80-year-old film technique, still holds up

[Aqua Letifer]

So, I knew they had to go heavy on the makeup in the old days of the talkies, but I never knew that it looked so freaking weird back in the days of B&W. Completely makes sense, though, considering how the tech worked at the time.

Maybe this is what KISS has been ripping off of all these years?

Anyway, Karl Struss was a freaking genius. He used the clash between what the camera records and what our eyes see to full advantage to create a unique effect in Sh! The Octopus. He put a filter over the camera lens to block out selected hues, thereby blocking out the post-transformation makeup. Then, when the hag removes her hair, he had the camera filter removed.

This is the coolest freaking thing I've ever seen. Obviously none of this is digital, but it's not even manipulating the film. It's just about the most analogue, low-tech effect I've ever seen. And still works. I mean shit, it even changes her eye color.

Link to video

[George K]

@aqua-letifer said in 80-year-old film technique, still holds up:

Then, when the hag removes her hair, he had the camera filter removed.

That's just amazing.

[89th]

Seamless. And freaky. So cool.

[brenda]

They were ahead of their time with that technique. It's very surprising how well it worked. It could still be used today to good effect for the low budget film folks.