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Date Posted: 00:24:25 11/28/08 Fri
Author: Rick
Subject: Flash Gordon: Favorite matte paintings and death rays

The matte paintings used for example; the ones that depicted Ming's palace in the 36' serial looked great. In Trip to Mars, the view out Azura's palace, with the light rays streaming in the windows. Would have been neat to see what they looked like in color.

The matte painting of the Nitron Lamp was incredible. You can see the studio lot and the lower part of the mock-up they built with the actors. The upper part of the lamp and most of the areas around it are all a matte painting they superimposed onto the film.

The death rays are always a subject to discuss; In FGCTU, we have "The Destroying Ray" that is activated when the clock strikes the 11th hour. The shots of it look real and perhaps India ink was used to make it on the film they superimposed over the live action shots as it moves closer to a chained Zarkov in the torture room. The closeups you can tell they used a bright light and smoke as the ray began to injure Zarkov and Flash ended up getting trapped there with him for a moment until Roka came to the rescue.




Rick

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[> Re: Flash Gordon: Favorite matte paintings and death rays -- Prince Barin, 06:10:24 11/28/08 Fri [1]

The Mongovian boar on Thanksgiving yesterday was very tasty. Aura also served that delicious wine that she drugged Flash with but thankfully minus the pills that the High Priest gave her. However when she gets angry with me she has been known to slip some into my coffee.

Now Commander Rick has brought up a subject that has puzzled me for many, many years. Knowing even years ago that they were using mattes, I have looked and looked at the Nitron Lamp courtyard scene as well as the scene for Azura's Throne Room and simply cannot figure our where the reality ends and the matte begins so it's very well done.

Not knowing anything about photographic processes except in the most general way (however I am an expert on Amphitrol and its use in carving out tunnels) the one thing I'll say is that both of the above scenes seem very "flat", that is, that there is no real contrast, a quality that they probably wished to attain in order that the one-dimensional matte fit in well.

Speaking of special effects,in a few scenes in "Mars" you can see the shadow of the distinctive hexagonal (octagonal?) mockup of the top of the Nitron Lamp where Flash and Zarkov had their ray gun fight even though they weren't near it in the story line. You can see it in scenes where Azura gets hit and in several other places.

Prince Barin


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