Conrad L. Hall

[Andy O'Neil]

Unfortunately, with a Poll limit of ten items, movies have to be left out. The ten films in the list represent those which have been nominated for awards minus "Jennifer Eight," a great movie, but left out nonetheless.

 

At the end of this polling stage (after 100 votes or until All Saints Day), I will filter out those films not voted on (or voted least) and have a new poll including films that were initially excluded. Please feel free to substitute the words "the best" with "your favorite."

 

Finally, as discussed in posts below, provide the reasoning behind your choice if you feel so moved. Let the voting begin.

[David Mullen ASC]

I just want to say that I have a fundamental problem with "best" lists, as opposed to "favorite" lists. Some things should not be placed above or below other things; it's rather arbitrary to put these films in competition with each other. I mean, how can you compare a western like "Butch Cassidy" to a modern interior film like "Searching for Bobby Fisher", especially when also they occupy different eras in film history? There's a limit to how much you can rank artistic works against each other. These aren't exactly baseball statistics...

 

I'd have been happier if you were asking us to pick our favorite Conrad Hall works and why they are our favorites.

 

Just my opinion though.

[Brad Grimmett]

Well, this is basically a favorites poll anyway, since each person will pick the film that they think is best. I kind of like the idea of seeing which of these films people prefer cinematography wise.

[Andy O'Neil]

David, you're right. A better word would have been "favorite," which is the word I think I used in the Fujimoto poll. So, David and other miffed users, please substitute "best" with "favorite." However, I understand that people's "favorites" change day to day, month to month, year to year, etc.

 

I think you can compare "Butch Cassidy" to "Bobby Fischer" in the realm of favorite cinematography regardless of era, genre, setting,... Maybe a western motif would fit your fancy better than interiors. Thus, at this point in time, "Butch Cassidy" would supercede "Bobby."

 

Everyone feel free to explain the reasoning behind their choice. I love this stuff. Opinions are good. Keep them coming.

[David Mullen ASC]

Trouble is, I like them all!

 

Except maybe for "Morituri" which I haven't seen.

 

I'd say that I prefer re-watching "Butch Cassidy" more than the rest because I love the movie. I also love westerns. I think what's great about it is how good the directing is, not just the cinematography.

 

Another great work by Hall around this time was "Hell in the Pacific." And what about "Fat City"?

 

I also like "Road to Perdition" a lot for the lighting. Also "Bobby Fischer" and "Jennifer Eight" for the lighting. "Jennifer Eight" has some of my favorite night lighting, the car driving through the snow approaching the school for the blind. Plus the great chase through the building with the flashlight.

 

There's also some nice stuff in "Love Affair" but I don't think it's a consistent movie, probably no fault of Hall's. It's all over the map as a movie and cut with a meat cleaver. But I love how Hall lit the close-ups on the airplane -- he could do great things in situations you wouldn't expect.

[Bill DiPietra]

"Without Limits" should be up there too.

 

Beautifully lit.

[J. Anthony Gonzales]

In Cold Blood, definitely. What can I say, I'm a sucker for B/W widescreen! Just about as perfectly a shot film I've ever seen. Even with the happy accidents!

 

John G.

[Andy O'Neil]

I'm interested in hearing about what more people have to say about "In Cold Blood." Never seen it, and I'm itching for some hype.

[David Mullen ASC]

Besides being some great 2.35 anamorphic b&w photography (up there with James Wong Howe's work on "Hud" in the same decade), there are two stand-out sequences for me. The farmhouse murders, lit mostly with just flashlights. And the pre-execution scene with the pattern of raindrops rolling down Robert Blake's face.

 

Other scope b&w movies worth checking out:

Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Bad Sleep Well, High & Low, and Red Beard

Elephant Man

The Innocents

La Dolce Vita

400 Blows

[J. Anthony Gonzales]

To add a few to David M.'s wonderful list:

 

Manhattan

Jules and Jim

Diary Of Anne Frank

and of course the collaborative efforts on The Longest Day

 

 

John G.

[Brad Grimmett]

And the pre-execution scene with the pattern of raindrops rolling down Robert Blake's face.

Now THAT was a happy accident!

[Leon Rodriguez]

I've been such a Conrad Hall fan for so long that I have to substitute the words,

" most currently blown away by" to the dialog. Best I can do, I love them all for different reasons at their given time in the technology of the craft. So I voted for Road to Perdition. It was so well concieved and controlled in its cinemagraphic statement, that I remember being awed at his mastery of the craft. You know that inner grin you leave the theater with? I mean the consistancy across the different shooting situations just left me stunned. I think I went to bed reading my AC manual thinking, "I'll never be there".

[Andy O'Neil]

I apologize for the distraction, but I wanted to publicly commend David Mullen's work on the Polish Brother's "Northfork." Only now did I realize he was a part of that film. Now back to Conrad...

[David Mullen ASC]

Thanks!

