Robert Krasker, BSC in ‘The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz’, edited by Margot Atterton and consultant editor Alan Veitch, 1984

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Cover, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, edited by Margot Atterton and consultant editor Alan Veitch, Sunshine Books, Child & Henry Publishing Pty Ltd, Brookvale, 1st edition, 1984, ISBN: 0867770570.

I have been searching for the source or sources of some of the most persistent misinformation about Australian cinematographer Robert Krasker, BSC and one possible origin might be found in 1984’s The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz.

Although I have yet to locate a copy, a secondhand bookseller confirms that Robert Krasker is mentioned in it so I will keep looking for an accessible library that has it.

Publication details, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Australian Showbiz, edited by Margot Atterton and consultant editor Alan Veitch, Sunshine Books, Child & Henry Publishing Pty Ltd, Brookvale, 1st edition, 1984, ISBN: 0867770570.

Some common misconceptions and semi-facts about Robert Krasker:

He travelled to England in 1937 via photographic studios in Paris and Dresden, and found work at Alexander Korda’s London Films, where he became a senior camera operator. …

He returned to Australia in the 1950s and reviewed movies.

Fact Checks

  • “He travelled to England in 1937…” – Robert Krasker had been living in England with the rest of his family including his mother Mathilde and four siblings since 1931.
  • “… via photographic studios in Paris and Dresden,” – Robert Krasker undertook his secondary schooling in Paris followed by art school in the same city, then moved to Germany to study photography under Professor Robert Luther at his Photography Institute at the Technical University Dresden.
  • “and found work at Alexander Korda’s London Films,” – After graduating, Robert Krasker worked as camera assistant and translator for American cinematographer Philip Tannura at Paramount Pictures’ Les Studios Paramount in Joinville-le-Pont where Alexander Korda was a film director and producer. Krasker then moved to London where he worked on his last Paramount film with Tannura, Service for Ladies, produced and directed by Alexander Korda. Korda then invited Krasker to work at London Film Productions where he was apprenticed to cinematographer Georges Périnal, becoming his camera operator before striking out as a Director of Photography in his own right.
  • “He returned to Australia in the 1950s…” – After winning his Academy Award in 1951 for his cinematography on The Third Man, Robert Krasker came to Sydney for a vacation and to try to set up a film production studio here. Unsuccessful in that venture, several months later he returned to his cinematography career in the United Kingdom and Europe, working on location mostly for American film directors and studios.
  • “… and reviewed movies.” – There is no evidence whatsoever that Robert Krasker reviewed movies.

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