Top 10 Director-Cinematographer Collaboration in Cinema History

When I began watching films,I always had the wrong impression that if the image of a film is beautiful,it is the director’s credit.Of course I figured that out lately and found that it is the cinematographer who does the execution of the shooting,as I watched more and more films,I noticed more magic in the film cinematography,the color,the composition,the lighting,the camera movement,how lucky a director is if he finds a perfect partner who can realize his ideas visually.Here are some of the most successful director-cinematographer combination in cinema history.

Michael Powell – Jack Cardiff

red shoes

Short Note:Their collaboration produced some of the best technicolor films.

Collaboration works:

A Matter of Life and Death

Black Narcissus

The Red Shoes

Most celebrated collaboration:The Red Shoes

Most celebrated scene:The grand ballet dance in Red Shoes

Cinematographer’s Other famous work:Pandora and the Flying Dutchman

 

Bernardo Bertolucci – Vittorio Storaro

Conformist

Short Note:The colors express emotions,the lights create moods.

Collaboration works:

1900

The Conformist

Last Tango in Paris

The Last Emperor

The Sheltering Sky

Most celebrated collaboration:The Conformist

Most celebrated scene:Every single scene in The Conformist

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Apocalypse Now

 

David Lean – Freddie Young

lawrence-of-arabia

Short Note:The grand landscape in the director’s most notable epic films

Collaboration works:

Lawrence of Arabia

Doctor Zhivago

Ryan’s Daughter

Most celebrated collaboration:Lawrence of Arabia

Most celebrated scene:A tiny dot of Oma Shariff’s figure appears on the horizen of the desert in Lawrence of Arabia

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Nicholas and Alexandra

 

Ingmar Bergman – Sven Nykvist

virgin-spring

Short Note:Naturalism and simplicity

Collaboration works:

Sawdust and Tinsel

The Virgin Spring

Through a Glass Darkly

The Silence

Winter Light

Persona

Shame

Hour of the Wolf

The Passion of Anna

The Touch

Cries and Whispers

Scenes from a Marriage

The Magic Flute

The Serpent’s Egg

Autumn Sonata

Fanny and Alexander

Most celebrated collaboration:The Virgin Spring

Most celebrated scene:The girl rides in the country in peace and harmony

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: The Sacrifice

 

Jean Luc Godard – Raoul Coutard

Pierrot Le Fou

Short Note:One of  the most creative partnerships in cinema history

Collaboration works:

Breathless

A Woman Is a Woman

Contempt

Band of Outsiders

Alphaville

Pierrot le Fou

Week End

Passion

Prénom Carmen

Most celebrated collaboration:Pierrot le Fou

Most celebrated scene:The color changes as Pierrot enters different rooms

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Shoot the Piano Player

 

Max Ophuls – Christian Matras

Le Plaisir

Short Note:Unbelievable camera movements and shots

Collaboration works:

Le Plaisir

The Earrings of Madame De…

Lola Montès

Most celebrated collaboration:Le Plaisir

Most celebrated scene:The camera shot pierces through a window

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Grand Illusion

 

Krzysztof Kieślowski – Sławomir Idziak

three colours trilogy blue

Short Note:The brilliant use of the filter

Collaboration works:

A Short Film About Killing

The Double Life of Véronique

Three Colors: Blue

Most celebrated collaboration:Three Colors: Blue

Most celebrated scene:The ghostly blue light suddenly reflects on Julie’s face

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Gattaca

 

Steven Spielberg – Janusz Kamiński

ryan

Short Note:The granular sensation in the image

Collaboration works:

Schindler’s List

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Amistad

Saving Private Ryan

AI

Minority Report

Catch Me If You Can

The Terminal

Munich

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

War Horse

Most celebrated collaboration:Saving Private Ryan

Most celebrated scene:The Omaha Landing Operation

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

 

Kenji Mizoguchi – Kazuo Miyagawa

sansho-the-bailiff

Short Note:The constant camera movement

Collaboration works:

Ugetsu

Gion Bayashi

The Woman in the Rumor

Sansho the Bailiff

The Crucified Lovers

Street of Shame

Most celebrated collaboration:Sansho the Bailiff

Most celebrated scene:The sister walks into the river slowly

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Rashomon

 

Wong Karwai – Christopher Doyle

in the mood for love

Short Note:The hand-held camera and some quirky shots

Collaboration works:

Days of Being Wild

Ashes of Time

Chungking Express

Fallen Angels

Happy Together

In the Mood for Love

2046

Most celebrated collaboration:In the Mood for Love

Most celebrated scene:The woman descends the stairs

Cinematographer’s Other famous work: Hero

 

Which director-cinematographer Collaboration is your favorite? Have I missed any? Let me know in the comments.