Elgin Lessley Photo

Elgin Lessley

Camera

0.1 Popularity Jan 10, 1883 (61 years old) Higbee, Missouri, USA

Elgin Lessley (also credited as Lesly, Lessly, and Leslie) (June 10, 1883 - January 10, 1944) was an American hand-crank cameraman of the silent film era—a period of filmmaking when virtually all special effects work had to be produced inside the camera during filming. Though Lessley worked earlie...

Biography

Elgin Lessley (also credited as Lesly, Lessly, and Leslie) (June 10, 1883 - January 10, 1944) was an American hand-crank cameraman of the silent film era—a period of filmmaking when virtually all special effects work had to be produced inside the camera during filming. Though Lessley worked earlier with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, and later with Harry Langdon, he is best known for the groundbreaking effects he produced with Buster Keaton, who dubbed him "the human metronome" for his ability to crank consistently at any requested speed.

Lessley's most striking effects were in The Playhouse (1921) and Sherlock Jr. (1924). In The Playhouse, through use of a specially shuttered lens and repeated back-cranking and re-cranking, Lessley allowed Keaton to appear as up to nine characters simultaneously, interacting with one another. In Sherlock Jr., Lessley's careful positioning of camera and actor in various locations produced the effect of a man stuck in a movie where his location keeps changing as he struggles to keep up. Lessley retired from filmmaking after shooting The Cameraman with Buster Keaton in 1928.

Filmography 37

1928
The Cameraman Movie

Director of Photography

1928
The Chaser Movie

Cinematography

1927
Three's a Crowd Movie

Cinematography

1927
Long Pants Movie

Director of Photography

1926
The General Movie

as Union General Who Gives Command to Cross Bridge (uncredited)

1926
The Strong Man Movie

Director of Photography

1926
Tramp, Tramp, Tramp Movie

Cinematography

1925
Go West Movie

Director of Photography

1925
Seven Chances Movie

Director of Photography

1924
The Navigator Movie

Director of Photography

1924
Sherlock Jr. Movie

Director of Photography

1923
Our Hospitality Movie

Director of Photography

1923
Three Ages Movie

Director of Photography

1923
The Love Nest Movie

Cinematography

1923
The Balloonatic Movie

Cinematography

1922
Day Dreams Movie

Cinematography

1922
The Electric House Movie

Cinematography

1922
The Frozen North Movie

Cinematography

1922
The Blacksmith Movie

Cinematography

1922
My Wife's Relations Movie

Cinematography

Photos 1

Elgin Lessley Photo

Personal Details

Known For Camera
Gender Male
Birthday January 10, 1883 (61 years old)
Died February 08, 1944
Place of Birth Higbee, Missouri, USA
Years Active 1917 - 1928
Popularity 0.1
Career Stats
37 Total Credits
1 Movie Roles
1 Photos