(October 22, 1912 – April 12, 1995) was an American cinematographer[1] noted for his skills with wide screen technology and detailed approach to lighting and camera placement.

Lathrop was known for such films as Touch of Evil (1958),[1] Lonely Are the Brave (1962), The Americanization of Emily (1964), The Cincinnati Kid (1965), Point Blank (1967), Finian's Rainbow (1968), The Traveling Executioner (1970), Portnoy's Complaint (1972), Earthquake (1974), Swashbuckler (1976), The Driver (1978), Moment by Moment (1978), A Change of Seasons (1980), Foolin' Around (1980), Loving Couples (1980), and Deadly Friend (1986).

[2] In 1938, he became assistant to Universal’s top-ranking cinematographer Joseph A. Valentine, ASC, and worked on the Deanna Durbin pictures, The Wolf Man, and two Alfred Hitchcock classics, Saboteur and Shadow of a Doubt.

His first feature that year was The Perfect Furlough, which was shot in CinemaScope and Eastman Color, with director Blake Edwards who Lathrop also worked with on Experiment in Terror, Days of Wine and Roses, and The Pink Panther.

[3] Using the new Panavision lenses, Lathrop shot the 1962 black and white drama, Lonely Are the Brave, with director David Miller in New Mexico’s Sandia Mountains[3]—this is an early example of the 2.35:1 aspect ratio.

Lathrop’s particular visual style seems to epitomize the times, such as in Point Blank, directed by John Boorman in 1967, where a glossy, dense feel was utilized to a tough thriller.

After Point Blank, Lathrop worked on Francis Ford Coppola’s Finian’s Rainbow, another unusual color film.

Instead of shooting in natural locations, Earthquake was filmed almost entirely on the Universal Studios' sound stages and back-lot due to the extraordinary degree of control deemed necessary to execute the required special effects.

[4] • 1965 - Best Cinematography, Black-and-White - The Americanization of Emily • 1975 - Best Cinematography - Earthquake • 1984 – Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special – Celebrity, nominated • 1985 – Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special – Malice in Wonderland, won • 1986 – Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Miniseries or a Special – Picking Up the Pieces, nominated • 1987 – Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Miniseries or a Special – Christmas Snow, won • 1988 – Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Miniseries or a Special – Little Girl Lost, nominated • 1988 – Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Miniseries or Specials – Christmas Snow, won • 1989 – Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/Pilots – Little Girl Lost, won • 1992 – Lifetime Achievement Award, won • 1999 – Historical Shot – Touch of Evil, won • Live Fast, Die Young (1958) • Girls on the Loose (1958) • The Saga of Hemp Brown (1958) as Philip Lathrop • Wild Heritage (1958) as Philip Lathrop • The Perfect Furlough (1958) as Philip Lathrop • Money, Women and Guns (1958) as Philip Lathrop • Rawhide (TV Series: 9 episodes, 1958) as Philip Lathrop • The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1958) Director of Photography • Steve Canyon (TV Series: 11 episodes, 1959) • Cry Tough (1959) • Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color (TV Series: 2 episodes, 1959) as Philip Lathrop • The Private Lives of Adam and Eve (1960) • Mr. Lucky (TV Series: 4 episodes, 1960; 21 episodes, 1959–1960) Director of Photography • Peter Gunn (TV Series: 61 episodes, 1958–1960) as Philip Lathrop • Hong Kong (TV Series: 24 episodes, 1960–1961) Director of Photography • Perry Mason (TV Series: 2 episodes, 1961) Director of Photography • Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) co-cinematographer, uncredited • Experiment in Terror (1962) Director of Photography • Lonely Are the Brave (1962) Director of Photography • Combat!