I’ve always held a suspicion that large format press cameras such as the Graflex Speed Graphic are the most widely used prop cameras in cinema. Doing the research for my Photography in Movies and Television series of posts certainly helped me keep that belief. Attempting to create a list of every sighting would be a massive task, but who says I can’t try?
This list will most likely never be complete, and currently isn’t very big or even near complete, but I’ll keep adding the sightings as I come across them. I already have a list of movies to get screen shots from, but I can only have so many Netflix movies out at once. Plus, instead of just fast forwarding through a lot of these movies which I haven’t seen, I want to actually watch them.
If you know of any other movies which aren’t listed here, mention it in the comments. I’ll go hunting for video still and give you credit when I post them. Meanwhile, let us get onto the press cameras in movies.
Band of Brothers (2001)
Box Set @ Amazon
During Episode 7: The Breaking Point a team of war journalists is seen interviewing the men. One of the journalists is using a Speed Graphic.
Back to the Future: Part 2 (1989)
Back To The Future Trilogy @ Amazon
There is a very quick glimpse of a flash pan taking a photo of Biff. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it.
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Very early in Creature from the Black Lagoon a doctor runs out of his tent with a Speed Graphic to photograph their latest discovery. I’m not quite sure about how the man is framing his scene. He appears to look into the back of the flash pan when he makes his exposure. In a more authentic depiction of how a Speed Graphic is actually used, it is visually obvious that he forgets to flip the dark slide after exposure.
Enemy at The Gates (2001)
Blu-ray @ Amazon
Plenty of Speed Graphics are present during the press meeting at the Soviet headquarters. Would the Russians have had access to this many American cameras during World War II?
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
DVD @ Amazon
Considering that the plot of Flags of Our Fathers resolves around the people involved in what is probably the most famous photo to ever be taken with a Speed Graphic, you would expect there to be a lot of press cameras in this film. Don’t worry, there is.
Futurama (2001)
Wait? Isn’t Futurama a cartoon? Yes! But that doesn’t stop a press camera from making an appearance in the episode Roswell That Ends Well.
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1992 movie “Public Eye” with Joe Pesci was based on Weegee. It’s all speed graphics and press photographers wrapped around a NYC mob story. Watched it last week on netficks streaming.
Love it!
North by Northwest
When Cary Grant is at the UN
It isn’t a movie, but have you ever seen the old Charles Bronson TV show “Man With A Camera?” He often used a press camera. He switched between a press camera and a 35mm rangefinder depending on the situation. They seem to get everything down pretty well. Bronson adjusts aperture and shutter speed before every shot. He sets up a bulb flash unit for the rangefinder. Even the occasional darkroom scenes appear properly done. The entire run of the show is available free on Hulu. It isn’t exactly the height of television art, but it could be viewed as an interesting history lesson for some budding photographers out there.
Sweet Martha. That movie isn’t on Netflix streaming, but the whole thing appears to be on Hulu.
Love this!
HIS GIRL FRIDAY (Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell)
I’m usually amused by the press cameras in movies.
So many ‘prop masters’ seem to think that the bellows must be fully extended.
Not so! Most normal lenses would reach only about half-way along the front extension.
Screenshots for Creature from the Black Lagoon have been added.
Quiz Show has a couple of press mob scenes.
In Alice’s Restaurant, the cops use a Speed Graphic, as well as couple of Polaroids, including, rather oddly, a Swinger!
Get Low has a couple of older Speeds.
King Kong (1933)–Kong is sent into a rage by press photographers!
I’ve added an entry for 1986’s The Money Pit
I’ve added screenshots for L.A. Noire
Thanks for the sighting Charles. I’ve added The Muppet Caper to the list.
Not sure about the Midnight Express camera, but there was some talk about it is on the Graflex.org forums.
Great article! Sometimes I hunt for cameras whenever I watch a movie too, especially if it’s a period movie or a classic. (And isn’t that a post-war Speed Graphic in A League Of Their Own?).
I recently saw The Great Muppet Caper for the first time in ages and Gonzo carries what appears to be a miniature Speed Graphic, and it takes quite a beating! Understandably, he never seems to change his film or flashbulbs.
And the Midnight Express camera… could it be a Linhof Tecknika?
Jude Law with a speed graphic mmmm. The only thing sexier is a stuffed lion with a blue velvet jacket and pants.
I totally somehow edited out my entry for a League of their own. It is now reincluded in the list.
The bottom right photo of the WWII movie Enemy at the Gates shows a Graflite flash, not manufactured until 1948. OOPS!!
Great scenes with classic press cameras….well done 🙂
Thanks. I started putting together this post back in June, and I still have a lot to go through to add to it. I imagine that someday this post will be MUCH longer than it is now.
This was just a pleasure to read, thanks for putting in all the hard work. My eyes always dart to any camera that sneaks into the corner of a frame of movie film, I’m glad I’m not the only one.