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BLACK NARCISSUS
by Gigolo Joe
Apr 22nd, 2009
11:38:50 AM
This is my favorite cinematography work ever, by any DP. Cardiff was a great talent who never got the respect he deserved.
RIP
by chrth
Apr 22nd, 2009
11:39:14 AM
He was a GIANT of the industry.
by Nice Marmot
Apr 22nd, 2009
11:41:59 AM
Ba dum bum DSSSSSH!!!!
See ya at the Oscar Montage
by Willie_Watkins
Apr 22nd, 2009
11:42:52 AM
I hope they finally start referring to
by seppukudkurosawa
Apr 22nd, 2009
11:49:34 AM
Powell & Pressburger as Powell, Pressburger & Cardiff, his cinematography was that oustanding in those movies.

I reckon I'll give his commentary to the African Queen a listen now. He was a cracking fella, full of stories and relaxed, down to earth British charm.

On the extra features of some of the best movies he served as a cinematographer on, he was always the one survivor left to tell the stories. I know he was old and this was pretty inevitable, but it's like that human connection to a certain era of movies has suddenly been severed.

And it's a tragedy
by seppukudkurosawa
Apr 22nd, 2009
11:59:35 AM
that the Errol Flynn movie he directed, The Story of William Tell, fell through. I recall it having something to do with mafia money and Errol's co-star stealing all his property by way of payment. If that movie was even half as good as Errol's earlier work it could have upgraded Cardiff from a B-list to an A-list director.
Genius
by King_Knut
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:06:27 PM
Nuff.
But was he a light tweaker?
by Klytus_I.m_Bored
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:08:39 PM
Quint wrote this piece because Harry has no fucking respect for cinematographers - y'know the people who actually WORK for a living in Hollywood.
Ghost Story
by Dataset
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:17:33 PM
That movie freaked my shit when I was a kid. It mixed everything I loved at the time: spooky stories and hot nakedness. I'm going to put on my DVD in his honor. The Chowder Society has a new member.
A great cinematographer
by moviemaniac-7
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:27:19 PM
A true artist... RIP
His work on Conan the Destroyer was legendary
by alucardvsdracula
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:30:21 PM
Honestly I once saw a 70mm print of the movie and I actually came out of my eyes!!! I've never been able to see properly since.
A Real Gent
by Giant Ape Balls
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:31:07 PM
I met him about 15 years ago at a showing of Black Narcissus in Cambridge. A truly lovely guy with time for everyone. His autobiography Magic Hour is a wonderful, honest read and I'd recommend it to anyone. RIP Jack.
A career reminiscent of Freddie Francis
by skimn
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:35:31 PM
A great cinematographer who went on to direct some real doozies. But his lighting and camera work will live on. Hope he enjoyed the many years he lived.
There is a genuine feeling of loss in my heart tonight.
by Gabba-UK
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:46:39 PM
A Matter of Life and Death, is perhaps one of top 3 movies of all time. Cardiff is on the DVD release explaining the methods he used, hell, created in order to do it. I can think of no better way of remembering him than by watching it tonight.
The Vikings
by Dasinfogod
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:56:20 PM
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous! I'm pulling this one out and tipping back a flagon of mead in Jack's honor; the man was an artist of shadow and light. Hail Ragnar, and hail Ragnar's beard!
The photography in Black Narcissus blew me away
by Tacom
Apr 22nd, 2009
12:57:12 PM
No Technicolor movie from that era looked as good. I didn't realize he photographed Rambo or Conan the Destroyer until recently but I enjoyed those movies when I was a kid.
Three masterpieces
by kwisatzhaderach
Apr 22nd, 2009
01:08:03 PM
The Red Shoes, Black Narcissus, A Matter of Life and Death.
Amazing talent
by blakindigo
Apr 22nd, 2009
01:23:39 PM
Black Narcissus is sublime. Thank you Jack Cardiff.
Master and a gentleman
by filmcoyote
Apr 22nd, 2009
01:50:59 PM
I had the good fortune to meet Mr Cardiff following a Q&A he did after a special screening of Michael Powell's Peeping Tom. It was only a few days after he had received an honourary Oscar. He was a true gentleman and an amazing talent. Most of all i will remember him for his work with Powell, especially on my favourite Powell/Pressburger film A Matter Of Life And Death, which is in my all-time top 10 movies. One of the best cinematographers has passed, he will be mourned and remembered.
LEGEND : END OF STORY :-(
by Greigy Just Wanted To Say
Apr 22nd, 2009
02:13:45 PM
Will be sorely missed.
Here's to a great talent
by MGTHEDJ
Apr 22nd, 2009
02:16:34 PM
Shot "African Queen", "The Red Shoes", "Conan the Destroyer" looks like a Hammer Film, and he shot Ghost Story, with Alice Krige's the bathtub scene that is one of the most erotic sequences ever put on film. She is all woman in those shots

The man knew everyone, worked with everyone, and loved his job. That's a life well lived.

