#andrei konchalovsky

Cinematographer Alex Thomson BSC takes a light reading from Julie Andrews on the set of Duet for One Elstree Studios, Hertfordshire, March 1986

Born in London in 1929, Thomson rose through the traditional apprenticeship system of the British film industry to become one of the most accomplished cinematographers of his generation. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Excalibur (1981) and later served as president of the British Society of Cinematographers (Thomson 2005).

While Duet for One was not among his most commercially prominent projects, critics consistently noted the expressive quality of Thomson’s work. Judy Stone of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote that “cinematographer Alex Thomson’s lighting eloquently complements the mood of the work” (1987, p. 83). Similarly, James Adams of the Edmonton Journal observed that Duet for One was “beautifully photographed by Alex Thomson” (1987, p. D2).

For his part, Thomson recalled the technical demands of the production, including an extensive lighting setup at the Royal Albert Hall, where he and a crew of thirty began work at 4 a.m. to prepare for filming later that morning (Cannon 1986, p. 16). By contrast, exterior scenes were shot almost entirely in natural conditions — an approach Thomson had adopted early in his career when working as an assistant to Nicolas Roeg. The image here offers a rare glimpse of Thomson at work, helping to shape the film’s intimate visual style — a brief moment where lighting, camera, and performance align.

Sources

Adams, James (1987, 19 June). Sex and violins abound but sense of tragedy is missing. The Edmonton Journal, p. D2.

Cannon Group, Inc. (1986). Duet for One Production Notes. Los Angeles: Cannon Publicity Department.

Stone, Judy (1987, 13 February). Tour de force for Julie Andrews. San Francisco Chronicle, p. 83.