A quick peek at some films that have won Oscars for their cinematography.

1. Cinematography at the Oscars

2. Gone with the Wind (1939)
• Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic-historical-romance film adapted from Margaret
Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning 1936 novel. It was produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International
Pictures and directed by Victor Fleming. Set in the 19th-century American South, the film tells the story
of Scarlett O'Hara, the strong-willed daughter of a Georgia plantation owner, from her romantic pursuit
of Ashley Wilkes, who is married to his cousin, Melanie Hamilton, to her marriage to Rhett Butler. Set against
the backdrop of the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, the story is told from the perspective of rich
white Southerners. The leading roles are portrayed by Vivien Leigh(Scarlett), Clark Gable (Rhett), Leslie
Howard (Ashley), and Olivia de Havilland (Melanie).
• The production of the film was troubled from the start. Filming was delayed for two years due to Selznick's
determination to secure Gable for the role of Rhett Butler, and the "search for Scarlett" led to 1,400 women
being interviewed for the part. The original screenplay was written by Sidney Howard, but underwent many
revisions by several writers in an attempt to get it down to a suitable length. The original director, George
Cukor, was fired shortly after filming had begun and was replaced by Victor Fleming, who in turn was briefly
replaced by Sam Wood while Fleming took some time off due to exhaustion.
• The film received positive reviews upon its release in December 1939, although some reviewers found it
dramatically lacking and bloated. The casting was widely praised and many reviewers found Vivien Leigh
especially suited to her role as Scarlett. At the 12th Academy Awards held in 1940, it received ten Academy
Awards (eight competitive, two honorary) from thirteen nominations, including wins for Best Picture, Best
Director (Victor Fleming), Best Adapted Screenplay (posthumously awarded to Sidney Howard), Best Actress
(Vivien Leigh) and Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel, becoming the first African-American to win an
Academy Award). It set records for the total number of wins and nominations at the time. The film was
immensely popular, becoming the highest-earning film made up to that point, and retained the record for
over a quarter of a century. When adjusted for monetary inflation, it is still the most successful film in box-
office history.
• The film has been criticized as historical revisionism glorifying slavery, but nevertheless it has been credited
for triggering changes to the way African-Americans are depicted on film. It was re-released periodically
throughout the 20th century and became ingrained in popular culture. The film is regarded as one of the
greatest films of all time; it has placed in the top ten of the American Film Institute's list of top 100 American
films since the list's inception in 1998, and in 1989, Gone with the Wind was selected to be preserved by
the National Film Registry.
• https://youtu.be/OFu-jemU-bA

3. Rebecca (1940 )
Rebecca is a 1940 American psychological thriller-mystery film. Directed
by Alfred Hitchcock, it was his first American project, and his first film
produced under contract with David O. Selznick. The film's screenplay was a
version by Joan Harrison and Robert E. Sherwood based on Philip
MacDonald and Michael Hogan's adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's 1938
novel Rebecca. The film was produced by Selznick[2] and stars Laurence
Olivier as the brooding aristocratic widower Maxim de Winter, Joan
Fontaine as the young woman who becomes his second wife, and Judith
Anderson as the stern housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers.
The film is shot in black and white, and is a gothic tale. We never see Maxim de
Winter's first wife, Rebecca, who died before the story starts, but her
reputation, and recollections about her, are a constant presence to Maxim,
his new young second wife, and the housekeeper Danvers.
The film won two Academy Awards, Outstanding
Production and Cinematography, out of a total 11 nominations. Olivier,
Fontaine and Anderson were all Oscar nominated for their respective roles.
However, since 1936 (when awards for actors in supporting roles were first
introduced), Rebecca is the only film that, despite winning Best Picture,
received no Academy Award for acting, directing or writing.
https://youtu.be/CANjLGLrdak

4. The Third Man (1949)
The Third Man is a 1949 British film noir, directed
by Carol Reed and starring Joseph Cotten, Alida
Valli, Orson Welles and Trevor Howard. It is
considered one of the greatest films of all time,
celebrated for its acting, musical score and
atmospheric
cinematography.[2] Novelist Graham
Greene wrote the screenplay and subsequently
published the novella of the same name
(originally written as preparation for the
screenplay). Anton Karas wrote and performed
the score, which used only the zither; its title
music "The Third Man Theme" topped the
international music charts in 1950, bringing the
then-unknown performer international fame.
https://youtu.be/r9yyDEDGlr0

5. Lawrence of Arabia (film)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British epic historical drama film based on the
life of T. E. Lawrence. It was directed byDavid Lean and produced
by Sam Spiegel through his British company, Horizon Pictures, with the
screenplay byRobert Bolt and Michael Wilson. The film stars Peter
O'Toole in the title role. It is widely considered one of the greatest and
most influential films in the history of cinema. The dramatic score
by Maurice Jarre and the Super Panavision 70cinematography
by Freddie Young are also highly acclaimed.[2] The film was nominated
for ten Academy Awards and won seven in total including Best
Director, Best Sound Editing, Best Film Editing, and Best Picture.
The film depicts Lawrence's experiences in the Arabian
Peninsula during World War I, in particular his attacks
onAqaba and Damascus and his involvement in the Arab National
Council. Its themes include Lawrence's emotional struggles with the
personal violence inherent in war, his own identity, and his divided
allegiance between his nativeBritain and its army and his newfound
comrades within the Arabian desert tribes.
In 1991, Lawrence of Arabia was deemed "culturally, historically, or
aesthetically significant" and selected for preservation in the United
States Library of Congress National Film Registry.[3]
https://youtu.be/qPQ7CR3wn8A

