MovieChat Forums > The Big Combo (1955) Discussion > John Alton, cinematographer

John Alton, cinematographer

posted 13 years ago by agera
7 replies | jump to latest

I started watching The Big Combo because it was in the noir category on Netflix instant streaming. But the minute I saw John Alton's name in the opening credits, I knew I had to watch the whole thing, no matter what.

I think his cinematography is one of the best, if not the best, things about this movie. Nearly every scene had some memorable use of shadows or lighting or camera angle.

I saw frequent mention of how good the cinematography was in comments here but I saw only a brief mention of Alton. Do yourselves a favor and watch any movie he's filmed. You won't be sorry. His ability to manipulate light and shadow for dramatic and/or psychological effect is unsurpassed.

"The night was sultry."

[–] Errington_92 13 years ago

The use of lighting in the final scene was certainly memorable as they walked off into the night as silhouettes. It made for a great dramatic effect giving a sense of danger the characters experience within this world.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not".

[–] Bodine 12 years ago

I share your enthusiasm for the stellar work of John Alton and will watch anything he had a hand in. Do you know of his book, "Painting With Light"? http://www.amazon.com/Painting-Light-John-Alton/dp/0520089499

[–] ginbelt 11 years ago

His ability to manipulate light and shadow for dramatic and/or psychological effect is unsurpassed.

It might not surpass it, but if you've seen the films of Jacques Tourneur you have to admit there are others who have achieved those kinds of heights...Cat People is about as psychological as noir can get....and the "painting with light" in order to achieve the psychological mood-setting is also 2nd to no one, including Alton imo. I Walked with a Zombie is another one that does more with black and white than most films even try to do with full color....

Re: The Big Combo, I've been thinking about (or trying to figure out, more like it) just how much of the look of it is due fully to Alton's mind, and not Joseph Lewis'....not to take anything away from Alton, but if you've seen other Joseph H. Lewis films (thinking of Gun Crazy in particular), you'll also see phenomenal lighting.....Gun Crazy has camera angles that Alfred Hitchcock wishes HE had thought of first, and a lighting that took my breath away in certain scenes, and John Alton wasn't the DP on that film, Russell Harlan was (To Kill a Mockingbird).

[–] vbel 11 years ago

The brilliant cinematographers hard work is often obscured by colorization. For those of us lucky enough to appreciate it we salute them.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] The_TJT 8 years ago

It might not surpass it, but if you've seen the films of Jacques Tourneur you have to admit there are others who have achieved those kinds of heights...Cat People is about as psychological as noir can get....and the "painting with light" in order to achieve the psychological mood-setting is also 2nd to no one, including Alton imo. I Walked with a Zombie is another one that does more with black and white than most films even try to do with full color....

Yes Tourneur was great.

There are some masters from 60s as well, try Kaneto Shindô and his Onibaba and Kuroneko. Really strong moody b/w contrast.

Also...

Polanski's Repulsion.
https://goo.gl/photos/6RgAqoUHYKPGi7us6

Clayton's Innocents:
https://goo.gl/photos/naJWsWW4ycEo4muT7

Kalatozov's...

The Cranes Are Flying:
https://goo.gl/photos/rCUeYK2WkgZ3gDXR6

Letter Never Sent:
https://goo.gl/photos/UWtwP2T8UPmbqneg6

And last but definitely not least...

I Am Cuba:
https://goo.gl/photos/j7xj8AhqH5475c158

All above are not only masterpieces of b/w cinematography but also really, really great films.

[–] drjukebox 9 years ago

He even made van Cleef look like mr Spock