tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post2045054009591631354..comments2024-03-27T23:06:28.849+13:00Comments on Matte Shot - a tribute to Golden Era special fx: RKO - the home of Kong, Kane, Androcles, Mr Joseph Young and moreNZPetehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-26980119402972477282018-07-06T00:34:25.308+12:002018-07-06T00:34:25.308+12:00Thank You so much for sharing and documenting all ...Thank You so much for sharing and documenting all this history of cinema. Loved seeing Howard Hawk's The Thing. And yes, it would be wonderful if you did one all on KING KONG (1933)! If you have not already that is?Tom Lucahttp://facebook.com/officialDreamFactoryEntnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-52779720879295390552012-12-30T13:05:03.330+13:002012-12-30T13:05:03.330+13:00Hi Rick
You wouldn't be the former owner of t...Hi Rick<br /><br />You wouldn't be the former owner of that (and other) vintage matte paintings, would you?<br /><br />Thanks for the info. I could never spot it in the film so I'll try and find the trailer online. It's a beautiful painting - maybe by Larrinaga, Bonestell or Simpson.<br /><br />PeterNZPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-6167859852261860542012-12-30T06:56:14.263+13:002012-12-30T06:56:14.263+13:00Hi
Always enjoy your fabulous site. The matte fro...Hi<br /><br />Always enjoy your fabulous site. The matte from MR.BLANDINGS, which is an accurate representation of the cliff dwelling of the Ancestral Pueblo at Mesa Verde, is from the trailer to the film. Presented by Melvin Douglas, it introduces the film with a montage of the history of man pursuing his dream home up to the modern city dwelling 20th Century denizen Cary Grant.<br /><br />rickRickSpectorhttp://www.stairstars.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-49156648583106776562011-07-23T16:38:59.764+12:002011-07-23T16:38:59.764+12:00Hi there Stephen
I'm keen to know more about ...Hi there Stephen<br /><br />I'm keen to know more about your days at Peerless, should you wish to contact me by email. Also, your own posting of the GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADSTREET matte set up is of great interest to me too, and I'd love to get more info on that.<br /><br />PeterNZPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-30300754303215713412011-07-23T04:17:55.839+12:002011-07-23T04:17:55.839+12:00Linwood Dunn came to the optical house in the 80&#...Linwood Dunn came to the optical house in the 80's. (Peerless Camera Co) I was working at and told us about the shot in Hunchback, looking down on the town and the morning of the shoot he quickly ran off a short test in the locked off camera and developed it in a small developing tank and checked the line up and exposure of the matte painting. I can't remember if the roll of film loaded to shoot the scene already had the matte painting exposed onto it and he ran off a few feet and developed it, or he loaded a small wedge test roll of the painting.spokeshavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11785132711227936751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-21800528801764438662011-04-16T12:16:16.787+12:002011-04-16T12:16:16.787+12:00Steve
It's not in the versions I have - eithe...Steve<br /><br />It's not in the versions I have - either on DVD or VHS so it's a mystery?<br /><br />PeteNZPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-40472477425753632822011-04-16T01:32:06.950+12:002011-04-16T01:32:06.950+12:00The canyon painting from Blandings IS in the film ...The canyon painting from Blandings IS in the film - after the titles there is a brief narrated introduction about the history of man wanting to build dwellings and that painting is in there for a moment I believe.Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-74165686497360997352011-02-02T00:34:52.782+13:002011-02-02T00:34:52.782+13:00Hi Steven
No actually those frames are taken from...Hi Steven<br /><br />No actually those frames are taken from vhs copies as that was all I could find.<br />Generally the dvd transfers are good, but not as sharp as some name labels such as Warner who normally do a superb job with old films. I recently hired a set of RKO TARZAN pictures and the quality was so abysmal (especially on a 55" TV I had to give up part way through.NZPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-82938416135735939862011-02-01T02:26:36.175+13:002011-02-01T02:26:36.175+13:00I am correct that some of the RKO dvds like Suspic...I am correct that some of the RKO dvds like Suspicion or Gunga Din seem a bit visually fuzzy making it difficult to see the matte paintings well (I assume because original elements haven't fared well) ?Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-2518687779365206932011-01-23T13:21:52.829+13:002011-01-23T13:21:52.829+13:00Re: Michael Serisen - I totally agree that his con...Re: Michael Serisen - I totally agree that his continually being overlooked is ridiculous. I happen to know that Alan Parker thinks that, too.<br /><br />For a very neat showpiece of his work that is characteristically technically perfect while at the same time managing to be un-showy or flash, try the one-take short "Parc Monceau" from "Paris Je T'Aime".<br /><br />(http://vimeo.com/4469267)<br /><br />Just lovely.AndyMinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489557191299982422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-17052094824188672502011-01-23T11:50:27.484+13:002011-01-23T11:50:27.484+13:00Hi Andy
