I have only seen The Docks of New York recently and fell in love with the detail used to create a distinct tone. The use of fog/mist and negative space in the frame of the dock and the city but the use of light on close-ups of Mae to emphasis how Bill views her. Also, the use of the dolly shot in the introduction of the Sandbar with a focus on the women's crossed legs, then with the barrel and then the man being kicked out. Amazing
Another term besides clutter that works for Sternberg ("von" was a Hollywood exec's idea) is bricolage. Shanghai Express (1932) won Lee Garmes an Oscar for cinematography, but Dietrich said Sternberg shot much of the film himself. His '30s films are Depression classics: audiences needed to forget their lives, & his films did that, along w/ screwball comedies & dance direction in the "funhouse" sequence in A Damsel in Distress (1937).
Inspired everyone from Fashion to film. Matthew Rolston is called the king of besity lighting but in reality he is a lighter version of Sternberg. Look at David Fincher‘s early ads and music videos („Vogue“ for Madonna, „Most Of All“ and „Real Love“ for Jody Watley) And Michael Hausmanns work for Paula Abdull in her video for „My Love Is For Real“.... You see Sternberg everywhere... He is an inventor. Extremely underrated art director and an icon.
great video essay! Sternberg always had an amazing aesthetic eye and has stated his influence from other arts like painting to be much more of an influence than other films. I think baz lurhmann may have been influenced much by sternberg, but doesn't do it half as well!
The pronunciation of the sound "ch" in the Italian word "chiaroscuro" is like in the word "kid", not like in the word "chair". In fact it's pronounced like that in pretty much all cases. It's an Italian word so pronounce it like we Italians would pronounce it. Would have taken a minute to check out the correct pronunciation. It's a bit of my pet peeve how English-speaking people mispronounce Latin words or many other foreign words. Now with the Internet it's just lazy to not bother to find out how a word is meant to sound in its native language. There are other mispronunciations like Josef, pronounced like "Joseph" or Von , which in German is more like "fon". Funny enough the speaker made an effort to get "mise en scene" pronounced correctly in French. I know I'm being pedantic but since it's meant to be a video essay I thought I'd point out these very minor flaws. Interesting video anyway as far as the contents!
Interesting observations on his directorial style vs. obsession with Dietrich. Thanks. The Italian word for light and shadow is pronounced: /kyärəˈsk(y)o͝orō/ The "H" doesn't sound.
Von Sternberg’s lifelong career problems emanate from the fact he was not a “director.” With rare exceptions, he did not move directly from the question to the answer of the film. He loved the sensuality of movement and depth in a moving picture frame, and he loved to spend his time there.
I know in Shanghai Express, Marlene demanded her wigs be sprinkled with real gold dust.. and they obliged. The final result was insanely gorgeous too.
And of course, those special filters in front of the lens. And strong lighting to counteract the softness, plus perfect negative development. An art.
I have only seen The Docks of New York recently and fell in love with the detail used to create a distinct tone. The use of fog/mist and negative space in the frame of the dock and the city but the use of light on close-ups of Mae to emphasis how Bill views her. Also, the use of the dolly shot in the introduction of the Sandbar with a focus on the women's crossed legs, then with the barrel and then the man being kicked out. Amazing
Great video!
I learned a lot from this short film- well done!
Set decoration is very important, it makes everything more interesting !
Another term besides clutter that works for Sternberg ("von" was a Hollywood exec's idea) is bricolage. Shanghai Express (1932) won Lee Garmes an Oscar for cinematography, but Dietrich said Sternberg shot much of the film himself. His '30s films are Depression classics: audiences needed to forget their lives, & his films did that, along w/ screwball comedies & dance direction in the "funhouse" sequence in A Damsel in Distress (1937).
Inspired everyone from Fashion to film.
Matthew Rolston is called the king of besity lighting but in reality he is a lighter version of Sternberg.
Look at David Fincher‘s early ads and music videos („Vogue“ for Madonna, „Most Of All“ and „Real Love“ for Jody Watley)
And Michael Hausmanns work for Paula Abdull in her video for „My Love Is For Real“....
You see Sternberg everywhere...
He is an inventor. Extremely underrated art director and an icon.
Well you did a good job Laura!
Brilliant analysis! Subscribed!
great video essay! Sternberg always had an amazing aesthetic eye and has stated his influence from other arts like painting to be much more of an influence than other films. I think baz lurhmann may have been influenced much by sternberg, but doesn't do it half as well!
It's funny how you notice this lol, I'm too busy being entranced by Marlene, Even with all the veils and plants lmao!
great little video
The pronunciation of the sound "ch" in the Italian word "chiaroscuro" is like in the word "kid", not like in the word "chair". In fact it's pronounced like that in pretty much all cases. It's an Italian word so pronounce it like we Italians would pronounce it. Would have taken a minute to check out the correct pronunciation. It's a bit of my pet peeve how English-speaking people mispronounce Latin words or many other foreign words. Now with the Internet it's just lazy to not bother to find out how a word is meant to sound in its native language.
There are other mispronunciations like Josef, pronounced like "Joseph" or Von , which in German is more like "fon". Funny enough the speaker made an effort to get "mise en scene" pronounced correctly in French. I know I'm being pedantic but since it's meant to be a video essay I thought I'd point out these very minor flaws.
Interesting video anyway as far as the contents!
I was thinking the same thing - if you have any doubt regarding the pronunciation of a word in a narration you're about to do, you look it up.
Same here, also Shanghai, with the 2nd h pronounced (not to be ignored, both in Chinese, as in English) 🙂🤭
Interesting observations on his directorial style vs. obsession with Dietrich. Thanks. The Italian word for light and shadow is pronounced:
/kyärəˈsk(y)o͝orō/ The "H" doesn't sound.
Haha yes. As an Italian woman I cringed at how she said it. Takes like two seconds to TH-cam the pronunciation of the word.
Von Sternberg’s lifelong career problems emanate from the fact he was not a “director.” With rare exceptions, he did not move directly from the question to the answer of the film. He loved the sensuality of movement and depth in a moving picture frame, and he loved to spend his time there.
"not a director" Lol
And so did we.
A VIDEÓT ELRONTOTTÁK A NAGY FELÍRATOZÁSSAL!
The Ch in Chiaroscuro in pronounced like a K not CH. CH in Italian is always pronounced K
That's the only thing you got out of this video?! Sheesh! [that's pronounced \shēsh\
@@bobbydazzler8684 Why would one assume that a mispronunciation notice s the "only" thing? Ine notices much. Narrators shod do ALL their homework.
@@dianemcnaron8801 What the fuck are you talking about? If you're going to start a conversation, try to use comprehensible language.
@@bobbydazzler8684 It's comprehensible to those who understand the IPA. It isn't for you.
@@dianemcnaron8801 Lol - whatever gets you through your day.
The Scarlet Empress is gorgeous.
no good story; no good movie.