Richard (Dick) Bush

By DOUG GALLOWAY

Renowned British cinematographer Richard (Dick) Bush, whose feature credits included "Tommy," "Switch" and "Victor/Victoria," died Aug. 4 of a pulmonary embolism at his home in Devon, England. He was 66.

Bush was considered a highly inventive cinematographer, whose body of work ranged from Ken Russell films to classic Disney family adventures.

Director Jeremy Kagan, who helmed "The Journey of Natty Gann" (Disney, 1985), said of Bush's passing: "Dick Bush brilliantly executed conceptual ideas, translating them into images that are so arresting and surprising that I found myself greatly indebted to his vision."

A member of the British Society of Cinematographers, Bush spent an equal amount of time on both sides of the Atlantic, where he lensed both feature films and television shows.

Bush collaborated extensively with several distinctive directors including Blake Edwards and Russell. In addition to the Edwards-helmed "Victor/Victoria" and "Switch," Bush also lensed three of Edwards' Pink Panther films: "The Trail of the Pink Panther" (1982), "The Curse of the Pink Panther" (1983) and "Son of the Pink Panther" (1993).

Bush collaborated with Russell for more than 20 years, beginning with several British TV films including "Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World" (1966) and "Song of Summer" (1968).

In addition to "Tommy," which Russell directed in 1975, Bush also worked with him on the features "Savage Messiah" (1972), "Mahler" (1975), "Crimes of Passion" (1984) and "Lair of the White Worm" (1988).

Additional film credits include "The Fan" (1981), "Dracula A.D. 1972" (1972), "Sorcerer" (1977), directed by William Friedkin, "Yanks" (1979), directed by John Schlesinger, "One Trick Pony" (1980) and "The Philadelphia Experiment" (1984).

Bush was nominated for best cinematography by the British Academy Awards for his work on "Yanks" and also by the British Society of Cinematographers for "Victor/Victoria."

Bush's final credit was the 1995 CBS TV movie "The Man in the Attic."

Born and raised in Plymouth, England, Bush attended local schools and later served as an officer in the Royal Military Police.

He later worked at a variety of jobs and companies including a shoe manufacturing business where he began producing promotional films.

His initial film experience at the shoe company enabled him to land a job with the British Broadcasting Corp., where he became part of the early "outside broadcast" TV production and film team.

No survivors.