Well, one memorable scene for me was when Pete and Trudy were looking at the fancy apt. and at the end the music came up (Ella singing "I'll Take Manhattan") with Pete standing with his back to the camera and he was gazing out the window into the view (gorgeous) It sure had a "mood" that shot did. There are so many I can't begin to list them (scenes that had excellent cinematography) If MM doesn't clean up at the Emmys it will be a tragedy! They should win every one they are up for!

I had to laugh out loud with glee. The thought of "Mad Men" winning every one of them at the emmys! We should have an emmy party. I'll have one, come to L.A.! I'll check out that scene again, Thanks!

This is why it's maddening not to get the show in HiDef.............AMC needs to start making itself available to more cable companies!! Soon!!!!

AMC needs to get HD. I know for a fact that "Mad Men" will be loyal to AMC. I hope it goes HD too.

Oh yeah, the Edward Hopper references have been discussed a lot. The Basket of Kisses site even has a discussion of it (complete with comparison pictures) here: http://www.lippsisters.com/2008/05/12/like-a-hopper-painting/

And I agree the cinematography is stunning. I especially like the compositions and lighting choices that they select for each shot. A lot of Mad Men reminds me of Robert Burks best work for Hitchcock--especially Vertigo and North by Northwest. Some of my favorite shots are (in no particular order):

1) Betty and Glen in the parking lot - loved the colors in that scene, and the overall imagery was so powerful--Betty's very elegant, leather-gloved hand being held by Glen's little fuzzy mittens through the crack in the car window
2) Betty shooting the pigeons - again, great colors and powerful imagery
3) Rachel telling Don to get out - loved the way the blinds striped the room and left weird shadows everywhere
4) Every back of the head shot of Don
5) Joan and Roger preparing to leave the hotel (looks exactly like a Hopper painting
6) All the vertical establishing shots--the ones they shoot up a building or down a building because, as they said in the DVD commentaries, they can't do traditional wide shots since it would show a panorama of modern life. But the high- and low-angled shots are so effective because they're so jarring. I think they have a real psychological effect on us viewers. You either get a sense of vertigo--like you're falling, or a sense of impending doom, of being crushed, which is what I imagine a lot of the characters are feeling.

The cinemaphotograpy here is fantastic!

And as an aside to this, referring to the Edward Hopper references; He's always been one of my favorite artists.

His house on Cape Cod is not far from where I live now. But, something may be about to change on the landscape there. Some rich nobs bought the property adjacent to his house and want to put up a 6,000+ square foot domicile. There's a lot of contention going on with the abutters right now, because it's going to totally destroy what was an undisturbed Hopper related landscape, which appeared in 1 or more of his paintings.

But, since this has nothing to do with Mad Men, I'll focus on what's relevant here.

In addition to the cinematography, the opening animation for Mad Men is absolutely brilliant! That does a lot to set the scene and give a sense of the program. Is that Don Draper falling ~ and alone? Sure makes you wonder as you watch the program.

grinandbearit,
Thank you for the link I'll check it out. And, thank you, thank you for the list of your favorite shots. This is what inspires me so from the show. I'd like to make a collection of these very beautiful scenes. I'll get back to you after I see all these again and the link!
wryter1,
So nice to connect with you again on yet again something we have in common the love of the cinematography here. That piece of info on the Cape Cod house is wonderful. Do you have actual pictures of it? Would love to see. You're right, the opening scene seems to be Don. It's so powerful, I have had it in my dreams!

grinandbearit,
Thank you for the link! I loved it! I remember when I was watching the scene of Don with his brother at the diner. I had to blink twice as the scene continued to freeze frame in my mind of yet another Hopper painting. I wish I was computer savvy enough to illustrate this scene. I'm just learning how to use Movie Maker which I used on my Peggy monologue, but still a novice. If anyone out there knows how I could copy a link of the front page of this week's Mad Men site so I can have a keepsake of this week and me appearing next to Mr. Hamm. You could send it to me at noraparadiso@att.net. Thanks again. Don't forget to watch out for me as I enter the restaurant in tonights episode! Also, vote for me as Peggy. I'm trying to figure out how to link this to You Tube and My Space????????

