This documentary is a celebration of the cinematographer, including interviews with many cinematographers, exploring the influences, inspiration and tactics that refined the look of some of the most famous films. Read more
| Starring | Ernest R. Dickerson, Michael Chapman, Allen Daviau |
|---|---|
| Director | Arnold Glassman |
| Genres | Documentary |
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This documentary is a celebration of the cinematographer, including interviews with many cinematographers, exploring the influences, inspiration and tactics that refined the look of some of the most famous films.
| Starring | Ernest R. Dickerson, Michael Chapman, Allen Daviau |
|---|---|
| Director | Arnold Glassman |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 31 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Documentary |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 27 Mar 2006 Production year: 1992 |
| Format | DVD |
This fascinating documentary pays handsome tribute to the forgotten artists of film, the cinematographers. Passing with regrettable speed over silent geniuses like Billy Bitzer, who truly sculpted with light, the film sings the praises of black-and-white photography and reveals how some of the most memorable images ever shot in Hollywood were achieved. The work of such master craftsmen as George Barnes, Gregg Toland, William Daniels and John Alton is illustrated with well-chosen clips and heartfelt praise from the leading lighting cameramen of today. If you've ever marvelled at an image and wondered how they did it, this is for you.
An engrossing look at the contribution to film of the often unsung cinematographers, with excerpts from 125 feature films and interviews with 27 practitioners, from Nestor Almendros to Vilmos Zsigmond.
I really wish there were more documentaries like this about cinema. The American Film Institute charts the history of the cinematographer through a mixture of talking heads and clips from films. The cinematographers interviewed are a treat to listen to and you really get the impression that necessity was the mother of invention for these guys - they revelled in the budgetary and technical challenges that they were presented with. There are also lots of clips from some of the most beautiful films ever made. One minor quibble: at 90 minutes, it is a little short do the subject full justice. However, as an overview, I would recommend it.
tells in a diary like system of a history of images but not how? or the inner secrets.