In this concluding section of William Roberts’ article, Shooting For the Stars, the author encounters ASC legend, Ernest Haller, ASC.  Once again, I’m impressed by the unusual candor with which he speaks about the stars he photographs.             Rudolph Mate had a date with Vivien Leigh, in front of the camera, and I had … Continue reading “ERNIEST HALLER, ASC IN MODERN SCREEN, FEBRUARY 1941”

            Modern Screen was one of the many fan magazines that flooded newsstands during the heyday of the Hollywood studio system.  Filled with propaganda that sold the shiny veneer of Tinseltown to the world, William Roberts’ February 1941 article, Shooting For the Stars, is something of an anomaly.  While maintaining its fawning, somewhat corny tone, … Continue reading “RUDOLPH MATE, ASC IN MODERN SCREEN”

            From William Roberts’ article, Shooting For the Stars.  It appeared in the February 1941 issue of Modern Screen.             Of course, a well-balanced face is another thing.  Oh, I’ve seen so-called perfect faces – those composite photographs showing Lamarr’s eyes, Leigh’s nose, Dietrich’s lips – but the result is always surprisingly vacant!             “Most … Continue reading “JAMES WONG HOWE, ASC, continued…”

            Picking up where I left off last Friday, here’s another piece of an article published in the February 1941 issue of Modern Screen.  In this segment, writer William Roberts leaves Gregg Toland, ASC to his glass of beer and drops in on another legendary cinematographer, James Wong Howe, ASC.             If you can get … Continue reading “MORE MODERN SCREEN”

            Sometime during the early morning hours of January 7, we lost perhaps the last giant of American cinematography, Owen Roizman, ASC.  In failing health for quite some time, his passing wasn’t unexpected but it struck home especially hard.             Owen was a close friend for nearly twenty-five years.  When we met, if I was … Continue reading “OWEN ROIZMAN, ASC, 1936-2023”

            Writer William Roberts continues to draw Gregg Toland, ASC out in the February 1941 issue of Modern Screen.  His article was titled, Shooting For the Stars.             I inquired about Toland’s most recent and celebrated patient, Orson Welles.             “Shot ‘Citizen Kane’ in sixteen weeks,” explained Toland.  “It’s an unusual picture. For example, we … Continue reading “MORE FROM MODERN SCREEN”

            Gregg Toland, ASC continues to expound in this second excerpt from William Roberts’ February 1941 article, Shooting For the Stars.  In an era during which information was so tightly controlled by the studios, it’s interesting that he spoke with such candor.  Modern Screen was a mass-market fan magazine, but it seems he’s talking a … Continue reading “IN HIS OWN WORDS…”

            On this eve of New Year’s Eve, I thought it would be fun to look back to the February 1941 issue of Modern Screen magazine.  In it resides an article written by William Roberts, titled Shooting For the Stars.  Ignore the studio-flack hyperbole and enjoy it for what it is: A rare, fan-rag look … Continue reading “SOON TO BE EIGHTY-TWO YEARS AGO…”

            Macro-shots of cookies notwithstanding, a great opportunity lurks beneath the fattening waves of Christmas cheer.  Reclaim the TV remote from your nephew, hit the ‘search’ button and let your imagination run free.  Never before have so many worthwhile films been so easily accessible to the curious cinematographer!             Some odd suggestions I recently caught … Continue reading “TOO MUCH FUN”

            As I sat down to compose today’s post, it dawned on me that there were better things to be doing this time of year.  Like sitting in a nice, warm Irish pub, nursing a Jameson and photographing the back of people’s heads.             Which speaks to one of the great truths of creation: No … Continue reading “YOU SHOULD DO IT TOO…”