VISIONS OF LIGHT: The Art of Cinematography (1992)

Producer & Co-Director: STUART SAMUELS

Visions of Light presents the history and art of cinematography as seen through the lenses of the masters.

Vittorio Storaro explains the color scheme behind Apocalypse Now. The "Prince of Darkness", Gordon Willis, reveals his inspiration behind the Rembrandt look of The Godfather. Meanwhile, William Fraker recalls framing Ruth Gordon for the classic bedroom scene in Rosemary's Baby.

From Birth of a Nation to Blade Runner, Visions of Light profiles the cinematographers who shaped the visual language of cinema. With rich excerpts drawn from more than 125 classic films, two dozen artists are profiled including:

• Pioneers Billy Bitzer (Birth of a Nation), Gregg Toland (Citizen Kane)
• Innovators James Wong Howe (Seconds), Conrad Hall (Cool Hand Luke), Haskell Wexler (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?)
• Rebels László Kovács (Easy Rider), Vilmos Zsigmond (McCabe and Mrs. Miller)
• Modern masters Michael Chapman (Raging Bull), Ernest Dickerson (Do The Right Thing)

Visions of Light is a feast for the eyes as it takes audiences on a cinematic journey, from the silent era to the "talkies", from black-and-white to Technicolor, from film noir to Hollywood blockbuster. For cineastes and filmgoers alike, this critically acclaimed documentary presents movies in a new and unforgettable light!

Awards:

• Best Documentary: The New York Film Critics Circle, The National Society of Film Critics and the Boston Society of Film Critics
• The first High Definition (HDTV) feature to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival
• Premiered at the Edinburgh, London, Telluride, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Munich, Tokyo and Sundance film festivals, 1992 – 93
• Four-star reviews in The New York Times, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times and The San Francisco Chronicle

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"If you care about movies, this film is absolutely required viewing." — The Washington Post

"Cleverly structured and compiled ... a fascinating documentary ..." — Variety

"A splendid exploration of the oft-overlooked stars of cinema, the cinematographer." — Empire magazine

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