Hi Nora, you might try right clicking on the image of you there with Don and Betty at the restaurant and a list will come up with different choices. I know that when I clicked on the Desktop choice I did get it on my desktop. I'm not exactly sure what some of those other choices will do but once you get it on your desktop or in your Pictures, etc. then maybe you can figure a way to get it enlarged and can maybe print it out. It's worked for me before! good luck...and I'll have my eyes peeled for you tonight. Just think...you've actually breathed in the same air as Jon Hamm! sigh

I've actually breathed the same air, sigh sigh! I'm so excited! It's ten hours and 18 mins til showtime in Tinseltown!

Hi scfan,
I did it that's great! I have the page saved. Thanks so much! 9 hours and 50 minutes til showtime here in Tinseltown!

Hi grinandbearit (I remember that comic title from my youth).

I'll be happy to send you some photos of Hopper's house and the landscape when I have a chance to get over there and take pictures. I usually avoid the summer traffic, but in less than a month that will subside considerably.

Ask me again at the beginning of September or thereabouts. You can find my e-mail address somewhere in the system here.

Also, thanks again for the info on the SC accounts.
I'm going to do a little project for myself and find out the history of the client companies up to when they were fictionally at SC. Then I'll do a posting on the Mad Men forum.

Hi grinandbearit! This just in:

This past minute an art director I used to work with e-mailed me this link to a New York Times story on Hopper's Cape Cod. There are some pics there, including part of his house.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/travel/10cultured.html?ex=1219032000&en=4534b2c270ac7184&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Enjoy!

Ooooops! Just realized this was related to Nora's post. So, you can both share the info.

Thanks wryter1, I loved the info and also awaiting to hear about your advertising days!
It's 5 hours and 30 mins til showtime!

I just went back to the NYTimes article on Cape Cod. This is a recent article! What a coincidence! Strange...

Hi Nora!

I've got posts about some parts of my advertising days in different areas of this forum I wish there was a central index of postings for everybody on here, so you could look them up easily.

I've only been on the forum here for 5 days, so there's lots more to tell, but I want to make my comments relevant to Mad Men and not just continually rattling off about me.

Looking forward to seeing you on the show. What did you order for dessert?

Nora - what do you mean to "vote" for you "as Peggy"???

Hi wryter1,
I ordered chacolate cake very rich 60's style.
Ha!
It's on now in Florida, but my family too busy to see me. Boo. Guess I have to wait to see it.
Hi jamblermm,
I entered the contest as Peggy Olson and it's in the "Editor's Pick" vote for me! Thanks.

Hi Nora!

Thanks. I'll check my e-mail for the layer cake tomorrow. Do I need any special kind of software to open it?

By the way, I did catch a glimpse of you on the show tonight.

My wife and I watched it in our living room here on Cape Cod! Then we watched the whole show again right after.

Have you written your Emmy speech yet?

Nora, very exciting for you, congrats! Bet you were glad you weren't walking by in the "lobby" scene!

Hi wryter1,
Sent you cake to your e-mail! comment on my blog on "background" and "Fat..." if you can.
It was just a glimpse but I do have my Emmy speech. I want to thank wryter1 and his wife for all their kind words and support and all the fans of "Mad Men". After all, what is a show without fans! Quoting Marilyn Monroe, "I put my make-up on for the person in the last row of the theater"...
Hi 60's child,
Thank you. If I had been in the lobby maybe I would have been seen! Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it.

Hi Nora!

I'll check out your blog soon. Have to go hit the bike trail now. The rain has stopped and the sun is in radiant splendor now. I just love the smell of the outdoors after a rain shower.

Waiting for your next cinematographic adventure on Mad Men.

On cinematography - episode 3.

The SILOHUETTE shots of Don and Barbie on the set were brilliant! It showed off Bobbie's ultra-fake-sophisticate style and seem to be mimicking the opening credits. Anyone else notice that?

Ha Ha!! Faux pas! I meant Bobbie not Barbie! But didn't she look like a Barbie doll silohutted like that?

Hi Nora, I thought I did see you at the table over Don's shoulder. Anyway, just to be part of that show in anyway would be thrilling!
How is the contest going? I'm going to check it out, and you have my vote!

Jamblermm,
Yes, their silohuettes are amazing. Thanks for pointing it out!
Wryter1 and Jamblermm,
I thought the scene with Betty and Don going home and her crying in the car was shot beautifully like it was going to freeze frame in my mind again as a painting. It also, seemed to travel in time like it all came to a head. She's still in a bubble about to really burst, delicate, and soft saying, "I'm so happy you are taking me closer to your world, we make a good team..."