Robert Paynter

Robert William Paynter, B.S.C. (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 known for his collaborations with John Landis and Michael Winner.

John Landis
Paynter worked with director John Landis on five films: An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, Thriller, Into the Night and Spies Like Us. Paynter helped to create a "pop" comic book-style for American Werewolf, Thriller and Into the Night. He also made a cameo in three Landis' productions: Into the Night (as Security Guard), Spies like Us (as Dr. Gill) and Burke and Hare.

Michael Winner
Winner collaborated on 10 films with Paynter (from 1969 to 1984), including: The Big Sleep (1978) and Scream for Help (1984).

Films

 * Rock-a-Doodle (1992, live-action sequences)
 * Strike It Rich (1990)
 * When the Whales Came (1989)
 * Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
 * Spies Like Us (1985)
 * Into the Night (1985)
 * The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
 * Scream for Help (1984)
 * Trading Places (1983)
 * Superman III (1983)
 * An American Werewolf in London (1981)
 * Superman II (1980)
 * The Big Sleep (1978)
 * Firepower (1979)
 * High Velocity (1976)
 * Scorpio (1973)
 * The Mechanic (1972)
 * Chato's Land (1972)
 * The Nightcomers (1971)
 * Lawman (1971)
 * The Games (1970)
 * Hannibal Brooks (1969)

Television

 * The Zoo Gang (1974)

Music videos

 * Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983)