good special effects - The Hurricane (1938) Discussion

[–] xylonian-1 17 years ago

If they were to remake this movie, the special effects probably wouldn't be half as good (IMO).

"Cant help but think of "Arsenic & Old Lace" every time Ray Massie is on screen."

Yes funny how that works.... Even though the characters he portrays are rarely lovable, he has always does a great job in everything I have seen him in....hummmm, that goes for all the stars in this movie (have not seen the rest of the cast in anything else....)

Read My Lips!!!!

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[–] tpeters-4 16 years ago

Just watched this for the first time tonight. WOW. The special effects had me glued to the tv in awe. These were not only good for 1937...they hold up today in 2008.

CGI? Pfffffffft.

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[–] droppo76 16 years ago

I just saw this for the first time last night and couldn't stop watching. I had never heard of the film before and caught it right after it started. I had no idea it was about a hurricane at all. I thought the theme was going to be more prison oriented.
I was actually getting a little frustrated at the end with the hurricane scenes. I felt like they were too long and padded out. Stupid me sees the title the next day and I had to just laugh at myself.
The effects were very respectable for 1937.

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[–] PretoriaDZ 13 years ago

Most of the new movie effects look fake to me. They're like watching a cartoon. Movies like this and especially The Rains Came (Tyrone Power version) I think are incredibly real looking.

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[–] Tina-37 13 years ago

I had heard of this movie before, as well as about the groundbreaking special effects, but I finally got to see it for the first time on the THISTv channel. I barely got up during the commercials for fear I'd miss something. It is not only a powerful John Ford movie, but shows that he could handle many genres, not just his great Westerns. But the effects were incredible, especially considering the time in which they were created. I looked at that amazing hurricane scene and was in awe of what likely went into making it. Whereas today's CGI has its' place, it is becoming overused and as PretoriaDZ commented, looks fake (just saw a movie the other week and the CGI background, as well as one of the creatures in it were very obvious to me). Sometimes it can be seamlessly done, but I'm afraid that's not always the case. "The Hurricane" just reminded me that although a movie is over 70 years old, it can still pack one powerful punch.

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[–] chris109 13 years ago

How could you miss something? Thistv has freeking commercials every 5 minutes. Hamlet with Lawrence Olivier was on the other day. Started at 11 a.m. and ended at 2:45. 225 minutes for a movie that was 155 minutes long. 70 minutes of commercials. Thank God for big pharmaceuticals...otherwise these shyster lawyers would have to work instead of making commercials to sue those companies.

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[–] ARIES560 13 years ago

How old are you 15? THE F/X WERE EXCELLENT FOR 1937!!!!

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[–] beckeis 13 years ago

I'm watching right now. AMAZING EFFECTS. I'm just waiting for the little church and all the people inside to be swept away ... and there it goes! Then the tree ... and little boats ... Wow. Can I say amazing again?

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[–] shred-com 11 years ago

Astounding effects. It couldn't have looked more real.

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[–] marbleann 11 years ago

As someone pointed out there is no music played during the hurricane, which makes it even better. Every time they go back to the storm the music goes off. Another older movie which has great special effects is The Rains Came. It was suppose to be in India during the monsoon season and when that damn broke all hell let loose. Take a look at that movie also. And the story is very good too. A little shocking for its day. A little infidelity, Tyrone Power is in love with a white woman, Lana Turner btw he is SUPPOSE to be a East Indian, who cares, it is Tyrone Power he could be a Martian as far as I am concerned, a Ma December romance and the great Maria Ouspenskaya

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[–] trimmerb1234 7 years ago

Just seen this - didnt find the film very interesting but saw why people rave about the "special effects". The sections were superbly staged and edited. But the main thing was the genuine speed of the (artificial) wind.

Studios normally use wind machines but I think on this occasion the speed (perhaps 60mph?) and volume of air flowing over the humans (ie not scale model) was such that only an aero engine could produce it. Obviously perfectly feasible in 1937 and certainly used as a field treatment for heatstroke in the tropics. Today H & E and insurance claims would not allow humans to be blasted in this way unless kitted out with goggles and helmets.

Life was cheaper, regulations slacker and people less litigious in 1937. I think we might never see such genuine special effects again.

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