Biography

Paul Ivano was born on May 13, 1900 in Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, France. He was a cinematographer, known for Red Snow (1952), The Girl from Rio (1939) and Black Angel (1946). He was married to Greta. He died on April 9, 1984 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Was Rudolph Valentino's roommate for a time. His first job as a cinematographer was on a Valentino film.

Ivano was friends with Rudolph Valentino, Valentino's wife Natacha Rambova and fellow French expatriate Robert Florey.

Suffered from heatstroke while on location in Death Valley for Greed (1924).

Was a member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) from 1934 to 1952.

Began as a still photographer in his native France, first working with the U.S. Army, later for the silent comic Max Linder. Became full director of photography in the 1920s, where he did his best work for Fred Niblo (involved in the filming of the chariot race for Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925) and Erich von Stroheim (Queen Kelly (1929)). Less successful during the sound era and contracted to minor studios, until signed by Universal (1943-1946). Arguably his best later films were The Shanghai Gesture (1941) and The Suspect (1944).