Ralf Detlef Bode (March 31, 1941 – February 27, 2001) was a German-born American cinematographer best known for his work on Coal Miner's Daughter.[1]

Ralf D. Bode
Born
Ralf Detlef Bode

(1941-03-31)March 31, 1941
DiedFebruary 27, 2001(2001-02-27) (aged 59)
Years active1972–2001

Life and career

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Born in Berlin, Germany, Bode moved with his family to Vermont in 1954, when he was 14 years old.[2] A graduate of the University of Vermont, he initially started off as an actor and enrolled at Yale School of Drama. He also served as a photographer in the United States Army.

Bode did the cinematography for films Saturday Night Fever, Gorky Park, The Accused, Uncle Buck and Don Juan DeMarco. He was an uncredited second unit director for Rocky, but was credited for shooting the scenes in which Sylvester Stallone runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

He received an Academy Award nomination for his work on Coal Miner's Daughter, as well as two Emmy nominations, for Gypsy and for Annie.[1][3]

Bode died of lung cancer on February 27, 2001, at age 59.[1][4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Director Notes
1972 The Stoolie John G. Avildsen
George Silano
With John G. Avildsen and Charlie Clifton
1974 There Is No 13 William Sachs
1975 Saturday Night at the Baths David Buckley
SOS: Screw on the Screen Jim Buckley
1977 Saturday Night Fever John Badham
1978 Somebody Killed Her Husband Lamont Johnson With Andrew Laszlo
Slow Dancing in the Big City John G. Avildsen
1979 Rich Kids Robert M. Young
1980 Coal Miner's Daughter Michael Apted
Dressed to Kill Brian De Palma
1981 Raggedy Man Jack Fisk
1982 A Little Sex Bruce Paltrow
1983 Gorky Park Michael Apted
1984 Firstborn
1986 Violets Are Blue Jack Fisk
The Whoopee Boys John Byrum
1987 Critical Condition Michael Apted
The Big Town Ben Bolt
1988 Distant Thunder Rick Rosenthal
The Accused Jonathan Kaplan
1989 Cousins Joel Schumacher
Uncle Buck John Hughes
1991 One Good Cop Heywood Gould
1992 Leaving Normal Edward Zwick
Love Field Jonathan Kaplan
1993 Made in America Richard Benjamin
The Nutcracker Emile Ardolino
1994 Bad Girls Jonathan Kaplan
Don Juan DeMarco Jeremy Leven
Safe Passage Robert Allan Ackerman
1995 The Big Green Holly Goldberg Sloan
1997 A Simple Wish Michael Ritchie
Hacks Gary Rosen
1999 The Secret Life of Girls Holly Goldberg Sloan
2000 Boys and Girls Robert Iscove
2001 Speaking of Sex John McNaughton

Short film

Year Title Director Notes
1975 Inaugural Ball John G. Avildsen Segment of Fore Play
1997 Women Without Implants Anne De Salvo

Documentary film

Year Title Director
1977 Secrets of the Gods William Sachs
1985 Bring On the Night Michael Apted

Television

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TV movies

Year Title Director
1976 Sea Marks Ronald F. Maxwell
Steven Robman
1993 Gypsy Emile Ardolino
1995 A Streetcar Named Desire Glenn Jordan
1997 Cinderella Robert Iscove
1998 Last Rites Kevin Dowling
1999 The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer William Graham
Annie Rob Marshall
Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End Glenn Jordan

TV series

Year Title Director Note
1995 The History of Rock 'n' Roll Andrew Solt
Bud Friedgen
Marc Sachnoff
4 episodes

Accolades

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Academy Awards

Year Category Title Result
1980 Best Cinematography Coal Miner's Daughter Nominated

Primetime Emmy Awards

Year Category Title Result
1993 Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Gypsy Nominated
1999 Annie Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b c Oliver, Myrna (March 8, 2001). "Ralf Bode; Cinematographer Noted for Capturing Emotion in Movies". Los Angeles Times – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Ralf D. Bode". Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers.
  3. ^ "Bode nominations". emmys.com. Television Academy. n.d. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Ralf Bode, 59, Cinematographer for 'Rocky'". The New York Times. March 6, 2001.
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