4 Shots From 4 Films: Special John Ford Edition

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Jedadiah Leland

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!

John Ford.

The very name brings to mind sweeping vistas, the grandeur of the old west, and stories about men doing what men had to do. John Ford began his directing career during the silent era and he continued to work through the 1960s and, along the way, he created a unique and very American sort of cinema. Though Ford may be known for his westerns, he also directed his share of war films, historical epics, and even a classic romantic comedy. The son of Irish immigrants, Ford made several films that took place in Ireland. The Quiet Man featured one of the greatest fight scenes in film history. Stagecoach introduced the world to John Wayne and The Searchers proved that he could act. With The Grapes of Wrath, Ford provided, for future generations, the definitive look at the Great Depression. Twenty-two years later, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance told us to always “Print the legend.”

John Ford was born 126 years ago today. In honor of his legacy, here are 4 shots from 4 films.

4 Shots From 4 Films

Stagecoach (1939, directed by John Ford)

The Grapes of Wrath (1940, directed by John Ford)

The Searchers (1956, directed by John Ford)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962, directed by John Ford)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special W.C. Fields Edition!

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Jedadiah Leland

It was 140 years ago today that the greatest curmudgeon of them all, W.C. Fields, was born in Darby, Pennsylvania. The world would never be the same.

In honor of a man who knew how to enjoy a stiff drink and who made a good living pretending to not like dogs and children, here are

4 Shots From 4 Films

It’s A Gift (1934, directed by Norman McCleod)

My Little Chickadee (1940, directed by Edward Cline)

The Bank Dick (1940, directed by Edward Cline)

Never Give A Sucker An Even Break (1941, directed by Edward Cline)

4 Shots From 4 Paul Newman Films: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Cool Hand Luke, The Verdict, The Hudsucker Proxy

Posted on January 26, 2020 by Lisa Marie Bowman

95 years ago today, Paul Newman was born in Shaker Heights, Ohio. He would go on, of course, to become one of America’s greatest film stars, an acclaimed actor who was active from the mid-part of the 20th century to the beginning of our current century. He made his film debut in 1954 with The Silver Chalice (and subsequently paid for an ad in which he apologized for his performance in the film, which I think was a bit unnecessary as he wasn’t really that bad in the film) and he made his final onscreen appearance in 2005 in Empire Falls. (He did, however, subsequently provide the voice of Doc Hudson in Cars, along with narrating a few documentaries.) Time and again, he proved himself to be one of the best actors around. According to most report, he was also one of the nicest. When he died in 2008, the world mourned.

In honor of his cinematic legacy, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Paul Newman Films

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1958, dir by Richard Brooks)

Cool Hand Luke (1967, dir by Stuart Rosenberg)

The Verdict (1981, dir by Sidney Lumet)

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994, dir by the Coen Brothers)

4 Shots From 4 Jim Jarmusch Films: Permanent Vacation, Stranger Than Paradise, The Limits Of Control, Only Lovers Left Alive

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Happy birthday, Jim Jarmusch!

4 Shots From 4 Jim Jarmusch Films

Permanent Vacation (1980, dir by Jim Jarmusch)

Stranger Than Paradise (1984, dir by Jim Jarmusch)

The Limits of Control (2009, dir by Jim Jarmusch)

Only Lovers Left Alive (2013, dir by Jim Jarmusch)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special David Lynch Edition

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today is David Lynch’s birthday! The master of American surrealism and dream-like noir is 74 years old. One of my fondest memories of the past ten years comes from those glorious few months in 2017 when Leonard, Ryan, Jeff and I watched and analyzed every single episode of Twin Peaks and Twin Peaks: The Return. It was not only a chance to reacquaint ourselves with a master but it was also a lot of fun as well. I mean, Lynch may be best known as a surrealist but he’s also a damn good director.

It’s been three years since the final episode of Twin Peaks and we’re still debating that final scream.

In honor of Lynch’s birthday, it time for 4 Shots From 4 Films! It’s difficult to do one of these for David Lynch, not because it’s hard to find material but instead because it’s so difficult to narrow it down to just four shots. Lynch has been making films from the 70s and, visually, every single one of them is stunning. For this post, I’ve limited myself to the work that Lynch has released in the 21st century.

(And yes, Twin Peaks: The Return counts as a movie!)

