ERNEST STEWARD BSC

Born in London, Ernie entered the film industry in 1930 with BIP at Elstree.  In 1933 he became a camera operator until WWII when he served with the Royal Navy Patrol Service Film Unit as well as the Army Kinematograph Service from 1940 to 1945.

After the war he was at Pinewood Studios with the J. Arthur Rank Organisation from 1946 to 1950 continuing as an operator.  He became a director of photography in 1951 with Appointment with Venus (1951), directed by Ralph Thomas with whom he was to photograph 22 more films including The Assassin (1952), A Day to Remember (1953), Doctor in the House (1954) plus 5 sequels, Mad About Men (1954), Above Us The Waves (1955), The Iron Petticoat (1956), Checkpoint (1956), Campbell’s Kingdom (1957), A Tale of Two Cities (1958), The Wind Cannot Read (1958), The 39 Steps (1959 – with Kenneth More), Upstairs and Downstairs (1959), Conspiracy of Hearts (1960), No Love for Johnnie (1961), No My Darling Daughter (1961), The Wild and the Willing (1962), Hot Enough for June (1964), The Hot Bright Sun (1965), Deadlier Than The Male (1967), Nobody Runs Forever (1968).

Other credits include Trouble in Store (1954 Directed by John Paddy Carstairs) featuring the debut of popular stage and television comedian, Normal Wisdom who became one of J. Arthur Ranks biggest money earners. He also photographed The Wrong Arm of the Law (1963 Directed by Cliff Owen) starring Peter Sellers and The Magnificent Two (1967 directed by Cliff Owen) the only feature film starring British television comedians, Morecambe and Wise. Later in his career he photographed 10  of the successful British cult series Carry On .. films. He also contributed towards the popular TV series ‘The Avengers’ and ‘The Professionals’. 

His last feature credit was for Wildcats of St. Trinians (1980 Directed by Frank Launder).

Alan Hume wrote ‘Ernie was always full of good humour and had a wonderfully relaxed attitude to his work.   This created a super working atmosphere around the camera and helped many a film to a very satisfactory conclusion and ‘Always on Schedule’. ‘   He photographed over 80 films in his career.