The Look of the Film

James Wong Howe was one of the greatest cinematographers to work in Hollywood. His work spanned almost seven decades and his influence is still felt today. His technical innovations such as low-key lighting and deep focus played role in the look of classic film noir and films such as Citizen Kane. I'm a huge fan.

I'm also a fan of three-strip Technicolor films. The look of these films is unmistakable. Even those that know nothing about the technicals of production can see that films such as The Wizard of Oz, Duel in the Sun and The Red Shoes look different. One reason for this consistency is that Technicolor (the company) usually required a supervisor to assist the cinematographer, to ensure the look met the company's standards.

Interestingly, Howe and Technicolor rarely worked together as they approached things quite different.

In the late 1930s David O. Selznick was gearing up for Gone With The Wind and wanted to give Technicolor a test-run on a smaller film first. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) was chosen as a perfect vehicle and Howe was the cinematographer. Howe wanted to shoot with more subdued earth tones, while Technicolor preferred showcasing bright primary colors. Howe's vision won out and the two didn't work together on a full feature for another 10 years.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a fun summer movie that captures the spirit of Mark Twain's characters, but it's also a somewhat rare look at subdued Technicolor.