Nicholas Josef von Sternberg

Movies

Ultra Violent Vengeance: The Talent & Technicians of X-Ray
Self
Feature length documentary that takes a look at the making of X-RAY.
The Making of Final Justice
Self
In-depth documentary about the making-of "Final Justice", a 1984 action film starring Joe Don Baker.
I Did What He Told Me to Do
Self
A video essay on the films of Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg by film historian Tag Gallagher.
Crime and Punishment
Director of Photography
A modern day adaptation of Dostoyevsky's classic novel about a young student who is forever haunted by the murder he has committed.
Star Games
Director of Photography
A young space prince on the run from an evil space villain, stranded on Earth and waiting for his grandfather the king to rescue him, befriends an Earth child named Brian and together they evade robots, bears, and triangles.
Legend of the Lost Tomb
Director of Photography
While excavating near the Pyramids, Dr. Leonhardt finds a small box with a map to the treasures of the Pharaoh Ramessess II. On his way to deliver this to the local authorities, he is kidnapped by his nemesis Dr. Bent. Before Bent can retrieve the papyrus map, Karen, who is Leonhardt's student assistant, and John, Leonhardt's son take the map to look for Leonhardt. They soon find that Bent is in hot pursuit and they figure that the only way to save Leonhardt is to be the first to the treasure so that they could ransom the Doctor from Bent. But Bent has other plans for all three of them.
Virus
Cinematography
A United States Presidential bodyguard risks everything to save the day when a truck chock full of biological weapons contrives to crash in a National Park.
Encounters
Cinematography
Johnny goes to Athena's Palace to ask for a loan. He enters an exciting and seductive world there. Intrigued by the beautiful strip-dancer Brandy, he agrees to value her house. She insists Johnny pays his valuation with a private striptease dance. Her friend Carlo, a villain, is immediately jealous and threatens Brandy.
Club V.R.
Cinematography
The Century club VR club virtual reality in Los Angeles. When there is a brutal murder, a beautiful female-investigator begins the investigation. However, she soon realizes that the case might interfere with her sexual fantasies.
Body Shot
Director of Photography
Paparazzi photographer Mickey Dane is obsessed with elusive pop singer Chelsea, and his attempts to capture her on film often land him in trouble.
Dark Future
Director of Photography
In an apocalyptic future, human survivors are used as slaves and prostitutes for Synthetics – cyborgs with human brains. When the first baby in 30 years is born and then captured by the Synths, the human race revolts in order to save the infant.
Texasville
Director of Photography
Summer, 1984: 30 years after Duane captained the high school football team and Jacy was homecoming queen, this Texas town near Wichita Falls prepares for its centennial. Oil prices are down, banks are failing, and Duane's $12 million in debt. His wife Karla drinks too much, his children are always in trouble, and he tom-cats around with the wives of friends. Jacy's back in town, after a mildly successful acting career, life in Italy, and the death of her son. Folks assume Duane and Jacy will resume their high school romance. And Sonny is "tired in his mind," causing worries for his safety. Can these friends find equilibrium in middle age?
Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Cinematography
A rich woman becomes paranoid after losing her daughter to a so-called Kabuki Killer.
The Closer
Camera Operator
Aiello plays a powerful salesman whose world is falling apart.
Dr. Alien
Director of Photography
When the mysterious and sexy Ms. Xenobia takes over the biology class at the local college, the dating life of supergeek Wesley Littlejohn takes a serious turn. Littlejohn agrees to be a lab rat for the professor's unusual vitamin research study. Now, thanks to some out-of-this-world supplements, he's been transformed into the campus stud. But Xenobia has ulterior extraterrestrial motives in this sci-fi sex comedy.
Skinheads
Cinematography
A group of students traveling to California are menaced by a vicious group of skin-heads in the Colorado mountains. A WW2 vet living in the mountains comes to their rescue.
Uninvited
Cinematography
A sinister corporation loses control of a house cat infected with a genetically-engineered virus. The death-toll rises during the mutant feline's rampage, and eventually, it finds its way on board a ship of a criminal king-pin.
