Rudolph Maté

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Rudolph Maté, born as Rudolf Matheh or Mayer, (21 January 1898 – 27 October 1964) was an accomplished cinematographer and film director.

Born in Kraków, Austria-Hungary, Maté started in the film business after graduating from the University of Budapest. He went on to work as an assistant cameraman in Hungary and later throughout Europe, sometimes with noted lensman Karl Freund. Maté worked on Carl Theodor Dreyer's film The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) which led to his being hired as director of photography on a number of prominent films.

Maté worked as cinematographer on Hollywood films from the mid 1930s, including Dodsworth (1936) and Stella Dallas (1937). He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in five consecutive years, for Foreign Correspondent (1940), That Hamilton Woman (1941), To Be or Not to Be (1942), Sahara (1943), Cover Girl (1944), and Gilda (1946).

In 1947, he turned to directing films, including When Worlds Collide (1951), the film noir classic D.O.A., and No Sad Songs for Me (both 1950).

Directed by Rudolph Maté, The 300 Spartans is a 1962 film depicting the Battle of Thermopylae. Made with the cooperation of the Greek government, it was shot in the village of Perachora in the Peloponnese.

He died from a heart attack in Hollywood on 27 October 1964, age 66.