Konstantin Chet German cinematographer of Russian origin. Date of Birth: 24.06.1902 Country: Germany

1. Biography of Konstantin Chetverikov
2. Early Career
3. Collaboration with Rittau and Sound Era
4. Work during the Nazi Era
5. Later Career and Personal Life

Biography of Konstantin Chetverikov

Konstantin Chetverikov was a German cinematographer of Russian descent. He was born on June 24, 1902, in Moscow, and was the great-grandson of theater director Konstantin Stanislavski. In the early 1920s, he moved to Berlin to pursue his career in the film industry.

Early Career

Chetverikov started his career as an assistant cameraman at the UFA studio in Berlin, working under renowned cinematographer Gunther Rittau. He gained experience in special effects and trick photography, and even worked on models for films like Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" and "Woman in the Moon".

Collaboration with Rittau and Sound Era

After his adoption, Chetverikov changed his name to Irmen-Chet and continued his work in the film industry. In 1928, he collaborated with Gunther Rittau as the second cinematographer on the film "Homecoming" directed by Joe May. As sound was introduced in films, Chetverikov worked with Rittau (or Otto Becker) on several major entertainment films by directors such as Hans Schwarz, Robert Siodmak, Carl Hartl, and Reinhold Schünzel.

Work during the Nazi Era

Chetverikov's filmography during the Nazi era includes five films he shot between 1933 and 1934 with director Hans Steinhoff, one of which was "Hitlerjunge Quex" (Hitler Youth Quex). In addition to special effects and trick photography, Chetverikov continued to work on entertaining films by directors like Paul Martin, Herbert Maisch, and Georg Jacoby until 1945.

Later Career and Personal Life

In 1941, Chetverikov was entrusted with the cinematography of the first German color film, "Frauen sind doch bessere Diplomaten" (Women Are Better Diplomats), and a year later, he worked on the lavish anniversary production of UFA, "Münchhausen". After 1948, Chetverikov returned to shooting entertainment films, often collaborating with the directors he had worked with in the 1930s, such as Baki, Turzhansky, and Jacoby. He also spent a significant amount of time working in Switzerland with director Franz Schneider.

From 1960 onwards, Chetverikov predominantly worked on documentary and industrial films. In his later years, he served as the chief cinematographer for the company "Inzel-Film". Chetverikov was married to actress Brigitte Hornay, and he passed away on May 27, 1977, in Munich.