On Thursday mornings through May, cinematographer Devan Scott takes us on a journey through the history of lighting in cinema. Today, he will be looking at the purposes of three-point lighting and its evolution throughout the studio era in the 1930s and 40s. As well, he will look at the influence of German Expressionism on Hollywood film noir, and the development of Hollywood’s continuity-based lighting techniques. Devan will take an interactive approach, illustrating his points with hands-on workshops. After the talk (11:00 am-11:50 am), we will watch one of the great films of the 1940s, John Ford’s The Grapes of Wrath, photographed by Gregg Toland (Citizen Kane).
About the film: The Grapes of Wrath (129 min)
Among the most eloquent social conscience pictures to emanate from a Hollywood studio, this version of John Steinbeck’s then controversial Dust Bowl novel takes its expressive, angry lyricism from Gregg Toland’s stark, documentary-like cinematography. Ford connected with the hardships and suffering of Steinbeck’s rural refugees, so much so some have said this is “his most Irish film.”
Devan Scott
John Ford
Henry Fonda, Jane Darwell, John Carradine
USA
1940
English
Book Tickets
Thursday May 14
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits
Producer
Nunnally Johnson
Screenwriter
Nunnally Johnson
Cinematography
Gregg Toland
Editor
Robert Simpson
Original Music
Alfred Newman
Art Director
Richard Day, Mark-Lee Kirk
Also in This Series
Film Studies: Motivated Lighting examines the evolution of lighting in cinema, from the early 1900s to present day.
The Doll
In our new Film Studies series on Thursdays, Devan Scott guides us through the evolution of lighting techniques from the silent era to the present day. Each presentation will include a classic film screening; this week, The Doll (1919).
The Grapes of Wrath
In this Film Studies workshop, Devan Scott explores the purposes of three-point lighting and the influence of German Expressionism on Hollywood studio filmmaking. Followed by a screening of The Grapes of Wrath, photographed by Gregg Toland.
The Music Room
Devan Scott continues his journey through the history of lighting. This week, he credits Indian director of photography Subrata Mitra for profound innovations that laid the foundation for ideas of motivated lighting + screening of The Music Room.
Black Bag
In the last of his studies in the evolution of cinematography, Devan Scott surveys the modern era of digital photography and LED lighting, focusing in particular on the radical work of Steven Soderbergh, who regularly serves as his own cinematographer.