Ray Ries

Ray Ries is an American cinematographer known for his contributions to silent films during the 1920s, particularly in westerns and adventure serials. ^[1] Born on May 7, 1894, in Ohio, USA, Ries worked in the camera and electrical department as well as cinematographer on projects including the serial ''The King of the Kongo'' (1929), ''Thundering Romance'' (1924), and ''Galloping On'' (1925). ^[1] He spent his career in Hollywood and passed away on August 23, 1977, in Los Angeles, California. ^[1] Limited public information is available regarding his personal life or broader impact beyond these early credits, reflecting his work in an era of emerging American cinema. ^[1]

Early life

Birth and origins

Ray Ries was born on May 7, 1894, in Ohio, USA. ^[1] Details regarding his family background, childhood, or early years prior to his professional life remain undocumented in available sources. He later relocated to California in connection with his work in the film industry. ^[1]

Career

Entry into the film industry

Ray Ries entered the film industry in 1921, beginning his professional career as a camera operator on short films. ^[1] His earliest documented credits are as camera operator for the shorts The Good Black Sheep (1921) and Philo Gubb: The Correspondence School Detackative (1921), marking his initial involvement in motion picture production during the silent era. ^[1] These entry-level roles focused on camera operation, providing hands-on experience in filming before advancing to more responsible positions. ^[1] Ries subsequently transitioned to the role of cinematographer, with his primary credits in that capacity beginning in 1924. ^[1]

Primary work as cinematographer

Ray Ries' primary work as a cinematographer occurred during the silent film era, where he specialized in low-budget Western films produced by the independent studio Action Pictures. ^[2] He frequently collaborated with director Richard Thorpe on numerous such productions, contributing to the photography of many of Thorpe's Westerns for the company. ^{[3] [4] [5]} This phase of his career spanned primarily from 1924 to 1929, during which he served as cinematographer on numerous silent Westerns. ^[1] Having transitioned from earlier roles as a camera operator, Ries became established in this capacity through his consistent work with Action Pictures and Thorpe. ^[1]

End of known career

Ray Ries' known career as a cinematographer concluded in 1929 with his final credits on the films Dark Skies and The King of the Kongo. ^[1] These projects marked the end of his documented contributions to motion pictures, capping a body of work that totaled 41 cinematographer credits, all produced during the silent film era and primarily focused on low-budget Westerns for independent studios. ^[1] No additional cinematographer credits appear in available film records after 1929, a period that coincided with the broader Hollywood transition from silent to sound production. ^[1] There is no verified information regarding the reasons for the cessation of his filmmaking activities, nor any documented details about his professional or personal endeavors in the years between 1929 and his death in 1977. ^[6]

Death

Passing

Ray Ries died on August 23, 1977, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 83. This occurred nearly five decades after his last documented film work in 1929. No further details regarding the cause of death or related circumstances are documented in available sources.

Filmography

Cinematographer credits

Ray Ries amassed 41 cinematographer credits between 1924 and 1929, with the overwhelming majority consisting of silent Westerns and action films produced during the mid-to-late 1920s. ^{[7] [1]} He is occasionally credited under the alternate name Ray Reis on some productions. ^[1] His most frequently highlighted works include Thundering Romance (1924), Galloping On (1925), The Desert of the Lost (1927), The Ballyhoo Buster (1928), and The King of the Kongo (1929). ^[1] These titles are representative of his prolific output for independent studios, often featuring fast-paced action sequences typical of low-budget silent Westerns from the period. ^[7] Additional representative credits from his peak years include Roarin' Broncs (1927), The Obligin' Buckaroo (1927), Ride 'em High (1927), The Valley of Hunted Men (1928), and Saddle Mates (1928). ^[7]

Camera and Electrical Department credits

Ray Ries' credits in the Camera and Electrical Department are limited to two early roles as a camera operator on short films in 1921.^[1] He worked in this capacity on the comedy short The Good Black Sheep (1921) and on Philo Gubb: The Correspondence School Detackative (1921), the latter being one entry in a series based on Ellis Parker Butler's stories.^[8][9] These represent his only known credits in the department prior to his transition to cinematography.^[1]