4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Robert Aldrich Edition

Posted on August 9, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

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!

On this date, 107 years ago, Robert Aldrich was born in Cranston, Rhode Island. The first cousin of New York Governor and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Robert Aldrich eschewed business and politics to pursue a career in film. Though his wonderfully melodramatic films were often undervalued when first released, Aldrich is now seen as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time. Tarantino loves him.

In honor of Aldrich’s career and legacy, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Robert Aldrich Films

Kiss Me Deadly (1955, dir by Robert Aldrich, DP: Ernest Laszlo)

What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962, dir by Robert Aldrich, DP: Ernest Haller)

The Dirty Dozen (1967, dir by Robert Aldrich, DP: Edward Scaife)

Hustle (1975, dir by Robert Aldrich, DP: Joseph Biroc)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Nicholas Ray Edition

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Director and screenwriter Nicholas Ray was born 114 years ago today, in Galesville, Wisconsin. He would go on to become one of the most influential American directors of all time, making independently-minded films that celebrated rebels and iconoclasts. The directors of the French New Wave loved him and for good reason.

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Nicholas Ray with….

4 Shots From 4 Nicholas Ray Films

They Live By Night (1948, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: George E. Diskant)

In A Lonely Place (1950, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: Burnett Guffey)

Rebel Without A Cause (1955, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: Ernest Haller)

Bigger Than Life (1956, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: Joseph MacDonald)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Raoul Walsh Edition

Posted on March 11, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

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!

128 years ago today, film director Raoul Walsh was born in New York City. He started out as an actor and a second unit director, learning how to make films under the tutelage of D.W. Griffith. He made his directorial debut in 1915 with Regeneration, which is considered to be the first gangster film. Refusing to sidelined after losing an eye in an auto accident, Walsh continued to direct and his career stretched from the silent era all the way to the mid-60s. Walsh directed westerns, war films, and gangster films. He was a master of tough but sometimes quirky action films. Martin Scorsese continues to cite Walsh as being an influence on his own work.

Today. we pay tribute to Raoul Walsh with….

4 Shots From 4 Raoul Walsh Films

The Big Trail (1930, dir by Raoul Walsh, DP: Lucian Andriot and Arthur Edeson)

The Roaring Twenties (1939, dir by Raoul Walsh, DP: Ernest Haller)

Gentleman Jim (1942, dir by Raoul Walsh, DP: Sidney Hickox)

Esther and the King (1960, dir by Raoul Walsh and Mario Bava, DP: Mario Bava)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Bootleggers Edition

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today is National Bootleggers Day so remember to speak easy! In honor of everyone’s favorite entrepreneurs, it’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Films About Bootleggers

The Roaring Twenties (1939, dir by Raoul Walsh, DP: Ernest Haller)

Thunder Road (1958, dir by Arthur Ripley, DP: David Ettenson and Alan Stensvoid)

Once Upon A Time In America (1984, dir by Sergio Leone, DP: Tonino Delli Colli)

The Great Gatsby (2013, dir by Baz Luhrmann, DP: Simon Duggan)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Ward Bond Edition

Posted on April 9, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

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

121 years ago today, the great American character actor Ward Bond was born in Benkleman, Nebraska. In a career that last nearly forty years, Ward Bond appeared in more than 200 films and he currently holds the record for being the actor to appear in the most films nominated for Best Picture. (He appeared in 13 nominated films, two of which won.) He did 22 films with John Wayne and was a favorite of both John Ford and Frank Capra.

It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Ward Bond Films

Gone With The Wind (1939, dir by Victor Fleming, DP: Ernest Haller)

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946, dir by Frank Capra, DP: Joseph Walker and Joseph Biroc)

The Searchers (1956, dir by John Ford, DP: Winston C. Hoch)

Rio Bravo (1959, dir by Howard Hawks, DP: Russell Harlan)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Raoul Walsh Edition

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

127 years ago today, film director Raoul Walsh was born in New York City. He started out as an actor and a second unit director, learning how to make films under the tutelage of D.W. Griffith. He made his directorial debut in 1915 with Regeneration, which is considered to be the first gangster film. Refusing to sidelined after losing an eye in an auto accident, Walsh continued to direct and his career stretched from the silent era all the way to the mid-60s. Walsh directed westerns, war films, and gangster films. He was a master of tough but sometimes quirky action films. Martin Scorsese continues to cite Walsh as being an influence on his own work.

