4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Greydon Clark Edition

Posted on February 7, 2025 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.

Today, Through the Shattered Lens wishes a happy 82nd birthday to the one-of-a-kind director, Greydon Clark! And that means that it’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Greydon Clark Films

Angels Brigade (1979, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: Dean Cundey)

Without Warning (1980, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: Dean Cundey)

Final Justice (1985, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: Nicholas Josef von Sternberg)

The Forbidden Dance Is Lambada (1990, dir by Greydon Clark, DP: R. Michael Stringer)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Francois Truffaut Edition

Posted on February 6, 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!

Today, on what would have been his 93rd birthday, TSL pays tribute to the great Francois Truffaut. No one captured the act of falling in love in life, people, and cinema with the skill, sensitivity, and humor of Francois Truffaut. It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Francois Truffaut Films

The 400 Blows (1959, dir by François Truffaut, DP: Henri Decae)

Shoot the Piano Player (1960, dir by François Truffaut, DP: Raoul Coutard)

The Story of Adele H. (1975, dir by Francois Truffaut, DP: Nestor Almendros)

The Last Metro (1980, dir by François Truffaut, DP: Nestor Alemndros)

Scenes That I Love: The Tiger Scene From Manhunter

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Since today is Michael Mann’s birthday, today’s scene that I love comes from his 1986 film, Manhunter.

In this scene, a blind woman (played by Joan Allen) pets a sedated tiger while her new boyfriend (Tom Noonan) watches. This would actually be a pretty romantic scene if not for the fact that her boyfriend is also a homicidal maniac. This is a scene that, when you watch the film, seems to come out of nowhere but, when you look back, you realize it was one of the key moments in the narrative. While the killer watches the woman who represents a possible redemption embrace another predator, the profiler played by William Petersen continues his way into the killer’s tortured psyche.

This scene is Michael Mann at his best.

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Mann Edition

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we celebrate the 82nd birthday of the great Michael Mann! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Michael Mann Films

Thief (1981, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Donald Thorin)

Manhunter (1986, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Dante Spinotii)

Heat (1995, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Dante Spinotti)

Public Enemies (2009, dir by Michael Mann, DP: Dante Spinotti)

Song of the Day: Night Train to Mundo Fine by John Carradine

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

On this date, 119 years ago, the great actor John Carradine was born in New York City.

Over the course of his career, Carradine worked for just about everyone. He appeared on stage. He appeared in film and television. He played the great roles of Shakespeare and he also played Dracula. He was a part of both the John Ford and the Fred Olen Ray stock companies. He had a reputation for taking almost any role offered to him and, as a result, his huge filmography offers up a wonderful amount of variety.

He was also a singer! Here he is performing today’s song of the day, Night Train to Mundo Fine! This song was featured Coleman Francis’s Red Zone Cuba. Say what you may about the song or the film, how can you not love Carrdine’s dramatic (and perhaps slightly mocking) delivery of the lyrics?

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Cimino Edition

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, it is time to celebrate the birth of one of the most intriguing (if uneven) filmmakers of the 20th Century, Michael Cimino! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Michael Cimino Films

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974, dir by Michael Cimino, DP: Frank Stanley)

The Deer Hunter (1978, dir by Michael Cimino, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

Heaven’s Gate (1980, dir by Michael Cimino, DP: Vilmos Zsigmond)

The Year of the Dragon (1985, dir by Michael Cimino, DP: Alex Thomson)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Time Travel Edition

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

*tick tick tick* TIME!

4 Shots From 4 Time Travel Films

Beyond The Time Barrier (1960, dir by Edgar G. Ulmer, DP: Meredith Nicholson)

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

12 Monkeys (1995, dir by Terry Gilliam, DP: Roger Pratt)

Primer (2004, dir by Shane Carruth)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Norman Mailer Edition

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Norman Mailer, running for mayor of New York City in 1969

Norman Mailer wasn’t just a writer and symbol of New York City. He was also an aspiring filmmaker, a director who made three experimental films in the 60s and one studio film in the 80s. And while none of his films could really be described as being a hit with either audiences or critics, they do — to a certain extent — epitomize an era. Plus, the story of Rip Torn hitting Mailer with a hammer during the filming of Maidstone will live forever.

In honor of Norman Mailer the director, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Norma Mailer Films