Friese-Greene, Claude 1898 - 1943

Claude Friese-Greene was a pioneering filmmaker and distinguished cinematographer born on May 3rd 1898 in Fulham, London. He continued to develop the Biocolour film process pioneered by his father, William. He renamed the process ‘Friese-Greene Natural Colour Process’. Between the years 1923 and 1943 Claude worked on numerous films (more than 60). After leaving school at 14 he helped his father develop the ‘Biocolour’ two-colour process.

Claude joined the army in 1915, saw action in World War One spending time in France, fighting at the Battle of the Somme and was wounded. In 1917 became a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. After the war Claude worked as a commercial pilot and given his experience with film he worked as technical manager for Aerofilms a company that pioneered aerial photography. Films he produced at this time include ‘Across England in an Aeroplane’ in which he tried to add colour by tinting the film. He married Chrissie Barnes and had to sons Peter and Tony.

After his father’s death Claude continued the pioneering work of his father and tried to perfect the colour film process. The Open Road (1926), filmed over three years showing the journey from Lands End to John O’Groats, was a series of short films in pioneering colour. Using a colour system that was, in theory, available to all cinemas worldwide. He tried to sell his colour process in America and on the Continent. The attempt to perfect moving pictures in colour was an obsession of the Friese-Greene family.

Claude Friese-Greene died in 1943.