The blueprints of some visionary directors' most iconic scenes

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New biopic subject Alfred Hitchcock was one of the first studio directors to rely heavily on storyboards in production of his films. He would map out his distinctive set pieces using drawings that show exactly what will be in the frame and any movements the camera might make, and would then create them on set, often shot for shot. The filmmakers who followed with an eye for sharp camerawork (from Scorsese and Spielberg to the Coens and Nolan) frequently do the same.

With storyboards on my mind lately thanks to their use in both the opening sequence and the climax of Argo, I decided to put together a gallery of some storyboards from iconic movies. (Special thanks to the folks behind the "Drawing Board" column of the DGA Quarterly, where we found several of the storyboards to follow.)

Gone With the Wind (1939)

Director: Victor Fleming

Storyboard Artist: William Cameron Menzies

Psycho (1960)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Storyboard Artist: Saul Bass

Spartacus (1960)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Storyboard Artist: Saul Bass

Thunderball (1965)

Director: Terence Young

Storyboard Artist: Unknown

The Sound of Music (1965)

Director: Robert Wise

Storyboard Artist: Maurice Zuberano

Jaws (1975)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Storyboard Artist: Joe Alves

Taxi Driver (1976)

Director/Storyboard Artist: Martin Scorsese

Star Wars (1977)

Director: George Lucas

Storyboard Artist: Joe Johnston

Apocalypse Now (1979)

Director: Frances Ford Coppola

Storyboard Artist: Dean Tavoularis

Blade Runner (1982)

Director: Ridley Scott

Storyboard Artist: Tom Cranham

Aliens (1986)

Director: James Cameron

Storyboard Artists: Roger Dear, Maciek Piotrowski, Denis Rich

Jurassic Park (1993)

Director: Steven Spielberg

Storyboard Artist: David Lowery

Spiderman 2 (2004)

Director: Sam Raimi

Storyboard Artist: Chris Buchinsky

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Director: Joel and Ethan Coen

Storyboard Artist: J. Todd Anderson

Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Storyboard Artist: Gabriel Hardman

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