-
The Execution of Mary Stuart
The film was not only the first film to feature trained actors, but the first use of special effects on film. As Mary Stuart puts her neck on the execution block, the camera stops and the actor is replaced by a mannequin. The executioners axe comes down, chopping Marys head off and the executioner holding her head in the air as the film ends. -
The Vanishing Lady
Georges Méliès first use of the "Stop Trick". The film starts with a magician bringing his assistant out on stage. He puts a newspaper on the floor to show that there is no trapdoor and places a chair over it. His assistant sits on the chair and the magician throws a blanket over her. Georges Méliès stops the camera and the actress moves out of the chair before Georges Méliès starts filming again, Thus making the assistant disappear. -
Santa Claus
Children being put to bed as their mother turns the light off. After the children fall to sleep, santa is seen on the roof bringing a christmas tree down the chimney with him. He fills the childrens stocking before making a farewell gesture and vanishing. The film is notable, because it features an opening title and a variety of tricks like jump cuts and showing santa clause on the roof whilst the kids are in bed without cross cutting. -
The Enchanted Drawing
The film shows a man drawing on a canvas, he draws a cartoon face and a bottle of wine, he then takes the wine off the paper and drinks it. The face forms a smile. This film is notable because it is the first use of stop motion/animation on standard film. -
Missions of California
The first known use of matte painting was in the 1907 film "The missions of California" Which shows the California missions crumbling. This was done by painting the image of the California missions crumbling onto a sheet of glass -
Metropolis
Metropolis was the most notable use of The Schüfftan process. A process where part of the camera is covered by a mirror allowing directors to create an image formed of multiple parts. -
King Kong
King Kong was a notable example of the use of Stop motion and Matte painting being used together to create a sense of scale. -
Theif of Bagdad
The thief of Bagdad was the first film to utilizing Chroma key on a blue screen for the scene where the sultan rides over the city on a horse -
Alien
Alien was a notable use of CGI for the Nostromo's navigation charts where the screens show a fly over of the planet they are landing on using wireframes and rastering. -
Sinbad: Beyond the veil of mists
Sinbad was the first film to be primarily made from motion capture.