From the Spielberg movie "Super 8" which I watched for the first time last night. Wasn't bad for a movie but had a rather slow start to it. The alien looks like a giant spider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWgpZ_2oYfE
Wow! That's one hell of a train wreck!
But sometimes I think "Less is more." Check this one out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ITp_xSaxE
Flintlock76Flintlock76 wrote the following post 19 minutes ago: Wow! That's one hell of a train wreck! But sometimes I think "Less is more." Check this one out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ITp_xSaxE
I remember that movie too but that wreck looks more toy like than the one above.
CMStPnPI remember that movie too but that wreck looks more toy like than the one above.
True, but remember "GSOE" was filmed in the early Fifties. No CGI in those days, it wasn't even imagined, so everything like what we see in the film was all model work, and some pretty superb model work as well. Those old special effects guys were absolute artists at what they could accomplish.
In a way, to my mind CGI kind of ruins movie magic. In the old days you could see a special effect and wonder "How did they do that?" Now you see a special effect and you know how they did it. "Oh, it's just CGI." Ho hum.
You can't get more real than real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1IEtzj23ws
Flintlock76 a way, to my mind CGI kind of ruins movie magic. In the old days you could see a special effect and wonder "How did they do that?" Now you see a special effect and you know how they did it. "Oh, it's just CGI." Ho hum.
I agree. But I also have to think about how my perception has changed.
For illustration purposes, take your typical "driving scene" as shown in a tv show, or movie. Now it is abundantly clear that such scenes are shot in a static model inside a studio, and the scenery visible through the windows is a pre-recorded projection. Same thing often true when scenes have panaramic vistas as a back drop..
When I was younger, the fake part of it never seemed so obvious to me as it does now.
You can go back to an episode of Gunsmoke that I've seen dozens of times over the decades, and never really noticed how fake the scenery is until just the past several years.
Maybe it's because I've seen the action so many times that now I've just shifted my attention to peripheral items?
Yeah- driving scenes where the gearshift is never moved out of park, there's no rear-view mirror and they always find a place to park. Remember the opening motorcycle scene in Lawrence of Arabia? He's going fast on that country road, but his hair never moves.
A friend in Montreal was involved with filming "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." He played the cabdriver in a scene that was supposed to be in Paris but was filmed in the old city of Montreal. His Citroen was mounted on a trailer and towed around the streets with camera equipment on the tow vehicle and on the trailer. That was also done (and in many other old films, I am sure) in the Harold Lloyd comedy from 1920 called "Hot Water." I've seen it done here in Toronto back when they used to make movies here in the beforetimes.
54light15You can't get more real than real:
Oh yeah, that's so real it's cringeworthy!
We can rationalize it was OK to wreck those locomotives since they were due to be scrapped anyway, but it still makes my skin crawl to see those old steamers "die."
I was involved in shooting some scenes for a Netflix movie on the railroad.
The movie was set in the Pacific Northwest. Some scenes were shot on the Adirondack RR in Thendara. In fact, they decorated parts of the interior of the station to serve for some interior shots.
We still have the station sign they covered up our station sign with for the movie.
As for being towed around on a trailer, this one is worth a laugh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAM-E6PApmQ
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Flintlock76 Wow! That's one hell of a train wreck! But sometimes I think "Less is more." Check this one out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9ITp_xSaxE
It's too bad the clip doesn't begin a little sooner. When the train stops you can hear the engineer blowing the proper whistle signal (one long and three shorts) for the flagman to go back and protect the rear of the train.
Jeff
jeffhergertIt's too bad the clip doesn't begin a little sooner. When the train stops you can hear the engineer blowing the proper whistle signal (one long and three shorts) for the flagman to go back and protect the rear of the train.
It is too bad, C.B. DeMille was a stickler for authenticity, at least as much as possible. In his film "Union Pacific" cars seen in close-ups have the old link-and-pin coupling system, correct for 1869.
Convicted OneYou can go back to an episode of Gunsmoke that I've seen dozens of times over the decades, and never really noticed how fake the scenery is until just the past several years.
In a way, you can blame HDTV for that. Things that are noticeable now weren't so on the old color and black and white TV's.
Here's a bit of "Gunsmoke" trivia. The buildings in the Dodge City set were only 75% of the size of their 19th Century prototypes.
However, it was real beer they served in Miss Kitty's saloon! They couldn't fake that!
