Mattes Ride The Range

Matte Shot – a tribute to Golden Era & Traditional Special Effects

I won’t try to hide it, I’m a lover of that true to form iconic slice of Americana we all know as ‘the western’. I grew up in the 1960’s and on into the 70’s watching cowboy double features on Saturdays at the local picture houses such as the Crystal Palace or The Mayfair here in Auckland. A number of westerns are among my all time favourite films, especially a sizable number of those featuring The Duke – John Wayne. Shows like TRUE GRIT, BIG JAKE, THE SEARCHERS and especially EL DORADO were and remain solid, top shelf entertainment decades later. If there had been any Hollywood legend whose hand I’d have liked to shake, it would have been Duke (followed by the inimitable Groucho Marx – now there’s an intriguing duo for you!). Other memorable westerns that struck a chord with me were SOLDIER BLUE (even in severley truncated form), HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (one of Clint’s best) and WILL PENNY (probably Chuck Heston’s all time best), PAT GARRETT AND BILLY THE KID (Coburn was never better) – though none of those had matte work I mention them all the same. Among the smaller projects that deserve praise was the outstanding Peter Fonda picture THE HIRED HAND – a most remarkable and worthy little film…

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A tribute to the artistry and ingenuity of traditional matte painters, this collection celebrates the hand‑crafted movie magic that once shaped cinema — from grand, epic vistas to invisible effects even seasoned viewers might miss. It’s designed for both casual fans and dedicated enthusiasts, offering a renewed appreciation for skills largely forgotten today. I’ve also reached deeper into the Matte Shot archives to bring even more of this remarkable work forward, and I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I do.