# 1940s SPECIAL EFFECTS PHOTOGRAPHY & ILLUSIONS FILM " CAMERA MAGIC " OPTICAL PRINTER 89584

This wonderful 1940s movie from Castle Films shows some of the classic illusions that can be created with a still and motion picture camera. The film starts with gimmicks created by starting and stopping a movie camera that has been placed on a tripod, creating the illusion that people and objects are magically disappearing from view ("beam me up Scotty!") At 1:10 a mirror is used to create a lake with a still camera. At 1:47 the mirror is used to create a "bearded lady". At 2:00 a movie camera is used to show how the same illusion can be demonstrated. At 2:10 forced perspective is used on the beach to create the illusion of a miniature man. At 2:22 a gag is shown with "the girl who lost her head". At 3:00 a contortionist illusion is presented. At 3:31 the "human fly" is shown courtesy of turning the movie camera sideways. At 4:00 camera matting techniques are used to create a "split stage", a complex illusion in that it required the film to be wound back through the camera and double exposed. At 4:53 , step printing in an optical printer is used to create various illusions including horses moving backwards. At 5:35 fishermen are shown throwing fish into the water, and then the film is run backwards to show "reverse action" with the fish being put into the boat. At 6;12 Jeeps are shown in various camera stunts and at 6:30 an accident scene between a bike and a car is staged using some camera tricks. At 6:54 an animation stand is used to add a special effect. At 7:23 a…

- Kind: Film
- Genres: Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/89584CastleFilmsCameraMagic)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/89584CastleFilmsCameraMagic?play=1)