G.W. Bitzer - Movie and Film Biography, Credits and Filmography

Aliases

Billy Bitzer
G. W. Bitzer

Genres

Active

1903 - 1933

Born

April 21, 1872 in Roxbury, MA

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overview

by Hal Erickson biography

A onetime silversmith and novelty manufacturer, 24-year old G.W. "Billy" Bitzer began working for the motion picture company that would later be known as Biograph in 1896. Initially hired as an electrician, Bitzer soon became indispensable to Biograph as the company's chief photographer, concentrating on news events and vaudeville sketches. The troubleshooting Bitzer was on the ground floor of several early cinematic developments--usually involving a measure of personal risk, such as filming from the cowcatcher of a moving train. In 1908, Bitzer met D. W. Griffith, who'd been hired by Biograph as an actor and writer. Bitzer would later claim that he didn't think Griffith was "so hot," but when the new employee expressed an interest in directing, the two formed a partnership that would make movie history. Without intruding upon one another's field of expertise, Griffith and Bitzer literally "grew" together technically and artistically. When Griffith decided he wanted to move his camera closer to his actors, Bitzer showed him how to set up the best angles without the end result looking clumsy; when Griffith wanted a distance shot with everything in perfect focus, Bitzer would come up with a new special lens for that purpose; and when Griffith wanted a method of dramatically ending a film that wouldn't be as crude or abrupt as a flat cut, Bitzer developed the slow fade-out. The Griffith/Bitzer Biograph films of 1909-1912 became the industry standard, and soon every cameraman worth his salt was endeavoring to match Bitzer's results. When Griffith moved on to feature film, he took Bitzer with him; though it may be hard to believe, Bitzer was the only cameraman and his the only camera utilized throughout the mammoth Birth of a Nation (1915). For Intolerance (1916), Griffith wanted a sweeping overhead shot of his gargantuan Babylon set; ever obliging, the fearless Bitzer photographed the scene from an aerial balloon. When Griffith set up his own Mamaroneck studios in the 1920s, he found he had to hire other cameramen to maintain a steady output; thus he began relying less and less on Bitzer, though the two continued working together off and on until Griffith's final film, The Struggle (1931). The failure of this last-named film finished Griffith in Hollywood; Bitzer, too, found himself considered "old hat" and unemployable. He lived in very austere retirement until he was hired in 1940 to work as a researcher with the film library at the Museum of Modern Art. Many of Billy Bitzer's incisive recollections of the Griffith years were recorded in the 1957 coffee-table book The Movies, published 13 years after Bitzer's death; more hitherto unpublished Bitzer reminiscences were gathered together for a 1973 book, Billy Bitzer--His Story.

