Shift
Synopsis
“For Gehr, SHIFT broke new ground, hence perhaps a pun in its title. The film is his first to employ extensive montage. The actors are all mechanical – a series of cars and trucks filmed from a height of several stories as they perform on a three-lane city street. Gehr isolates one or two vehicles at a time, inverting some shots, so that a car hangs from the asphalt like a bat from a rafter, using angles so severe the traffic often seems to be sliding off the earth, and employing a reverse motion so abrupt that the players frequently exit the scene as though yanked from a stage by the proverbial hook. A sparse score of traffic noises accompanies the spastic ballet mecanique...” – J. Hoberman
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 4, 1974
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Ernie Gehr
- Original Title
- Shift
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- No Language
- Runtime
- 9m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Ernie Gehr
Department Leadership Roster
Ernie Gehr
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Shift.
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Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Shift.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shift
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Shift about?
“For Gehr, SHIFT broke new ground, hence perhaps a pun in its title. The film is his first to employ extensive montage. The actors are all mechanical – a series of cars and trucks filmed from a height of several stories as they perform on a three-lane city street. Gehr isolates one or two vehicles at a time, inverting some shots, so that a car hangs from the asphalt like a bat from a rafter, using angles so severe the traffic often seems to be sliding off the earth, and employing a reverse motion so abrupt that the players frequently exit the scene as though yanked from a stage by the proverbial hook. A sparse score of traffic noises accompanies the spastic ballet mecanique...” – J. Hoberman
Who directed Shift?
Shift was directed by Ernie Gehr.
Who stars in Shift?
The principal cast of Shift includes Not specified.
When was Shift released and how long is it?
Shift was released in 1974 with a total runtime of 9m.