Look at this stunning shot from Desire (1936), directed by the swooningly romantic Frank Borzage.
The specificity of where the light falls, there’s full-on head-on light, and then there are little pools of light, surrounded by deep shadows … Marlene Dietrich’s face is entirely in shadow, but light falls on her stunning creamy outfit (designed by the great Travis Banton). The whole effect for this one shot, which lasts about five seconds, takes real artistry to pull off. (Charles Lang, a legend, was the cinematographer).
