Frank Van Tuyl Phillips was an American cinematographer and film teacher, who worked on many of the Disney films during the 1960s and 1970s. Having done some 2nd Unit photography for Walt Disney on Mary Poppins, The Gnome-Mobile, and Lt. Robin Crusoe USN, he was offered a contract to work full time on many of Disney's television projects and feature films, like Scandalous John, The Black Hole, Escape to Witch Mountain, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Shaggy D.A.
Phillips was born in Illinois, but his moved to California later on. As a child, he was a neighborhood kid near Walt Disney's original garage studio. Dreaming of a football career at Notre Dame while attending Hollywood High School, he was befriended by the son of the manager of the Grumman's Chinese Theater. There was an opening for a summer job at Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios. he went from working in the laboratory shipping department to being a camera operator with Harry Stradling, Sr. ASC taking him under his wing. In time, Frank was ready to operate and was given the opportunity on King Solomon's Mine, Singing in the Rain, Giant, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Barkleys of Broadway, and The Bad Seed.
With the television industry looking for experienced cameramen, Phillips soon found work on shows, like Navy Log, Have Gun Will Travel, The Cara Williams Show, 12 O'Clock High, Perry Mason, Hong Kong, Hotel de Paree, The Wild Wild West, Border Patrol, Gunsmoke, and Hawaii Five-0.
He died 5 days after his 82nd birthday.
Filmography[]
| Year | Film | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1958-1976 | The Magical World of Disney | Cinematographer Director of Photography |
| 1964 | Mary Poppins | Second Unit Photography - uncredited |
| 1966 | Lt. Robin Crusoe USN | Cinematographer - uncredited |
| 1967 | The Gnome-Mobile | Second Unit Photography - uncredited |
| 1967 | Mosby's Marauders | Director of Photography |
| 1968 | The Young Loner | Cinematographer |
| 1968 | The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band | Director of Photography |
| 1969 | Secrets of the Pirates' Inn | Cinematographer |
| 1969 | The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes | Director of Photography |
| 1970 | The Wild Country | Cinematographer |
| 1970 | Scandalous John | Director of Photography |
| 1971 | Bedknobs and Broomsticks | Director of Photography |
| 1971 | The Strange Monster of Strawberry Cove | Director of Photography |
| 1972 | Now You See Him, Now You Don't | Director of Photography |
| 1972 | Snowball Express | Director of Photography |
| 1973 | The World's Greatest Athlete | Director of Photography |
| 1974 | Hog Wild | Cinematographer |
| 1974 | Herbie Rides Again | Director of Photography |
| 1974 | Return of the Big Cat | Cinematographer |
| 1974 | The Island at the Top of the World | Director of Photography |
| 1975 | Escape to Witch Mountain | Director of Photography |
| 1975 | The Apple Dumpling Gang | Director of Photography |
| 1976 | The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper | Cinematographer |
| 1976 | No Deposit, No Return | Director of Photography |
| 1976 | Treasure of Matecumbe | Director of Photography |
| 1976 | Gus | Cinematographer |
| 1976 | The Shaggy D.A. | Director of Photography |
| 1977 | Pete's Dragon | Director of Photography |
| 1978 | Return from Witch Mountain | Director of Photography |
| 1978 | Hot Lead and Cold Feet | Director of Photography |
| 1979 | The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again | Cinematographer |
| 1979 | The Black Hole | Director of Photography |
| 1980 | Midnight Madness | Director of Photography |
| 1980 | Herbie Goes Bananas | Director of Photography |