Some Thoughts on Jack Cardiff 1914-2009

by Kimberly Lindbergs | April 22, 2009

Categories | News, Directors, British Cinema, Alain Delon, Bikers, Marianne Faithfull, Girl On a Motorcycle, Jack Cardiff, Featured

Jack Cardiff with Marianne Faithfull on the set of The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968)

The talented director and cinematographer Jack Cardiff has passed away at the age of 94. As the tributes start to roll out from various news sites and film blogs its become clear to me that most people regard Jack Cardiff as a great cinematographer and have little regard or knowledge of his directing contributions, which is a shame. Cardiff was a brilliant photographer and his groundbreaking contributions to cinematography are well worth celebrating. But his impressive work as a director on films like the wonderful D.H. Lawrence adaptation Sons and Lovers (1960), the entertaining spy thriller The Liquidator (1965), the excellent erotic drama The Girl on a Motorcycle (1968) and the effective horror film The Mutations (1974) is also worthy of applause.

My favorite Cardiff film is The Girl on a Motorcycle (on my list of Favorite Films from 1968), which starred Marianne Faithfull and Alain Delon as two motorcycle obsessed lovers named Rebecca and Daniel. Jack Cardiff directed, photographed and edited the film, and it holds a special place in my heart for numerous reasons. First and foremost is the ingenious casting. Marianne Faithfull and Alain Delon were two of the most beautiful, transgressive and fascinating pop culture icons of the ’60s and teaming them up in The Girl on a Motorcycle was a brilliant idea. They’re incredibly sexy together in the film and Cardiff did a remarkable job of capturing their youthful beauty as well as the erotic heat generated by his two stars.

Jack Cardiff said of filming Marianne Faithfull, “Never since I first saw Marilyn Monroe through the camera lens have I seen such irresistible beauty. To focus on her is to focus the camera on your innermost heart.”

This touching observation is made crystal clear when you watch the film. Cardiff’s camera was clearly infatuated with Marianne Faithfull and there’s an intimacy between the director and the actress on display in The Girl on a Motorcycle that is impossible to overlook.

Cardiff’s penetrating exploration into the mind, heart and body of Marianne Faithfull’s Rebecca is loaded with impressive visual cues and mesmerizing camera effects. The psychedelic edginess of Girl on a Motorcycle may seem somewhat dated now and many people will probably find the movie unworthy of all my praise, but Cardiff’s film is still effective if you’re willing and able to give in to its many pleasures. The sensual nature of the film’s plot combined with Cardiff’s mesmerizing photography and experimental editing make The Girl on a Motorcycle a truly unforgettable film and one of the most fascinating and genuinely sexy movies to come out of Britain in the late ’60s.

In a 1968 interview with Philip Bradford, Jack Cardiff called The Girl on a Motorcycle the only film that was, “truly, entirely my own.” He added that, “On other films in the past I have often been prevented from shooting a picture entirely as I may have wished. But this time I worked on the script, have directed and edited, and have been responsible for the choice of music. I am delighted to have had this total freedom.”

It’s a shame that Jack Cardiff didn’t get that kind of opportunity more often because his directorial efforts showcase the work of an extremely talented man with a painter’s eye and literary ambitions who was willing to take risks and buck convention. We need more film makers like Jack Cardiff.

In a strange coincidence I was planning to devote an entire week to The Girl on a Motorcycle next month because the film is being re-released on DVD by Redemption Films. Instead of waiting until May, I’ve decided to go ahead and start posting some of The Girl on a Motorcycle material I was planning on sharing. Keep your eye on Cinebeats in the coming days for more posts about Jack Cardiff’s film.

Recommended Links:
- BFI: A Tribute to Jack Cardiff OBE
- Gallery Chiaroscuro, the official website for the Jack Cardiff Collection
- Internet Encyclopedia of Cinematographers: Jack Cardiff
- Jack Cardiff at IMDB.com
- David Hudson’s collection of Jack Cardiff Obits at IFC.com

My tribute to the film continues here.

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10 Characters I Love

by Kimberly Lindbergs | April 10, 2009

Categories | Rants & Raves, Actors, Actresses, Terence Stamp, Klaus Kinski, Pierre Clementi, Delphine Seyrig, Hal Ashby, Meiko Kaji, Piers Haggard

The task: Make a list of 10 of your favorite film characters.As much as I tend to dislike these blog memes, I couldn’t say no to The Agitation of the Mind, Coosa Creak Cinema and Bubblegum Aesthetics so I finally took the plunge and decided to participate. Like any self-respecting film enthusiast I have hundreds of favorite film characters, but here’s a short list of 10. I decided not to comment on my selections so I’ll leave it up to my readers to figure out the why’s and what for behind each of my choices.

