John Cassavetes, Five Films

[Greg Gross]

I viewed the John Cassavetes film "Shadows" this evening,I have wanted

to see it for some time now. Fedex delivered the collection today. From the

stand point of cinematography I was shocked but also impressed. The film

was a roller coaster ride for me from beginning to end,I stayed right with it.

I have never seen a film where the actors had no marks,I mean they just

moved around with complete freedom. It was up to camera to stay with them

and the gaffer followed right along. God bless the focus puller,he must have

had great dexterity. John would just actually fade out of a scene and fade in

to another one with about 2 sec. of gray screen in between. There were some

very interesting camera angles that I liked. Several scenes on street at night

with some neon signs,city street life at night. I liked night street scenes. One

scene was of a Buick(car of that era) turning from one street on to another.

The grain is smooth in this scene and it looks almost like an Ansel Adams fine

art print. The tonal range on the car and the background of the city is pleasing.

In one scene two characters are facing each other(men,profile) and a third man

is behind them facing the camera and they are conversing. The separation, 3D

effect was just awesome to me. I was surprised that the grain and exposure

varied quite a bit in what I assumed was three acts. I thought the lighting was

good and it was true to the mood. Restored from 16mm film(original),35mm

print,35mm negative. Greg

[Bob Hayes]

What are the other films in the set?

[DavidSloan]

Shadows is legendary, particularly because Cassavetes lied about the film being improvised...but it wasn't. Also, there are stories that the film was shot twice: the first time around all the footage was supposedly badly exposed, out of focus...

 

Ray Carney's book, The Films of John Cassavetes, is a great resource into the cinema of cassavates and a great read, in general. Cassavetes

 

Thanks.

[Greg Gross]

Thank you Bob 1 dp and David,

Bob 1 dp asked about films in set of five. Set entitlled "John Cassavetes

Five Films". 1st dvd-A Constant Forge,The Life And Art Of John Cassavetes,the

films as follows: SHADOWS(81min.,b&w,monaural,1.33:1),OPENING NIGHT(144

min.,color,monaural,1.85:1),FACES(130 min.,b&W,monaural,1.66:1),A WOMAN

UNDER THE INFLUENCE(147min.,color,monaural,1.85:1), THE KILLING OF A

CHINESE BOOKIE(Re-Release Version 1978 but 1976 version is included also,

1978-108 mni.,color,monaural,1.85:1). In the introductory dvd John says that

the first version of SHADOWS was updated to second version due to what he

called creative over use of camera. I assumed by what he says that he was

talking about framing,angles due he talks about in-appropriately shooting through

trees. Film is dated 1959(I assume this to be 2nd version,however its not said or

written anywhere,I'm researching this yet). I just found out through reading today

that John would pre-light the set so that the actors could move freely without

marks. I don't no why I can't except this, I guess just because its a new idea

to me. Yet in one of the interviews on the intro. dvd, I believe that Mr. Peter Falk

said that the gaffer would move around with lights while they were shooting. How

can you do that without creating some effect you don't want to see? John says

that he would just shoot 10 min. of film right straight through. Overall I'm impress-

ed by his work and excited about viewing color work. Greg