The making of the epic western Duel in the Sun (1946) seems to have been a chaotic experience. Though King Vidor is credited as the sole director, Otto Brower, William Dieterle, Sidney Franklin, William Cameron Menzies, David O. Selznick and Josef Von Sternberg all made significant uncredited contributions. On the picture side, no fewer than three principal cinematographers were employed to get it in the Technicolor can: Lee Garmes, ASC, Ray Rennahan, ASC and Harold Rosson, ASC…not to mention Charles P. Boyle, ASC, who handled the Additional Photography.
Despite the movie’s being close to eighty years-old, I found it thoroughly enjoyable when I caught up with it the other night. Along with the tremendous cast, it has everything you’d want in a western, including one of the rare turns in which Gregory Peck plays a bad guy. The photography is outstanding, especially considering the many eyes that took up residence behind the cameras. I highly recommend it.
But naturally, I couldn’t just sit on the couch and enjoy it like a normal person. Check out the clip below and notice how the speeding locomotive shatters the mirror that was used to capture the head-on angle. Pay close attention! The effect only lasts for four or five frames, but there’s no question regarding what happens. Then, it’s followed by a wonderful miniature shot as the train goes off the rails and tumbles down a fake hillside. That one takes place more slowly and is really fun to watch.
I love the hand-made feel of things like this. It’s a shame we don’t do it like that anymore. Somehow, computers and digital technology don’t encourage quite the same satisfaction of putting one over on the audience!
Love the mirror shot! Thanks, Rich!
Hey Greg – It’s weird how many things like this pop up in movies, isn’t it?
Along with the great cinematography, you’ve got Hal Kern as Supervising editor, known for Gone with the Wind, Rebecca and Spellbound, the synergy between cinematography and editing is well displayed in this motion picture. Directors, cinematographers and editors were always thinking about how to create the illusion with shots, cuts and ideas, we used to call it, movie magic, smoke and mirrors. Certainly todays VFX are lacking but that may be budget related, do it in post, ruin it in post! Cheers!