Fascinating it is to me, is the way that films are made and put together – whether that means Locations, Sets, Matte Painting or any other of the many techniques used to provide us cinemagoers with the realistic entertainment we love.

From the very first films that were made, ways have been found to enhance these with the special effects mentioned above – also trick shots, aerial shots, and a host of others – and over the years these have become more and more sophisticated although not always better.

The use of Models or Miniatures in films is as old as the hills and still remains an important aspect of film making.

Above: The model of the Manderley  from the 1940 Alfred Hitchcock film ‘Rebecca’. Apparently the model was so large it occupied an entire sound stage.   It was enhanced with matte paintings for sky and scenery for all of the exterior shots.

Above: Someone arranging a Miniature from ‘A Place of One’s Own’ 1945 Starring James Mason, Barbara Mullen and with Ernest Thesiger

Above: The Lord of the Rings from much later – but  these models are still used – and very much part of film making

Above: Derek Meddings preparing a scene from ‘Goldeneye’ 1995.   Sadly Derek died later in 1995 actually before  the film was released later that year. He did work on a lot of  James Bond Films – and many others too. He also Directed one or two films and acted in one I believe – not a Bond film though.

Back to the Fifties ABOVE for The War of the Worlds which starred Gene Barry. I liked this fim