Visions of Light
Seen it?1992 | 92 min | Documentary, History
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for the curious and history buffs.
- The mood
- Eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 32 min.
- What might put you off
- Nothing much for most grown-ups.
Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 5K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Arnold Glassman, Todd McCarthy, Stuart Samuels
- Ernest R. DickersonSelf
- Michael ChapmanSelf
- Allen DaviauSelf
- Caleb DeschanelSelf
- Lisa RinzlerSelf
- Conrad HallSelf
- William A. FrakerSelf
- John BaileySelf
- Néstor AlmendrosSelf
- Charles Rosher Jr.Self