Title	Year	Editors' Rating		User Rating
Hotel Variety Cinematographer	1933
Hotel Splendid Cinematographer	1932
Lady of the Pavements Cinematographer	1929
Drums of Love Cinematographer	1928
The Battle of the Sexes Cinematographer	1928
Midnight Girl Cinematographer	1925
America Cinematographer	1924
The White Rose Cinematographer	1923
Orphans of the Storm Cinematographer	1922
Sure Fire Flint Cinematographer	1922
The Greatest Question Cinematographer	1920
The Idol Dancer Cinematographer	1920
The Love Flower Cinematographer	1920
Way Down East Cinematographer	1920
A Romance of Happy Valley Cinematographer	1919
Broken Blossoms Cinematographer	1919
Scarlet Days Cinematographer	1919
The Girl Who Stayed at Home Cinematographer	1919
True Heart Susie Cinematographer	1919
Hearts of the World Cinematographer	1918
The Great Love Cinematographer	1918
The Greatest Thing in Life Cinematographer	1918
Intolerance Cinematographer	1916
The Birth of a Nation Cinematographer	1915
Home, Sweet Home Cinematographer	1914
Judith of Bethulia Cinematographer	1914
The Avenging Conscience Cinematographer	1914
The Battle of the Sexes Cinematographer	1914
The Escape Cinematographer	1914
A Chance Deception Cinematographer	1913
A Girl's Stratagem Cinematographer	1913
A Misappropriated Turkey Cinematographer	1913
A Misunderstood Boy Cinematographer	1913
A Timely Interception Cinematographer	1913
A Welcome Intruder Cinematographer	1913
An Adventure in the Autumn Woods Cinematographer	1913
An Indian's Loyalty Cinematographer	1913
Broken Ways Cinematographer	1913
Brute Force Cinematographer	1913
Death's Marathon Cinematographer	1913
Drink's Lure Cinematographer	1913
During the Round-Up Cinematographer	1913
Fate Cinematographer	1913
Her Mother's Oath Cinematographer	1913
His Mother's Son Cinematographer	1913
Just Gold Cinematographer	1913
Love in an Apartment Hotel Cinematographer	1913
Near to Earth Cinematographer	1913
Oil and Water Cinematographer	1913
Olaf-An Atom Cinematographer	1913
Pirate Gold Cinematographer	1913
The Battle at Elderbush Gulch Cinematographer	1913
The Coming of Angelo Cinematographer	1913
The Hero of Little Italy Cinematographer	1913
The House of Darkness Cinematographer	1913
The Lady and the Mouse Cinematographer	1913
The Little Tease Cinematographer	1913
The Mistake Cinematographer	1913
The Mothering Heart Cinematographer	1913
The Perfidy of Mary Cinematographer	1913
The Ranchero's Revenge Cinematographer	1913
The Reformers Cinematographer	1913
The Sheriff's Baby Cinematographer	1913
The Sorrowful Shore Cinematographer	1913
The Stolen Loaf Cinematographer	1913
The Telephone Girl and the Lady Cinematographer	1913
The Tender Hearted Boy Cinematographer	1913
The Unwelcome Guest Cinematographer	1913
The Wanderer Cinematographer	1913
The Yaqui Cur Cinematographer	1913
Three Friends Cinematographer	1913
Two Men of the Desert Cinematographer	1913
A Beast at Bay Cinematographer	1912
A Change of Spirit Cinematographer	1912
A Child's Remorse Cinematographer	1912
A Cry for Help Cinematographer	1912
A Feud in the Kentucky Hills Cinematographer	1912
A Lodging for the Night Cinematographer	1912
A Pueblo Legend Cinematographer	1912
A Siren of Impulse Cinematographer	1912
A Sister's Love Cinematographer	1912
A String of Pearls Cinematographer	1912
A Tale of the Wilderness Cinematographer	1912
A Temporary Truce Cinematographer	1912
An Indian Summer Cinematographer	1912
An Outcast Among Outcasts Cinematographer	1912
An Unseen Enemy Cinematographer	1912
Billy's Stratagem Cinematographer	1912
Black Sheep Cinematographer	1912
Brutality Cinematographer	1912
Fate's Interception Cinematographer	1912
