Director Robert Altman wanted his 1971 western to look like faded photographs from the late 1800s . Cinematographer Vilmos Zsigmond chased that look on McCabe & Mrs. Miller by sacrificing contrast and sharpness.

Warren Beatty starred as gambler John McCabe, with Julie Christie as Constance Miller. Christie earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination for the role.

The American Film Institute’s June 2008 ranking of the top 10 westerns placed it at No. 8.

Fifty-five years on, the film holds an 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 62 critic reviews . Audiences rate it a point higher, with an 86% Popcornmeter from more than 5,000 ratings.

Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus goes further:

“McCabe & Mrs. Miller offers revisionist Western fans a landmark early addition to the genre while marking an early apogee for director Robert Altman.”

Turns out, getting that look onto the screen meant keeping Warner Bros. in the dark.

Julie Christie and Warren Beatty walk near a construction area in a scene from McCabe & Mrs.…