When I began watching films,I always had the wrong impression that if the image of a film is beautiful,it is the director’s credit.Of course I figured that out lately and found that it is the cinematographer who does the execution of the shooting,as I watched more and more films,I noticed more magic in the film cinematography,the color,the composition,the lighting,the camera movement,how lucky a director is if he finds a perfect partner who can realize his ideas visually.Here are some of the most successful director-cinematographer combination in cinema history.
Michael Powell – Jack Cardiff
Short Note:Their collaboration produced some of the best technicolor films.
Collaboration works:
A Matter of Life and Death
Black Narcissus
The Red Shoes
Most celebrated collaboration:The Red Shoes
Most celebrated scene:The grand ballet dance in Red Shoes
Cinematographer’s Other famous work:Pandora and the Flying Dutchman
Bernardo Bertolucci – Vittorio Storaro
Short Note:The colors express emotions,the lights create moods.
Collaboration works:
1900
The Conformist
Last Tango in Paris
The Last Emperor
The Sheltering Sky
Most celebrated collaboration:The Conformist
Most celebrated scene:Every single scene in The Conformist
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Apocalypse Now
David Lean – Freddie Young
Short Note:The grand landscape in the director’s most notable epic films
Collaboration works:
Lawrence of Arabia
Doctor Zhivago
Ryan’s Daughter
Most celebrated collaboration:Lawrence of Arabia
Most celebrated scene:A tiny dot of Oma Shariff’s figure appears on the horizen of the desert in Lawrence of Arabia
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Nicholas and Alexandra
Ingmar Bergman – Sven Nykvist
Short Note:Naturalism and simplicity
Collaboration works:
Sawdust and Tinsel
The Virgin Spring
Through a Glass Darkly
The Silence
Winter Light
Persona
Shame
Hour of the Wolf
The Passion of Anna
The Touch
Cries and Whispers
Scenes from a Marriage
The Magic Flute
The Serpent’s Egg
Autumn Sonata
Fanny and Alexander
Most celebrated collaboration:The Virgin Spring
Most celebrated scene:The girl rides in the country in peace and harmony
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: The Sacrifice
Jean Luc Godard – Raoul Coutard
Short Note:One of the most creative partnerships in cinema history
Collaboration works:
Breathless
A Woman Is a Woman
Contempt
Band of Outsiders
Alphaville
Pierrot le Fou
Week End
Passion
Prénom Carmen
Most celebrated collaboration:Pierrot le Fou
Most celebrated scene:The color changes as Pierrot enters different rooms
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Shoot the Piano Player
Max Ophuls – Christian Matras
Short Note:Unbelievable camera movements and shots
Collaboration works:
Le Plaisir
The Earrings of Madame De…
Lola Montès
Most celebrated collaboration:Le Plaisir
Most celebrated scene:The camera shot pierces through a window
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Grand Illusion
Krzysztof Kieślowski – Sławomir Idziak
Short Note:The brilliant use of the filter
Collaboration works:
A Short Film About Killing
The Double Life of Véronique
Three Colors: Blue
Most celebrated collaboration:Three Colors: Blue
Most celebrated scene:The ghostly blue light suddenly reflects on Julie’s face
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Gattaca
Steven Spielberg – Janusz Kamiński
Short Note:The granular sensation in the image
Collaboration works:
Schindler’s List
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Amistad
Saving Private Ryan
AI
Minority Report
Catch Me If You Can
The Terminal
Munich
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
War Horse
Most celebrated collaboration:Saving Private Ryan
Most celebrated scene:The Omaha Landing Operation
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Kenji Mizoguchi – Kazuo Miyagawa
Short Note:The constant camera movement
Collaboration works:
Ugetsu
Gion Bayashi
The Woman in the Rumor
Sansho the Bailiff
The Crucified Lovers
Street of Shame
Most celebrated collaboration:Sansho the Bailiff
Most celebrated scene:The sister walks into the river slowly
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Rashomon
Wong Karwai – Christopher Doyle
Short Note:The hand-held camera and some quirky shots
Collaboration works:
Days of Being Wild
Ashes of Time
Chungking Express
Fallen Angels
Happy Together
In the Mood for Love
2046
Most celebrated collaboration:In the Mood for Love
Most celebrated scene:The woman descends the stairs
Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Hero
Which director-cinematographer Collaboration is your favorite? Have I missed any? Let me know in the comments.