Howard Anderson Company: Darrell Anderson matte painter

It exist such small information about VFX and matte artist Darrell A. Anderson that trying to get sign of his works it is almost a guess game.  And mostly this is what I’m doing here, guessing.

Those are the facts I know about Darrel A. Anderson. 

  

Born in California, 1933, the son of Howard Alvin Anderson, and brother of Howard Andrew Anderson. His father founded Howard Anderson Special Photographic Effects Company around 1927.  Both brothers joined his father company providing opticals, titles, mattes, and miniatures. Darrell became matte artist and cinematographer.  The Howard A. Anderson Company worked extensively for TV series during the 60´s and 70´s. Most of Darrell’s  work remain uncredited.

His filmography at IMDB.

 1979- J-Men Forever (photographer: second unit - as Darrell Anderson)

 1978- Superman (additional model photography: USA - as Darrell Anderson)

 1972- The Dirt Gang (special photographic consultant)

 1967-1968 The invaders (TV Series) (special photographic effects - 40 episodes)

 1966- 1969 Star Trek (TV Series) (special effects - as Darrell Anderson)

 1964- Seven days of May (opticals - uncredited)

 1950- Tripoli (special photographic effects)

 The list of titles credited for Howard Anderson Company is huge, and I can imagine Darrell worked on most of titles especially from the 50´s to 70´s.

The Anderson Company's work on Star Trek was nominated for an Emmy Award twice (both times together with other companies providing effects for Star Trek): In 1967 Darrell Anderson was nominated for Individual Achievements in Cinematography, together with Dunn and Joseph Westheimer and in 1969 the company was nominated for Special Classification Achievements together with the Westheimer Company, Van der Veer Photo Effects and Cinema Research.

If someone can enlighten me with more information about him, please go ahead and make my day.

And now let’s go try to find the matte painting work of Darrell Anderson. As I am looking over the Anderson Company, I will also show some matte paintings made by them before Darrell Anderson. In fact Howard Anderson Senior is credited as matte painter at IMDB on four films on the 40´S.  I’m not sure if Anderson senior was the painter himself or if he hired a matte painter and he was responsible for the shots.

On of those films is Dangerous passage (1944) that was a Pine-Thomas production. William H, Pine and William C Thomas created that prolific B-Movie production company working for Paramount Pictures from 1940 to 1957. From 1957 they moved to United Artist. It was during the first period when Howard Anderson Company provided VFX for many of their films.  Most of his work was uncredited as the miniature and mattes for Dangerous passage.

 Small set of the ship’s hull wit the actor hanging between two matte paintings with the matted in ocean. 

Cloudy sky painting.

Miniature ship on dangerous passage.

 Another film on witch Howard Anderson Senior is credited as matte painter at IMDB is Captain Kidd.  On the film credits is only Lee Zavitz for special effects.

There are some miniatures shots of sailing ships.

Composite of ships on a map, an a London harbour view, probably a miniature with painted elements.

Tripoli (1950) was Pine-Thomas production starred by John Payne as many of their adventure and western films.  This time Darrel Anderson is credited alongside with Alex Weldon for special effects. Weldon worked very often with Howard Anderson before going to Spain to supervise FX work for many of the big pictures filmed in Europe during the 60´s and 70´s. He should be in charge of pyrotechnics and mechanical effects.

If the born date is correct, 1933, he must be very young when joined his father VFX Company. He was first credited at 195o film Tripoli, at the age of 17 years. Pretty young for a matte painter!!!!

Miniatures ships and models probably by Weldon. The last one with a matte painting of a bowsprit.

Matte paintings by Darrel Anderson.

Captain China 1950 was a Pine –Thomas production, again starred by John Payne with Alex Weldon credited as Special effects. This time here is not any Anderson credited.

But there are a couple of matte paintings on Captain China. I guess probably by Darrell Anderson.

The right section of the ship is a matte panting.  You can see the separation line on the gangway handrail.

Two more Pyne -Thomas productions.  Pirate adventures Caribbean (1952) with two small matte paintings

And the western The eagle and the hawk (1950) featuring many matte paintings that I guess were painted by Darrell Anderson

Howard Anderson Company was frequently contributor on Edward Small production films. Sometimes credited and some other uncredited.

For The Corsican brother (1941) they were in charge of photographic effects (credited) and a couple of matte paintings that were probably executed by the same artist that used to work on the other Howard Anderson films.

Another Edward Small film is Cagliostro; Black magic (1949) with two wonderful matte paintings. This time there is not FX credited so, I cannot be not sure Howard Anderson was in charge of those mattes.

Last year I showed some matte paintings from the Edward Small film Timbuktu (1959) Again there was not FX credited but if it was under Howard Anderson Company probably were painted by Darrel Anderson.

Matte painting from Desert Sands (1955) with Howard Anderson Company credited for Special photographic effects. Probably matte painting by Darrell Anderson.

At Invasion of the saucer Men (1957) Special effects were credited to Howard Anderson and Alex Weldon. 

The Martian creatures were made by FX sculptor Paul Blaisdell

Howard Anderson and Alex Weldon were in charge of miniature saucers.

There are not matte paintings on that film, just some painted backings for model shots.

Another Sci-Fi film 12 to the moon (1960) produced by Columbia pictures.  Howard Anderson company credited for special photographic effects. There are many planet earth vies from the space.

Miniature rocket ship.

Mate paintings were used to show some aerial vies of frozen cities.

 For the western remake of Gunga Din Sergeants 3 (1962) Howard Anderson Company was in charge of photographic effects with two matte paintings. Probably by Darrel Anderson

The Howard Anderson company was overactive on the filed of TV series. Most celebrated by the Star Trek (1966-69) photographic effects. A far as I know, they hired Albert Whitlock to make the matte paintings. 

The Anderson Company were also responsible for some matte paintings for another legendary  TV series The untouchables (1959-63)  Again I cannot be sure but  I can assume it was the work of Darrel Anderson.