I really need to quit highlighting these odd little mistakes I trip across; God knows there are enough of them in my own movies. But seeing as I’ve been a little pressed for time, when I saw this one, the post wrote itself.
It’s from the 1974 action flick, Mr. Majestyk (Richard Fleischer\Richard Kline, ASC). That mark on the floor to the left of Charles Bronson is so big and so obvious, I hope he didn’t trip over it as he walked into the scene!
After seeing the unmatted 4:3 version of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” on a plane flight, I can tell you that Michelle Yeoh is very good at hitting her tape marks without looking down!
I guess he missed his mark!
Isn’t that terrible for a cinematographer when that happens? One of my first features was originated in 1.85 but transferred to VHS in 1.33 (without my participation, of course). So many frames are littered with so much detritus, it still infuriates me today!
I am so happy that behind the lens we never have to hear or think about “protect for 4:3” on feature films and television projects now that nearly everyone has an HD television set. That 4:3 frame was always an awful compromise aesthetically.
However, Linus Sandgren uses it superbly in Saltburn in a perfectly fitting manner.