Flintlock76 Convicted One You can go back to an episode of Gunsmoke that I've seen dozens of times over the decades, and never really noticed how fake the scenery is until just the past several years. In a way, you can blame HDTV for that. Things that are noticeable now weren't so on the old color and black and white TV's. Here's a bit of "Gunsmoke" trivia. The buildings in the Dodge City set were only 75% of the size of their 19th Century prototypes. However, it was real beer they served in Miss Kitty's saloon! They couldn't fake that!
Convicted One You can go back to an episode of Gunsmoke that I've seen dozens of times over the decades, and never really noticed how fake the scenery is until just the past several years.
When watching shows in 1080p definition it is amazing how much older the actors/actresses appear than when being viewed at 480i. More details at 1080p.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Flintlock76In a way, you can blame HDTV for that. Things that are noticeable now weren't so on the old color and black and white TV's.
Not to mention the graphics capabilities available now.
Much of the time, the view out of the saloon door was a painted backdrop. We didn't notice because we didn't know any better.
For that matter, vehicle interior scenes involving traffic were often what would now be called "green screened". We're so used to it now that my five year old granddaughter noticed that I was using a green screen during a zoom birthday party. And called it a green screen...
Along that line, it can be tough to binge watching shows like "Emergency," because now you notice the stock shots, like the squad travelling down a street with a VW parked at the curb...
Randy Mantooth revealed why Roy was always driving the squad - it was because he drove the squad during the shooting of the stock shots...
tree68Randy Mantooth revealed why Roy was always driving the squad - it was because he drove the squad during the shooting of the stock shots...
It made continuity a lot easier as well. If you remember the "Dragnet" revival from the Sixties you'll remember Joe Friday and Bill Gannon ALWAYS wore the same clothing, Joe with the grey sport coat and dark trousers and Bill in the dark grey suit. Same thing, continuity.
That was the big selling point with Jack Webb productions, they were ALWAYS on time and ALWAYS under budget.
And hey, Lady Firestorm and myself LOVED "Emergency!" We've got one of the DVD's and the show holds up beautifully.
I should add since Lady F's father was a volunteer firefighter "Emergency!" was required viewing in her house!
Flintlock76And hey, Lady Firestorm and myself LOVED "Emergency!" We've got one of the DVD's and the show holds up beautifully.
I had two of the DVDs, but I loaned them out and don't remember to whom, so I just bought the entire set.
Emergency! is cited by probably thousands of firefighters and EMTs as the reason they got into the business. Even though their medical protocols were simplistic by today's standards (I could do way more than they could back back then when I was an advanced life support EMT).
James Page (Johnny Gage's namesake) was a technical advisor, and the guiding principle of the series was that if it wouldn't happen on LACoFD, it wouldn't happen on the show.
"Station 51" was actually Station 127. It's still an active facility, and has been named the Robert A. Cinader Station, after the show's producer.
The squad and both Engine 51's are at the LACoFD museum.
I could go on - there is a ton of trivia about the show.
tree68"Station 51" was actually Station 127. It's still an active facility
Quite true, and there's several YouTube videos showing the station as it is today, remarkably little has changed about it since the 1970s. The interiors are still recognizable from the series.
I've heard it said, and it's probably true, that "Emergency!" kick-started the paramedic/EMT movement across the country.
One bit of "Emergency!" trivia: Randy Mantooth tells the story of being approached by the chief of the LACoFD as the series was ending and being asked if he'd like to join the department. "What? Are you serious?" he asked the chief. "Sure!" the chief said, "You know almost everything you need to know, you wouldn't need much training, and I can make it happen!"
Randy was very flattered but he turned him down, he had other plans.
Something that drives wife crazy is watching actors drive a car. Steering wheel movements are way too much. She often wonders if any of the actors ever drove a car. Reminders her of a kid learning to ride a bike. To much oversteering.
Flintlock76Randy was very flattered but he turned him down, he had other plans.
I've heard him speak twice, fascinating speaker and very much believes in what he says. I also have a model of the squad that he autographed the outer shell, and a picture of me next to him (he's very accomodating). I'm not going to say that I'll never wash my hand, but it's close.
He also told a tale about the "Jaws of Life." As I recall, LACoFD was going to buy four of the tools (for the entire county). Hurst, who couldn't figure out why the FD would want them - they were designed to cut race drivers out of their wrecks, apparently said that a fifth set had to go to the show. That introduced another new concept to the public. These days, such tools are part of virtually every fire department's inventory. We have a battery operated tool on our engine.
