The Mother of all Long Takes

[Trumpysgirl]

Hey guys I need some help here. A few months ago I was taking a Russian film class wherein my professor told us about a film (possibly Russian, I can't remember) that was about 90 minutes long and the whole thing  was one continuous take. I greatly admire directors who can pull of master shots effectively and the idea of this film intrigued me.

Problem is, I can't for the life of me remember the name of the film. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[ImOscardotcom]

Russian Ark.

[Tripe]

Yep the utterly mind numbing Russian Ark.

Interesting technique, awfully boring movie.

[Trumpysgirl]

Ah! Thank you, that was bugging the hell outta me!

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

.....that was about 90 minutes long and the whole thing  was one continuous take....

Rope?

Oh, no.....sorry.   

[Bob]

Blair Witch?

Oh wait.

[Rude]

...

Yeah, that movie is pretty boring. I actually own that on DVD and only ever watched it once. I was very excited about the concept, but otherwise... snore.

-Rude

[Trumpysgirl]

I can understand that. I love technique, but that doesn't mean that I didn't fall asleep during Citizen Kane and had to force myself to watch it all over again.

[mrbasehart]

I thought it was pretty interesting, and beautifully executed.  

[Doctor Who?]

I can understand that. I love technique, but that doesn't mean that I didn't fall asleep during Citizen Kane and had to force myself to watch it all over again.

I have always found CK to be one of the most intense movies I have ever seen.

The first time I got the DvD I watched it three time in a row.

[kodiakthejuggler]

Also, there's Timecode, the movie directed by Mike Figgis, that has 4 cameras continuously following 4 separate story lines all at once, in one take. It was quite interesting, from what I saw.

[Rude]

...

Yeah, Timecode... that was less than stellar as well. I seem to remember long periods of people just walking. It was like if 24 decided to go split-screen and leave in everyone's bathroom breaks. I haven't seen it since it was in theaters though, but from what i remember... it was another neat concept / boring movie.

Like PSCD mentioned... Rope seems to be the best (sorta') single-take film that i can think of.

-Rude

[Tripe]

Yeah and it's only not a single take due to technological constraints, if Hitchcock could have crammed the film necessary into a spool he would have.

[Plastic Self-Cleaning Duck]

Yeah and it's only not a single take due to technological constraints, if Hitchcock could have crammed the film necessary into a spool he would have.

You know that it wasn't really all one take....but it's so skillfully hidden that it doesn't matter.  And I think it's a better movie than some people think.

Worse murder scene ever.  I mean, do strangling victims really have enough wind to yell like that?  Especially when they're supposedly so close to death?

But a good movie.

[mattwnelson]

Yeah and it's only not a single take due to technological constraints, if Hitchcock could have crammed the film necessary into a spool he would have.

You know that it wasn't really all one take....but it's so skillfully hidden that it doesn't matter.  And I think it's a better movie than some people think.

Worse murder scene ever.  I mean, do strangling victims really have enough wind to yell like that?  Especially when they're supposedly so close to death?

But a good movie.

Rope is actually my all-time favorite Hitch film. Though the victim would not have had the ability to yell, I think, (unless what you're hearing is a yell of terror before the strangling actually happens) it in no way detracts from a masterfully made piece of cinema. I get drawn into the story every single time I watch that film, and I've seen it many, many, MANY times.

M@