A scene from The Living Daylights (1987), photographed by Alec Mills
Alec Mills, who worked on several James Bond films as a camera operator and director of photography, has died at 91, according to various Bond fan sites, including From Sweden With Love.
His passing is a reminder of how Eon Productions, which produces James Bond films, used to work.
Eon was known for a long time for promoting from within.
Peter Hunt edited the first five Bond films. He was promoted to director for the sixth, On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Peter Lamont's 007 career began as a draftsman on Goldfinger, helping to make Ken Adam's set designs practical. He moved up to set decorator and art director before succeeding Adam as production designer.
John Glen, after three Bond films as editor and second unit director, was promoted to director. He directed all five Eon-produced Bond films in the 1980s.
In the case of Mills, he was a camera operator on various 007 movies: On Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, and Octopussy. When the director of photography position was vacant for 1987's The Living Daylights, Mills was named to fill it.
One of the most memorable shots of The Living Daylights occurs after Bond (Timothy Dalton) has escaped Russian captivity and joins up with a group of Mujahideen. Bond and his new allies arise early in the day. Mills provided a striking image (see above), enhanced by John Barry's final Bond film score. Mills would also fill the director of photography spot for 1989's Licence to Kill.
Mills also was among those interviewed for home video extras produced in the late 1990s for some Bond films.
In the 21st century, Bond films don't come out very often. As a result, you don't have the same kind of crew continuity as the Eon-made 20th century Bond movies.
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