PAPER MOON (1973, Bogdanovich)
Nothing beats, in terms of performance & overall impact, this amazing single shot from Paper Moon. It’s a simple thing — on the surface — but took Bogdanovich a grueling day and half to get this short scene.
The little girl, Tatum O’Neil (daughter of Ryan, screen right) gives a stellar performance, especially considering she’s 9. Thing is, if she’d go up on a line, the whole parade — the tow vehicle, the picture car, any crew vehicles — had to be turned around and reset — an arduous process that would only allow for a limited number of takes before they lost the daylight.
Peter Bogdanovich’s Paper Moon Persistence
They didn’t get it the first day! Bogdanovich had to fend off incredulous and desperate producers who wanted him to move on but he knew he was on the verge of something special, and the final result is magnificent on all levels. Coverage of this scene would have lessened the verisimilitude and impact.
You can check out the scene in this youtube video:
FUNNY GIRL (1968, Wyler)
There are two amazing shots, both using the same technique, in this sequence from William Wyler's Funny Girl. But I'm mostly impressed today with the man who actually shot them, Nelson Tyler. Not only did he run the camera but
GOODFELLAS (1990, Scorsese)
The stuff I found for today's post is awesome, complete with multi-media bonus features that really demonstrate the brilliance of Scorsese's work here. (As with Spielberg, I could fill an entire blog just with shots by Scorsese.) Often times when a
J. Carlos
I’ve never seen this film. I’ll have to netflix it now. very cool John.
jsbfilm
You’ll think it’s hilarious.
RS
Wow! Peter Bogdanovich is insufferable and when he’s self-satisfied is movies are impossible to sit through, but when he lets his talent and craft serve story and character instead of his own ego there are few better.
jsbfilm
Provocative point, sir. Which films of his do you find impossible? I guess I’ve not seen all of them. I’ve seen and really liked LAST PICTURE SHOW, PAPER MOON, and CAT’S MEOW. Oh, and WHAT’S UP DOC?.
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