Fred Zinnemann the first 25 American films chosen in 1989 for the National Film Registry. With its psychological and moral examinations of its lawman hero Marshall Will Kane, played by Gary Cooper and its innovative chronology whereby screen time approximated the 80-minute countdown to the confrontational hour, the film broke the mold of the formulaic western. Working closely with cinematographer and longtime friend Floyd Crosby, he shot without filters, giving the landscape a harsh "newsreel" quality that clashed with the more painterly cinematography of John Ford's westerns. During production he established a strong rapport with Gary Cooper, photographing the aging actor in
Tim Zinnemann Tim Zinnemann Tim Zinnemann (born April 15, 1940) is an American film producer, former assistant director, and photographer. He is best known for his work on the films "The Cowboys", "The Long Riders", "The Running Man" and "The Island of Dr. Moreau". Zinnemann was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of director Fred Zinnemann and Renee Bartlett. He attended Columbia University, but left before graduation to work as a film editor in Italy. He began is career as an assistant director on the film "Harlow" (1965). Other films followed such as "Cast a Giant Shadow", "What Did You Do