MovieChat Forums > The Cardinal (1963) Discussion > Some scenes ares so ineptly staged, they...

Some scenes ares so ineptly staged, they seem like rehersals

posted 15 years ago by guy_lazarus
4 replies | jump to latest

Otto Preminger was notorious for bringing a film on budget, and for his LACK of perfectionism. He shot quickly, and if -- for instance -- he was told the shadow of a boom had obscured an actor's face during a shot (as I believed happened in EXODUS), he would say "To hell with it" and go on to another scene. And the imperfect shot would remain in the finished film. This is not Stanley Kubrick, and his meticulous professionalism.

Yet, Preminger made some extraordinary films. Yet, there is a feeling in quite many of these scenes that is almost amateurish, like he is filming a rehearsal. It could be due to the technical constraints (getting permission to film in these churches, the huge crowds of extras, many whom probably were actual church people).... But still.

This film signals the decline of Preminger, I think. That decline would become apparent in HURRY SUNDOWN (IN HARM'S WAY is one of my favorite films, despite its flaws), and then his decline would be rapid.

[–] artihcus022 15 years ago

This is not Stanley Kubrick, and his meticulous professionalism.

Kubrick went on to make A Clockwork Orange which is one of the ugliest and shoddiest looking films ever made.

Otto Preminger was notorious for bringing a film on budget,

Because he was a brilliant producer of his own films.

He shot quickly,

Because he often filmed in long takes and master shots and never shot coverage.

Yet, there is a feeling in quite many of these scenes that is almost amateurish, like he is filming a rehearsal.

You need to be more specific and cite concrete examples. The film is a very restrained take on characters who don't explain their motives and behaviours through preachy dialogue. This might come of as "amateurish" these days but it is not so.

This film signals the decline of Preminger, I think.

I know that this is one of his best films. And many agree.

"Ça va by me, madame...Ça va by me!" - The Red Shoes

[–] martinjames-muzo 12 years ago

I'll take that as just being your opinion about A Clockwork Orange. It's obviously not your type of film. That's more widely regarded as one of the best looking films ever shot. The only dodgy looking bit in it is the 20 seconds or so when the droogs were joyriding, the bluescreen effect seems rushed. If it wasn't for that, it would have been perfection (in my opinion).

However, this film doesn't look low budget to me. The reds are a bit strong, but that's probably my old TV.

"So this is the planet Houston"

[–] namaGemo 11 years ago

That's funny, as I was reading your comments about how good Clockwork was, the first thing I thought about was that pathetic car sequence. Just the worst. That said, the rest of the film was great.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

... there is a feeling in quite many of these scenes that is almost amateurish, like he is filming a rehearsal.

May be it was the rush to get on and film the next issue of substance. It was almost like he was ticking off against a checklist of socially important issues that needed to be brought to the fore and covered before the end of the movie even if it is at the expense of telling a coherent story.