Jack Asher

Who was Jack Asher?

Jack Asher B.S.C. was an English cinematographer. His brother Robert Asher was a film and TV director.

He began his cinematic career as a camera operator, and made his first film as cinematographer or "lighting cameraman" on The Magic Bow.

Asher is best remembered for his work on Hammer films, beginning with The Curse of Frankenstein, the first of Hammer's gothic horrors, and the earliest colour version of the Frankenstein story. He was the director of photography on several of the Hammer horror films including Dracula, The Revenge of Frankenstein, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Mummy and The Brides of Dracula.

His style was characterized by a fantastical use of colours, such as non-realistic purples and greens. Non-Hammer films included The Good Die Young and Reach for the Sky.