Comments on: The Late Movies: Famous Tracking Shots

By: Bob Brown

Bob Brown — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:39:28 +0000

The definition for a tracking shot has changed in the last few decades. Before the advent of steadicam it simply meant a continuous shot from a camera mounted on a dolly. This was usually a lateral movement left to right or vice versa. This was generally a necessary constraint as the tracks that the camera trundled across would come into view if the movement was forwards or backwards. There are of course exceptions. In The Evil Dead, for instance, the quick forward motion ‘rollercoaster’ shots were achieved by hiding the tracks with leaves and debris so that they were not visible in the final shot.

More complex shots required the use of cranes. These are not technically tracking shots. Touch of Evil starts with a crane shot. Even The Player references this as a tracking shot. Robert Altman knows the difference, but not the studio execs he’s satirizing.

But what the heck. They are some of the most memorable scenes in cinema so call them what you like. Just make sure you celebrate them in some way.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 04:39:14 +0000

There’s an awesome one in Waiting. They did a featurette on the special features on the DVD.

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:35:29 +0000

Soy Cuba (I Am Cuba), a 1964 communist propoganda piece opens with one long shot that involved crew members and actors handing a hand held camera to one another as it travels down a hotel into a swimming pool. The longest single shot opening of its time, it also went on to inspire a lot of the long shots Quentin Tarantino used for his films.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:47:31 +0000

Kenneth Branaugh’s Henry V – after the battle carrying the soldier – on of the dead bodies rubs his face.

By: Helenann

Helenann — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:40:14 +0000

Speaking of Hitchcock, there’s a great one in Psycho, going up the stairs…

By: matthew

matthew — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:06:08 +0000

in Swingers, first they talk about tracking shots, and how they love the one in Goodfellas, then there’s a long tracker as they go in the backdoor of the club

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:05:08 +0000

The 1948 Hitchcock movie “Rope” was notable for appearing to be one incredibly long continuous take.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:56:14 +0000

I think it was in Start Trek: First Contact were there was a long pullback starting from Picard’s eye on out to the Borg mothership.
Saving Private Ryan had one continuous take halfway through the movie when the US soldiers ambush a German halftrack.

By: franklin

franklin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:09:18 +0000

as far as boogie nights go, i’ve always preferred the tracking shot that ends the movie.

By: Sheeky

Sheeky — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:44:05 +0000

You should have included the longest tracking shot done. It’s in the movie The Protector with Tony Jaa, and it is unbelievable! Considering the stunts and action they did in this single shot I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE7WijeShQM