Which is the longest shot ever taken? - Russkiy kovcheg (2003) Discussion

[–] writetohugh 16 years ago

Apparently the record has just recently been broken by Steve McQueen (not the dead one!) on the film Hunger. It's 17.5 minutes long: http://uk.movies.yahoo.com/17102008/5/hunger-breaks-record-longest-single-shot-0.html

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[–] Ricardo-36 15 years ago

But wouldn't a 17 minute film shot be cut on when presenting on a theater? The film roll usually lasts 10 minutes before the "cigarette burn/cut" to another roll.

"You keep him in here, and make sure HE dosen't leave!"

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[–] varkatope 15 years ago

Andy Warhol's Empire is one 8hr 5min shot of the Empire State Building, but I don't know how many times they had to switch reels or how long each reel was.

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] varkatope 15 years ago

By "traditional film", I figured it meant film in general, which is traditional as opposed to digital. The op never specified a certain film gauge.

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[–] eduardorosarios 15 years ago

eyes wide shut, the orgy scene, check it out

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Hubble71 15 years ago

Wasn't Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Rope shot in 20 minute increments. Enough to fill the reel?

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[–] ThereWillBeCaleb12 15 years ago

I havn;t seen that yet, but apparently they coudln't pull it off due to technical difficulties.

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[–] satyanshu_singh 13 years ago

'Rope' is an 80-min movie, in ten shots. No 20-min shot there.

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[–] Exeron 15 years ago

eyes wide shut, the orgy scene, check it out

It's not that long. Besides it cuts to other angles showing Cruise walking amongs them.

I'm supposed to put my signature here...we'll see about that

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[–] johnmichael-2 15 years ago

eyes wide shut, the orgy scene, check it out

Amazing sequence, but the shots definitely aren't that long. I think the shot going around the circle of nude women is 45 seconds (by normal standards, a long take, but by record-breaking standards not even close), and that's the longest.

Proud member of SHREWS (Society for the Honor Required of Eyes Wide Shut)

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[–] Neon-man 15 years ago

It's a static shot, but it doesn't mean nothing is happening. After very long moments of silence, the film bursts with important dialogue during this long take. It's an excellent framing device because it allows you to concentrate on the dialogue and not be distracted by any visual splendor.

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[–] DryToast 15 years ago

only because recent technology has allowed it

Hasn't the 2-perf 35mm pulldown been around a long time? I'm thinking of Techniscope (1960). Now I'm not going to go looking for an 18-minute take in The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, but wouldn't it have been possible?

"Please! You're not at home!"

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] DryToast 15 years ago

makes me feel pretty smug.

As it should! Molodets!

"Please! You're not at home!"

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[–] austendw 15 years ago

What is this with being smug over the length of a take? I mean, it's not a penis. Or am I missing the precise point?

Call me Ishmael...

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] vinidici 10 years ago

Long takes can be impressive because, after obviously much rehearsal, lengthy scenes are perfectly captured. The technique makes cinema employing it come about as close as it gets to a live stage production -- which appeals to a lot of film aficiandos.

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

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[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Binba 13 years ago

The largest camera mags are 2000 foot, such as the Panavision M20 for the Panaflex-X.

There was also a 2000' Mitchell mag.

http://www.citeducinema.com/panavision_cameras.html
http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=27766

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[–] trymyproduct11 14 years ago

I don't know about record breaking, but Bela Tarr's Werckmeister Harmonies sure has some really long shots. See also: Tarkovsky.

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[–] paulk_x 14 years ago

Tarkovsky would have to be up there.
Other examples are probably the beginning of Hidden, by Michael Haneke, and the beginning of Steven Spielberg's Duel (yeah, not exactly inventive, but still a very long shot)

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[–] Hazelrigg 14 years ago

One that comes to mind is a beautifully shot scene in Children of Men which was in one take, felt pretty long and was really impressive.

CHAOS REIGNS

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[–] martymac2 14 years ago

Altman's 'The Player' has a very long continuous opening shot. In it Tim Robbins refers to another film with a long shot. Can't remember it's name

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[–] davelancaster_1986 14 years ago

I can't remember if Tim Robbins' character refers to this specific film or not but the opening of The Player is very similar, stylistically, to Orson Welles' 'Touch of Evil' from back in the 50s (very impressive).

Brian De Palma has some nice continuous shots (a good one towards the end of Carlito's Way in the train station).

Scorsese does a good one in Goodfellas as well.

Hard Boiled (the John Woo action flick) has a great one. Not all that long but think how much effort went into it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTCymujrkMg&feature=player_embedded

I'm not actually sure what the longest ones are, the ones mentioned above are just some of the most spectacular :)

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[–] Zoomorph 14 years ago

Length of shot is one factor, what's happening in the shot is another.

The long shot inside a car chase Children of Men with explosions and such is very impressive though I don't like the film other than that.

~ Observe, and act with clarity. ~

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[–] 14 years ago

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