Any movie experts out there who can tell me if the lightning bolts in Monument Valley, I believe they were three separate shots, are composite matte trickery or something? I saw the Bogdonovich documentary on Ford on PBS recently and was told it was a serendipitous bolt and flash caught during a rainstorm while shooting. But three times? Anyone know the truth?
shareThe clouds and rain in the distance are no trickery, but I believe you are correct that the lightning strikes are matted in. If you watch carefully, two of them are identical (just pause the DVD). However, the whole idea of having a storm in the sequence was serendipitous.
bold!
We're not soldiers and he's not the enemy. He's a pizza man.
according to TMC's Robert Osborne, "the lightning bolts in Monument Valley are real and one of the reasons the cinematographer Winton C. Hoch went on to win the Oscar for Best Color Cinematography in 1950."
"When the storm rolled in over the horizon the film crew started packing up their gear to make a fast exit but Ford said "hey don't stop, keep shooting." Hoch did but was furious, with the lightning and all Hoch felt Ford was putting the crew in harm's way. Hoch even reported the incident to the cinematographer's union."
"We deal in lead, friend."