Michael Reed BSC (1929–2022) was born on 7 July 1929, Michael grew up in South London with his two brothers, Clive, who became a film producer, and Lionel, who became the popular actor Maxwell Reed. His introduction to filmmaking came through his brother Maxwell, who took him to the set of Daybreak in 1948. The experience immediately inspired Michael to pursue a career in cinema.
Leaving school at 14, Michael found his first job at Studio Film Labs as a laboratory assistant. Although the work involved spending long hours in darkness and handling photographic chemicals, it provided him with his union ticket and his first experience of the technical side of filmmaking. With help from his brother, he subsequently became a clapper loader at Southall Studios, beginning a progression through the camera department.
During the early 1950s, Michael worked at Hammer Films as a clapper loader and focus puller on productions including The Man in Black and Meet Simon Cherry. He steadily progressed through the camera department, becoming a Director of Photography and photographing a number of Hammer's celebrated horror films. His credits included The Ugly Duckling, The Devil Ship Pirates, The Gorgon, Dracula: Prince of Darkness and Rasputin, the Mad Monk.
At the same time, Michael developed a substantial career in television. He photographed episodes and series for ITC, including Sword of Freedom, The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Saint. His television work continued throughout his career and later included The New Avengers, Philip Marlowe, Private Eye and Press Gang.
Michael's experience with large-scale filmmaking expanded through his work as second-unit Director of Photography on three James Bond films: Goldfinger, Thunderball and You Only Live Twice. These productions gave him extensive experience in action cinematography, location work and technically demanding sequences. His career reached a major milestone when he was appointed Director of Photography on On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969, directed by Peter Hunt and starring George Lazenby as James Bond. The film's spectacular Alpine locations and action sequences remain among the most visually distinctive in the Bond series.
Following On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Michael continued to move comfortably between major feature productions and television. His film credits included The Hireling, Galileo, The Stick Up, Leopard in the Snow, The Passage, Loophole, Wild Geese II and God's Outlaw. His television work continued into the 1980s, demonstrating the versatility that had characterised his career from its earliest years.
Michael was a full accredited member of the British Society of Cinematographers and remained an important figure within our organisation. His career reflected the changing nature of British cinematography during the post-war period: from laboratory work and the studio system, through Hammer's genre filmmaking and the technical demands of CinemaScope and large-scale action films, to television drama and international productions.
Michael Reed died on 15 December 2022, aged 93.