1. Freddie Clegg as played by Terence Stamp
The Collector (William Wyler; 1965)

10. Klaus Kinski as Klaus Kinski

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Spend Springtime in Japan

by Kimberly Lindbergs | April 9, 2009

Categories | News, Japanese Cinema, Joe Shishido, Seijun Suzuki, Nikkatsu, Akira Kobayashi, Meiko Kaji

Left: Joe Shishido & Reiko Sasamori in Detective Bureau 2-3: Go to Hell Bastards!
Right: Hiroyuki Nagato & Jitsuko Yoshimura in Pigs and Battleships

We’re only four months into 2009 and the year is already becoming more interesting in terms of DVD releases than 2008. I’ve been impressed with Warner’s decision to open up their film archives and I’m glad that Facets is now offering a mail order rental option for their vast selection of rare films on DVD and video. And if you’re interested in Japanese cinema some of the most exciting news is coming from Synapse, KINO and Criterion. All three companies are planning to release some of the most highly anticipated and previously hard-to-see Japanese films on DVD next month and I couldn’t be more happy about it! READ MORE

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We Are Controlling Transmission

by Kimberly Lindbergs | April 7, 2009

Categories | News, Rants & Raves, Television, Featured

“There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat, there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure.”
- Opening narration from The Outer Limits (1963-1965)

This year analog broadcasting is coming to an end. On June 12th 2009 television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch permanently to digital. Digital broadcasting promises to provide viewers with a sharper picture and more diverse programming options, but this unavoidable change is forcing millions of people to buy new television sets or opt for getting a converter box that will often cost them $40 or more. I feel for these people because I didn’t have complete cable TV Access or a digital television myself until 2007.

The fabulous Kuba Komet TV manufactured in Germany from 1959-1962

As much as I enjoy my new television with its giant screen and crisp digital picture, there’s no getting around the fact that the thing looks incredibly generic and lifeless. Much like modern car and home designs, modern televisions have become standardized to such an extent that they all seem to resemble one another. This can be frustrating to someone like myself who enjoys good design and wants their television to compliment the room it’s placed in.

Buying, restoring and modifying vintage televisions can be a pricey and time consuming endeavor, but thankfully there are other options if you want to own a stylish TV set with a retro look. Some modern manufacturers are creating sleek new televisions based on vintage designs that also feature modern technology. If you’re thinking about buying a new television this year, Cinebeats recommends giving the following options some consideration if you can afford them.

Predicta Televisions

Predicta Televisions from Telstar Electronics
The Philco company originally began producing these stylish televisions sets in the late ’50s. Unfortunately they weren’t very reliable and Philco found themselves bankrupt and out of business in 1960. Their TVs disappeared from stores in 1962. 40 years later Telstar Electronics revived the atomic look of Predicta televisions, but enhanced them with modern technology. The current color Predicta Televisions look as good as the original models, but they offer potential buyers a sharper color picture and they’re HD compatible. To see all of the current Predicta designs available visit the official Telstar site: Official Predicta Television Site

HANNspree Televsions

HANNspree Televsions
HANNspree is a new US company that launched in 2003 and they’re interested in making modern television designs that reflect their buyer’s individual style and personality. They currently offer a wide range of television designs and many of them have a retro look. The images above are just a small sampling of the televisions that HANNspree is selling, but you can see more designs at their website: HANNspree.

Keracolor Televisions

Keracolor Televisions
In 1968 a British designer by the name of Arthur Bracegirdle created the first perfectly spherical TV known as a Keracolor television. This space age design was well received and briefly distributed in the UK by Decca. Now some innovative Manchester residents have brought the design back to life and are manufacturing a new version of the Keracolor televsion featuring modern technology. According to their home grown website the TVs are being sold to US and UK residents. The site appears to be a little outdated, but it’s well worth a look if you’re in the market for a new TV: The Keracolor Sphere

Brionvega Televisions

Brionvega Televisions
Brionvega has been manufacturing TV sets in Italy since 1945. They’ve recently modernized some of their classic designs and created new televisions with a vintage look. Unfortunately they’re only selling their televisions in Europe at the moment, but hopefully US residents will be able to purchase them soon. You can contact Brionvega and request more information about their products at their official website: Brionvega - Design TV

Sony Bravia M Televisions

Sony Bravia M Televisions
Most of the televisions that Sony produces look the same and are impossible to tell apart, but last year Sony released their colorful Bravia M series. These new modern looking 19″ LCD HDTVs are a nice option for anyone who wants a modern television with a little style, but hopefully in the future they’ll produce larger models of the TV with the same colorful look. You can find more information about Sony’s Bravia M series at their official site: Sony Style.

This has just been a small sampling of the current TV options available to anyone who’s seriously interested in retro design. I recommend doing some more hunting online and make sure you compare prices and read consumer reviews before deciding to purchase a new TV.

For more information about the changes coming to television on June 12th please visit the official government sponsored site where you can get a coupon to help purchase a converter box for your current television if needed: TV Converter Box Coupon Program.

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The DVD Trash Roundtable

by Kimberly Lindbergs | April 5, 2009

Categories | News

When I first started Cinebeats back in April of 2006 there were very few bloggers writing about cult films and what fans like to lovingly refer to as “trash cinema.” But one of my favorite blogs to visit back then was Nick Frame’s DVD Trash Blog, which has been around since 2005. Nick hails from Glasgow and he also writes reviews for the terrific film site 10,000 Bullets. Nick obviously loves the movies he writes about and I always enjoy reading what he has to say about the latest DVD releases available in the UK.

Nick and I were both members of the much missed Horror Roundtable that took place every week at the now silent Horror Blog. It was a great multi-contributor film discussion that anyone was welcome to contribute to. Now Nick has decided to create a similarly styled weekly Q & A session at his own blog simply called The DVD Trash Roundtable and I suspect that the topics might be a little more far reaching then just horror films.

Much like the Horror Roundtable, the DVD Trash Roundtable is an open invitation event. Anyone is welcome to join in the fun so please consider stopping by the DVD Trash Blog and participating in the first round of questions and answers!

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