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Candid Camerman

Jack Cardiff was a cameraman, a cinematographer, director and painter. Perhaps even more than that, he became a living history of cinema. "Cameraman: The Life & Work of Jack Cardiff" is more than just a biographical documentary, it's a journey through time from the very beginnings of movie making, to the modern day.

Cardiff was born on the 18th of September, 1914. He became a child actor just four years later. "Cameraman" skillfully weaves us the story from these early silent black and whites all the way up to Cardiff's last role behind the camera in the age of HDTV. His career lasted the better part of 87 years.

Using interviews recorded over a many years, you see the spry and humorous Cardiff tell tales of his career with a matter-of-fact lack of ego. His abilities are shown with clips of his movies, and photos with nearly every great director of the early and middle of the 20th century. His influence is shown through interviews with Martin Scorsese, Kirk Douglas, Charlton Heston, Lauren Bacall, Raffaella de Laurentiis, and more.

At no moment does the documentary lag or bog down in cinematographic tech, as easy as that could have been. Interspersed in telling his history, Cardiff tells anecdotes about some of the greats in cinema history. After all, here's a man that worked for Hitchcock, Houston and Olivier. Worked with Wells, Morris and Dietrich. How about this, you know that uber-famous black and white headshot of Audrey Hepburn? He took that.

He won one Oscar, was nominated for three more, and received an Honorary Oscar in 2001. He also won and was nominated for BAFTAs, Golden Globes, DGA awards, a Golden Palm from Cannes and more. But even all those accolades don't fully do justice to someone considered by many as a pioneer in the world of color film.

His influence is felt to this day in working directors, cinematographers and cameramen. Many who's names you know (Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Brian Di Palma) and many more who you don't. What can you expect from someone who's career ranges from shooting "The African Queen" to "Rambo: First Blood Part II" with everything from "War and Peace" to "Conan the Destroyer" in between.

Where this documentary really excels is how it sneakily inserts nuggets of technical information. It's practically a Cinematography 101, and yet it is so entertaining you may not even notice. It's also a great history of cinema from someone behind the camera.

In a priceless moment, Cardiff  is caught saying "in 10 years or so I should really start slowing down."  The sly look on his face, having been playing with HD cameras on one of his last shoots, it's totally believable that the 92 year old means it.

Jack Cardiff died April 22, 2009 at 94. This film is a wonderful and engaging tribute to his staggering and immortal legacy, and a must watch for any cinema history buff, film school attendee or alum, or anyone with a great love of movies.