Apparently Jack Cardiff replaced him after he left the project after only a couple of days of production. Amazing. I always thought Cardiff was the original cinematographer.
shareReally gives you an insight into Stallone's working sensibilities, doesn't it? Interestingly enough, both De Santis and Cardiff were Oscar winners ; maybe Stallone (as an Oscar Nominie only) felt a little bitter about that.
I do remember seeing an interview with Jack Cardiff a few years before he died, were he said he told Stallone off one day on the set, because he wanted Cardiff to lower the camera to make him look taller. Apparently, after the incident, Stallone was a lot more respectfull to him.
The same thing happened in Rambo III where the original director and cinematographer were both canned a few weeks after filming began.
I don't think Stallone was difficult, he just had a specific style that he liked to see for Rambo, and demanded it be implemented into his films. Given how successful they were, I'd say he was right. The style of Rambo is very unique, unlike any other action movie that's ever been made. The heroic imagery and tone is very stylized and impressive. I don't think that would've been achieved had the original cinematographers and directors been allowed to have their way. They were obviously muscling in on Sly's vision, trying to change Rambo into something it wasn't, and he didn't like that.
In the 80s, Stallone had his finger on the pulse of pop culture. He knew how to deliver original and entertaining heroes like Rocky and Rambo, and it was always going to be sly's way or the highway.
The cheese is old and moldy. Where is the bathroom?