6 Things You Might Like to Know about Jack Cardiff

Who is Jack Cardiff ??

If you know the word “technicolor”,you should have heard of Jack Cardiff,he was the greatest cinematographer during the technicolor era,and his most famous films are Red Shoes and Black Narcissus(Both title contain a color name),I hope you have seen them before.

I had seen many technicolor films before Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger‘s Red Shoes,but only after watching it did I know what this color technique really means,and how much artistic value it can add to a film’s greatness.If you compare it with current films,you will be disappointed at them in the colors,there are still many great cinematographer now,but the gorgeous color brought by those master camerman will be always be missed.

If you like Jack’s work or you are becoming interested in him after my introduction,I will tell you a bit more about him:

1. Many cinematographer got their inspirations from great paintings,Jack was no exception,he liked copying those paintings by famous painters like Vincent Van Gogh and Edgar Degas.

2. He shot the famous opening scene of the film “Life and death of Colonel Blimp“,hunted animals on the wall if you need my reminder,as second unit cinematographer.The next day Michael Powell asked him to be the cameran of his next film,which was his feature debut — A matter of life and death.

3. Besides his most well-known partnership with Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger,Jack also had worked with cinema masters like Alfred Hitchcock(Under Capricorn)  ,John Huston(African Queen) and King Vidor(War and Peace).

4. His directorial film “Sons and Lovers” won 7 Oscar Academy Nomination including Best Director,and his cameraman Freddie Francis won a Oscar.

5. Besides those fabulous art films,he was also the cameraman of famous action films like Rambo 2 and Conan the Barbarian.

6. He is the first cinematographer to receive a Oscar Honorary Award,that was 2000,he was 86 years old then.

Bonus:Jack’s Actress Portrait

Courtesy: All pictures in this post is screenshots  from 2010 documentary “Cameraman – The Life and Work of Jack Cardiff “