Visual and Special Effects Film Milestones

Milestones in Film History:
Greatest Visual and Special Effects and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI)

Part 9

Introduction: From even its earliest days, films have used visual magic ("smoke and mirrors") to produce illusions and trick effects that have startled audiences. In fact, the phenomenon of persistence of vision is the reason why the human eye sees individual frames of a movie as smooth, flowing action when projected.

Cel animation, scale modeling, claymation, digital compositing, animatronics, use of prosthetic makeup, morphing, and modern computer-generated or computer graphics imagery (CGI) are just some of the more modern techniques that are widely used for creating incredible special or visual effects.

(See this site's film terms glossary for definitions and examples, the History of Film by Decade, and an extensive timeline of other Milestones and Turning Points in Film History.)

Note: The films that are marked with a yellow star

are the films that "The Greatest Films" site has selected as the 100 Greatest Films.

Film Title and Description of Visual-Special Effects

Example

Fritz the Cat (1972)

This was the first X-rated computer animated feature in Hollywood history, from writer/director Ralph Bakshi, and based on the comic books by Robert Crumb.

Westworld (1972)

This was the first significant entertainment film that employed the use of computer animation (2-D computer generated images), called CGI. Full-screen raster (or bit-mapped) graphics were used in this film by computer graphics artists (at Evans and Sutherland) to produce the scenes representing the gunslinger robot's infrared point-of-view or perspective. The first use of 3-D CGI in a feature film was Westworld's sequel, Futureworld (1976).

The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Earthquake (1974) and The Hindenburg (1975)

All of these films won the Special Achievement Award for Special Visual Effects, during the 70s era of disaster films.

The Exorcist (1973)

This sensational, shocking horror story about devil possession and the subsequent exorcism of the demonic spirits from a young, innocent girl (of a divorced family) (Linda Blair) contained some highly memorable scenes, using various special effects techniques. There were some truly nauseating, horrendous special effects including the 360 degree head-rotation, self-mutilation/masturbation with a crucifix, and the projectile spewing of green puke - a mixture of split-pea soup and oatmeal through a nozzle attached to the stunt double's mouth, etc.

The scene in which the words: "HELP ME" appeared on the girl's stomach were produced on a foam rubber stomach by applying a strong chemical. The shrinking of the swelling by heat guns was filmed - and then projected in reverse - to make it appear like the words were rising up through the skin.

Hunger (1974)

This animated film short (11 minutes long) without dialogue from the National Film Board of Canada (and director Peter Foldes) was the first to use computer digitization to interpolate (or 'fill in') the animated action between various key cells drawn free-hand, although it had experimentally been demonstrated with his earlier film, Metadata (1971). The film's director was the first animator to use computer animation (a computer-assisted 'key-frame animation' system) that imitated conventional cel animation.

Black and white animated illustrations appeared against a colored backdrop, with surrealistic figures that fluidly dissolved and reshaped themselves to take new forms - an early and primitive example of morphing. It was the first computer-animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Short Film (Animated) category. It also won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival that same year.

Barry Lyndon (1975)

Stanley Kubrick's film incorporated unique camerawork (using prototype Zeiss lenses) with numerous scenes filmed only with natural candlelight.

Futureworld (1976)

Futureworld (1976) featured the first use of 3D CGI - for a representation of Peter Fonda's animated face and hand, created by the early computer visual effects company Triple I. The film also used 2-D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

This Spielberg film was notable for the sequence of the landing of the impressive alien mother ship - a 400 lb. fiber-glass model that was four feet high and five feet wide. The UFO model was wired and lighted by fiber optics, incandescent bulbs, and neon tubes.

This film lost the Best Achievement in Visual Effects Academy Award to Star Wars (1977).

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)

There was a new name for the Academy Award for FX this year - Best Achievement in Visual Effects, won by this film. The climactic spaceship battle scene at the conclusion of the first episode of the epic trilogy was filmed with an innovative motion-controlled camera - its first use. This meant that a computer was used to control a long, complex series of camera movements. This was the first major work of George Lucas' visual effects company - Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), which would become the biggest, most prestigious FX company in film history.

The Empire's moon-sized weapon/battle station, the Death Star was assaulted by Luke Skywalker and other Starfighters. Before the assult was a brief sequence of the trench-run briefing, a training session for rebel pilots - this was the first extensive use of 3-D-CGI.

From inside a linear trench, the space dogfighters launched proton torpedos during attack runs on a thermal exhaust port and obliterated the Death Star with chain-reaction explosions, just as the station was prepared to target the main Rebel base on Yavin IV. George Lucas would later add further visual effects to the film in a 1997 "Special Edition" release that featured far more advanced CGI characters and effects, including an enhanced Death Star explosion (pictured also), an added scene of a CGI Jabba the Hutt confronting Han Solo, and the infamous "Greedo fires first" edit.

Note: The next two installments of the Star Wars Trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and The Return of the Jedi (1983) also won the Special Achievement in Visual Effects Academy Awards.

Spaceship Battle
Sequence

The Trench-Run Briefing Sequence

The obliteration of the Death Star (below)

1977

1997

Superman (1978)

This film was noted for the first use of CGI film titles, in the zooming title sequence, and also the first use of the Zoptic camera for the non-static flying sequences. These factors helped the film win the Academy Award for Special Achievement in Visual Effects.

Alien (1979)

This Ridley Scott film received the Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, defeating The Black Hole (1979), Moonraker (1979), 1941 (1979), and Star Trek - The Motion Picture (1979). It used raster wireframe rendering for the spaceship Nostromo's navigational monitors in the rough landing sequence on the foreign planet.

