I just watched most of this again for the umpteenth time and while I love this film, I can't put my finger on it, but it has the look and feel of a made for TV film.
Siegel's resume is impressive and his other films that I've seen don't share this.
Any ideas why? Film stock? Cinematography?
I'm a fan of film, but I'm not enough of an expert to glean why it looks this way to me.
There are some scenes, such as in Books' darkened room and in the woodshed, where the lighting is more or less appropriately dark. When I watch a TV western from the 60s or 79s, one thing that always strikes me is just how bright every setting is. Watch Gunsmoke or Bonanza and the interiors are all lighted up as if we're in a greenhouse. You never get the sense of the Long Branch being lit by candles and gas lamps.
Being a town western for the most part, The Shootist is confined to a lot of interiors. Right off, that's going to look similar to TV westerns which tend to be confined to sound stages. That these interiors were shot on The Burbank Lot where both Columbia and WB were shooting at the time, does mean that we're seeing sets that had been in constant use for series and movies.
Don Siegel's autobiography has him complaining about being hampered by the budget and the shooting schedule, and having to shut down for a couple of weeks did put a damper on it all in terms of perhaps being able to more cinematic. I'm really surprised that it turned out as well as it did.
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Good info. Thanks.
shareYes, it plays cheaply at times - the only drawback - really fake 70's blood...
shareI think it the music track. It really sounds like scores from the 70's made for TV movies. A bit tin and cheesy. I'm just not sure all those big name stars could be afforded on a made for TV movie though.
shareThe lighting, the sets that look like a studio lot, the music, the pacing; wouldn't be surprised if budget contributed a lot to that. You also have some of the cast, who were more at home on tv than film.
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In addition to what the other posters have said, Siegel was never - despite his virtues - the most 'cinematic' of directors.
Just part of his style, for better or worse.
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Richard Boone, Harry Morgan, Hugh O'Brian, and Ron Howard in the cast may have given it that feeling as well.
shareIt doesn't in my opinion.
Oh Lord, you gave them eyes but they cannot see...
Fairly long scenes without a cut and a lot of level camera work (until the final shot).
share