[Xuefei24p]

Top 3 best shot films:

 

1.) Cries and Whispers

 

2.) Citizen Kane

 

3.) Barry Lyndon

[Michael Louis Hill]

I have always been interested in the filmmaking process and just movies in general. When i was younger (22 now) i wanted to be an actor because that is what i thought movies were. then after seeing Casino and Taxi Driver i wanted to be a director, or atleast i started to understand what it was i loved about moives. But the film that really inspired me and has ignited a passion in me was Road To Perdition. I walked out of that theater just feeling great. i had no idea why until those images just kept replaying in my mind for weeks. i just loved it. i realized what is was about movies that i liked and since then i have been trying to get my hands on as much information on cinematography as possible. I was very sad to hear of Conrad Hall's passing especially when i just felt like i had discovered something amazing.

[Andy O'Neil]

Thought I should lift this poll out from under the rubble of old posts. Just rented and watched In Cold Blood for the first time. I bought it the next day.

[Guest fstop]

MARATHON MAN is easily my favourite Hall movie. Timeless naturalistic lighting with groundbreaking use of Steadicam. IMMENSELY exciting stuff. Easily as important as Butch and Sundance as far as Hall's contributions are concerned.

[Andy O'Neil]

Just wanted to draw attention to this poll one more time before All Saint's Day.

[Nate Yolles]

I wouldn't mind hearing people's thoughts on Tequila Sunrise. I just watched that for the first time.

 

I asked my gaffer if he'd ever seen Road to Perdition, to which he replied: "I haven't seen it this week yet" :)

[Greg Gross]

God bless Conrad Hall. If I could only be 1/3 the cinematographer he was.

He has inspired me so much when I've read his interviews and quotes. I

think I'm aware of sometihng almost every day that he has written or said.

A truly great man and I think we owe a lot to him. I think I have learned

by reading about him that its okay to doubt yourself. That by doubting yourself

you do learn how to grow and progress. I wonder if anyone here on the forum

ever had the privilege to meet with him or have a discussion with him? My favorite

list of filmakers:

Conrad Hall

John Alton

Greg Toland

Orson Welles

John Alonzo

Michael Chapman

John Seale

Januz Kaminski

 

Greg

[Greg Gross]

Hello Andy,

Yes sir, I did like Tequilla Sunrise very much. Long time since I viewed it.

Director-Robert Towne, and great cast of stars. How about "Color Deluxe" ?

The color in this film was so beautiful,warm,saturated,rich blacks some beau-

tiful sunsets. Of course we know it was lit and photographed by a true artist.

Its been so long ago since I've seen it, I went on IMDb and checked some

trivia out. Originally Pat Riley(Lakers coach) was offered the role of NICK

but he turned it down and KURT RUSSELL excepted the part. I forgot about

Matt Leblanc being on tv in the movie doing a commercial, I can't remember

that. From the stand point of cinematography it was a well photographed film.

The story was strong,told well. The mood was true to the story. Can you imag-

ine walking up to Robert Towne the first day and discussing the lighting and the

camera position,use? I have it in my film library,I'll have to watch it later this

week after Stephanie goes to Philadelphia.

 

Greg

[Greg Gross]

Hello Nate, and you have my apologies I thought Andy brought up Tequilla

Sunrise but I see you did. I hope you read my post. I'm doing some darkroom

work tonight and I keep popping out of the darkroom and come back on line.

Washing some Kodak b&w film right now(and I put some Kodak Ultra Color

film in the refrigerator) good for portraits if you shoot stills. How about Road

To Perdition? Now there's a film that has some rich blacks in it. The way Paul

Newman's character was lit,would at times send chills up and down my back.

Correct me if I'm wrong but did'nt Paul Newman face his key light a lot through

out the film. I favor facing the key light,oh!,I know a lot of people don't. My fav-

orite scene is where Jude Law and Mr. Hanks are in the roadside cafe,seated

across from each other,they are both wearing hats. Jude Law,a bowler and Mr.

Hanks, a typical american dress hat(true to the era). Mr. Hall has them lit abs-

olutely perfect for this scene. Mr. Hanks is an absolute pro! During their discuss-

ion just one movement of the eyebrows,facial expression, pause of speech, and

a look at the door, he tells us he's on to Jude Law's game. Mr. Hall is an absolute

genius! God bless him.

 

Greg

[Andy O'Neil]

Results -

 

~ 1.3% of the member body voted. "Road to Perdition" received the majority of the votes, 62.9%.

 

Four other movies received votes:

 

"American Beauty"

"In Cold Blood"

"A Civil Action"

"Searching for Bobby Fisher"

 

Conclusion -

 

As most of you must have recognized, I am poll happy. My tendency to make polls stems from my lack of knowledge and experience. I don't have the capacity to respond to most of the topics, questions, etc. in these forums, so this is just one attempt to be involved. :D

 

I am putting more thought into my next poll. It will still be concerned with favorites but with a more narrow scope. ie, favorite night, exterior, snow scene.

 

Thanks.

[David Mullen ASC]

Normally I would decry the fact that people only seem to remember recent movies, but in the case of "Road to Perdition", I'd say that it IS possibly Conrad Hall's best work overall, although there are amazing sequences or shots in many other works that may top anything in "Road to Perdition" -- for example, the flashlight chase in "Jennifer Eight", not to mention the rain pattern on Blake's face in "In Cold Blood", or some of Michelle Pfeiffer's close-ups in "Tequila Sunrise"...