Robert William Paynter BSC (12 March 1928 – 20 October 2010) was an English cinematographer.After leaving the Mercers' School in the City of London at the age of 15, Paynter entered the film industry as a camera trainee with the Government Film Department.He is widely known for his collaboration with John Landis and Michael Winner.
Had 3 children with Marjorie: son Jeff Paynter & 2 daughters. One of his daughters predeceased him in 2010.
2
Worked with director John Landis on five films from 1981 through 1985, including the highly influential An American Werewolf in London (1981). Their collaboration on the Michael Jackson music video "Thriller" also was highly influential in helping create a "pop" comic book-style that Paynter first pioneered with director Richard Lester on Superman II (1980).
3
Worked with director Michael Winner from 1969 to 1984, when they collaborated on 10 films together.
Cinematographer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
2006
Video
Michael Jackson: Number Ones
2003
Video documentary video "Thriller"
Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II
1997
Video documentary segment "Thriller"
Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
1995
Video documentary segment "Thriller"
Get Back
1991
Documentary
Rock-A-Doodle
1991
live action segments
Strike It Rich
1990
When the Whales Came
1989
The Secret Garden
1987
TV Movie
Little Shop of Horrors
1986
director of photography
Spies Like Us
1985
director of photography
National Lampoon's European Vacation
1985
director of photography - as Bob Paynter
Into the Night
1985
The Muppets Take Manhattan
1984
director of photography
Scream for Help
1984
Michael Jackson: Thriller
1983
Video short director of photography
Superman III
1983
director of photography
Trading Places
1983
director of photography
Curtains
1983
director of photography
An American Werewolf in London
1981
director of photography
The Final Conflict
1981
Superman II
1980
as Bob Paynter
Firepower
1979
The Big Sleep
1978
High Velocity
1976
The Zoo Gang
TV Series 1 episode, 1974 director of photography - 5 episodes, 1974
Scorpio
1973
director of photography
The Mechanic
1972
European sequences
Chato's Land
1972
director of photography
The Nightcomers
1971
director of photography
Lawman
1971
director of photography
The Games
1970
director of photography
Hannibal Brooks
1969
director of photography
Soldier '67
1966
Short
The Linesmen
1965
Documentary short as Bob Paynter
The More Man Understands
1965
Documentary short
The Time Between
1965
Documentary short
Under the Wires
1965
Documentary short
Any Man's Kingdom
1956
Documentary short
The Land of Robert Burns
1956
Documentary short
Capital Visit
1955
Short
Yorkshire Sands
1955
Documentary short photography
Cine Gazette No. 14: Do You Remember?
1955
Documentary short
Snowdrift at Bleath Gill
1955
Documentary short photography
East Anglian Holiday
1954
Short
Elizabethan Express
1954
Documentary short
The Heart of England
1954
Documentary short
The Elephant Will Never Forget
1953
Documentary short director of photography
Camera Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Jésus était son nom
1991
TV Movie director of cinematography
Saturn 3
1980
additional photographer - as Bob Paynter
Terminus
1961
Short documentary director of photography: additional photography
Waiting for Work
1960
TV Movie documentary camera operator - as Robert Painter
This Is York
1953
Documentary short assistant camera
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Burke and Hare
2010
Distinguished Doctor
Spies Like Us
1985
Dr. Gill
Into the Night
1985
Security Guard
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Heart Is Highland
1952
Short production assistant
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Edición Especial Coleccionista
2012-2013
TV Series in memory of - 2 episodes
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Beware the Moon: Remembering 'An American Werewolf in London'
2009
Documentary
Himself
You Will Believe: The Cinematic Saga of Superman
2006
Video documentary
Himself
The Making of 'Superman III'
1985
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Cameraman (uncredited)
The Making of 'The Muppets Take Manhattan'
1984
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Director of Photography
The Making of 'Thriller'
1983
Video documentary
Himself (uncredited)
Known for movies
Trading Places (1983) as Cinematographer
Superman II (1980) as Cinematographer
An American Werewolf in London (1981) as Cinematographer
$16 Million
