Chapter 11: Convential Film History: Evolutions, Masterpieces, and Periodization (pgs. 368 - 403)
"Special effects __ methods of manipulating or adding new dimesions to the film image __ have always been a part of the evolution of movies as entertainment (pg. 379)."
The Ten Commandments (1956) was an epic historical reinactment of the biblical story of Moses, an Egyptian prince who finds that he was really born into a poor jewish family but was given up by his mother and sent down the river Nile in an attempt to save his life. Once he learns of his true identify, he becomes a slave and he is bound and determined to help set his people free. All throughout this movie there are special effects that depict the power of GOD; from the column of fire that held back the Egyptian chariots to the parting of the Sea allowing the newly freed slaves to pass unharmed. The Ten Commandments was filmed in Technicolor. This film was made during a time when the big studios put on these elaborate productions using their most famous actors that they had under contract. It, like Cleopatra, is one of many big budget epic films made for the silver screen. Audiences loved the grand scale of these epic films along with the eloborate sets, exotic locations, and glamorous costumes. This genre of films is still very popular today.
"Special effects and new formats __ from wide screen formats like Cinema Scope to 3-D images __ became increasingly important in distinguishing film from the newly arrived and more modest medium of television (379)."
Walt Disney was a great innovator of the use of special effects. He invented and pattented a multi-planed camera, called the "art of animation" which allowed added depth and dimension to whatever scene that was being shot. As the camera panned through the tiers, it gave the illusion of a 3-D effect. It was a low-tech technique that resulted in what looked like a high tech effect. Because the backgrounds could be saved and used over and over, this device also saved hundreds if not thousands of hours of man power used to create these backgrounds. The Disney movies of today incorporate all types of special effects and sound effects. The most popular of these techniques is the use of 3-D images. When my husband and I took our two children to Epcot Center in 2000 for the Millenium Celebration at Disney World in Florida, we saw a 3-D Shrek (2001) exhibition in addition to the movie A Bug's Life (1998). While watching the movie, at different points in the story, we were sprayed with water and compressed air. These added effects made this movie going experience unique. The kids loved it. We did too.
"From Griffith's The Birth of a Nation and Intolerance through Kind Vidor's The Big Parade (1925) and Buster Keaton's The General, narrative films learned to explore simultaneous actions, complex spatial geographies, and the psychological interaction of characters through narrative (pg. 396)."
In Buster Keaton's The General (1926), the train was the vehicle that literally moved the story along the storyline. Amazing for that time period, the trains were actually used as props in this film. Buster Keaton was brilliant in his physical comedy and the way he could convey emotion without facial expressions was genius. He was referred to as The Great Stone Face. Without the use of sound, Keaton let his physical antics tell the story. His use of the underdog as the hero was the over-arching theme in this film. His uncanny ability to overcome the physical obsticles that were constantly put in front of him was astounding. At the end of The General, Keaton's character, Johnnie Grey, saves the girl, warns the military about an impending attack, and gets his beloved General back. This film was very entertaining and the physical stunts by Keaton were amazing.
Works Cited
"The Ten Commandments (1956) - Filming Locations." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
"Shrek (2001) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
"A Bug's Life (1998) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
"The General (1926) - IMDb." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 25 Apr. 2011.
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