Brad’s 4 Shots From 4 Films – Happy 100th Birthday, Andy Griffith!


Today would have been Andy Griffith’s 100th birthday! I love The Andy Griffith Show so much. It’s one of those shows that just makes me feel good on the inside, as the warmth of its homespun nostalgia still echoes to this very day. At least it does in my house. I’ve seen every episode of the series at least 3 or 4 times in my life, and I’ll often bring various scenes or sayings up in my daily conversations. 

As is the case for all people, Andy Griffith was a much more complicated man than his Sheriff Andy Taylor from the classic series. And his many other roles were also more diverse upon a further inspection. What we can be sure about is that Andy Griffith is an icon of American television, and I celebrate him today with 4 Shots from 4 Films! 

As “Lonesome Rhodes” in A FACE IN THE CROWD (1957)
As Sheriff Andy Taylor on the “Mr. McBeevee” episode of THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW which premiered on October 1st, 1962
As the evil John Wallace in MURDER IN COWETA COUNTY (1983)
As Ben Matlock in the MATLOCK series which ran from 1986-1995

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Clint Eastwood Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

Happy birthday, Clint Eastwood!

4 Shots From 4 Clint Eastwood Films

A Fistful of Dollars (1964, directed by Sergio Leone)

A Fistful of Dollars (1964, dir by Sergio Leone)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976, dir by Clint Eastwood)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976, dir by Clint Eastwood)

Tightrope (1984, dir by Richard Tuggle and Clint Eastwood)

Tightrope (1984, dir by Richard Tuggle and Clint Eastwood)

A Perfect World (1993, dir by Clint Eastwood)

A Perfect World (1993, dir by Clint Eastwood)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Howard Hawks Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today is the 130th anniversary of cinematic pioneer Howard Hawks!  Whether it’s gangster film, a western, or a screwball comedy, it’s hard to think of a single cinematic genre that doesn’t owe a debt of gratitude to Howard Hawks!

Here are….

4 Shots From 4 Films

Scarface (1932, dir by Howard Hawks)

Bringing Up Baby (1938, dir by Howard Hawks)

Red River (1948, dir by Howard Hawks)

Land of the Pharaohs (1955, dir by Howard Hawks)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Josef von Sternberg Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today we celebrate the 132nd anniversary of the birth of cinematic pioneer, Josef von Sternberg!  That means that it’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Films

An American Tragedy (1931, dir by Josef von Sternberg)

The Scarlet Empress (1934, dir by Josef von Sternberg)

The Devil is A Woman (1935, dir by Josef von Sternberg)

Jet Pilot (1957, dir by Josef von Sternberg)

6 Shots From 6 Films: Special Gordon Willis Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today the Shattered Lens celebrates what would have been the 95th birthday of the great cinematographer, Gordon Willis.  Willis was the master of using shadow and underexposed film to create some of the most haunting movie images of the 70s and 80s.  He was also one of the first cinematographers to take advantage of the so-called “magic hour,” that moment when the sun is setting and everything is bathed in a golden glow.  Today, everyone does that but Willis was the first.

Willis has often been cited as one of the most influential cinematographers of all time but, amazingly, Willis would receive only two Academy Award nominations (for Zelig and The Godfather Part III) and he would never win a competitive Oscar.

In memory of Gordon Willis, here are….

6 Shots From 6 Gordon Willis Films

End of the Road (1970, dir by Aram Avakian, Cinematography by Gordon Willis)

The Godfather (1972, dir by Francis Ford Coppola, Cinematography by Gordon Willis)

The Parallax View (1974, dir by Alan J. Pakula, Cinematography by Gordon Willis)

The Godfather Part II (dir by Francis Ford Coppola, Cinematography by Gordon Willis)

All The President’s Men (1976, dir by Alan J. Pakula, Cinematography by Gordon Willis)

Manhattan (1979, dir by Woody Allen, Cinematography by Gordon Willis)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Vincent Price Edition


4 Shots from 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots from 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today is Vincent Price’s birthday!  This edition of 4 Shots From 4 Films is dedicated to him, his memory, and his career!

4 Shots From 4 Vincent Price Films

The Last Man on Earth (1964, dir by Ubaldo Ragona)

The Masque of the Red Death (1964, dir by Roger Corman)

Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (1966, dir by Mario Bava)

The Witchfinder General (1968, dir by Matthew Reeves)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Peter Cushing Edition


4 Shots from 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots from 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today is Peter Cushing’s birthday!  This edition of 4 Shots From 4 Films is dedicated to him, his memory, and his career!

4 Shots From 4 Peter Cushing Films

Hamlet (1948, dir by Laurence Olivier)

Doctor Who and the Daleks (1965, dir by Gordon Flemyng)

Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969, dir by Terence Fisher)

Star Wars (1977, dir by George Lucas)

 

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Bob Gale Edition


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to screenwriter Bob Gale!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Films Written By Bob Gale

I Wanna Hold Your Hand (1978, dir by Robert Zemeckis, DP: Donald M. Morgan)

1941 (directed by Steven Spielberg, DP: William A. Fraker)

Used Cars (1980, dir by Robert Zemeckis, DP: Donald M. Morgan)

Back to the Future (1986, dir by Robert Zemeckis, DP: Dean Cundey)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Roger Deakins Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to the legendary cinematographer, Roger Deakins!  It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Roger Deakins Film

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984, dir by Michael Radford, cinematography by Roger Deakins)

Fargo (1996, dir by the Coen Brothers, cinematography by Roger Deakins)

Kundun (1997, dir by Martin Scorsese, cinematography by Roger Deakins)

1917 (2019, dir by Sam Mendes. cinematography by Roger Deakins)

4 Shots from 4 Films: Special Ryan Coogler Edition


4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to director Ryan Coogler!  With just a handful of films, Ryan Coogler has made a star out of Michael B. Jordan, redeemed the acting career of Sylvester Stallone, introduced the rest of the world to Wakanda, twice made Oscar history, and changed the way that film viewers talk about race in cinema.  With all that in mind, it’s time for….

4 Shots from 4 Ryan Coogler Films

Fruitvale Station (2013, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Rachel Morrison)

Creed (2015, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Maryse Alberti)

Black Panther (2018, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Rachel Morrison)

Sinners (2025, dir by Ryan Coogler, DP: Autumn Durald Arkapaw)