Ernest Haller

Ernest Jacob Haller, A.S.C. a.k.a. Ernie J. Haller (May 31, 1896 – October 21, 1970) was an American cinematographer.

He was most notable for his involvement in Gone with the Wind (1939) and his close professional relationships with prominent actresses of the time, such as Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Ingrid Bergman.

Haller was nominated for the Academy Awards the total of seven times and won for Best Cinematography once.

He was killed in a car accident in Marina Del Rey, California, on October 21, 1970 at the age of 74.

Ernest Haller was born in Los Angeles, California, in May 31, 1898.

He went to Hollywood High School and graduated after four years. With his photographic training and a year of laboratory experience, Haller dove straight into the film industry after graduating. His initial interest was in acting; although none of his parents or other relatives were theatrical people, he managed to pursue acting both on stage and screen.

With his older brother’s help, Haller first joined the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company, also known as the Biograph Studio or Biograph, in 1914 as an actor. However, he seemed to have realized his true passion fairly quickly, for he switched to the camera department just within a year of joining the studio. At the time, Biograph’s one of the most prized possessions was D.W. Griffith, and Haller began his career as a cinematographer as an assistant cameraman to Griffith’s great cameraman, Billy Bitzer.

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