Shadows (The Criterion Collection)
by John Cassavetes
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Anthony Ray, Hugh Hurd, Lelia GoldoniDirector: John Cassavetes
Brand: Criterion
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 81 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-02-17
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Criterion Collection
Product features:
- New high-definition digital transfer, with restored image and sound.
- Video interviews with actress Leila Gordon and Associate Producer Seymour Cassel.
- Rare silent 16mm footage of John Cassavetes and Burt Lane's acting workshop.
- Restoration demonstration.
Movie Reviews of Shadows (The Criterion Collection)
Movie Review: John Cassavetes' first film. It is best to buy it with the Five Fillms box set!
Summary: 3 Stars
In 1957, actor John Cassavetes who had appeared in a good number of Hollywood films had also ran a workshop for fellow thespians in New York City. One of the things he taught was method acting and during an exercise done at the workshop, Cassavetes explored acting and race relations. Having been inspired by the exercise, he went out and created his first independent film featuring the actors at the workshop and shot it with a 16mm handheld camera.
The film was known as "Shadows" and although the 1957 was shot and screened to critics but after observing how the audience reacted, Cassavetes contacted his fellow talent two years later and filmed additional scenes and crafted another version of the film which was screened at the Venice Film Festival and winning the Critics Award. Also, the film went on to become the spearhead for Independent film as Cassavetes funded the film using his own money which he made from various acting gigs and didn't utilize any major talent but utilizing his own talent from his workshop to help make the film possible through improvisation.
As a precursor to the Beat Generation eventually transitioning to the hippie culture, "SHADOWS" was a film that took on race during a time that race relations between Caucasian and Blacks were still at an all-time high and focuses on interracial relationships. So, important that this low budget Independent film was selected for preservation in the United States National Registry by the Library of Congress in 1993 as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"SHADOWS" is featured in black and white (1:33:1 aspect ratio) and as shot in 16mm film. It's important to note that at this time, John Cassavetes' first film shows his focus more on the acting talents while in later films, we see his view on cinema and his role as a filmmaker start to emerge. The film does have its share of dirt and dust and even hair like particles that show up but there is a restoration demonstration of what it took to restore and remaster this film which had not been taken care of and desperately needed repair work. So, just for what the restoration team were able to accomplish is amazing.
As for audio, audio is presented in Monaural, Dolby Digital 1.0. The film is center channel driven but for those with a modern receiver can opt to switch the audio to stereo on all channels for a more immersive soundtrack.
Subtitles are in English SDH.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"SHADOWS" comes with the following special features:
* Lelia Goldoni Interview - (11:40) An interview with Lelia Goldoni who was part of John Cassavetes and Burt Lane's acting workshop. She talks about how the improvisation exercise became a film, working with Cassavetes and shooting more scenes two years later for the film.
* Seymour Cassel Interview - (4:29) An interview with Seymour Cassel in 2004. Cassel talks about how he got to be part of Cassavetes's films and how he became friends with him and getting his experience and developing a long friendship with Cassavetes.
* Workshop Footage - (4:16) Featuring silent footage from the 1950's of the actors at the Cassavetes-Lane Drama workshop in Manhattan.
* Restoration Demonstration - (11:03) A featurette on how the UCLA Film and Television Archive preserved "Shadows" and the challenges they encountered in the three years it took to restore the film.
* Still Gallery - Using your remote, viewers can cycle through various images from the production of "SHADOWS".
* Trailer - (2:52) The original theatrical trailer for "SHADOWS".
JUDGMENT CALL:
"SHADOWS" is an intriguing film and I can imagine if I put myself in the shoes of the viewer watching it back in 1959, I would imagine that this film could be seen as rebellious a film that invokes realism. The film's importance which provided that spark and help ignite the independent film movement and showcasing America's breakaway from traditional filmmaking. People who watched "SHADOWS" were inspired to create their own films, not have the expensive talent and to see a film created with a 16mm camera on a low budget but yet still be provocative enough to make people think but also to enjoy.
Using no written screenplay, "Shadows" is entirely improvised. Acting and even camera work seems to be off at times but no surprise as the talents for the film were improvising and the fact that this film was low budget at $40,000 (no doubt a lot back in the late '50s) and only a crew of six people.
But what makes this film work is to see interracial relationships featured in an earlier film from the late '50s, shot a decade before "To Sir, with Love", I often think about how people at the time view this film. In a way, it's quite exciting to know that Cassavetes would create a film that would push the button during those high tension times.
Also, what works is capturing that New York City feel. Sure, it was done via a low-budget but to see Lelia wandering through New York City, through the park and then see the various parties held by Hugh featuring his friends (who were mostly all Black) and in contrast to a party that Lelia was part of (who were all Caucasian).
Add in the memorable scenes of a so bad it's fun song sung by the Caucasian women who have no talent to the aftermath between Lelia first sexual experience and her words of "I never imagined it could be so awful" was surprising. There are these shorter scenes that you watch and somehow, just be impressed of what was captured on film.
It is important to note that in 1957, a first film was screened for critics. This film was lost and was recently discovered by Boston University Professor who spent 11 years of his life and a lot of money in trying to find this film. Carney was originally planned to give commentary for the Criterion DVD release and even offered the film for free. But according to Carney, Cassavetes' wife has suppressed the film from ever being shown (and claims there is no first film) and the drama going on behind-the-scenes of trying to get this film out to the public is just shocking to read. But what is surprising is that a film critic who saw the original 1957 film and the 1959 film (which is featured on the DVD and screened in theaters) said the former is much better. Carney even saying on his website they are essentially two different films and we are left wondering when will we ever see this film.
It would be a shame for Cassavetes fans if they never had a chance to see this film and I just hope somehow in my lifetime and for other Cassavetes fans, we can see his original film someday.
Overall, "SHADOWS" is an enjoyable film but definitely far from being a Cassavetes masterpiece. This is a precursor to showing how his style of filmmaking would develop overtime but for the most part, his importance in helping jumpstart independent films with a low budget. An important film that I'm glad to see included on the" John Cassavetes Five Films" DVD box set.
The box set is highly recommended!
Summary of Shadows (The Criterion Collection)
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