ejazzyjeff wrote:

I would have to say the first Superman movie with Christopher Reeves. The blue screen effects of him flying looked it was done very cheaply, and the distant shots of him flying looked like a dummy on a wire was being used.

There may have been a few blue screen flying shots in the first SUPERMAN but most of the time they used the Zoptic Process of front projection that utilized 3M Scotchlite screen, a 50/50 mirror and a very inventive zoom lens system. Many of the flying backgrounds do look duped since they are projected but I continue to be amazed by what they accomplished with the technology of the time, especially filming with anamorphic Panavision lenses. I don't think I could come up with a better filmed flying human effect before that time except for the wire work by Howard and Theodore Lydecker in the THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN MARVEL. They had the advantage of being able to do their flying effects in camera on real locations and created shots that hold up well even today.

If I had to pick a worst special effect I think I'd go with the out of focus miniature city shots that come toward the beginning of LOGAN'S RUN (1976), though the film does have a number of very fine matte paintings.

Jim Aupperle


Last Edited By: Aupperle Dec 4 08 1:31 PM. Edited 2 times.