14 old films with cool special effects that amazed audiences to the core (18 photos)
Films from different decades of the 20th century that surprised audiences with their special effects. Most of them have stood the test of time and even now look quite good. 
Not all special effects from 20th century films, including those made before the 90s, are hopelessly outdated. Some of the visual tricks and embellishments put on screen decades ago have stood the test of time and don't look funny or cheap.
Of course, now, with the help of computer technology, many famous scenes from films of the past would be created much better and more believable. But in the year of their release, the films on this list with their special effects broke people’s heads and forever changed their idea of what was possible.
1. The Abyss (1989) 
Computer image synthesis technology was used for the first time to create aliens that have the appearance of a controlled stream of water and can imitate a human face. The film's director, James Cameron, later used it in his other more famous film.
2. An American Werewolf in London (1981) 
The film features a frighteningly realistic scene of the transformation of a man into a wolf, which was ahead of its time in terms of detail and naturalism. What's especially striking is that the scene was filmed in full light, rather than in darkness, as was done in those days to hide some of the rough edges. The performance was on such a different level compared to all its predecessors.
3. Metropolis (1927) 
The film, which is about to turn 100 years old, has no sound or color, but with the help of practical effects, electricity, sets, mirrors and stop-motion animation, it still manages to pop up every time we talk about special effects in movies.
4. Tron (1982) 
One of the very first films to make extensive use of computer graphics - for backgrounds, scenery and vehicles. Including for animation of the human face. In many scenes, living characters were combined with drawn ones. Well, that’s understandable, because in the plot the characters are inside a video game.
5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 
The same James Cameron film, where, like in “The Abyss,” computer image synthesis technology was used. With its help, the legendary T1000 was created - a terminator based on liquid metal, capable of merging with the environment and transforming its body in any way. The scenes with this creepy robot are still impressive to this day.
6. Death Becomes Her (1992) 
How to show the effect of the elixir of immortality? According to the film's director, Robert Zemeckis, it is necessary for one of the heroines to appear in the film with a huge hole from a shot in the stomach. Due to the implementation of this idea, the film received an Oscar for visual effects.
7. Jason and the Argonauts (1963) 
The film's special effects creator, Ray Harryhausen, spent four months creating the hero's fight with the skeletons frame-by-frame. It turned out so well that in the year the film was released, viewers were probably sure that the creators had invited real living skeletons to the filming.
8. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 
Fragments from A Space Odyssey alone could fill the entire collection. But especially worth noting are the scenes in space (almost 10 years before the advent of Star Wars), as well as the moments when characters walk along the walls and ceiling as if nothing had happened. Although the latter, of course, is an optical trick, carried out using a centrifuge in which all the scenes inside the spaceships were filmed.
9. Blade Runner (1982) 
The film, inspired by the style of Metropolis, went even further and already in 1982 created the look of a futuristic metropolis, which is very reminiscent of modern cities.
10. Ten Commandments (1956) 
As you can imagine, a movie about Moses should definitely include a scene in which the Hebrew prophet commands the sea to part. But how to film this scene when it's 1956?
So just this episode took six months to make. A huge U-shaped tank was created into which 360,000 gallons of water was poured onto the chamber. Then the video of the tank being filled was played in reverse order and the footage of Moses and the other Jews was superimposed in the foreground.
By the way, the creators could easily afford such complex methods, since “The Ten Commandments” became the most expensive film in history at the time of its release.
11. Who framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) 
The film, which is over 30 years old, is still considered the best of those that combined live action and cartoon animation. And all thanks to the careful work on every frame of the film - in the end it took 14 months. Moreover, all animated characters were drawn by hand - they don’t do that anymore.
12. Crew (1979) 
Soviet films also boast complex scenes that looked and still look impressive. In particular, scenes of a plane taking off from the airport of the fictional city of Bidri with all the explosions in the background and landing in Moscow, when the tail of the plane comes off. These shots are still capable of pushing viewers into the back of their seats.
13. Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) 
The little-known detective adventure made history as the first film to feature a character created entirely using computer graphics. It was a revived knight from the stained glass window of the building, who also interacted with a living actor (tried to kill him).
This 30 second scene was developed and filmed over a period of 6 months. Classic. However, the effort was worth it!
14. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 
One of the most spectacular and difficult to execute character deaths in a movie. Walter Donovan's death scene was created over three months by combining three puppets of the hero at different stages of his "decomposition". Steven Spielberg wanted the scene to be as seamless as possible, so while actor Julian Glover was still in the frame, inflatable pillows were attached to his forehead and cheeks. This helped Donovan's aging begin smoothly. They also put a special wig on his head, which quickly unraveled his long gray locks.