My best to his freinds and family.--m

I have copy of the black narcissus up stairs..
by emeraldboy
Apr 22nd, 2009
03:35:47 PM
The cinematography is stunning. simply breathtaking. mesmeric. old hollywood has died with jack cardfiffs passing. but I will say this. All film classes should ban computer technology and instead his films should and indeed must be studied to say to say to these students that this is how you shoot films.
Try his autobiography: MAGIC HOUR
by palimpsest
Apr 22nd, 2009
03:48:43 PM
A great read, particularly on his collaborations with Richard Fleischer. There's also a book of interviews that Mike Figgis did with him a few years ago.
Email
by Quint
Apr 22nd, 2009
04:49:31 PM
I just got an email from Jack Cardiff's son, John, thanking me for the obituary. John and his family were there last night as his father peacefully passed away, he said. He also wanted to thank you guys in the talkback for the nice words about his dad. Thought I'd pass that along.
Rambo really was a beautifully photographed film.
by Mr Nicholas
Apr 22nd, 2009
05:08:51 PM
And that poster for Dark of the Sun kicks ass, BTW!
bon voyage
by frank cotton
Apr 22nd, 2009
05:45:39 PM
Nice
by kwisatzhaderach
Apr 22nd, 2009
06:20:32 PM
Thanks Quint.
Rest In Peace
by The_Genteel_Gentile
Apr 22nd, 2009
06:59:46 PM
Jack Cartiff was a rare and true talent that will never be forgotten. Thank you sir for enriching our sense of wonder and delight with your magic.
Rambo
by Porrohman
Apr 22nd, 2009
07:44:30 PM
..sprung to mind straight away when i read this news. RIP
One of the best D.P.'s I've ever seen
by quentintarantado
Apr 22nd, 2009
07:46:12 PM
I've only seen a few of his works (Black Narcissus, A Matter of Life and Death, African Queen, Rambo, Conan)but yeah, his work leaps off the screen. His early works are very distinctive probably because they use the 3 strip Technicolor process instead of the modern negatives used today. Therefore those cameras were huge! Filmmaking in those days was a Herculean task, literally! Thank you Jack Cardiff, you added a lot of color to the world.
A Master Painter of Light.
by Brundlefly
Apr 22nd, 2009
08:37:48 PM
Not many men can discuss working with Bogie in one breath and lensing Rambo the next. R.I.P Jack. You were a master of your art and a gentleman to boot.
A Knight of Light
by Smithys.Bark
Apr 22nd, 2009
10:26:46 PM
Farewell Jack Cardiff, there will never be another like you. Thank you for showing us what you saw.
Great work for Powell & Pressburger
by swanstep
Apr 23rd, 2009
12:13:46 AM
Of course. But I didn't know about Cardiff's exploitation directorial stuff. Those posters (thanks Quint), esp. the Delon/Faithful one, are fantastic... the sort of thing Tarentino busts his hump trying to come up with now... It sounds like Gentleman Jack Cardiff got there first, and had a whole lot of fun doing it. Nice career, and all round good guy by all accounts. McGoohan, Jarre, Cardiff... it's been a tough few months for landmark contributors to British film and tv.
Peace to him and condolences to his
by Dingbatty
Apr 23rd, 2009
01:08:01 AM
friends and family.
Much as I LOATHE Rambo and Conan the Destroyer....
by Iblis_mage
Apr 23rd, 2009
03:10:27 AM
I gotta say Jack was still one of the best damn DP's that ever lived, and even the above crapfests at least managed to look good. R.I.P., good sir.
Godspeed to the master of his craft...
by Big_Bubbaloola
Apr 23rd, 2009
07:13:29 AM
And it's nice to know these obits and comments are sometimes read by the family. I hope it gives them some solace at this difficult time.

Hopefully, this will also give those idiots on other obit tb's pause for thought before posting their inane insults. It's a vain hope to be sure, but a hope nonetheless.

Scent of Mystery
by DanPersons
Apr 24th, 2009
07:23:03 AM
SCENT OF MYSTERY was, of course, the infamous Smell-o-vision film. Last time it was publicly exhibited, I think, was something like a decade or so ago on MTV (with scratch 'n' sniff cards for the scents). Not too fine a point on it, but it's not a cinema classic. But BLACK NARCISSUS, THE RED SHOES... Films legendary for their look, deservedly so. Cardiff made it happen.
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