Today. we pay tribute to Raoul Walsh with….

4 Shots From 4 Raoul Walsh Films

The Roaring Twenties (1939, dir by Raoul Walsh, DP: Ernest Haller)

They Drive By Night (1940, dir by Raoul Walsh, DP: Arthur Edeson)

White Heat (1949, dir by Raoul Walsh, DP: Sidney Hickox)

Esther and the King (1960, dir by Raoul Walsh and Mario Bava, DP: Mario Bava)

6 Shots From 6 Best Picture Winners: 1927 — 1939

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, I’m using this feature to take a look at the history of the Academy Award for Best Picture. Decade by decade, I’m going to highlight my picks for best of the winning films. To start with, here are 6 shots from 6 Films that won Best Picture during the early days of the Academy Awards! Here are….

6 Shots From 6 Best Picture Winners

Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927, dir by F.W. Murnau, DP: Charles Rosher and Karl Struss)

Wings (1927, dir by William Wellman, DP: Harry Perry)

All Quiet On The Western Front (1930, dir by Lewis Milestone, DP: Arthur Edeson)

It Happened One Night (1934, dir by Frank Capra, DP: Joseph Walker)

Mutiny on the Bounty (1935, dir by Frank Lloyd, DP: Arthur Edeson)

Gone With The Wind (1939, dir by Victor Fleming, DP: Ernest Haller)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Curtiz Edition

Posted on December 24, 2023 by Lisa Marie Bowman

December 24th is not just Christmas Eve! It’s also the anniversary of the birth of Michael Curtiz! Michael Curtiz was born in Budapest in 1886 and, after getting his start making silent films in Hungary, he eventually came to the United States and became one of the most important directors of Hollywood’s Golden Age! Curtiz mastered every genre and worked with every star and the end result was some of the greatest films ever made.

Today, we honor the legacy of Michael Curtiz with….

4 Shots From 4 Michael Curtiz Films

The Walking Dead (1936, dir by Michael Curtiz, DP: Hal Mohr)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938, dir by Michael Curtiz, DP: W. Howard Greene)

Casablanca (1942, dir by Michael Curtiz, DP: Arthur Edeson)

Mildred Pierce (1945, dir by Michael Curtiz, DP: Ernest Haller)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Nicholas Ray Edition

Posted on August 7, 2023 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Director and screenwriter Nicholas Ray was born 112 years ago today, in Galesville, Wisconsin. He would go on to become one of the most influential American directors of all time, making independently-minded films that celebrated rebels and iconoclasts. The directors of the French New Wave loved him and for good reason.

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Nicholas Ray with….

4 Shots From 4 Nicholas Ray Films

They Live By Night (1948, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: George E. Diskant)

In A Lonely Place (1950, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: Burnett Guffey)

Rebel Without A Cause (1955, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: Ernest Haller)

Bigger Than Life (1956, dir by Nicholas Ray, DP: Joseph MacDonald)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Raoul Walsh Edition

Posted on March 11, 2023 by Lisa Marie Bowman

126 years ago today, film director Raoul Walsh was born in New York City. He started out as an actor and a second unit director, learning how to make films under the tutelage of D.W. Griffith. He made his directorial debut in 1915 with Regeneration, which is considered to be the first gangster film. Refusing to sidelined after losing an eye in an auto accident, Walsh continued to direct and his career stretched from the silent era all the way to the mid-60s. Walsh directed westerns, war films, and gangster films. He was a master of tough but sometimes quirky action films. Martin Scorsese continues to cite Walsh as being an influence on his own work.

Today. we pay tribute to Raoul Walsh with….

4 Shots From 4 Raoul Walsh Films