4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Michael Powell Edition


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, TSL celebrates the 116 anniversary of the birth of Michael Powell, the British visionary who changed the face of cinema, both on his own and through his collaboration with Emeric Pressburger.  It seems appropriate that we pay tribute to Powell on the day before October, as his 1960 film Peeping Tom is considered by many to be the first slasher film.  (It’s not but it’s influence on the genre cannot be overstated.)

In honor of Michael Powell, TSL is proud to present….

4 Shots From 4 Michael Powell Films

The Thief of Bagdad (1940, dir by Michael Powell, Tim Whalen, and Ludwig Berger, DP: George Perinal)

Black Narcissus (1947, dir by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, DP: Jack Cardiff)

The Red Shoes (1948, dir by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, DP: Jack Cardiff)

Peeping Tom (1960, dir by Michael Powell, DP: Otto Heller)

 

6 Shots From 6 Films: Special King Vidor Edition


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, we celebrate the 127th birthday of Texas-born filmmaker, King Vidor!  Though Vidor may no longer be a household name, he was one of the most important and idiosyncratic filmmakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age.  The Crowd is regularly cited as one of the most influential films ever made.  (Certainly every film that’s ever featured a shot of an anonymous office worker sitting in a room full of cubicles owes a debt to it.)  Duel in the Sun went on to inspire countless spaghetti westerns.  The Fountainhead is also regularly cited as a favorite by a surprisingly large number of directors.

In honor of King Vidor’s life and legacy, here are….

6 Shots From 6 King Vidor Films

The Crowd (1928, dir by King Video, DP: Henry Sharp)

The Champ (1931, dir by King Vidor, DP: Gordon Avil)

Duel In The Sun (1946, dir by King Vidor, DP: Lee Garmes)

The Fountainhead (1949, dir by King Vidor, DP: Robert Burks)

War and Peace (1956, dir by King Vidor, DP: Jack Cardiff)

Solomon and Sheba (1959, dir by King Vidor, DP; Fred A. Young)

 

4 Shots From 4 Donald Pleasence Films: Wake In Fright, The Mutations, Halloween, Phenomena


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 life and career Donald Pleasence!  One of the greatest of all the horror icons, Pleasence was born 101 years ago today and that means that it’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Films

Wake in Fright (1971, dir by Ted Kotcheff)

The Mutations (1974, dir by Jack Cardiff)

Halloween (1978, dir by John Carpenter)

Phenomena (1985, dir by Dario Argento)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Dr. Crippen, Cul-de-sac, Wake In Fright, The Mutations


Yesterday would have been Donald Pleasence’s 96th birthday.  Pleasence is best remembered for playing Blofeld in You Only Live Twice and the obsessive Dr. Sam Loomis in the Halloween films but, over the course of his long career, he appeared in over a hundred other films.  These 4 shots come from 4 of them.

4 Shots From 4 Films

Dr. Crippen (1963, directed by Robert Lynn)

Dr. Crippen (1963, directed by Robert Lynn)

Cul-de-sac (1966, directed by Roman Polanski)

Cul-de-sac (1966, directed by Roman Polanski)

Wake in Fright (1971, directed by Ted Kotcheff)

Wake in Fright (1971, directed by Ted Kotcheff)

The Mutations (1974, directed by Jack Cardiff)

The Mutations (1974, directed by Jack Cardiff)