Re: [visual-media:367] miniature recreation of a naval battle

Dear Stef,

There was certainly a relatively recent theatrical tradition of scaled-down naval battles and other nautical spectacles being staged in water tanks at the time of this film-- the Sadlers Wells Theatre in London in the early 19th century, and the Arènes Nautiques in Paris during the late 19th and early 20th century being suitably equipped. Likely there would have been smaller scale versions of these kind of spectacles in smaller venues and travelling shows etc, but I don't have any information on them. There is a short chapter (and with few illustrations) on "The Nautical Arena", in Albert Hopkins' "Magic, Stage Illusions, Special Effects and Trick Photography" (1898).

The backdrop in your clip is intriguing and the painted structure does appear, bizarrely, to be based on Tower Bridge in London. Do you have any photographs of the site of the original battle, or the nearby coast, which might help to determine if the backdrop is an attempt at verisimilitude or just a stock piece of scenery?

Best wishes for the research.

paul

----- Original Message -----

From: Stef Franck

To: visual-media@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 3:41 PM

Subject: [visual-media:366] miniature recreation of a naval battle

dear group members,

i am currently working on the 'red lantern' publication (dvd+book) by vdfc/cinematek of the nazimova/capellani movie (1919) which deals (amongst lots other things) with the boxer rebellion in 1900 China...
among the extras on the dvd will figure a miniature recreation of a naval battle dating from 1901 or 1902 - you can see a version of it at
http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675040577_Taku-Forts_alliedfleets_battleships_explosion_water-thrown-up
as you can see in the footage the action develops in front of a painted set with alp-like mountains, a port (do i recognize the tower bridge?) that was probably developed to be some sort of universal-fits-all decor

was it just a universal backdrop for some film company specialized in miniature reconstructions of naval battles in general?

i found the set photo in attachment in fielding's 'the american newsreel' of a similar recreation but here the backdrop is much more neutral, which makes much more sense in terms of film production

i wondered whether this kind of spectacle may also have featured as a fairground attraction or some sort of reconstruction of naval battles in theaters? in that case it would make more sense of having a hybrid landscape as a backdrop

is someone familiar with this kind of attraction (live or in movies)?

any kind of information or pictorial documentation would be most welcome !

thanks

stefF

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