For His Son Cinematographer	1912
Friends Cinematographer	1912
Gold and Glitter Cinematographer	1912
Heaven Avenges Cinematographer	1912
Heredity Cinematographer	1912
His Lesson Cinematographer	1912
Home Folks Cinematographer	1912
In the Aisles of the Wild Cinematographer	1912
Iola's Promise Cinematographer	1912
Just Like a Woman Cinematographer	1912
Lena and the Geese Cinematographer	1912
Man's Genesis Cinematographer	1912
Man's Lust for Gold Cinematographer	1912
My Baby Cinematographer	1912
My Hero Cinematographer	1912
One Is Business, the Other Crime Cinematographer	1912
Root of Evil Cinematographer	1912
So Near, Yet So Far Cinematographer	1912
Sunbeam Cinematographer	1912
The Baby and the Stork Cinematographer	1912
The Burglar's Dilemma Cinematographer	1912
The Eternal Mother Cinematographer	1912
The Female of the Species Cinematographer	1912
The Girl and Her Trust Cinematographer	1912
The God Within Cinematographer	1912
The Goddess of Sagebrush Gulch Cinematographer	1912
The Informer Cinematographer	1912
The Inner Circle Cinematographer	1912
The Lesser Evil Cinematographer	1912
The Massacre Cinematographer	1912
The Mender of Nets Cinematographer	1912
The Musketeers of Pig Alley Cinematographer	1912
The Narrow Road Cinematographer	1912
The New York Hat Cinematographer	1912
The Old Actor Cinematographer	1912
The Old Bookkeeper Cinematographer	1912
The One She Loved Cinematographer	1912
The Painted Lady Cinematographer	1912
The Punishment Cinematographer	1912
The Sands of Dee Cinematographer	1912
The Schoolteacher and the Waif Cinematographer	1912
The Spirit Awakened Cinematographer	1912
The Transformation of Mike Cinematographer	1912
Two Daughters of Eve Cinematographer	1912
Under Burning Skies Cinematographer	1912
When Kings Were the Law Cinematographer	1912
With the Enemy's Help Cinematographer	1912
A Country Cupid Cinematographer	1911
A Decree of Destiny Cinematographer	1911
A Knight of the Road Cinematographer	1911
A Romany Tragedy Cinematographer	1911
A Terrible Discovery Cinematographer	1911
A Woman Scorned Cinematographer	1911
A Wreath of Orange Blossoms Cinematographer	1911
As in a Looking Glass Cinematographer	1911
Bobby, the Coward Cinematographer	1911
Conscience Cinematographer	1911
Dan the Dandy Cinematographer	1911
Failure Cinematographer	1911
Fate's Turning Cinematographer	1911
Fighting Blood Cinematographer	1911
Fisher Folks Cinematographer	1911
Heart Beats of Long Ago Cinematographer	1911
Her Awakening Cinematographer	1911
Her Sacrifice Cinematographer	1911
His Daughter Cinematographer	1911
His Mother's Scarf Cinematographer	1911
His Trust Cinematographer	1911
His Trust Fulfilled Cinematographer	1911
How She Triumphed Cinematographer	1911
In the Days of '49 Cinematographer	1911
Italian Blood Cinematographer	1911
Lily of the Tenements Cinematographer	1911
Love in the Hills Cinematographer	1911
Madame Rex Cinematographer	1911
Paradise Lost Cinematographer	1911
Ruling Passion Cinematographer	1911
Saved from Himself Cinematographer	1911
Sunshine Through the Dark Cinematographer	1911
Swords and Hearts Cinematographer	1911
Teaching Dad to Like Her Cinematographer	1911
The Adventures of Billy Cinematographer	1911
The Battle Cinematographer	1911
The Blind Princess and the Poet Cinematographer	1911
The Broken Cross Cinematographer	1911
The Chief's Daughter Cinematographer	1911
The Crooked Road Cinematographer	1911
The Diamond Star Cinematographer	1911
The Heart of a Savage Cinematographer	1911
The Indian Brothers Cinematographer	1911
The Italian Barber Cinematographer	1911
The Jealous Husband Cinematographer	1911
The Last Drop of Water Cinematographer	1911
The Lonedale Operator Cinematographer	1911
