Carl Fred Marquard, ASC – nicknamed ‘Brick’ as a child due to his red hair – was born in Burbank on September 26, 1915. There’s not much information to be found about his life and career, but judging from what is available, he had quite the exciting ride.
Consider something he once said: “I’ve always been an adventurer. I never wanted to stay with any one company too long, and I always wanted to travel to exotic places and do unusual things.” If anyone ever lived up to that philosophy, he was the man. Consider some of his highlights:
– he was an Army veteran of the OSS during World War II, filming documentaries both on the front lines and in enemy territory with the French Resistance
– he was awarded the Silver Star for his work filming the Army’s 2nd Ranger Unit on Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion in 1944
– post-war, he piloted a twin-engine bomber on a special mission for the CIA during the revolution in Guatemala
– he filmed many documentaries and shot second unit work all over Central and South America
– he traveled with John Ford, making documentaries in several countries
– he was awarded an Emmy for his photography of Here’s Peggy Fleming, a TV special broadcast in 1968
Beginning in the mid-’30’s as an assistant cameraman at Mascot Pictures, Marquard slowly climbed the Hollywood ranks, eventually breaking into features when he handled the second unit work on Ford’s The Searchers in 1956. The remainder of his career was primarily spent in television on such popular shows as Sea Hunt, Bat Masterson, Tombstone Territory, Aquanaut, Law Breaker, Rat Patrol, Here Come the Brides, Emergency and Adam 12. He also shot the features Pickup On 101 (1972) and Foxy Brown (1974).
If that’s not enough for one lifetime, Marquard survived a helicopter crash in 1974 which led to a six-month convalescence. He was married to former actress Yvonne Peattie and lived with her in a two-bedroom apartment in West Hollywood. He was an avid sailor who owned a 34′ cutter which he kept at the California Yacht Anchorage in San Pedro. And he died at the young age of sixty-two on July 27, 1978. He’s buried at Forest Lawn in Glendale, CA.
Marquard’s experience is representative of why so many of us were initially attracted to the life of a cinematographer. While I don’t know that it’s possible to replicate that in today’s environment, some of us still find ourselves chasing the dragon. I know I do!
I never heard of Marquard but I made a fairly decent attempt at mimicking his career! As a child I watched Disney shows about nature, a show called YOU ASKED FOR IT and other “location” pictures and remember thinking, someone has to film those things. I am able to look back at a 60 year career of achievement in travel and excitement!
Greg – I know for a fact that you went to as many exotic places as he did…!
Carl was a Central Intelligence Agency pilot. Fascinating background information Richard. Once you are in the Family you never are not in the Family.. The ASC had a CiA field operative as a member.. I bet he had other duties while and after he shot the documentary films. Multi talented!
My husband and I were very close friends of Brick and Yvee from 1974 until the time he died, remaining close to Yvee until she passed in January of 1990. We were fortunate to have a sailboat near theirs at Caifornia Yacht Anchorage and they would come down every week-end to be aboard their boat. We would spend evey Friday night together, taking turns having dinner either on their boat or ours or going out to our favorite restaurant, Olsen’s. We were so fortunate to spend countless hours and days with them, many trips to Catalina, traveling to Hawaii. We have the Emmy that Brick won and handwritten notes, a diary, that he wrote after the D-Day invasion along with his Silver Star. We were priviledged to have know Brick and Yvee, two incredible individuals who we will never foget.
Mr. and Mrs. Roehrig – That is the sweetest remembrance I’ve ever read in response to something in this blog. Thank you for taking the time to read the post and for responding in such a manner. I send you both my best wishes!