The Fugitive
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4LF4I1S9rOo
How it was made
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=raalmAFeloA
Nice to see that we have some Emergency! fans around here. That and Adam-12 never grow old for me.
As for model work in old movies, I especially love naval scenes in 40's and 50's films. Some amazing stuff there that at times is more believable looking to my eyes than the most expensive CGI work of today.
Oddly though, what doesn't work for me in movies of this era is the movement of aircraft models. It just never looks natural to me. Casablanca is a classic example with an airplane taking off that doesn't quite manage to look believable, although the model itself looks great.
But at least in the movies they'd hide the wire better than you'd see on Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie when something goes floating by.
blue streak 1 Something that drives wife crazy is watching actors drive a car. Steering wheel movements are way too much. She often wonders if any of the actors ever drove a car. Reminders her of a kid learning to ride a bike. To much oversteering.
She'd love the movie 'Julie' starring Doris Day. Here's a clip showing what I mean (Albeit dubbed into a foregn language).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cJWh6Ilyk
Leo_Ames Nice to see that we have some Emergency! fans around here. That and Adam-12 never grow old for me. As for model work in old movies, I especially love naval scenes in 40's and 50's films. Some amazing stuff there that at times is more believable looking to my eyes than the most expensive CGI work of today. Oddly though, what doesn't work for me in movies of this era is the movement of aircraft models. It just never looks natural to me. Casablanca is a classic example with an airplane taking off that doesn't quite manage to look believable, although the model itself looks great. But at least in the movies they'd hide the wire better than you'd see on Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie when something goes floating by.blue streak 1 Something that drives wife crazy is watching actors drive a car. Steering wheel movements are way too much. She often wonders if any of the actors ever drove a car. Reminders her of a kid learning to ride a bike. To much oversteering. She'd love the movie 'Julie' starring Doris Day. Here's a clip showing what I mean (Albeit dubbed into a foregn language). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cJWh6Ilyk
But at least in the movies they'd hide the wire better than you'd see on Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie when something goes floating by.blue streak 1
Wow! I've heard of Over acting and Over steering but that was BOTH. She needed better directing.
I just figured her car had a lot of 'play' in the steering.
York1 John
Thread Drift Alert...
Some years ago, I had an idea for a feature length movie that would bring together all of the police and fire shows of the time.
The basic concept was tracing a crime from the east coast to the west, incorporating cameos from the various shows that were current, or weren't too far out of date at the time.
Memory no longer serves to name all the possible participants, and were such a project to be developed, I'm sure shows I'm not aware of (ie, never watched) would come into play.
About the only players who would appear throughout the film would be the crooks. Everyone else would appear briefly, in context, in their appropriate jurisdiction.
For example, Squad 51 would be working at an incident which Ponch and John were also working. Broderick Crawford might show up as a senior supervisor. Might even be in a rail yard (at least one Emergency! episode included same).
Officers Malloy and Reed might investigate a plot-related crime at which Sgt Friday and partner show up.
One of Raymond Burr's attorney characters might involved.
You get my drift.
It was fun considering it...
Leo_AmesNice to see that we have some Emergency! fans around here. That and Adam-12 never grow old for me. As for model work in old movies, I especially love naval scenes in 40's and 50's films. Some amazing stuff there that at times is more believable looking to my eyes than the most expensive CGI work of today. Oddly though, what doesn't work for me in movies of this era is the movement of aircraft models. It just never looks natural to me. Casablanca is a classic example with an airplane taking off that doesn't quite manage to look believable, although the model itself looks great. But at least in the movies they'd hide the wire better than you'd see on Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie when something goes floating by. blue streak 1 Something that drives wife crazy is watching actors drive a car. Steering wheel movements are way too much. She often wonders if any of the actors ever drove a car. Reminders her of a kid learning to ride a bike. To much oversteering. She'd love the movie 'Julie' starring Doris Day. Here's a clip showing what I mean (Albeit dubbed into a foregn language). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cJWh6Ilyk
My first car was a 56 Plymouth - the steering felt almost that sloppy.
BaltACD Leo_Ames Nice to see that we have some Emergency! fans around here. That and Adam-12 never grow old for me. As for model work in old movies, I especially love naval scenes in 40's and 50's films. Some amazing stuff there that at times is more believable looking to my eyes than the most expensive CGI work of today. Oddly though, what doesn't work for me in movies of this era is the movement of aircraft models. It just never looks natural to me. Casablanca is a classic example with an airplane taking off that doesn't quite manage to look believable, although the model itself looks great. But at least in the movies they'd hide the wire better than you'd see on Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie when something goes floating by. blue streak 1 Something that drives wife crazy is watching actors drive a car. Steering wheel movements are way too much. She often wonders if any of the actors ever drove a car. Reminders her of a kid learning to ride a bike. To much oversteering. She'd love the movie 'Julie' starring Doris Day. Here's a clip showing what I mean (Albeit dubbed into a foregn language). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cJWh6Ilyk My first car was a 56 Plymouth - the steering felt almost that sloppy.