Slaughterhouse Rock
Cinematography
A man visits Alcatraz prison after having dreams about all the people who died there. When he gets there, his brother is possessed by an evil cannibal demon. The ghost of a female heavy metal singer who was killed there tries to help the man fight the monster.
No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder
Director of Photography
In this sequel, Scott Wylde, an American kickboxer, must go to Cambodia to rescue his Vietnamese girlfriend from Russian and Vietnamese troops.
Valet Girls
Director of Photography
A young girl who aspires to a singing career gets herself and her best friend a job as valet parking girls at a Malibu party in order to meet people who can help them achieve their dreams.
Final Justice
Cinematography
Due to his violent past, Deputy Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III (Joe Don Baker) has been transferred to a rural outpost. When two thugs kill the sheriff, Geronimo shoots one of them, and the other vows revenge. Unfortunately for Geronimo, that thug turns out to be a mob boss, and the court orders Geronimo to extradite him back to his home in Sicily. When their plane is hijacked, the adversaries find their roles reversed.
Jungle Fever
Director of Photography
A group of models fly into the jungle of some South American country to look for a photo location. Their plane is shot down and they are captured by a drug baron's private army. At the same time, the Mafia's representative arrive to negotiate future collaboration.
Down on Us
Director of Photography
The story of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, and Janis Joplin, and how their message for their generation made them targets of a US government plot.
Joysticks
Director of Photography
A successful businessman attempts to shut down a video arcade he believes is harmful to the mental health of children.
Wacko
Director of Photography
Thirteen years after the "Lawnmower Killer" killed her sister, high school student Mary Graves and obsessed detective Dick Harbinger are on the lookout for the killer to reappear during the annual Halloween Pumpkin Prom.
Hospital Massacre
Director of Photography
After making what should have been a routine visit to a local county hospital on Valentine's Day, divorcee Susan Jeremy finds herself detained for further observation. Meanwhile, a homicidal maniac disguised as a surgeon wanders around the hospital, killing all the staff members associated with her.
Gas Pump Girls
Director of Photography
June and her friends take over a service station formerly run by her uncle. They perform every trick in the book to attract the customers.
Mistress of the Apes
Director of Photography
Jenny Neumann takes a group of men into the jungles of Kenya to look for her husband, and instead finds a tribe of caveman-looking "Near-Men" who all seem terribly attracted to her beautiful blond hair.
Tourist Trap
Director of Photography
After their car breaks down, a group of young travelers find themselves stranded at a roadside museum run by the mysterious Mr. Slausen and populated by his collection of supernatural mannequins.
Death Drug
Cinematography
A young man in Los Angeles dreams of striking it big as a singer in the music business. One day he gets signed to a big record contract, but along with the fame and money he develops an addiction to the drug PCP.
Hughes and Harlow: Angels in Hell
Director of Photography
Tycoon Howard Hughes and actress Jean Harlow have an affair while making his 1930 "Hell's Angels."
Petey Wheatstraw
Cinematography
Petey Wheatstraw (Rudy Ray Moore) is a candidate to become the devil's son-in-law. The storyline is a scaffolding on which Rudy Ray Moore's standup humor can be unfolded. Beginning life as the afterbirth to a watermelon, the young Wheatstraw becomes a martial artist, but is unable to best the evil comedy team of Leroy and Skillet, who also indulge in wholesale murder. Satan restores the comedians' victims to life, and charges Petey with the task of marrying his clock-stoppingly ugly daughter to give him a grandchild. When Petey attempts to default on the deal, he is pursued by the devil's henchmen.
Dolemite
Director of Photography
Dolemite is a pimp who was set up by Willie Greene and the cops, who have planted drugs, stolen furs, and guns in his trunk and got him sentenced to 20 years in jail. One day, Queen B and a warden planned to get him out of Jail and get Willie Green and Mitchell busted for what they did to him.