DB7

‘Conversations with Jack Cardiff: Art, Light and Direction in Cinema’
By Justin Bowyer
Forward by Mike Figgis


Legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff was responsible for some of the most visually stunning films in cinematic history, including The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life of Death, Black Narcissus, The African Queen, Sons and Lovers, War and Peace and Girl on a Motorcycle. His work has been hugely influential, inspiring countless filmmakers including Martin Scorsese. This book is an insight into the visual art of cinema by one of its greatest exponents. Presented in Q and A sessions, it is written in a non-technical way (technical terms are sparingly used and fully explained) and with full footnotes, forms a complete history of cinema itself.


Published on 30 September, 2003 by B.T. Batsford; ISBN: 0713488557


To celebrate the launch a special screening of A Matter of Life and Death will take place at the Curzon Mayfair Cinema on Sunday 21st September, followed by a Q&A on stage with Cardiff himself.


Curzon Mayfair Cinema
38 Curzon Street
London
W1J 7TY


Further information & tickets:
Box Office 020 7495 0500 or http://www.curzoncinemas.com/curzonmayfair.htm


To contact the author directly ÂÂ* Justin@boxfishmedia.com

Hackett

You should also read "MAGIC HOUR" 1996 the life of a cameraman. Magic Hour will give young film-makers and cinematographers a precious gateway to a vital body of work. Martin Scorsese says on the cover sleeve. Not a bad read but not enought about the cuts in "DARK OF THE SUN" and "WILLIAM TELL" with Errol Flynn for me.

Hugo

I agree. MAGIC HOUR (Faber and Faber, 1996)was of course written by Jack Cardiff and contains all his own well-honed anecdotes from nearly 70 years in the industry. As you say he does tend to gloss over certain parts but it is a fascinating read.

Steve Crook

Come along to the Curzon & ask him about them :)

He's a lovely man and is always willing to talk about film (although he does have other interests as well)

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Russ

At last someone is listening, a film book devoted to something that isn't the next big thing or indeed Lord of the Rings.
A fairly comprehensive, well I only bought it at lunchtime, read.
Edited by Brian McFarlane with a full supporting cast.
These books are never ever as comprehensive as one would wish but it is for now at least the best film book around.
It's available at all the usual outlets, published by Methuen/BFI retailing for £24.99

Steve Crook

A great day out at the Curzon. They screened AMOLAD then Jack came out to a round of applause and was interviewed on stage. Well I say interviewed, the interviewer just had to remind him of a point & Jack went off into a long, fascinating anecdote each time.

That was followed by a Q&A with the audience and then we all sang "Happy Birthday" - he was 89 last Thursday :)

He spent a long time autographing the book of interviews and chatting to people afterwards.

A wonderful man. I just hope I'm that fit & have that many pleasant memories when I get to that age.

The book looks very good with quite a bit that wasn't covered in Jack's autobiography

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Hackett

Any chance it was recorded?. Film, video, audio or maybe someone took notes?.

Steve Crook

A few people took still photos but that was all.
There was quite a turn out from the press. I chatted to people from a few different newspapers & magazines before we went in. So look for the reports of it.

Steve Crook

PaPAS

smudge

Any mention of a film of his called PENNY GOLD in the new volume Steve ?

Incidentally, do you have any guide as to where scenes were shot for CANTERBURY TALE ? Visited recently but only long enough to go round the Cathedral - hope to go again soon. TIA

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Steve Crook

Yes, a bit about that - and The Mutations.
Have a look at ACT locations and the page giving details of the locations (including map references).

Of course the best way is to find a copy of Paul Tritton's book but they're rarer than hen's teeth. But a new edition will be published (probably on CD-ROM) fairly soon.

Steve Crook

PaPAS

DB7

The Mutations. Oh dear, something went awry in quality control with that one.

Was it inspired in part by the Quatermass Xperiment?

Russ

Steve, I just thought that I had to add my praises about your site, in particular the locations section.

As a real film bore, I adore seeing parts of my locality..Manchester, Salford, Livepool etc in the filmic form.
I scour the Internet, local knowledge, library, books etc in attempts to establish exactly where it took place.

How were you able to produce such a comprehensive guide ??

smudge

Thanks for the help Steve - looks like I have a lot more exploring to do. Like Russ, I enjoy seeing filmed places when on my travels - it's given me some great days out in some very nice parts of the UK.

I actually live a few streets away from where Jack Hawkins' character was billeted in THE MAN IN THE SKY. I can cycle round the locations but sadly have never been able to get hold of a copy of that film.

I'll look forward to reading the new Jack Cardiff over the autumn evenings...

Welcome to my house. Enter freely, and of your own will...

Steve Crook

Thank you Russ, but it's not just me. There's a P&P email list with a few hundred members around the world. Many of those send in information.

A lot of P&P films were made mainly in the studio (although you'd never know it with some like Black Narcissus). The ones with a lot of location work such as I Know Where I'm Going (Mull), A Canterbury Tale (Canterbury), Gone to Earth (Shropshire) have been quite thoroughly researched by people who live in the area or go there a lot.

If you go to the IMDb search page and enter a location in the "Word Search" and select 'Location' from the pull-down list it will list all the films (& TV programmes) it knows about that were made in your area.

Steve Crook

PaPAS

The_Late_Peter_Cook

About time too! I enjoyed reading David Thomson’s ‘Biographical Dictionary’ when it came out late last year, but was annoyed at the American bias, for example there was no entry for Kenneth More but there was room for a lengthy piece on an American chat-show host!