It can be tempting to see the domination of the box office by the Hollywood spectacle loaded with visual effects as a recent phenomenon. And indeed, there were periods during which it was not the case: the “New Hollywood” which started in the late 1960s, for example, when the old studio system gave the reins to young inventive guns like Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorse. But for fear that we will not forget, this movement met its end in the face of competition from blockbusters of the late 1970s as Jaws And Star WarsA new type of blockbuster that reported a return to simple chills of silent cinema.
A century ago, many filmmakers expected that two experiences were above all: being seduced and being made to laugh. No wonder the era saw visual actors like Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin become not only the most famous actors in the world, but some of the most famous human beings in the world.
Staying at the top requires not only serious performative skill, but also just as serious technical ingenuity, as explained in the new Lost in time video above. This breaks down how Lloyd, Keaton and Chaplin have managed some of their stunts defining the career on the film, putting real clips alongside the CGI reconstructions of the sets as they would have watched during the shooting.
When Lloyd hangs from the arms of a clock over downtown Los Angeles Security last! (1923), it is really suspended above downtown Los Angeles-although on a set built at the top of a building, drawn from a carefully chosen angle. When the whole facade of a house falls around Keaton Steam boat bill, JR. (1928), leaving it unscathed in a window frame, the facade actually fell around it – in a precisely choreographed way, but with only a few centimeters of clearance on each side. When a banded eyes chaplin skates dangerously almost a place on several floors Modern weather (1936), it is perfectly safe, the edge of the ground being nothing more than a matte painting: one of these analog technologies of cinematographic magic whose obsolescence is always deplored by the amusers of classic films, of which CGI, whatever the dear, never quite sensations or amuses in the same way.
Related content:
The art of creating special effects in silent films: ingenuity before CGI age
Look at the only time Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton perform together on the screen (1952)
Charlie Chaplin does cocaine and saves the day in modern times (1936)
Based in Seoul, Colin MArshall Written and broadcastTS on cities, language and culture. His projects include the substack newsletter Books on cities And the book The stateless city: a walk through Los Angeles from the 21st century. Follow it on the social network formerly known as Twitter in @ColinmArshall.
At Learnopoly, Finn has championed a mission to deliver unbiased, in-depth reviews of online courses that empower learners to make well-informed decisions. With over a decade of experience in financial services, he has honed his expertise in strategic partnerships and business development, cultivating both a sharp analytical perspective and a collaborative spirit. A lifelong learner, Finn’s commitment to creating a trusted guide for online education was ignited by a frustrating encounter with biased course reviews.