarlet Seas John Francis Dillon [6]
1930 No, No, Nanette Clarence G. Badger [6]
1931 Five Star Final Mervyn LeRoy [6]
1932 Two Seconds Mervyn LeRoy [6]
1932 I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang Mervyn LeRoy [6]
1932 Three on a Match Mervyn LeRoy [6]
1933 Gold Diggers of 1933 Mervyn LeRoy [6]
1933 42nd Street Lloyd Bacon [6]
1934 Dr. Monica William Keighley [6]
1934 Dames Ray Enright
1934 Flirtation Walk Frank Borzage [6]
1935 G Men William Keighley [6]
1936 The Petrified Forest Archie Mayo [6]
1937 The Prince and the Pauper William Keighley [6]
1938 The Adventures of Robin Hood Michael Curtiz
1938 Angels with Dirty Faces Michael Curtiz
1939 The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Michael Curtiz Nominee (with W. Howard Greene), Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Color)[6][8]
1939 Dodge City Michael Curtiz
1939 Four Wives Michael Curtiz [6]
1940 Virginia City Michael Curtiz
1940 The Sea Hawk Michael Curtiz
1940 Santa Fe Trail Michael Curtiz [6]
1941 The Sea Wolf Michael Curtiz
1941 Sergeant York Howard Hawks Nominee, Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Black and White)[6][8]
1942 Captains of the Clouds Michael Curtiz Nominee, Academy Award for Best Cinematography (Color)[6][8]
1942 Now, Voyager Irving Rapper [6]
1943 This Is the Army Michael Curtiz
1944 Arsenic and Old Lace Frank Capra [6]
1944 The Adventures of Mark Twain Irving Rapper [6]
1945 The Corn Is Green Irving Rapper [6]
1947 The Long Night Anatole Litvak [6]
1948 Sorry, Wrong Number Anatole Litvak [6]
1948 The Voice of the Turtle Irving Rapper [6]
1949 Anna Lucasta Irving Rapper [6]

References
  1. "Salvatore Polito". National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Naturalization Records of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Central Division (Los Angeles), 1887–1940; Microfilm Roll: 93; Microfilm Serial: M1524. Ancestry.com, U.S. Naturalization Records, 1840–1957 [database online]. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2010. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  2. Katz, Ephraim (1998). Klein, Fred; Nolen, Ronald Dean (eds.). The Film Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). New York: HarperPerennial. p. 1096. ISBN 0-06-273492-X.
  3. "Salvatore Polito". Ancestry.com. New York, New York, Marriage Index 1866–1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  4. "Frances Polito". Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1940–1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2000. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  5. "In Memoriam: Gene Polito, ASC". USC School of Cinematic Arts. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  6. "Sol Polito". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  7. "Sol Polito". Ancestry.com. California, Death Index, 1940–1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2000. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
  8. "Sol Polito". Academy Awards Database. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
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