4 Shots From 4 Films

Mulholland Drive (2000, dir by David Lynch)

Inland Empire (2006, dir by David Lynch)

Twin Peaks The Return Part Three (2017, dir by David Lynch)

Twin Peaks: The Return Part 5 (2017, dir by David Lynch)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Happy Birthday, Richard Lester!

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Jedadiah Leland

Today, retired director Richard Lester is 88. Richard Lester made films about everyone from The Beatles and the Three Musketeers to Robin Hood and Superman and, along the way, he changed the face of pop culture forever.

Despite being forever associated with the swinging London of the 60s, Richard Lester was born in Philadelphia and started his career directing episodes of a western television series called Action in the Afternoon. After moving to London in the 50s, Lester went to work for the BBC and directed episodes of The Goon Show. In 1959, he directed the Oscar-nominated short film, The Running Jumping & Standing Still Film. One huge fan of that short film was John Lennon and, when the Beatles were looking for someone to direct their first movie, it was Lennon who suggested Richard Lester for the job.

And the rest is history.

4 Shots From 4 Films

A Hard Day’s Night (1964, directed by Richard Lester)

Petulia (1968, directed by Richard Lester)

Robin and Marian (1976, directed by Richard Lester)

Superman III (1983, directed by Richard Lester)

4 Shots From 4 Cary Grant Films: The Awful Truth, The Philadelphia Story, North by Northwest, Charade

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today is the 116th anniversary of one of the greatest stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Cary Grant! And that means that it’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Cary Grant Films

The Awful Truth (1937, dir by Leo McCarey)

The Philadelphia Story (1940, dir by George Cukor)

North by Northwest (1959, dir by Alfred Hitchcock)

Charade (1963, dir by Stanley Donen)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Happy Birthday, Donald Cammell!

Posted on January 17, 2020 by Jedadiah Leland

86 years ago, Donald Cammell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. The son of a friend and biographer of the infamous Aleister Crowley, Cammell grew up surrounded by bohemians, artists, and magicians. After getting his start as a painter and establishing himself as a mainstay of “swinging London,” Cammell pursued a career as a screenwriter and director.

Cammell only completed a total of four films, all of which walked the very thin line between brilliance and pretension. All four of them have since developed strong cult following but were considered to be financial and critical disappointments when first released. As a result, Cammell had a difficult time getting anyone to back the majority of his projects. Cammell also had the misfortune to get involved with Marlon Brando during the latter’s mercurial period. Brando commissioned Cammell to write and direct at least two films for him before losing interest just before shooting was set to begin. Frustrated with both his life and his career, Cammell shot himself in 1996. He reportedly survived for 45-minutes after shooting himself and he spent that time recording his thoughts on life and dying. Though Cammell died in relative obscurity, his films have since been rediscovered and reevaluated. His legacy lives on.

4 Shots From 4 Films

Performance (1970, directed by Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg)

Demon Seed (1977, directed by Donald Cammell)

White of the Eye (1987, directed by Donald Cammell)

Wild Side (1995, directed by Donald Cammell)

4 Shots From 4 John Carpenter Films: Starman, Prince of Darkness, They Live, In The Mouth of Madness

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Lisa Marie Bowman

From the day that this site first came online, John Carpenter has been a bit of a mainstay here at the Shattered Lens. Arleigh has written extensively about Carpenter’s films. Every October, we seem to have, at the very least, a handful of posts that are somehow connected to the filmography of John Carpenter. Hell, Carpenter and I were once both interviewed for the same article about the future of horror!

I guess my point is that we really love John Carpenter here at the Shattered Lens. I’ve lost track of how many editions of 4 Shots From 4 Films we’ve devoted to Carpenter and his films. However many there are, here’s one more. Today is John Carpenter’s birthday and that means that it is time for….

4 Shots From 4 John Carpenter Films

Starman (1984, dir by John Carpenter)

Prince of Darkness (1987, dir by John Carpenter)

They Live (1988, dir by John Carpenter)

In The Mouth of Madness (1994, dir by John Carpenter)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Happy Birthday, Steven Soderbergh!

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Jedadiah Leland

Today, we wish a happy birthday to one the early pioneers of independent film, Steven Soderbergh. Soderbergh was 26 years old in 1989, when he became the youngest director to ever win the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Soderbergh went on to become one of the busiest and most interesting director in Hollywood, working in all genres and inspiring filmmakers the world over.

4 Shots From 4 Films