Robert Carey[1] Broughton (September 17, 1917 inBerkeley, California—January 19, 2009 inRochester, Minnesota)[2] was acamera operator known for his work withWalt Disney Pictures, where he was responsible for several innovations invisual effects technology.
Broughton attendedGlendale High School,[3] and then studied chemistry, math, optics, and physics, at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, and graduated with a B. A. in 1937.[1]
He subsequently began dating a woman who worked as secretary for Disney'smanager of production Herb Lamb; one evening, when Broughton visited her atWalt Disney Animation Studios, she was not immediately available, because production work onSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs was running long. While Broughton was waiting for her in Lamb's office,Larry Lansburgh came in and, thinking that Broughton was a friend of Lamb's, offered him a job in the studio's "traffic department";[4]Fred Joerger subsequently referred to Broughton as a "courier".[5]: 135
Broughton's first production-related job was as an assistant with the test camera forSnow White; next, he was assigned to be one of only two operators for the studio'smultiplane camera. His work onFantasia led to him being named Supervisor of Special Photographic Effects.[1]
Effects for which he has been credited include thegiant squid in20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), the appearance ofHayley Mills as two people at once inThe Parent Trap (1961), and the conjunction of live action and animation inMary Poppins (1964),[6] where he worked as an assistant toUb Iwerks.[1] He also filmed the host segments forWalt Disney's Wonderful World of Color.[7][6]
The last Disney movie to which Broughton contributed wasThe Black Hole[8] He retired in 1982[8] or 1983.[6]
During theSecond World War, Broughton joined theUnited States Army, and was assigned to theOffice of Strategic Services, where he worked in the Field Photographic Branch underJohn Ford; in this position, he participated in the production oftraining films anddocumentaries, including the Academy Award-winningThe Battle of Midway.[1]
In 2003, Broughton was living in theMotion Picture & Television Fund's retirement community;[6] he eventually moved to Rochester, Minnesota.[8]
His son Dan Broughton was a physician working at theMayo Clinic, whose education and trainingWalt Disney had paid for.[5]: 154
In 2001, Broughton was named aDisney Legend.[9]