The film was best-known for the genuinely shocking and memorable chest-bursting special effects scene in which crew member Kane (John Hurt) had blood and the Alien graphically explode out of the front of his white T-shirt - the hissing, razor sharp-toothed monster-lizard looked around and then scurried off to hide. The trick shot involved a fiberglass chest piece (placed over the actor), tubes to squirt fake blood, a single hand puppet, and wires to help the alien race across the table.

Film Title and Description of Visual-Special Effects	Example
*Fritz the Cat (1972)* This was the first X-rated computer animated feature in Hollywood history, from writer/director Ralph Bakshi, and based on the comic books by Robert Crumb.
*Westworld (1972)* This was the first significant entertainment film that employed the use of computer animation (2-D computer generated images), called CGI. Full-screen raster (or bit-mapped) graphics were used in this film by computer graphics artists (at Evans and Sutherland) to produce the scenes representing the gunslinger robot's infrared point-of-view or perspective. The first use of 3-D CGI in a feature film was Westworld's sequel, Futureworld (1976).
*The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Earthquake (1974)* and The Hindenburg (1975) All of these films won the Special Achievement Award for Special Visual Effects, during the 70s era of disaster films.
The Exorcist (1973) This sensational, shocking horror story about devil possession and the subsequent exorcism of the demonic spirits from a young, innocent girl (of a divorced family) (Linda Blair) contained some highly memorable scenes, using various special effects techniques. There were some truly nauseating, horrendous special effects including the 360 degree head-rotation, self-mutilation/masturbation with a crucifix, and the projectile spewing of green puke - a mixture of split-pea soup and oatmeal through a nozzle attached to the stunt double's mouth, etc. The scene in which the words: "HELP ME" appeared on the girl's stomach were produced on a foam rubber stomach by applying a strong chemical. The shrinking of the swelling by heat guns was filmed - and then projected in reverse - to make it appear like the words were rising up through the skin.
*Hunger (1974)* This animated film short (11 minutes long) without dialogue from the National Film Board of Canada (and director Peter Foldes) was the first to use computer digitization to interpolate (or 'fill in') the animated action between various key cells drawn free-hand, although it had experimentally been demonstrated with his earlier film, Metadata (1971). The film's director was the first animator to use computer animation (a computer-assisted 'key-frame animation' system) that imitated conventional cel animation. Black and white animated illustrations appeared against a colored backdrop, with surrealistic figures that fluidly dissolved and reshaped themselves to take new forms - an early and primitive example of morphing. It was the first computer-animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Short Film (Animated) category. It also won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival that same year.
*Barry Lyndon (1975)* Stanley Kubrick's film incorporated unique camerawork (using prototype Zeiss lenses) with numerous scenes filmed only with natural candlelight.
*Futureworld (1976)* Futureworld (1976) featured the first use of 3D CGI - for a representation of Peter Fonda's animated face and hand, created by the early computer visual effects company Triple I. The film also used 2-D digital compositing to materialize characters over a background.
*Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)* This Spielberg film was notable for the sequence of the landing of the impressive alien mother ship - a 400 lb. fiber-glass model that was four feet high and five feet wide. The UFO model was wired and lighted by fiber optics, incandescent bulbs, and neon tubes. This film lost the Best Achievement in Visual Effects Academy Award to Star Wars (1977).
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) There was a new name for the Academy Award for FX this year - Best Achievement in Visual Effects, won by this film. The climactic spaceship battle scene at the conclusion of the first episode of the epic trilogy was filmed with an innovative motion-controlled camera - its first use. This meant that a computer was used to control a long, complex series of camera movements. This was the first major work of George Lucas' visual effects company - Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), which would become the biggest, most prestigious FX company in film history. The Empire's moon-sized weapon/battle station, the Death Star was assaulted by Luke Skywalker and other Starfighters. Before the assult was a brief sequence of the trench-run briefing, a training session for rebel pilots - this was the first extensive use of 3-D-CGI. From inside a linear trench, the space dogfighters launched proton torpedos during attack runs on a thermal exhaust port and obliterated the Death Star with chain-reaction explosions, just as the station was prepared to target the main Rebel base on Yavin IV. George Lucas would later add further visual effects to the film in a 1997 "Special Edition" release that featured far more advanced CGI characters and effects, including an enhanced Death Star explosion (pictured also), an added scene of a CGI Jabba the Hutt confronting Han Solo, and the infamous "Greedo fires first" edit. Note: The next two installments of the Star Wars Trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and The Return of the Jedi (1983) also won the Special Achievement in Visual Effects Academy Awards.	Spaceship Battle Sequence The Trench-Run Briefing Sequence The obliteration of the Death Star (below) 1977 1997
*Superman (1978)* This film was noted for the first use of CGI film titles, in the zooming title sequence, and also the first use of the Zoptic camera for the non-static flying sequences. These factors helped the film win the Academy Award for Special Achievement in Visual Effects.
*Alien (1979)* This Ridley Scott film received the Oscar for Best Achievement in Visual Effects, defeating The Black Hole (1979), Moonraker (1979), 1941 (1979), and Star Trek - The Motion Picture (1979). It used raster wireframe rendering for the spaceship Nostromo's navigational monitors in the rough landing sequence on the foreign planet. The film was best-known for the genuinely shocking and memorable chest-bursting special effects scene in which crew member Kane (John Hurt) had blood and the Alien graphically explode out of the front of his white T-shirt - the hissing, razor sharp-toothed monster-lizard looked around and then scurried off to hide. The trick shot involved a fiberglass chest piece (placed over the actor), tubes to squirt fake blood, a single hand puppet, and wires to help the alien race across the table.