The Long Road Cinematographer	1911
The Making of a Man Cinematographer	1911
The Miser's Heart Cinematographer	1911
The New Dress Cinematographer	1911
The Old Confectioner's Mistake Cinematographer	1911
The Poor Sick Men Cinematographer	1911
The Primal Call Cinematographer	1911
The Revenue Man and the Girl Cinematographer	1911
The Rose of Kentucky Cinematographer	1911
The Smile of a Child Cinematographer	1911
The Sorrowful Example Cinematographer	1911
The Spanish Gypsy Cinematographer	1911
The Squaw's Love Cinematographer	1911
The Stuff Heroes Are Made Of Cinematographer	1911
The Thief and the Girl Cinematographer	1911
The Trail of Books Cinematographer	1911
The Two Paths Cinematographer	1911
The Two Sides Cinematographer	1911
The Unveiling Cinematographer	1911
The Voice of the Child Cinematographer	1911
The White Rose of the Wilds Cinematographer	1911
Three Sisters Cinematographer	1911
Through Darkened Vales Cinematographer	1911
Was He a Coward? Cinematographer	1911
What Shall We Do with Our Old? Cinematographer	1911
When a Man Loves Cinematographer	1911
A Child's Faith Cinematographer	1910
A Child's Impulse Cinematographer	1910
A Child's Stratagem Cinematographer	1910
A Flash of Light Cinematographer	1910
A Midnight Cupid Cinematographer	1910
A Mohawk's Way Cinematographer	1910
A Plain Song Cinematographer	1910
A Rich Revenge Cinematographer	1910
A Romance of the Western Hills Cinematographer	1910
A Salutary Lesson Cinematographer	1910
A Victim of Jealousy Cinematographer	1910
After Many Years Cinematographer	1910
An Arcadian Maid Cinematographer	1910
As It Is in Life Cinematographer	1910
As the Bells Rang Out! Cinematographer	1910
Call Cinematographer	1910
Child of the Ghetto Cinematographer	1910
Examination Day at School Cinematographer	1910
Faithful Cinematographer	1910
Fugitive Cinematographer	1910
Gold Is Not All Cinematographer	1910
Her Father's Pride Cinematographer	1910
Her Terrible Ordeal Cinematographer	1910
His Last Burglary Cinematographer	1910
His Sister-In-Law Cinematographer	1910
In Life's Cycle Cinematographer	1910
In Old California Cinematographer	1910
In the Border States Cinematographer	1910
In the Season of Buds Cinematographer	1910
Little Angels of Luck Cinematographer	1910
Love Among the Roses Cinematographer	1910
Man Cinematographer	1910
Muggsy's First Sweetheart Cinematographer	1910
On the Reef Cinematographer	1910
One Night, and Then Cinematographer	1910
Over Silent Paths Cinematographer	1910
Ramona Cinematographer	1910
Rose O' Salem Town Cinematographer	1910
Serious Sixteen Cinematographer	1910
Simple Charity Cinematographer	1910
Sunshine Sue Cinematographer	1910
Taming a Husband Cinematographer	1910
That Chink at Golden Gulch Cinematographer	1910
The Banker's Daughters Cinematographer	1910
The Broken Doll Cinematographer	1910
The Call to Arms Cinematographer	1910
The Cloister's Touch Cinematographer	1910
The Converts Cinematographer	1910
The Dancing Girl of Butte Cinematographer	1910
The Duke's Plan Cinematographer	1910
The Englishman and the Girl Cinematographer	1910
The Face at the Window Cinematographer	1910
The Final Settlement Cinematographer	1910
The Gold Seekers Cinematographer	1910
The Golden Supper Cinematographer	1910
The Honor of His Family Cinematographer	1910
The House with Closed Shutters Cinematographer	1910
The Iconoclast Cinematographer	1910
The Impalement Cinematographer	1910
The Last Deal Cinematographer	1910
The Lesson Cinematographer	1910
The Marked Time-Table Cinematographer	1910
The Message of the Violin Cinematographer	1910
The Modern Prodigal Cinematographer	1910
The Newlyweds Cinematographer	1910
