Of mixed German and English family, Erwin studied briefly at an art in
Berlin but was then forced to leave and find a job. A friend introduced
him to the great genius of German silent films,
F.W. Murnau who looked at Erwin's paintings
and asked him to become a camera assistant on his next (and final)
picture,
Tabu (1931).
Because Murnau was a promiscuous homosexual, Hillier's father forced
Erwin to stop working with Murnau. Murnau took no offence and instead
introduced Erwin to another director friend of his:
Fritz Lang. So Erwin's first real job
was as a camera assistant on Lang's first sound film,
M: Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (1931), starring
Peter Lorre.