6. Who's Afraid of VirginiaWoolf? (1966)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a 1966 American black comedy-drama
film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Ernest Lehman is an
adaptation of the play of the same title by Edward Albee. The film
stars Elizabeth Taylor as Martha and Richard Burton as George,
with George Segal as Nick and Sandy Dennis as Honey.[2]
The film was nominated for thirteen Academy Awards, including Best
Picture and Best Director for Mike Nichols, and is one of only two films to
be nominated in every eligible category at the Academy Awards (the
other being Cimarron). All of the film's four main actors were nominated
in their respective acting categories.
The film won five awards, including a second Academy Award for Best
Actress for Elizabeth Taylor and the Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress for Sandy Dennis. However, the film lost to A Man for All
Seasons for the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Adapted
Screenplay awards, and both Richard Burton and George Segalfailed to
win in their categories.
In 2013, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National
Film Registry by the Library of Congressas being "culturally, historically, or
aesthetically significant".[3]
https://youtu.be/hZEKQnMCze8

7. Apocalypse Now (1979)
• Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic adventure war film set during
the Vietnam War. Produced and directed byFrancis Ford Coppola and
starring Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen, and Robert Duvall, the film follows the
central character, Captain Benjamin L. Willard (Sheen), on a secret mission to
assassinate the renegade and presumed insane Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Brando).
• The screenplay by John Milius and Coppola updates the setting of Joseph
Conrad's novella Heart of Darkness to that of the Vietnam War era.[4] It also
draws from Michael Herr's Dispatches,[5] the film version of Conrad's Lord
Jim,[citation needed] and Werner Herzog's Aguirre, the Wrath of God (1972).[6]
• The film has been noted for the problems encountered while making it. These
problems were chronicled in the documentary Hearts of Darkness: A
Filmmaker's Apocalypse, which recounted the stories of Brando arriving on the
set overweight and completely unprepared; expensive sets being destroyed by
severe weather; and its lead actor (Sheen) having a breakdown and suffering a
near fatal heart attack while on location. Problems continued after production
as the release was postponed several times while Coppola edited thousands of
feet of footage.
• Apocalypse Now was released to wide acclaim. Many critics now regard it as one
of the greatest films ever made.[7][8][9] It was honored with the Palme d'Or at
Cannes, and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Pictureand the Golden
Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. The film was also ranked No. 14
in the Sight and Sound greatest films poll.[10] In 2000, Apocalypse Now was
deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" and was selected for
preservation by the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress .
https://youtu.be/qPQ7CR3wn8A

8. American Beauty (1999 )
• American Beauty is a 1999 American romantic drama film directed by Sam
Mendes and written by Alan Ball. Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham, an office
worker who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage
daughter's best friend, Angela (Mena Suvari). Annette Bening co-stars as Lester's
materialistic wife, Carolyn, and Thora Birch plays their insecure daughter,
Jane. Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper and Allison Janney also feature. The film is
described by academics as a satire of American middle class notions of beauty
and personal satisfaction, analysis focused on the film's romantic explorations,
paternal love, sexuality, beauty, materialism, self-liberation and redemption.
• Cinematographer Conrad Hall complemented Mendes' style with peaceful shot
compositions to contrast with the turbulent on-screen events. During editing,
Mendes made several changes that gave the film a less cynical tone than the
script.
• Released in North America on September 15, 1999, American Beauty was
positively received by critics and audiences; it was the best-reviewed American
film of the year and grossed over $356 million worldwide. Reviewers praised
most aspects of the production, with particular emphasis on Mendes, Spacey and
Ball; criticism focused on the familiarity of the characters and setting.
DreamWorks launched a major campaign to increase the movie's chances
of Academy Award success; at the 72nd Academy Awards the following year, the
film won Best Picture, Best Director,Best Actor (for Spacey), Best Original
Screenplay and Best Cinematography. It was nominated for and won many other
awards and honors, mainly for the direction, writing and acting.
• https://youtu.be/hIq9Zjw0mm8

9. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
• Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film directed by Danny
Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and produced by Christian Colson.
It was co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan.[5] It is a loose
adaptation of the novel Q & A(2005) by Indian author and
diplomat Vikas Swarup. Set and filmed in India, the film tells the
story of Jamal Malik, a young man from
the Juhu slums of Mumbai[6] who appears on the Indian version
of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?and exceeds people's
expectations, thereby arousing the suspicions of cheating; Jamal
recounts in flashback how he knows the answer to each question,
each one linked to a key event in his life.
• After its world premiere at Telluride Film Festival and later screenings
at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film
Festival,[7] Slumdog Millionaire had a nationwide grand release in the
United Kingdom on 9 January 2009 and in the United States on
23 January 2009.[8] It premiered in Mumbai on 22 January 2009.[9]
• A sleeper hit, Slumdog Millionaire was widely acclaimed, being
praised for its plot, soundtrack and direction. In addition, it was
nominated for ten Academy Awards in 2009, winning eight, the most
for any film of 2008, includingBest Picture, Best Director, and Best
Adapted Screenplay. It also won seven BAFTA Awards including Best
Film, fiveCritics' Choice Awards, and four Golden Globes.
• https://youtu.be/c0DKHKVWwkg

10. Cinematography Task.
Task 1
Pick a film and watch some clips, the trailer etc. and focus on the
details of the shots, the camera movements etc. Choose on clip and
write a detailed analysis of it including:
• The title
• The ‘tone’ of the scene and how the camera placement and
movement contribute to it.
• Use of colour etc.
• How the placement of the camera makes you feel about the
characters.
• Are some characters treated differently than others by the camera
placement?
• The use of camera movement.
Include lots of stills to illustrate your analysis.