The Oath and the Man Cinematographer	1910
The Purgation Cinematographer	1910
The Rocky Road Cinematographer	1910
The Song of the Wildwood Flute Cinematographer	1910
The Sorrows of the Unfaithful Cinematographer	1910
The Thread of Destiny Cinematographer	1910
The Twisted Trail Cinematographer	1910
The Two Brothers Cinematographer	1910
The Unchanging Sea Cinematographer	1910
The Woman from Mellon's Cinematographer	1910
Thou Shalt Not Cinematographer	1910
Two Little Waifs Cinematographer	1910
Unexpected Help Cinematographer	1910
Usurer Cinematographer	1910
Waiter No. 5 Cinematographer	1910
Way of the World Cinematographer	1910
What the Daisy Said Cinematographer	1910
White Roses Cinematographer	1910
Wilful Peggy Cinematographer	1910
Winning Back His Love Cinematographer	1910
A Baby's Shoe Cinematographer	1909
A Burglar's Mistake Cinematographer	1909
A Change of Heart Cinematographer	1909
A Convict's Sacrifice Cinematographer	1909
A Corner in Wheat Cinematographer	1909
A Drunkard's Reformation Cinematographer	1909
A Fair Exchange Cinematographer	1909
A Fool's Revenge Cinematographer	1909
A Midnight Adventure Cinematographer	1909
A New Trick Cinematographer	1909
A Rude Hostess Cinematographer	1909
A Rural Elopement Cinematographer	1909
A Sound Sleeper Cinematographer	1909
A Strange Meeting Cinematographer	1909
A Sweet Revenge Cinematographer	1909
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them Cinematographer	1909
At the Altar Cinematographer	1909
Choosing a Husband Cinematographer	1909
Comata, the Sioux Cinematographer	1909
Confidence Cinematographer	1909
Fools of Fate Cinematographer	1909
Getting Even Cinematographer	1909
Her First Biscuits Cinematographer	1909
His Duty Cinematographer	1909
His Lost Love Cinematographer	1909
His Ward's Love Cinematographer	1909
His Wife's Visitor Cinematographer	1909
In Little Italy Cinematographer	1909
In Old Kentucky Cinematographer	1909
In a Hempen Bag Cinematographer	1909
In the Watches of the Night Cinematographer	1909
In the Window Recess Cinematographer	1909
Jealousy and the Man Cinematographer	1909
Jilt Cinematographer	1909
Jones and His New Neighbors Cinematographer	1909
Jones and the Lady Book Agent Cinematographer	1909
Lady Helen's Escapade Cinematographer	1909
Lines of White on a Sullen Sea Cinematographer	1909
Love Finds a Way Cinematographer	1909
Lucky Jim Cinematographer	1909
Mr. Jones Has a Card Party Cinematographer	1909
Mr. Jones' Burglar Cinematographer	1909
Nursing a Viper Cinematographer	1909
Oh, Uncle! Cinematographer	1909
One Busy Hour Cinematographer	1909
Resurrection Cinematographer	1909
Sacrifice Cinematographer	1909
Schneider's Anti-Noise Crusade Cinematographer	1909
Slave Cinematographer	1909
Suicide Club Cinematographer	1909
Sweet and Twenty Cinematographer	1909
Tender Hearts Cinematographer	1909
Test Cinematographer	1909
The Awakening Cinematographer	1909
The Better Way Cinematographer	1909
The Brahma Diamond Cinematographer	1909
The Broken Locket Cinematographer	1909
The Cardinal's Conspiracy Cinematographer	1909
The Children's Friend Cinematographer	1909
The Cord of Life Cinematographer	1909
The Country Doctor Cinematographer	1909
The Cricket on the Hearth Cinematographer	1909
The Criminal Hypnotist Cinematographer	1909
The Curtain Pole Cinematographer	1909
The Death Disc Cinematographer	1909
The Deception Cinematographer	1909
The Eavesdropper Cinematographer	1909
The Expiation Cinematographer	1909
The Faded Lilies Cinematographer	1909
The Fascinating Mrs. Francis Cinematographer	1909
The French Duel Cinematographer	1909
The Friend of the Family Cinematographer	1909
The Gibson Goddess Cinematographer	1909
