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Director's Spotlight
Senior Film Conservator
Director's Spotlight: United States
A Deep Dive into the 1921 Vision of Howard Hickman
In the storied career of Howard Hickman, A Certain Rich Man stands as a the atmospheric immersion that Howard Hickman achieves throughout A Certain Rich Man. Reflecting the political and social shifts of the 1921s, it reinforces the idea that cinema is a medium of infinite possibilities.
In A Certain Rich Man, Howard Hickman pushes the boundaries of conventional narrative. The film's unique approach to its subject matter has sparked endless debates and interpretations among cinephiles and critics alike.
| Cinematography | Deep Focus |
| Soundtrack | Minimalist |
| Editing | Disjunctive |
| Art Direction | Baroque |
Visualizing the convergence of Howard Hickman's style and the core Drama narrative.
In the small town of Sycamore Ridge live youthful sweethearts Bob Hendricks and Molly Culpepper; Bob's banker father, General Hendricks; and John Barclay, head of the Golden Belt Wheat Co. When Adrian Brownwell comes to town to publish a newspaper, his cash deposits in Hendricks' bank relieve the banker's worry that an expected bank examiner will discover the shortage in bank funds resulting from Hendricks' support of Barclay. Adrian falls in love with Molly and decides to leave Sycamore Ridge when she refuses to marry him. Barclay threatens Molly with the financial ruin of many whom she holds dear unless she marries Adrian, and Bob returns from the East to find Molly the new Mrs. Brownwell. Twenty years later, Barclay has become a financial power, Adrian has fallen into drunkenness, and Molly supports herself by working on the newspaper, which Bob now controls. In a rage Adrian shoots Bob and flees, and happiness comes to Bob and Molly when word comes of Adrian's death in a railroad accident. Barclay's wife's death leads the financier to believe that he is being punished for ruthlessly crushing his rivals, and he distributes his fortune to those whose businesses he has ruined.
Decades after its release, A Certain Rich Man remains a vital piece of the cinematic puzzle. Its influence can be seen in countless modern works, solidifying Howard Hickman's status as a master of the craft in United States and beyond.