That's great. One that always annoye...Hi Andy<br /><br />That's great. One that always annoyed me, and not just because he's a fellow Kiwi, is the great cinematographer Michael Serisen who did astonishing work on almost all of Alan Parker's films, such as ANGEL HEART, FAME, ANGELA'S ASHES and MIDNIGHT EXPRESS to name but a few and he never even had so much as a nomination! Serisen set the benchmark for jaw dropping, painstaking use of colour and subtle diffused light in 1978 for MIDNIGHT EXPRESS, way before anyone else was doing it (and now it's done by everyone - ad nauseum)...... but as I say, don't get me started on bloody Oscar injustices (oh....I see, you already did!)NZPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-87144889750038823682011-01-22T08:44:28.228+13:002011-01-22T08:44:28.228+13:00Many thanks for another great Post - this time on ...Many thanks for another great Post - this time on my favourite studio!<br /><br />Concerning "don't get me started on bloody Oscar injustices such as SUPERMAN missing out on cinematography and art direction..."<br /><br />Here at my local cinema in Belper, Derbyshire, every June I organise our own International Film Awards ("The Ritzys").<br /><br />In shortlisting for our "Best Cinematographer" category, we have a strict rule on films with a bare minimum of Digital Enhancement. That's why Roger Deakins has been nominated for the last four years and has become a running gag on the night...<br /><br />To see some of the Oscar winners in the category over the past few years, it's almost impossible to say whether the "look" was the work of a D.P or a teenager, slaving away on an Apple, six months later...AndyMinionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01489557191299982422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-88929686076266865502011-01-21T08:45:04.043+13:002011-01-21T08:45:04.043+13:00Pete -
Thanks for making my day, as usual, with ...Pete - <br /><br />Thanks for making my day, as usual, with your fantastic tribute to these amazing artists!<br /><br />My life as an artist is strongly tied to an early fascination with these films and their special effects - most of all those glass mattes.<br /><br />Thanks again!<br /><br />DaveDavid Geisterhttp://www.davidgeister.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-87691914373258751452011-01-19T18:40:32.024+13:002011-01-19T18:40:32.024+13:00Hi Ashley
Thanks for those positive comments - I&...Hi Ashley<br /><br />Thanks for those positive comments - I'm glad so many people still place value on this hand made stuff.<br /><br />Future blogs will include: A comprehensive review of many visual effects publications, books and journals from my collection. This will be in a week or so.<br /><br />Also more MGM mattes, Pinewood mattes, Shepperton mattes, a tribute to Syd Dutton & Bill Taylor, another series celebrating the wonderful old Disney matte shots, a look at Les Bowie and more!!!<br /><br />PeterNZPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-65996519702113857562011-01-19T08:40:13.975+13:002011-01-19T08:40:13.975+13:00I have to say I'm awed by the amount of work y...I have to say I'm awed by the amount of work you put into this, the post just goes on and on. The shots from Back to Bataan (particularly the church) are very impressive. I'm going to read through 2010, see what I missed, you see if I don't.Ashley Pomeroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09466311744358782337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-63105522264168848992011-01-17T15:06:11.363+13:002011-01-17T15:06:11.363+13:00Hi Steve
Yes, for sure Bonestell was a key fx per...Hi Steve<br /><br />Yes, for sure Bonestell was a key fx person on NOTRE DAME, but it's Percy Day's involvement that perplexes me somewhat. I just can't see why the studio would bring in Day all the way from London to paint on this show (and, as legend has it, on Fox's HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY a couple of years later)when there were so many matte artists readily available in Hollywood.<br />We may never know for sure.<br /><br />PeterNZPetehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13863364769084676156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-37381950571482618612011-01-17T02:32:31.099+13:002011-01-17T02:32:31.099+13:00Chesley Bonstell was definitely involved in Huchhb...Chesley Bonstell was definitely involved in Huchhback of Notre Dame.Steve H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-45515437786073085562011-01-16T02:59:27.861+13:002011-01-16T02:59:27.861+13:00Fabulous! Great work and thanks for sharing.Fabulous! Great work and thanks for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7063592677187148799.post-83823928712661527132011-01-15T01:02:03.979+13:002011-01-15T01:02:03.979+13:00A feast for the eye. Thanks, Pete for all those me...A feast for the eye. Thanks, Pete for all those memorable matte moments.<br />Have to get my hands on this King Kong Blu-ray. It looks fabulous.<br />ThomasThomas Thiemeyerhttp://www.thiemeyer.denoreply@blogger.com