H.Rider Haggards’ epic story was one ripe for the picking by adventurous Hollywood producers and film makers – so ripe in fact that it was adapted for the film medium (I believe) no less than five times in it’s true to the book form and probably numerous other times in variations upon the same theme from old serials of the 30’s and 40’s and even a few of the TARZAN films used elements from this timeless classic a few times that I can recollect. No doubt about it, Haggards’ story is a wonderful boys own adventure yarn that set the imaginations and sweaty palms of many an adolescent boy (mainly) into top gear back in the day.
The film adaptations included (as far as I know) a couple of silent versions in the twenties, of which I know nothing about, prior to RKO acquiring the rights around 1933 at which period the great Merian C.Cooper was immersed in KING KONG and it’s ill advised follow up SON OF KONG. Given Cooper’s proven track record of motion picture thematic interests I am sure the SHE outline set him on fire! Here was a story with all the ingredients for a ripping good adventure yarn, with excitement at every turn and large lashings of sex and violence in the mix.
RKO was the perfect studio to embark upon this epic – a studio that stepped outside of the square when it came to the type of wild ride adventures such as the two KONG’s, THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME and others where visual flair and technical experimentation would be a prerequisite. The majors such as MGM, Paramount and Warner would have been so out of their depth with these pictures. Theirs was a world of regular storytelling with box office super stars and such. RKO was the studio for SHE…
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A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX
Please Note: Now, I am going further back into the archives of Matte Shot – A Tribute to Golden Era Special FX to feature even more articles from this great site.
This blog is intended primarily as a tribute to the inventiveness and ingenuity of the craft of the matte painter during Hollywoods’ Golden Era. Some of the shots will amaze in their grandeur and epic quality while others will surprise in their ‘invisibility’ to even the sophisticated viewer. I hope this collection will serve as an appreciation of the artform and both casual visitors and those with a specialist interest may benefit, enjoy and be amazed at skills largely unknown today.