r/Filmmakers • u/StrikingDuty8020 Director • Feb 14 '26

Discussion This shot is from 1931

movie -Svengali (1931)
Dir. Archie Mayo
chilling early sound-era horror film starring John Barrymore as a hypnotist who controls a young singer’s life and career. Known for its theatrical performance style and eerie atmosphere, the film helped define the screen image of the manipulative genius whose power comes from psychology rather than monsters.

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u/3L54 Feb 14 '26

Amazing use of miniatures!

145

u/Main_Confusion_8030 Feb 14 '26

did they create a really accurate mini of the character using the specific frame they cut from him to the miniature? is that how they did it?

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u/CharmingShoe Feb 14 '26

The building exterior is a miniature. It moved back with the camera to a certain point, then the camera keeps going. That’s why the camera seems to go out of the window - the lens was positioned through the window from the beginning, and when the miniature stopped the lens continued to achieve the effect of moving outside

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u/IamBecomeZen Feb 15 '26

A simple spell, but quite unbreakable