The Epics – Three Fox Films Matte Shots – Part 6

In this continuing saga of epic movies and their matte shots I’ve combined several films today as the matte output on each is minimal, yet still important, with one of these pictures receiving an Academy Award specifically for it’s matte paintings. All three of todays films are from the 20th Century Fox stable. First up is Joseph Manciewicz’ CLEOPATRA (1963) followed by Henry Koster’s THE STORY OF RUTH from 1960 and finally the dire John Huston picture THE BIBLE (1966), based upon the popular bestseller of the same name. The so-called ‘good book’ certainly didn’t translate to the screen as ‘the good film’ that’s for sure.

I was going to include DAVID AND BATHSHEBA too, but the terminal dullness of star Gregory Peck (possibly the least charismatic star ever in Hollywood film history) plus poor quality vhs images I decided to give that one a miss, even though Fred Sersen did the effects shots on it.

First up is the mega fizzer CLEOPATRA – a film nearly uttered in the same breath as the ’29 Wall Street crash in terms of cost over runs and problematic production issues. The film was years in the making and didn’t have alot to show for it in my book. An exceedingly dull, way overlong bio-pic of it’s star rather than the mythical lady of the title.

…Read the Full Article @ Matte Shot
A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX

Please Note: I go further back into the archives of Matte Shot – A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX to feature even more articles from this great site.