The Girls and Daddy Cinematographer	1909
The Hindoo Dagger Cinematographer	1909
The Honor of Thieves Cinematographer	1909
The Indian Runner's Romance Cinematographer	1909
The Joneses Have Amateur Theatricals Cinematographer	1909
The Light That Came Cinematographer	1909
The Little Darling Cinematographer	1909
The Little Teacher Cinematographer	1909
The Lonely Villa Cinematographer	1909
The Lure of the Gown Cinematographer	1909
The Maniac Cook Cinematographer	1909
The Medicine Bottle Cinematographer	1909
The Mended Lute Cinematographer	1909
The Message Cinematographer	1909
The Mexican Sweethearts Cinematographer	1909
The Mills of the Gods Cinematographer	1909
The Mountaineer's Honor Cinematographer	1909
The Necklace Cinematographer	1909
The Open Gate Cinematographer	1909
The Peachbasket Hat Cinematographer	1909
The Politician's Love Story Cinematographer	1909
The Prussian Spy Cinematographer	1909
The Red Man's View Cinematographer	1909
The Renunciation Cinematographer	1909
The Restoration Cinematographer	1909
The Roue's Heart Cinematographer	1909
The Salvation Army Lass Cinematographer	1909
The Sealed Room Cinematographer	1909
The Seventh Day Cinematographer	1909
The Son's Return Cinematographer	1909
The Way of a Man Cinematographer	1909
They Would Elope Cinematographer	1909
Those Awful Hats Cinematographer	1909
Those Boys! Cinematographer	1909
Through the Breakers Cinematographer	1909
To Save Her Soul Cinematographer	1909
Tragic Love Cinematographer	1909
A Calamitous Elopement Cinematographer	1908
A Famous Escape Cinematographer	1908
A Smoked Husband Cinematographer	1908
Betrayed by a Handprint Cinematographer	1908
Bobby's Kodak Cinematographer	1908
Caught by Wireless Cinematographer	1908
Classmates Cinematographer	1908
Concealing a Burglar Cinematographer	1908
Devil Cinematographer	1908
Falsely Accused! Cinematographer	1908
Father Gets in the Game Cinematographer	1908
Her First Adventure Cinematographer	1908
Hulda's Lovers Cinematographer	1908
Lonesome Junction Cinematographer	1908
Monday Morning in a Coney Island Police Court Cinematographer	1908
Money Mad Cinematographer	1908
Mr. Jones at the Ball Cinematographer	1908
Mrs. Jones Entertains Cinematographer	1908
Old Isaacs, the Pawnbroker Cinematographer	1908
Outpost in Malaya Cinematographer	1908
Professional Jealousy Cinematographer	1908
Romance of a Jewess Cinematographer	1908
The Black Viper Cinematographer	1908
The Boy Detective Cinematographer	1908
The Christmas Burglars Cinematographer	1908
The Clubman and the Tramp Cinematographer	1908
The Feud and the Turkey Cinematographer	1908
The Ingrate Cinematographer	1908
The Man and the Woman Cinematographer	1908
The Pirate's Gold Cinematographer	1908
The Princess in the Vase Cinematographer	1908
The Reckoning Cinematographer	1908
The Snowman Cinematographer	1908
The Song of the Shirt Cinematographer	1908
The Stolen Jewels Cinematographer	1908
The Taming of the Shrew Cinematographer	1908
The Test of Friendship Cinematographer	1908
The Valet's Wife Cinematographer	1908
The Vaquero's Vow Cinematographer	1908
The Yellow Peril Cinematographer	1908
The Zulu's Heart Cinematographer	1908
Where the Breakers Roar Cinematographer	1908
Dr. Skinum Cinematographer	1907
Mr. Gay and Mrs. Cinematographer	1907
Yale Laundry Cinematographer	1907
Arrival of Emigrants, Ellis Island Cinematographer	1906
San Francisco Disaster Cinematographer	1906
Funeral of Hiram Cronk Cinematographer	1905
Pennsylvania Tunnel Excavation Cinematographer	1905
Opening the Williamsburg Bridge Cinematographer	1904
N.Y. Fire Department Returning Cinematographer	1903

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