Leo_Ames Nice to see that we have some Emergency! fans around here. That and Adam-12 never grow old for me. As for model work in old movies, I especially love naval scenes in 40's and 50's films. Some amazing stuff there that at times is more believable looking to my eyes than the most expensive CGI work of today. Oddly though, what doesn't work for me in movies of this era is the movement of aircraft models. It just never looks natural to me. Casablanca is a classic example with an airplane taking off that doesn't quite manage to look believable, although the model itself looks great. But at least in the movies they'd hide the wire better than you'd see on Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie when something goes floating by. blue streak 1 Something that drives wife crazy is watching actors drive a car. Steering wheel movements are way too much. She often wonders if any of the actors ever drove a car. Reminders her of a kid learning to ride a bike. To much oversteering. She'd love the movie 'Julie' starring Doris Day. Here's a clip showing what I mean (Albeit dubbed into a foregn language). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cJWh6Ilyk
As kids we had a name for this, "Mannix driving." Whenever we had to wait inside a parked automobile, one of use would be at the steering wheel, pretending to make exagerated steering motions while humming the "Mannix" theme song from the TV show. (1) Mannix TV show theme song - YouTube
Mannix was a private detective character in a TV series starring actor Mike Connors. The show seemed to fill time within each episode by having Mannix at the wheel of his car all the time. To add interest to this scenes, the actor would make somewhat exagerated steering corrections.
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
Whenever I think of "Mannix" I think of parking garages. Seems like every time Joe Mannix was in a parking garage someone was always trying to run him over!
By the same token, whenever I'm in a parking garage I think of Joe Mannix!
I'll tell you what though, I loved that show! As a matter of fact, all the Quinn Martin produced TV shows were excellent and entertaining.
And the "Mannix" theme song is one of the best in TV history!
When I was little, I was constantly getting confused by thinking that the pictures of trains in kids' books were 'the way things were supposed to be'. Siderods, three-piece truck sideframes, the undercarriage of a GG1...
Likewise I had the idea that driving involved the sorts of wheel motion 'seen on TV' and I can remember 'pretending' to drive with that sort of action. I think that a reason most people seem to have trouble driving fast in reverse, or with backing trailers up, is that they revert to 'turning the wheel' and forget just how little is necessary in familiar driving.
I started to teach both kids to drive early... by telling them to watch my hands and what I did with my feet. They learned early that even on old American cars with vast understeer no more than an inch or so of wheel movement kept you in a straight line... and when going through corners, smoothly moving the wheel into and then out of the curve beat cranking it to a 'radius' and then overshooting because you couldn't start uncranking soon enough. And not to frantically overreact in skids...
One of the things I could never figure out was the convention of lightning and thunder -- it was always bright flashes and then someone whacking a tin sheet, like some sort of social code representation 'this means a storm is happening'. To this day it's a great relief to me when storm action is realistic.
While we are on the subject of mechanical CGI, though, I think we have to pause with a moment's respect for identical cousins. I was amazed trying to figure out how that could be done in the early '60s, and I'm still amazed they figured out how to make it work. Using doubles and never showing both faces in the same frame... obvious and simple. But getting them both moving in a complex, composited shot -- without artifacts -- that's sufficiently advanced technology.
Tree68- Your idea reminds me of the movie, "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" and "The Last Remake of Beau Geste." Both use bits from old films and it makes them integral to the plot, especially in DMDWP.
regarding Casablanca, it was filmed entirely indoors due to the noise of airplanes taking off from a nearby aircraft plant in Burbank so the airplane was obviously a model. I think it was supposed to be a Lockheed Electra.
54light15 I think it was supposed to be a Lockheed Electra.
It was a Lockheed Model 12, the "Junior Electra," a slightly smaller version than the standard Model 10 Electra, and the Varig Airlines insignia on the nose was a nice touch!
Even though Varig Airlines wouldn't operate Electras (Model 10's) until 1943, after the movie was filmed. But hey, Casablanca to Lisbon, it made sense otherwise.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.