Born in Karlsbad, Austria-Hungary (now Karlovy Vary, Czech Repbulic). Began photographing films in Germany in 1919 and worked throughout Europe before arriving in Hollywood in 1937. Planer's mobile, sinuous style chimed perfectly with that of director Max Ophüls, with whom he collaborated on LIEBELEI (1932), THE EXILE (1947) and LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN (1948). He was also responsible for some fine color cinematography, notably on William Wyler's THE BIG COUNTRY (1958) and Blake Edwards's BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961). Some other notable unnominated director of photography credits in his almost 130 films include HOLIDAY (1938), SECRET COMMAND (1944), THE CHASE (1946), ONE TOUCH OF VENUS (1948), CRISS CROSS (1949), CYRANO DE BERGERAC (1950), THE BLUE VEIL and DECISION BEFORE DAWN (both 1951), THE 5,000 FINGERS OF DR. T. (1953), THE CAINE MUTINY (1954), 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1954), NOT AS A STRANGER and THE LEFT HAND OF GOD (both 1955), THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION (1957), STAGE STRUCK (1958), THE UNFORGIVEN (1960), KING OF KINGS (1961) and his last film, SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE (1962).  Nominated for Cinematography (Black & White) 1949: CHAMPION  Nominated for Cinematography (Black & White) 1951: DEATH OF A SALESMAN  Nominated for Cinematography (Black & White) 1953: ROMAN HOLIDAY  Nominated for Cinematography (Color) 1959: THE NUN'S STORY  Nominated for Cinematography (Black & White) 1961: THE CHILDREN'S HOUR 5 nominations