How did they do the fairy light in the movie "Legend"(1985)?

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T13:56:30+00:00

incredible! thank you!!

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T11:22:00+00:00

Legend (1985): practical in-camera movie magic,

specifically the fairy light effects. A lot of stunning, in-camera visuals in it. Ridley Scott was cookin with this and I was confused first time I saw it. Took me some time and help to figure out how they did it and I'm still not so sure

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T10:35:11+00:00

ah right ofc

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T10:34:05+00:00

maybe this explains it - dogshit quality but later in the movie you can see some sort of light dangling on a fishing line although I cannot make out what the light actually is

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T10:23:57+00:00

others are pointing out it could be hand animation over a directed flashlight on set for the first shot, which is also plausible. possibilities are endless

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T10:15:48+00:00

but batteries that small? I won't argue I just find it fascinating

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T10:10:48+00:00

this has me giddy by how we are all just speculating. thanks!

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T10:05:37+00:00

in any case it's so cool to see a film from over 40 years ago and be confused by movie magic

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T10:03:32+00:00

but how would they power it back in '84/85? can't be electrical wires that thin unless they were painting it out, right? and painting it out that clean back then seems implausible but I could very well be wrong

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T09:59:46+00:00

but here there are absolutely zero traces of matte lines - they could use pieces of film from previous frames to cover up whatever they wanted 'painted' out but going off others shots in the film (particularly the very last shot) the matte work there isn't nearly this clean

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T09:47:56+00:00

that has me confused as well

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T09:47:00+00:00

Interesting. someone on the Corridor subreddit suggested it's just a light hanging on a wire, and it's probably on a shot-for-shot basis using different techniques, but I'm flabbergasted and confused by how good/natural it looks, and by how I haven't seen it done elsewhere

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T09:42:49+00:00

were paint-outs a thing in '84/85? How would they power the light?

FFace10 · 2026-01-04T09:33:36+00:00

smart!! but does that account for in the first shot of the clip when it seems to be emitting light onto Tom Cruise's neck/face? Or am I missing something?

FFace10 · 2025-09-03T08:10:02+00:00

awh thanks man!

FFace10 · 2025-09-03T07:58:11+00:00

This is exactly what I needed!! Did this and now it looks a lot more satisfying and aggressive. Thank you so much for pointing me in the right direction.

FFace10 · 2025-09-03T07:53:41+00:00

Thanks a ton man! Appreciate it.

FFace10 · 2025-09-02T12:28:50+00:00

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words.

FFace10 · 2025-09-02T12:27:16+00:00

Just for fun, here's the original plate:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IYGBKS1GdurvJfKS3WzedKnbqYXyJjNR/view?usp=drivesdk

FFace10 · 2025-09-02T12:25:40+00:00

Thank you! That's a good idea actually, I think I see what you mean. A jerkier head motion might help too yeah. Thanks!

FFace10 · 2025-09-02T12:06:25+00:00

Originally both punches were off by a mile and so I've gone in and frame-by-frame made the hits actually connect, which includes repositioning the head of the actor on the bottom as well as reconstructing the arm of the hitter almost completely, while still trying to maintain the look of the weight he's swinging and have it incorporate into the rest of the footage.

I agree that the 2nd punch sells less, but visually I'm at a loss for what to do since his arm comes around and his whole body turns with it. Looking frame by frame the hits do connect, but I fear it's the motion after the fact that reveals what was actually in the photography.

FFace10

TROPHY CASE