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The guy who made LA look doomed, glamorous, and totally unforgettable.
TMDB
60
IMDb
63

The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo (2007)

film school catnipsmoky nostalgia tripvisual poetry 101

Overview

Documentary

Cinematographer John A. Alonzo was one of the driving creative forces in the resurgence of expressionistic American movies of the late 1960s and '70s. Director Axel Schill's documentary explores Alonzo's work on key films of that era and beyond. Clips from Chinatown, Scarface, Internal Affairs and other movies accompany interviews with stars such as Richard Dreyfuss, Sally Field and contemporary cinematographer Haskell Wexler.

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Standout Aspects

Cinematography

Alonzo's own footage is the real star here.

Direction

Schill lets the images breathe, thankfully.

Best for:Solo: Rainy afternoon with your cinematography obsession.·Rewatch: After Chinatown, Scarface, or any Alonzo joint.
Heads up:Emotional: Alonzo's death in 2001 hangs over the interviews.
A

Director

Axel Schill

ReleasedJan 1, 2007
Runtime1h 18m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonemixed
Feelmedium

Top Cast

John A. Alonzo

John A. Alonzo

Self (archive footage)

Michael Crichton

Michael Crichton

Self

Richard Dreyfuss

Richard Dreyfuss

Self

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert

Self

Sally Field

Sally Field

Self

Mike Figgis

Mike Figgis

Self

William Friedkin

William Friedkin

Self

Frank Sinatra Jr.

Frank Sinatra Jr.

Self

John Toll

John Toll

Self

Haskell Wexler

Haskell Wexler

Self

James Wong Howe

James Wong Howe

Self (archive footage)

Martin Ritt

Martin Ritt

Self (archive footage)

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Alonzo was the first Mexican-American cinematographer admitted to the ASC, in 1969.

Insight

He famously lit Chinatown's night scenes with practical streetlights only—no movie lights—a gamble that defined neo-noir's look.

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