With the changes that have taken place in recent years in terms of technology, today’s films depend a lot on special effects and animation to create scenes that impact and captivate the public’s attention.
Nowadays, we have all kinds of programs, allowing animation and creation of scenes with special effects that are very easy to carry out. This, was not that easy just a few years ago. These films were pioneers in bringing to the big screen special effects that surprised everyone with scenes and characters that were believed impossible.
The execution of Mary, Queen of Scotland
Google.
It is a short film directed by Alfred Clark representing the execution of Mary, Queen of Scotland in just 18 seconds. In that single scene, Maria finds herself blindfolded and replaced by a mannequin when the head is cut off, making the scene look totally real.
1895
Google.
The film was made in 1895 becoming the first film known to use special effects, specifically and introducing stop-motion. It cause a bit of controversy at first because the audience thought that someone had been sacrificed in real life to make this scene.
Le Voyage Dans La Lune
Google.
It is a French surrealist film of space exploration directed and produced by Georges Méliès, who was inspired by several novels such as Around the Moon and From the Earth to the Moon. This film is totally silent and has a very elaborate scenery to give the effect of really being the moon.
1902
Google.
This film came out in 1902, bringing together several effects created by George, combining double exposure, split screen and attenuation, showing his talent acquired throughout his career.
The Enchanted Drawing
Google.
It is a silent short film directed by J. Stuart Blackton in which is shown a caricaturist, represented by himself, drawing someone's face and shaping objects in him.
1900
Google.
It was made in 1900 and surprised everyone by transporting and translating objects from paper into reality and vice versa using the Stop-Motion effect. This made him the father of American animation.
Gertie the Dinosaur
Google.
It is an animated short film directed by Winsor McCay, who was the first director who showed an animated character with its own personality, thus giving way to the later creations of Walt Disney.
1914
Google.
This American short film was released in 1914, becoming the first to incorporate a creature with its own personality and a person to interact with each other.
A railway collision
Google.
Known as A Railroad Wreck, it is a British dramatic genre film directed by Walter R. Booth and produced by Robert W. Paul. The film shows a scene in which two railroads collide between them.
1900
Google.
This effect managed to create a real scene of a collision between two giant trains that were in the same village.
The Lost World
Google.
The Lost World is a silent American film directed by Harry Hoyt based on the novel written by Arthur Conan Doyle. Some scenes were shot abroad in Venezuela.
1925
Google.
This 1925 adventure film caught the attention of the public for special effects by Willis O'Brien, who became a pioneer of stop motion animation.
The Thief of Bagdad
Google.
It is a silent American film directed by Raoul Walsh. It is produced and starred by Douglas Fairbanks, who gave way to the green screen.
1940
Google.
They were the first to use a series of color filters using a blue background to create the appearance and disappearance effect of the actors. Nowadays it is very common to use a green screen to create various effects.
Missions of California
Google.
It was the first Norman O. Dawn's film and incorporated giant glass panels behind the actors during the scenes of the shooting.
1907
Google.
Its special effect helped to locate people in front of the scenarios before all the effects that can be created on the computer appeared.
Metropolis
Google.
It is a science fiction German silent film directed by Fritz Lang. It is partof the great films of German Expressionist cinema.
1927
Google.
This film managed to create an effect in which cars came through the city through the stop motion effect.
The Wizard of Oz
Google.
It is a fantasy musical film directed by Victor Fleming based on the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, narrating the story of a young girl who is taken to a fantastic land full of creatures and animated characters.
1939
Google.
They managed to recreate a scene of a tornado using a twisted silk stocking and a fan to create the strong wind that dragged everything from one place to another.