“Gregg Toland was a great and happy influence on my work. Usually photography doesn’t influence direction, but Toland’s deep focus work did because we were able to let the audience do its own cutting. But if the photography allows you to see all four actors in one shot and in sharp focus, reacting to each other within the same shot, you’ve gained the opportunity to use a big close-up at the most important point. In this way Toland improved upon my direction.” William Wyler
